Review: Former Men at Work songster charms Englert crowd

Colin Hay at work seems more like Colin Hay at play.

The former frontman for '80s Aussie pop sensation Men at Work brought his solo sound to 330 fans at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City on Friday night.

He opened his two-hour set by dipping back to Men at Work's roots, playing one of the lesser-known but extremely beautiful cuts off the band's first album, “Business as Usual.” He saved the bigger hits for later, but “Down by the Sea” was a smart way to start, as his new backup band and the liberal use of reverb wrapped Hay's signature high notes in a gently ebbing wash of sound.

That took us right back to the reason we embraced his music nearly 30 years ago. Time hasn't diminished his appeal. At age 56, he's at the top of his game vocally, climbing through the layers of various melody lines to the top of a cliff, where he launches notes that hang in midair before they dissolve into the next line. It's a purity of sound that gives him an appealing edge.

He charmed the crowd with his quiet wit, telling everyone “I can't see you, but I can feel you. It's not a full house but all the important people are here.”

Giving the first of many glimpses into what makes him tick, he then introduced the next song saying, “I've had five hits. That's not as bad as one, but not as good as 10.”

While he sprinkled the concert with those hits, Hay actually has a large body of solo work to showcase, as well as a new CD, “American Sunshine,” poised for release next month.

He gave his audience a preview of the new material, including “Prison Time”; “There's Water Over You,” which pays homage to outdoor excursions with his father; and “Oh California.” All feature Hay's fine guitar work and an easy, loping rhythm that permeates his music.

His music isn't all sunshine and seashores. He just as easily ripped loose with the high energy “No Time” off the new CD.

His wife, salsa singer Cecilia Noel, joined him on harmonies, twirling and slithering through the various beats. The peppy party rhythms of “It's a Mistake” sent her whirling around the stage with abandon. Vocally, she was especially impressive on “Down Under,” creating exotic jungle bird sounds, then replicating a hollow, wooden flute sound as her fingers fluttered in the air. It was a really cool effect that had the crowd cheering.

The evening's most beautiful moments came in the mournful “I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You,” Hay's contribution to the “Garden State” soundtrack, and his contemplative version of megahit “Who Can It Be Now,” with a lush orchestration adding a whole new dimension.

And if playing nonstop for two hours wasn't enough, he ended the evening by signing CDs and posing for photos in the lobby.

Whatever Hay had going for him when we first discovered him is still working just fine.