By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Colin Hay
On April 5, Colin Hay was supposed to perform a show at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, but we all know that that’s not happening now.
On March 24, his management announced, “In response to COVID-19, the Colin Hay Sunday, April 5th, 2020 show at Keswick Theatre, in Glenside, PA has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 7th, 2021.”
It also posted an “IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM COLIN” –
“Hey everyone, Colin here.
“I have been playing across the west this month and as things have progressed, there are obviously increasing health concerns, regarding large crowd gatherings.
“For this reason, in consultation with my booking agent, and promoters, we have decided to postpone all our shows. We are doing this out of respect for the health and welfare of all involved. We are in process of rescheduling.
“I apologize for this, I hate postponing shows, and I look forward to seeing you all at a later and safer date. The only thing I’ll promise, is that the shows will be better, I’ll have a new record, and I’ll make sure my fingers hit the right strings.
“All tickets will be honored at the rescheduled dates.
“Peace and love, Colin”
In a phone interview from his home in Los Angeles prior to the cancellations, Hay said, “I guess I’m still on the tour cycle for ‘Fierce Mercy.’ I haven’t had much time off the last few years and this year is no different.”
In March 2017, Hay released his most recent album “Fierce Mercy” on Compass Records.
“I’m just touring because I haven’t toured by myself for a year-and-a-half. There’s a demand there – so, off I go.
“Last year, I did a lot of touring as a member of Ringo Starr’s band.
“This time, it’s with my band. When you go out on the road, you’re like a traveling salesman trying to sell a record.
“Fierce Mercy,” the singer’s 13th solo release, is an epic, cinematic step forward for Hay, who is known for being a dynamic front man and beloved for his intimate, confessional live shows.
Recorded in both Los Angeles and Nashville and mixed by Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White) and Gordon Hammond (Buddy Miller, Don Williams), “Fierce Mercy” explores themes of love and loss, aging and mortality.
“I recorded the album starting in April 2016,” said Hay. “Most of it was done at my home studio. The strings and some odd overdubs were done in Nashville. It was a ne combination of cities — Nashville and L.A.
“The studio is in the basement of my home in Topanga Canyon. Not a lot of the homes in this part of the world have basements. It’s a good size room. The ceiling is a little low but, as far as a home studio, it’s pretty deluxe. I use ProTools and have nice microphones.
“I’ve been writing with Michael Georgiades for the last three albums. Most of the songs on ‘Fierce Mercy’ were co-writes. We get together, sit in the same room and write. We have a wonderful time.
“With this record, I had a lot of ideas that I put on my iPhone. I listen to them and then sit down and start to work on something. Other times, Michael will call and say – I’ve got something – and then he’d come over.
“He’d have most of the music and just one line of lyrics. He’d keep playing the music and I’d come up with the lyrics. In the end, we’d pick the best of what each other had. All the songs are pretty new.”
Hay, a talented singer/songwriter/guitarist, was born in North Ayrshire, Scotland and emigrated to Australia with his family when he was 14. Then, Hay moved to America and settled in Los Angeles 22 years later.
Casual music fans might not recognize Hay by name but they most likely are familiar with his music.
Almost any music fan over 30 and most fans of classic rock under 30 know that a “land down under” is “where women glow and men plunder.” They know because Colin Hay told them so. Hay was the lead singer of the Australian band Men at Work.
In the early 1980s, the band had major worldwide hits with a trio of songs — “Who Can It Be Now?,” “Overkill,” and “Down Under.”
Now, new material is on the way.
“I’ve got a new record 80 per cent done,” said Hay. “I’ve been co-writing a lot – especially with Michael Georgiades again.”
Video link for Colin Hay — https://youtu.be/XpdUTtt-npI.
Until the COVID-19 pandemic passes, “live” music is, well, “dead.”
But that doesn’t mean that listeners no longer have access to “live” music. Many artists are performing alone and streaming their performances live.
Obviously, there are streams of music available from a variety of sources.
The Philadelphia Orchestra
One source is the Philadelphia Orchestra (https://www.philorch.org), which sent this release:
To maintain and enrich our vital connection to audiences at home and around the world, Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra will offer new ways to engage virtually with the music and musicians of the Orchestra. Through three specific endeavors—WATCH, LISTEN, LEARN—the Virtual Philadelphia Orchestra will fulfill its ongoing commitment to bring music, in video and audio forms, as well as interactive education and enrichment, to audiences. Content will be available at www.philorch.org/virtual.
“We know that now, more than ever, music is an incredibly powerful force for good, for inspiration, and for healing,” said Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. “I am so glad that we can bring the music and the musicians of the Orchestra to our fans virtually, until we meet again in person. I am personally looking forward to staying connected with our beloved audiences near and far during this time.”
