7/17: Colin Hay at the Beachland

He easily could have devolved into a novelty act by now, prancing around to “Down Under” with a makeshift version of Men at Work. To his credit, Colin Hay has chosen (usually) to emphasize his better attributes — specifically his roots as an accomplished singer-songwriter. As fans have long argued, Men at Work were never merely a product of the world’s fascination with cartoonish Australians and vegemite sandwiches. Hay (who was actually born in Scotland) penned a string of excellent pop songs during his ’80s heyday, including “Who Can It Be Now,” “Overkill” and “It’s a Mistake.” After Men at Work’s demise, he began a modest but consistent solo career, earning new fans with his clever, often humorous folk-pop narratives. Hay’s profile has actually increased in recent years, thanks to some quirky and memorable TV cameos — most notably a few featured appearances on Scrubs. His next solo album, American Sunshine, is due later this summer, but his current tour still includes plenty of the old radio hits, often re-imagined as simple acoustic tunes. As for that reunion with the original Men at Work lineup? Not bloody likely. Former bandmate Ron Strykert was arrested earlier this year for supposedly making death threats against Hay. Croiky! The show starts at 8 p.m. with Greg Townson opening at the Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124). Tickets: $20. — Andrew Clayman