August 2009

Who can it be now?

 Well, I’ve already got the August show wrapped up. This year is flying by, isn’t it? This time around, the events that got me to this show are a testament to the fact that an unplanned evening can rank right up there with the best of them.

 This show had been on my radar for a while. The Aladdin Theater in Portland has a really good email system of letting people know what’s going on, and there was one listing in particular that kept sticking in my mind, and I couldn’t figure out why. As I read the information for this act, it was like something was triggering a memory in an unused part of my brain, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

 I found it intriguing to read that this lead singer, who used to be in a band that was part of the 80’s-pop culture that surrounded my world 26 years ago, now had 10 solo albums to his credit.

 And I hadn’t heard any of them.

 Of course, as fate would have it, my own band was scheduled to play at First Friday, the exact night of the show. I mean, I couldn’t go anyway, right?

 I get to work on Friday, and again, the Aladdin sends out the email. I read the article, and now I’m really wishing I could go. On top of that, the show gets written up in the Oregonian A&E, and that article tugs even harder at my subconscious.

I need an intervention here, for sure. Or at least some kind of luck, good or bad.

The workday finally ends and I head down to drop off my music gear downtown. After all, I can’t let my band down. There’s still time before we start playing, so it’s on to the pub for a pint and a sandwich.

 It’s about 30 minutes until we need to start playing. And then my phone rings.

 Now who could that be?

 It’s our guitar player. He’s sick. Stomach problems all day. He can’t imagine playing tonight.

 I tell him to get better and we’ll catch up next week.

 And then my brain goes into the “this is the plan change that you’ve been waiting for all day” mode. You know the kind I’m talking about. I make one more call to my sweetie and get the green light – sure – go ahead, have fun. By 6:15 I’m heading west to the big city.

 And as I’m driving in, it finally kicks in. That memory that got buried finally came out to see the light of day. I now recall that the last time I heard a live version of “Who Can it Be Now?” was at my senior prom, in 1983.

 We’ll just have to update that memory with this new one, and let that soak in.

 By the way, the show was so good, I’m sure the memory will still be there in 2035.

Colin Hay Band

Friday, Aug. 7, 2009

Aladdin Theater

Down by the Sea
I can see it in your eyes
Underground
Catch a Star
Are You Lookin at Me?
Love is Innocent
Wayfaring Sons
Oh California
No Time
I Came into Your Store
Beautiful World
Maggie
There’s Water over You
The end of the Wilhelmina
Prison Time
I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You
Who Can It Be Now?
Broken Love
It’s A Mistake
Overkill
Down Under
Waiting for my Real Life to Begin
Pleased to Almost Meet You
Be Good Johnny

(After 24 songs in a row, who needs an encore!)

P.S. – I grabbed the set list off the stage (from the mosh-pit, of course) so this is the real deal from the band. Check out Colin Hay’s solo stuff – I know I will – and see you at the next show!