The Real Thing…

No elaborate stage setup. No laser light show. No choreographed dancers. No costume changes. No lip syncing. What kind of concert is this? This is the way music should be heard. This is the way Daryl Hall and John Oates do it. This is the Real Thing.

Want an unbiased review of the shows in Atlantic City over this past weekend? Sorry, you won’t get it from me. I’ve been a fan of Hall & Oates since the mid 1970’s. I’ve been to around 100 Hall & Oates shows over the past 23 years. I believe they are the best musicians in the business, have the best band ever and that Daryl Hall’s voice is superior to any other.

With that disclaimer stated (LOL), I’ll tell you about the shows…

The Xanadu Theatre, located in the Trump Taj Mahal, is a fairly small show room with seating for about 1400. The sound system and acoustics were adequate and the volume level was a little lower than average. Both shows were sold out, according to the box office.

The crowds for both shows were typical Casino crowds. Casino comp patrons appeared to be in the center section (that’s where most of the empty seats were). The Hall and Oates fans, both diehards and causal, filled the side sections and rear of the Theatre. This seating arrangement seems standard amongst Casino venues. Prime seats are given to the “high rollers”, or comps, and the “fans” get whatever is left over. However, the seating arrangement rarely keeps the Hall & Oates fans in their seats. Nearly every H&O show in AC is loaded with fans. The Taj shows were no exception.

The set lists for H&O have become pretty predictable over the past several years. Anyone who has attended more than a couple of shows between 1999 and 2002 would probably be familiar with the order of songs. Not every show played during that time has been exactly the same, surprises pop up now and then. However, Friday night was the first show I’ve seen in ages that shook up the set list enough, that I couldn’t recall the order of songs from memory afterwards.

Compared to shows in early 2002 and through nearly all of 2001, the Taj shows had 3 brand new songs plus several old favorites that had not been heard in a while. Both shows also ended with different encore numbers, each a cover of classic Philadelphia songs.

The set lists included;

Rockin’/funkin’ tunes: Want To (from Marigold Sky) and Color Of Love (from John Oates solo album Phunk Shui).

Live favorites: One On One (from H2O), Wait For Me (from XStatic) and Do What You Want, Be What You Are (from Bigger Than Both Of Us)

The Hits: Kiss On My List and You Make My Dreams (from Voices), Maneater (from H2O), Rich Girl (from Bigger Than Both of Us), She’s Gone (from Abandoned Luncheonette), I Can’t Go For That (from Private Eyes)

Other Favs: Adult Education and Say It Isn’t So (from Rock ‘n Soul part 1), Out of Touch (from Big Bam Boom), How Does It Feel To Be Back (from Voices)

The Billboard AC Chart number ONE hit single: Do It For Love (from VH1 Behind The Music)

The brand new single: Forever For You (from the new album to be released in early ’03)

Philly Classic covers: Me and Mrs. Jones (Billy Paul) and Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time (Delphonics)

The songs chosen for these two shows had something for everyone. The show covered most of the span of the Duo’s career. Over thirty years of music, emotion and memories highlighted in just over 100 minutes.

The driving bass beats, soaring electric guitar, smooth saxophone, sparkling key boards and stylish rhythm guitars, created a perfect easel for the flawless vocals that where skillfully created upon it.

The highlight of both shows had to be the new song, Forever For You. The radio version of this song pales in comparison to the live performance. The music is complex and beautiful and the lead vocals (performed by Hall) span the musical scale. Daryl Hall’s voice glides thru an impressive range, from gut level growls to perfectly placed falsetto notes. His voice was crystal clear with unbelievably accurate pitch… flawless. The emotion with which he performed these vocal feats was palpable.

Forever For You was the only song performed, that I recall, on Saturday night that left the audience completely silent for several seconds before erupting in applause.

If you like live music, If you like the REAL thing, Be sure to catch Hall & Oates on tour in 2003!!!

Visit www.hallandoates.com for more information!

The Band;
Daryl Hall – vocals, keyboards, guitars
John Oates – vocals, guitars
T-Bone Wolk – bass guitar, backing vocals
John Korba – keyboards, backing vocals
Mike Braun – drums, percussion
Jeff Catania – lead guitar
Charlie DeChant – saxophone, flute, keys, backing vocals

Go4Soul@worldnet.att.net