“With the incredible reach of the Orchestra’s March 12 concert livestream, it was clear that we needed to respond to the desire to hear and see The Philadelphia Orchestra. The immediate challenge of separation and isolation, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has galvanized the Orchestra’s creativity and resolve to stay connected to the greater Philadelphia Orchestra family,” said Orchestra President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky. “With the extraordinary support of the musicians of the Orchestra, the encouraging embrace of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and the amazing possibilities of technology, we will provide connection, joy, and solace through music for audiences at a time when we all need it most.”
Audiences can watch both past and previously unreleased Philadelphia Orchestra performances every Thursday night at 8 PM ET,
In addition, the Orchestra’s social media followers can enjoy content from Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin as well as solo and small-ensemble performance videos directly from musicians’ homes. Follow and engage with the Orchestra on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @philorch.
Every Friday and Saturday night at 8 PM ET, audiences are invited to listen to previously unreleased audio of Philadelphia Orchestra concerts via the Orchestra’s Listen On Demand platform. On Friday, March 27, hear Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestra’s performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 from May 18–21, 2017. On Saturday, March 28, hear Nézet-Séguin lead Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9 with Daniil Trifonov, the Philadelphia Orchestra premiere of Mason Bates’s Alternative Energy, excerpts from Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus, and Liszt’s Prometheus, performed April 6–9, 2017.
In addition to regularly scheduled Sunday (1 PM ET) and Monday (7 PM ET) programs, broadcast partner WRTI-FM will add an additional weekly Philadelphia Orchestra program to be broadcast Thursdays (7 PM ET on HD-2) and Fridays (1 PM on FM) until June 2020. WRTI’s Gregg Whiteside is producer and host. Information on weekly programming can be found atwww.wrti.org/programs/philadelphia-orchestra-concert.
SiriusXM listeners can continue to tune in to Symphony Hall (channel 76 or player.siriusxm.com) every Monday (7 PM ET), Thursday (12 AM ET), and Saturday (6 PM ET) for Philadelphia Orchestra broadcasts.
National Public Radio (https://www.npr.org) is keeping music alive with its highly-regarded “Live Sessions” (https://livesessions.npr.org/live).
Two are scheduled for the next week — Caleb Caudle on April 4 at 4 p.m. and Jaime Wyatt on April 9 at 7 p.m.
Anna Netrebko
On April 6, you can check out one of the world’s best opera companies perform of one the genre’s most cherished operas featuring one of the world’s greatest sopranos when the Metropolitan Opera presents Verdi’s “Aida” featuring Anna Netrebko. Starting time is 7:30 p.m.
Video link for “Aida” with Anna Netrebko — https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/videos/10162053200260533/.
The Met (www.metopera.org) is offering “Live Opera Streams” nightly with a schedule that this week includes such classics as “Macbeth,” “Don Carlo” and “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” (“The Barber of Seville”).
The schedule for the upcoming week includes Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” on April 7, Verdi’s “Falstaff” on April 8, Wagner’s “Parsifal” on April 9, Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” on April 10, Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” on April 11 and Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” on April 12.
NPR Music is also compiling a list of live audio and video streams from around the world, categorized by date and genre, with links out to streaming platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Some will require registration or a subscription, but most will be free, often with digital tip jars and opportunities to directly support artists by buying music and merchandise.
Some artists — like Ben Gibbard and Christine and the Queens — are planning daily streams.
The schedule for April 4 features a lot of variety.
The Violin Channel Presents (all times ET) — 1 p.m. Violinist Min-Jeong Koh, 3 p.m. Violinist Tomas Cotik, 5 p.m. Violinist Marc Bouchkov; Link: The Violin Channel(https://theviolinchannel.com).
Live from Our Living Rooms Jazz Festival (https://www.livefromourlivingrooms.com/) – Ron Orlofsky, 11:30 a.m.; Adam Rogers, 3 p.m.; Elad Kabilio, 7 p.m.; and Joe Lovano & Judi Silvano, 8 p.m.
Other shows and their links are: Vijay Iyer, 8 p.m., YouTube; American Pianists Awards Jazz @ Home: Sullivan Fortner and Aaron Parks, 8 p.m., Facebook; Light Hustle – All The World’s A Stage: Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Scorzayzee, Natalie Duncan and more, 11 a.m., Facebook; Michael McDermott and The Westies, 6 p.m., Stage It; Luke De Sciscio, 1 p.m., Instagram; Low Cut Connie, 6 p.m., Facebook; Jimmy Buffett, 8 p.m., MargaritavilleTV; and “No Nap Family Happy Hour: Taylor Muse of Quiet Company,” 6 p.m., Facebook.
