It’s coming up to six years since Savage Garden called it a day – well, when one half of the duo whom nobody knew the name of, wanted the quiet life, leaving singer Darren Hayes to carry the Savage Garden torch alone. You see, Savage Garden never really disbanded. How can a band of two members constitute as a split when the likes of The Verve have a greater man count? Besides, you couldn’t tell a Savage Garden record apart from a Darren Hayes one.

Swiftly moving forward to 2007, Darren has got two albums under his belt, is responsible for penning the unmistakeable single ‘Insatiable’ (tell me one other song that doesn’t sound like the singer is making love to you) and is gearing up for the release of his third solo effort.

Tonight is the final night of Darren’s short-term residence at the newly named Soho Revue Bar (formerly known as the Raymond Revue Bar) and like the previous nights, this one is a private invitation to a select number of fans and press bodies. 

If you ever fall upon the chance of visiting this club, be aware it’s sandwiched in the darkest side streets of Soho and with the rain drizzling tonight, it looks all the more out of place amongst the strip bars, nude shows and dirty video shops. Like really dirty. Inside, there are tiered red-leather banquettes descending to a walnut coloured dance floor, poles to either side of the main room and a bar with Swarovski crystals sparkling. Sounds horrific but looks pretty classy.

On the day of Gay Pride, which Darren had earlier headlined at, the honoury pommie takes to the stage in a black suit, accessorised by an eye-catching red belt. Launching into ‘Bombs Up in my Face’ complete with thought-provoking lyrics (well, Hayes isn’t one to mince his words), the crowd embrace it with enthusiasm. Meanwhile I’m hard pushed to find a Brit amongst the home crowd of antipodeans.

Listening to Hayes, there is no doubt he is stuck in an 80s time-warp – after all, he dedicated ‘Crush (1980 ME)’ to the decade. Heavy on the synthesisers, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it’s a brave choice which has worked to his advantage and his set list for tonight is a treat.

Dropping in new material such as the oddly titled yet heart-felt ‘How To Build a Time Machine’, Hayes makes time for favourites ‘The Tension and the Spark’ and Pop!ular’ with a cheeky nod at Falco's 'Rock Me Amadeus' wedged in between. Personally the highlight of the set is a contemporary take on Savage Garden’s first single ‘I Want You’ though an acoustic version of ‘Insatiable’ comes a close second.

Hayes is drenched in sweat and doesn’t bother to change his shirt, instead powering all his energy into the generous 75 minutes he’s on stage for. The intimacy of the room plays no havoc either to his dancing abilities, which only eggs the crowd on even more and the banter in between is witty but the outstanding quality is his voice, carrying off falsettos effortlessly.

This Delicate Thing We’ve Made will be Darren’s third solo effort out next month with a full tour to follow. If tonight’s shindig is anything to go by, catching Darren Hayes live is a risk worth taking.  To see him this close up is something special.

(4/5)

Photos: Afsheen Shaikh