It has been a while since I chatted to musician Leo Sayer but the other day we caught up for a chat about his new album ‘Restless Years’ and about his present tour of the album.
The name Leo means ‘Lion’ and Leo is certainly a Lion in roaring out his views on topics he is passionate about. Leo’s surname ‘Sayer’ is also well ‘suited’, (pardon the pun). Its origin is in silk weaving and one could say Leo has woven a successful career out if his silken voice.
The name Sayer is also associated with ‘the profession of a professional reciter, one whose occupation was’ to read or recite both prose and poetry’ ( http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Sayer ) and indeed, Leo has been reciting in song to us since the 70’s.
Singing as strong as ever, Leo is revelling in his extensive tour and looking forward to visiting Tasmania where the Country Club patrons’ love their music and fun’, and Wrest Point were ‘the lighting is great’.
On the tour Leo has established a special interplay and interaction with the audiences, even the hecklers! It means that every night audiences will be treated to something slightly different with lots of surprises including his increasing use of the harmonica!
The shows, in Leo’s words are ‘very malleable’ and forever evolving and since Tassie is the last stop on the present tour it should host the best shows of the tour as evidenced from Leo himself viewing some of the shows recorded on the tour. He has noted a growing polished performance. Leo has much admiration for his band who perform solos in the concert to showcase their talent.
After his part in last year’s incredibly successful ‘APIA Good Times’ tour Leos’ many fans wanted to see him present a full set of his own music and so this tour answers that request with at least 5 of the songs from his new album as well as inclusion of all his much loved songs from his career. One of the songs from the former is the wonderful ‘How did we get so old’ that not only looks at the rapidness of time but also the positive factors of growing older such as the wisdom it gives us to impart to others but also how as a nation we tend to worship youth when we should consider also the great wisdom we can gain from those that are older. Leo also emphasises the great wisdom that can be gained from our indigenous population and value their hindsight as he refers to in his song as’ A Pot of Gold’.
Leo says he would love to do an annual tour as well as visit New Zealand but for now…
You can see Leo on his Tasmania tour on:
Saturday 11th April 2015 at Launceston Country Club
Sunday 12th April 2015 at Wrest Point Casino Hobart.
Paula Xiberras
