Colin Hay, Colonial Theatre, 4.7.24, Show Review

On a gentle spring evening, Colin Hay rolled into the small New Hampshire town of Laconia, opening his set to a nearly full house at the famous Colonial Theatre on Main Street.  Colin joked during the show there “was nothing going on here” and the crowd was caught laughing in agreement.  Colin shared stories of past bandmates, meeting Paul McCartney, and many more as the crowd cheered his performance on.  For the Colonial, this was more than just a concert; it was an intimate gathering that celebrated the past while looking forward to more stories, more laughter and more music.

As a solo acoustic artist with a career spanning four decades, Colin brings his stories to life through his music. Colin kicked off his performance joking this must be the “senior show”.  With a career of more than 40 years, and fans following his musical journey, it was not a surprise that the audience was made up of all genders and ages to represent his last 40 years of fans. Colin kicked off his set with ‘Going Somewhere”, warming up the crowd for what was to come.

Between Colin’s storytelling and musical talent, his show provides an opportunity for his audience to gain insight into not only his creative mind, but how the songs came to be. Mid-set he hit the crowd with ‘Overkill’ and “Who Can it be Now’ where everyone joined in on the choruses of songs that brought back memories for all.  His final three songs seemed to be really what his fans were waiting for. ‘I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You’, a deeply emotional and real story of moving on, but also not forgetting where you once were. ‘Waiting for my Real Life’ and “Down Under’ were hits that everybody enjoyed, evident amongst the laughter, stories and genuine love for his music.

Near the end of the show Colin joked that he is often asked if songwriting is ‘worth it’ and he shared this is definitely a vocation that you should look into seeing as his hit “Down Under’ was able to sustain his career for the last 40 years.  Hay’s engagement with the audience through jokes, personal stories and hits speaks to his ability to transcend mere performance, creating an atmosphere where everyone felt part of something special.  Thank you Colin for sharing your art and music with New Hampshire.

You can find Colin on all the social media platforms and more at www.colinhay.com

WSCA Secretary, Board Chair

Host of Bonnie’s Mixtape