Colin Hay is familiar to millions as the front man, songwriter, and vocalist of pop sensation Men at Work (“Down Under,” “Overkill,” “Who Can it Be Now?”). Hay is justifiably proud of his place in pop history, but since moving to Los Angeles in 1989, he’s made 11 critically-acclaimed solo albums, including the highly successful Man at Work, and will release of his new album Next Year People on Compass Records in February, to coincide with his Australian tour which starts in April (www.duetgroup.com)
Next Year People is the work of an artist who is a true master of his craft. The album is full of quizzical, curious, and cynical yet open-hearted songs with catchy melodic hooks that underscore deeply insightful lyrics. The album was produced by Hay and mixed by music producer and film and TV composer Chad Fischer (Lisa Loeb, Chasing Mavericks, Scandal) and includes contributions from two young, extremely talented musicians, San Miguel Perez and Yosmel Montejo (both of whom recently emigrated from Cuba), as well Larry Goldings on piano, Jeff Babko (Jimmy Kimmel) on B3, Charlie Paxson and Jimmy Branly on drums, Michael Georgiades on acoustic guitar, and Colin’s wife, vocalist Cecilia Noel.
Some of the songs are based on Colin’s personal experiences such as “Waiting In The Rain” written about his parents and growing up in a music shop in Scotland surrounded by instruments and a constant stream o 50’s and 60’s radio hits. Others according to Colin ‘just appear from somewhere’. The title track Next Year People is a stand out composition, a stark but beautiful homage to the depression era farmers who keep going by holding on to hope that next year would be better. “They just keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result. I can relate, though their situation was so much more bleak.”
Over the past 15 years Hay has reinvented himself as a solo artist, regularly selling out theatres across the US, Australia and around the world and introducing himself to a new generation of fans in the process. “I started off playing acoustic; it’s my natural game, if you will,” he concludes. “It’s the point I started from and may well be the point I end with. It’s always what I return to.” The frequent use of Hay’s music in TV and film—including hit shows such as Scrubs (on which he has made several cameo appearances), Army Wives, and Modern Family, the hit soundtrack to the film Garden State and the recently released Words and Pictures—has proven the timeless appeal of his songs. Colin’s Australian tours have seen him selling out theatres across the country, from the Playhouse at the Victorian Arts Centre, the Opera House in Sydney, to the Regal Theatre in Perth.
Colin Hay Online:
http://www.colinhay.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ColinHayMusic
https://twitter.com/ColinHay
http://compassrecords.com/colin-hay
** Read our Review of Colin Hay’s 2011 album “Gathering Mercury” here…
Listen to the first track off the album here!
April – May 2015 TOUR DATES: www.duetgroup.com
Karralyka Centre, Ringwood
Thursday 23 April
Frankston Arts Centre
Friday 24 April
Her Majesties Theatre, Ballarat
Saturday 25 April
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
Sunday 26 April
SKYCITY Theatre, Auckland (NZ Comedy Festival)
Friday 1 May
SKYCITY Theatre, Auckland (NZ Comedy Festival)
Saturday 2 May
Hannah Playhouse, Wellington (NZ Comedy Festival)
Monday 4 May
Hannah Playhouse, Wellington (NZ Comedy Festival)
Tuesday 5 May
Lizotte’s, Newcastle
Thursday 7 May
Lizotte’s, Newcastle
Friday 8 May
Enmore Theatre – Sydney Comedy Festival
Saturday 9 May
The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre
Thursday 14 May
The Tivoli, Brisbane
Friday 15 May
Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
Saturday 16 May
The Byron Theatre, Byron Bay
Sunday 17 May
The Forum, Melbourne
Wednesday 20 May
Regal Theatre, Perth
Saturday 23 May
Colonial Brewery, Margaret River
Sunday 24 May
For full tour details and updates, visit www.duetgroup.com