Hay has been quietly writing songs and putting out records since his MTV heyday with much success. His song "I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You" appeared on the platinum-selling Garden State soundtrack, and he just released his latest album, Gathering Mercury. Hay has been living in California for the last 20 years or so, and a laid-back West Coast vibe is evident in both his songs and his performances, which are as notable for the tales he spins between songs as the tunes themselves.
Introspective, wry, sly and occasionally salty, and backed up by his deft guitar work, his solo performances (he does play with a band now and again) are equal parts nostalgia and discovery. He still has that trademark, soaring, yelping voice, but it's been tempered by time and has the depth of experience behind it now. Vegemite never sounded so good.
All photos by Kelsey McClure. See more at her Flickr stream.
