Sober Colin Hay plans to surprise us
Button-lipped on whats in store, Men at Works Colin Hay will play Saturday at the Keswick and hes asking the audience to dress for the occasion.
It might be be "Overkill," but musician Colin Hay is asking folks coming to his concert Saturday to spiff it up a bit.
"I don't want any shorts in the front row," he said.
The Scottish-Australian singer/songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead vocalist of Men at Work, will perform at 8 p.m. at the Keswick Theatre (291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside).
He wouldn't share details of the performance, but it will feature stuff from his 12th solo album, "Next Year People."
He promised that if you make the effort, he will.
"It will be a night well-spent getting up off the sofa, so I think instead of wearing what you've got on, I'd put some thought into it," he said, smiling.
Hay has been to Philly many times and said that one of his favorite things is heading out late at night ISO the best cheesesteak he can find.
Once a boozehound, Hay said he's quit drinking, the better to walk around the cities on his tour, taking in the sights.
"I did drink a lot for a long time, so I'm taking this opportunity to walk around cities that I never really walked around [in] before because I was hung over," he said.
Of his drinking days, he observed, "It's funny how those things creep up on you. All of a sudden you're in a state you don't really want to be in. So you have to do something about it."
Hockey kin name-checked
Before tonight's hockey game between the Flyers and the Washington Capitals, there will be a national launch celebration for a new children's book that name-checks two NHL kids.
Drop the Puck, Shoot for the Cup features two young girls who have made the boys' team - "Avery," named after Flyers' head coach Dave Hakstol's daughter Avery, and "Paisley," named after former Minnesota Wild defenseman Jordan Leopold's daughter.
The book is by Jayne Jones, with illustrations by Katrina Dohm.
HughE in the spotlight
Celebrity photog HughE Dillon is usually watching - and snapping away at - those in the spotlight, the better to feed his star-hungry audience of 11,000 Instagram followers and 22,000 Twitter followers.
This weekend, though, HughE gets the attention, and it's well deserved.
He'll be honored during the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Greater Philadelphia Chapter 2015 gala Saturday at 6 p.m., at the Loews Philadelphia (1200 Market St.).
Fox 29's Alex Holley will serve as the mistress of ceremonies as HughE receives the Lifesaver of the Year Award, a humanitarian distinction for those who've helped end the silence and stigma of suicide and mental health issues.
HughE has volunteered with AFSP for the last five years.
VIP and general admission tickets are still available, starting at $100. (For more on HughE's moving personal journey, see my Inquirer colleague Elizabeth Wellington's story on philly.com.)
A local 'Hotel Hell'
The Brick Hotel (1 Washington Ave., Newtown) will get the dubious distinction of a Gordon Ramsay makeover on his Fox 29 show "Hotel Hell," which profiles inns and hotels in need of drastic overhauls.
The Brick is currently taking dinner and overnight guest reservations for Sunday through Thursday, when the show will be taping.
No guarantees, but you might get a chance to be on TV.
The episode will air as part of the third season.
On Twitter: @RuffTuffDH