Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – Men at Work closed out their A Night Like No Other tour at The United Theater on Broadway. It was a summer night to remember that also included Toad the Wet Sprocket and Shonen Knife. The older generations flocked to catch their favorites, but there were some young children, brought along by their parents (maybe grandparents) who could be seen dancing in the aisles during the start of Shonen Knife’s set.
Men at Work is known as an Australian band, but lead singer Colin Hay became an American citizen in 2016 and currently lives in Los Angeles. He intertwined stories about Los Angeles into the set. He mentioned that he wrote the song “Can’t Take This Town” after he was out on the town and afterwards realized that his car had gotten towed. For movie lovers, he talked about running into Jack Nicholson at a concert. He went up to the actor to say he was a huge fan. Nicholson’s response was, “I can’t hear you.” It all ended well. Hay made his way to the green room and moments later Nicholson entered and told him that he was a fan of the band.
His band includes his wife Cecilia Noël and it made for playful mischievous moments. She was the percussionist and often played two tambourines. Those two tambourines came into comedic use as she freely roamed the stage. There were moments where she’d come up behind her husband and raise the tambourines above his head, making rabbit ears. She later introduced him by saying, “The man I will sleep with tonight.” Hay had his own comedic moments. He talked about walking into a grocery store and hearing “Who Can It Be Now?” playing over the speakers. He told the cashier, “I wrote that song.” She responded, “Do you need a bag?”
Shonen Knife opened up the night. The band had their own like-no-other reason to enjoy the tour. The Japanese cult legends recently re-recorded their 1992 album Let’s Knife – Let’s Knife Re-Cut. It was an album that caught Kurt Cobain’s eye and resulted in the band touring with Nirvana.
The trio came up on stage with arms raised. All three wore matching colorful geometric outfits that reflected the 1960s influences that inspires their music. Their music is also inspired by food. A night out with friends or a date requires going out to the “Sushi Bar Song.” The band admitted their love of candy as it gave them energy. They got the crowd to sing along for the song “Sweet Candy Power.” When the band sang “amai amai amai” the crowd responded with “candy.” In Japanese, the word amai means sweet. The crowd chuckled after the song.
As a perfect mimic of 1960s ethics of the six inch dancing rule, the sisters Naoko Yamano (vocals and guitar) and Atsuko Yamano (vocals and bass) would dance back-to-back, but keeping an amusing distance from each other.
To end the set, the band went metal with the headbanger “Antonio Baka Guy.” It was a song that deservedly sent the band off stage with a standing ovation.
Generation X band Toad the Wet Sprocket took the middle position of the night. Lead singer Glen Phillips mentioned that the first band he ever saw live was Men at Work. Of course, just to be “assholes,” they did a cover of another Australian band INXS’ “Don’t Change.”
With Santa Barbara style, Phillips played the set barefoot. It was as if he were allowing the ocean waters around Santa Barbara to bury his feet in the sand. The United Theater lights crew emphasized the impression as the band played much of the set under lights that looked like stars.
The band still has nearly all their original members from when they started out in 1986. The only original member missing from the group is drummer Randy Guss who had to leave the band due to health reasons. When it came to “Woodburning,” bassist Dean Dinning’s play drove the song forward. Phillips told the audience that grief can be about tragedy, but can also be driven by change. “If you’re not grieving a little, try loving more.” That was the introduction to the song “Transient Whales” that had fans standing and swaying gently to the acoustic beauty of the music. The song “Desire” had the crowd clapping to the beat.
With the crowd standing and cheering after their INXS cover, the band soon launched into the tunes that are seared into the memories of many members of Generation X. They closed out the night with “All I Want” and “Walk on the Ocean” from their 1991 album Fear.
Men at Work setlist: Touching the Untouchables, No Restrictions, Can’t Take This Town, Down by the Sea, I Can See It in Your Eyes, Looking for Jack, Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive, Catch a Star, No Sign of Yesterday, Overkill, It’s a Mistake, Who Can It Be Now?, Down Under, Be Good Johnny.
Toad the Wet Sprocket setlist: Good Intentions, Whatever I Fear, California Wasted, Hold On, Come Down, Woodburning, Transient Whales, Something’s Always Wrong, Desire, Crazy Life, Don’t Change (INXS cover), Fall Down, All I Want, Walk on the Ocean.
Shonen Knife setlist: Buttercup (I’m a Super Girl), Twisted Barbie, Flying Jelly Attack, Vamos Taquitos, Sushi Bar Song, Sweet Candy Power, Banana Chips, Riding on the Rocket, Antonio Baka Guy.