On April 5, The Violin Channel Presents — 2 p.m. Cellist Andrea Casarrubios at 2 p.m. and Telegraph Quartet at 4 p.m. Live from Our Living Rooms Jazz Festival has Goussy Celestin at 11:30 a.m., Merav ben Horin & Yotam Silberstein at 3 p.m., Ethan Helm & Owen Broder at 7 p.m. and Becca Stevens at 8 p.m.
Other shows and their links are: Christopher Willits at 10 p.m., Envelop Stream; ACM Presents: Our Country: Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Shania Twain and more at 8 p.m., CBS/CBS All Access; World Cafe and Royal Mountain “World Tour:” Ellis, Alexandra Savior at 7 p.m., Instagram; Kids Rock For Kids: Teen band benefit concert to support homeless youth at 4 p.m., Kids Rock For Kids; The Dollyrots at 4 p.m., StageIt; Signature Sounds Parlor Room Home Sessions: Birds of Chicago at 8 p.m., Signature Sounds; Son Little at 2 p.m., https://www.instagram.com/blogotheque/; and Lincoln Center from Home #ConcertsForKids: Sonia De Los Santos at 11 a.m., Lincoln Center / YouTube / Facebook;
On April 6, the schedule for Live from Our Living Rooms Jazz Festival includes Christos & Irini Rafalides at 11:30 a.m., Nolan Byrd & Sirintip at 3 p.m., Tali Rubinstein at 7 p.m. and John Patitucci at 8 p.m. The Violin Channel Presents has violist Luke Fleming at 2 p.m., pianists Gregg Kallor & Dasha Koltunyuk at 4 p.m. and violinist Rachel Lee Priday at 6 p.m.
Other shows and their links are World Cafe and Royal Mountain “World Tour:” Gustaf, Hubert Lenoir at 7 p.m., Instagram; and Lido Pimienta at 1 p.m., Instagram.
On April 7, The Violin Channel Presents features violinist Nancy Zhou at 4 p.m. and violinist Eric Sillberger at 6 p.m. while World Cafe and Royal Mountain “World Tour” is presenting Ducks Unlimited and Say Sue Me at 7 p.m.
Featured shows on April 8 are the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Verdi’s “Falstaff’ at 7:30 p.m. and Lincoln Center (lincolncenter.org) presenting “Lincoln Center from Home #ConcertsForKids: Zeshan B” at 4 p.m.
Celebrated artist Deana Martin takes her audience on a virtual interactive adventure full of new music, laughs, and stories of the past with her signature one-of-a-kind energy in her Facebook Live show on Friday April 3 at 4 p.m. The show features covers of songs by other great performers who shaped popular culture and audience engagement as fans are encouraged to make requests. Martin hosts these interactive performances to comfort fans by keeping them company during times of social distancing and to assure that we are all in this together.
NPR’s list is just the tip of the iceberg.
The internet will be filled with many live streams in all genres over the weekend. There will be something for everyone from toddlers to nonegenarians.
The schedule for April 3 features Fred Hersch, 1 p.m., Facebook; Margaret Glaspy, 1 p.m., Instagram; Zach Abel, 1 p.m., Instagram; Jason Crosby, 2 p.m., Facebook; Miley Cyrus, 2:30 p.m., Instagram; Kash Doll, 3 p.m., Facebook; Hozier, 5 p.m., Facebook; Melissa Etheridge, 6 p .m., Facebook; Christine and the Queens, 3 p.m., Instagram; Vanessa Carlton, 3 p.m., Instagram; Amanda Shires 6:30 p.m., YouTube; Doobie Decimal System, 7:20 p.m., Facebook;
Blue October, 8 p.m., http://blueoctober.com/stageit; The Infamous Stringdusters, 8 p.m., Facebook; David Foster and Katharine McPhee, 8:30 p.m., Instagram; Keys N Krates, 9 p.m., YouTube; Reed Mathis, 10 p.m., Facebook; Questlove, 7 p.m., Instagram; Jeff Tweedy, 10:15 p.m., Instagram; and Diplo, 11 p.m., YouTube.
