Wednesday, August 02, 2000

Savage desire

Fans scream for more Savage Garden

TORONTO -- With just two albums under his belt, Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes has already learned one of the most important rules in show business: Always leave them wanting more.

 So it went last night at the Molson Amphitheatre as the flamboyant Hayes and his smiling, if more restrained, partner -- multi-instrumentalist Daniel Jones -- turned in a fun and heartfelt 90-minute show that literally had the fans screaming for more.

 About 11,000 people turned out for the Aussie pop duo's appearance -- one of the biggest crowds at the waterfront venue this summer -- in support of their second multi-platinum album, Affirmation.

 And, just so you know, it wasn't all young girls. Although they certainly were the most vocal and boisterous of the diverse crowd, with their specially-made signs, glow-in-the-dark-accessories, Australian flags and general enthusiasm whenever Hayes or Jones turned their attention to them. (Like when Hayes grabbed a young girl out of the audience during the new song Hold Me to sing to her on his knees and then lead her over to Jones for a kiss on the cheek. He even allowed her to take their pictures.)

 "I can feel you!" Hayes at one point told the crowd. "You feel fantastic!"

 Something tells me there were more than a few people who wanted to feel him and Jones.

 Initially, however, it was Savage Garden's wild-looking and elaborate lighting rig that got the audience's attention as a rainbow of colours dominated a backdrop made up of separate squares.

 But after a relatively quiet start, which even saw Hayes and Jones strip down to just vocals and piano for four songs -- I Don't Know You Anymore, Santa Monica, Two Beds And A Coffee Machine and You Can Still Be Free/ Imagine -- the duo and their six-piece band finally hit full stride in the concert's second half.

 A lot of it had to do with Hayes' sweet, often thrilling voice.

 On the other hand, his outfit of black leather pants, black mesh shirt and orange tank-top -- and the way he moved his tiny, muscular body around the stage -- didn't hurt either.

 The audience responded the loudest during The Animal Song, Hold Me, Gunning Down Romance -- complete with steamy, dramatic dance moves by Hayes and one of the two female backup singers -- Crash And Burn, and the ultimate fan favourites Truly Madly Deeply, I Want You and I Knew I Loved You.

 All this and Hayes admitted to swallowing a bug mid-song.

 Generally though, the performance was toned down from the slightly campier Savage Garden show at the same venue almost exactly two years ago.

 I say only slightly because last night's first encore song, Chained To You, saw Hayes and the two female backup singers perform some hilarious choreographed dance moves in white leather outfits worthy of a Las Vegas revue.

 This time, however, there were no disco balls. Or fur.

Set List