Review Scene: The APIA Good Times Tour – Mental As Anything, Black Sorrows, Colin Hay & Deborah Conway, Hamer Hall – 26th May 2017

Deborah Conway & Willie Zygier opened the show, with members of the Black Sorrows as their backing band (John McCall – keys, Tony Floyd – drums, Mark Gray – bass). They brought out their daughters to do backing vocals on some songs. It was great to hear some old and new songs. It was also nice to see more female artists included in the APIA tour.

It was great to see Vika & Linda Bull back with the Black Sorrows, it was as they’d never left. Joe Camilleri was in fine form, playing guitar and saxophone.

Colin Hay is a funny bugger. His act consisted of stories, as well as songs. Topics ranged from being recognised on the street, to the Grammy awards, drugs and goats. Accompanied by just solo guitar, the Men at Work hits “Overkill” and “I Come from a Land Down Under” were spectacular.

Mental As Anything played hit after hit (The Nips Are Getting Bugger, Live It Up, Come Around, If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too…) as well as their new song “Luckiest Player”. Their energy and enthusiasm were infectious.

The highlight of the night was the full ensemble gathering for the finale of a song from each of the acts. “Rock N Roll Music” by Mentals, “Only the Beginning” by Deborah Conway, “Who Can it Be Now?” by Colin Hay & “Shape I’m In” by the Black Sorrows. The finale was the Easybeats hit “Friday on My Mind”.

Melbourne’s Hamer Hall is a great place for a show like this, especially as it was a home town gig for everyone, but Mentals.