Upcoming live streaming concerts for April 4 include Fred Hersch, 1 p.m., Facebook; Margaret Glaspy, 1 p.m., Instagram; Zach Abel, 1 p.m., Instagram;
La Blogoteque, 2 p.m., Instagram; Jason Crosby, 2 p.m., Facebook; Miley Cyrus, 2:30 p.m., Instagram; Norman Brannon, 3 p.m., Instagram; Downtown Boys, 5:30 p.m., Instagram; Jackie Greene, 5:45 p.m., Facebook; Melissa Etheridge, 6 p.m., Facebook; Quinn XCII, 6 p.m., Instagram; Christine and the Queens, 3 p.m., Instagram; Vanessa Carlton, 3 p.m., Instagram; Amanda Shires 6:30 p.m., YouTube; Doobie Decimal System, 7:20 p.m., Facebook; Ben Gibbard, 7 p.m., Facebook; The Infamous Stringdusters, 8 p.m., Facebook; David Foster and Katharine McPhee, 8:30 p.m., Instagram; The Aces, 9 p.m., http://www.stageit.com/UMF-Fender; Keys N Krates, 9 p.m., YouTube; Reed Mathis, 10 p.m., Facebook; Questlove, 7 p.m., Instagram; Jeff Tweedy, 10:15 p.m., Instagram; Diplo (DJ), 11 p.m., YouTube;
The schedule for April 5 includes 3Lau, 1:30 a.m., https://arep.co/p/digitalmirage; Fred Hersch, 1 p.m., Facebook; Margaret Glaspy, 1 p.m., Instagram; Zach Abel, 1 p.m., Instagram; The Kennedys Live-Streaming Concert #4, 2 p.m., https://youtu.be/T2g2CPr3O_c; La Blogoteque, 2 p.m., Instagram; Jason Crosby, 2 p.m., Facebook; Miley Cyrus, 2:30 p.m., Instagram; Norman Brannon, 3 p.m., Instagram; Silverstein, 4 p.m., http://www.facebook.com/SilversteinMusic; Major Lazer, 4 p.m., https://smarturl.it/AVeryLazerSunday; Downtown Boys, 5:30 p.m., Instagram; Jackie Greene, 5:45 p.m., Facebook; Melissa Etheridge, 6 p.m., Facebook; Quinn XCII, 6 p.m., Instagram; Christine and the Queens, 3 p.m., Instagram; Vanessa Carlton, 3 p.m., Instagram; Amanda Shires 6:30 p.m., YouTube; Doobie Decimal System, 7:20 p.m., Facebook; Ben Gibbard, 7 p.m., Facebook; Carrie Underwood, 8 p.m., https://www.cbs.com/all-access/?ftag=AAM6d13ff2; The Infamous Stringdusters, 8 p.m., Facebook; David Foster and Katharine McPhee, 8:30 p.m., Instagram; Keys N Krates, 9 p.m., YouTube; Reed Mathis, 10 p.m., Facebook; Questlove, 7 p.m., Instagram; Diplo, 11 p.m., YouTube; and Jeff Tweedy, 10:15 p.m., Instagram.
The return of live music will happen, but no-one knows when.
The folks at Union Transfer, which is one of Philly’s premier live venues, posted the following message:
“Hello from Isolation !
Believe it or not, we’re hard at work! Back at Union Transfer Stay-At-Home Headquarters, we’re busy sending lots of emails back and forth to all the bands and their managers and agents and whatnot because we all know that Live Music will happen again! The big question is: when?
Searching for the answer, we’ve summoned witches, cast spells, read tarot cards & the I-Ching & the farmers almanac, asked the stars and the cosmos, gazed into the crystal ball and the magic 8-ball, and, believe it or not, the very best source of information on the subject is our federal, state, and local governments. The answer at this point is: “we’ll have to wait and see.”
So, this uncertainty presents a problem for us whose job it is to plan in advance gatherings of large groups of people, AKA pretty much the very thing that the public is not supposed to be doing during this unprecedented global pandemic.
With that in mind, we proudly present to you this peak at the returning normalcy of the future – our latest and most up-to-date live music calendar, a work in progress that will almost certainly change more as time goes on.”
The updated calendar for Union Transfer includes: Delta Rae, Frances Cone, Carrie Welling Fri 7/17; Caribou. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Wed 10/21; Squarepusher, Tues 11/24; Murder By Death, Amigo The Devil, Sat 7/25; Blue October, Fri 7/31; Joywave, Kenny Hoopla, Thur 8/27; Best Coast, Wed 9/16; Waxahatchee, Ohmme, Mon 10/5; Diet Cig (moved to First Unit. Church), Sad13, Thin Lips, Wed 11/4; La Roux (Moved To Underground Arts), Sat 11/21; Jojo, Mon 11/23; King Krule, Lucy, Fri 12/11; Andy Shauf, Thur 12/17.
Locally, Philadelphia’s Theatre Ariel (https://www.facebook.com/142855292419311/videos/214618226439141/) is bringing live theater to your living space starting with “Ethics of the Fathers!”
The theater offered this message:
Thank you for “tuning” into our first Live Stream of “Ethics of the Fathers!”
We’re so grateful that we have the technology to keep us connected to each other through the power of storytelling in these uncertain times.
If you missed the show or want to watch again, click the buttons below to view the live recording.
Stay tuned for more info on future live stream performances and info on Jesse Bernstein’s newest play, “The Scribe.”
https://www.facebook.com/142855292419311/videos/214618226439141/.
