Daryl Hall Solo....Soon....

Sometimes a thought or idea for a blog article just hits me...from out of the blue.  For days now I've been trying to think up a clever way to segue into my reviews of the Hall & Oates shows last week in California.  To be honest, I've got nothing.  I mean, I know what I want to say...how wonderful they were and how great it was to see fans from the west coast, etc etc.....but the delivery...that's what I am undecided on.

So I was reading one of my favorite publications a few moments ago (Goldmine for inquiring minds) and I decided that what I was really itching and longing to discuss is Daryl's upcoming solo album.  While there is still no solid information available out there right now regarding title, track list, special guest appearances...yada, yada, yada.  I simply cannot wait to hear this thing!  What we DO know is that it will be released in the first quarter of 2011 and that it will be on the Verve label.  Everything else is pure speculation.  And I say speculation is GOOD!!  It gets the blood pumping and the mind moving.  I mean, seriously, how awesome would it be to get a Daryl album picking up where Can't Stop Dreaming left off.  A full size serving of soulful, jazzy smoothness from the golden voice himself.  I swoon at the thought!  

It's been 15 years since Can't Stop Dreaming was released to Japanese audiences.  Hmmm...coincidence that H&O are headed to Japan in early 2011??  A lot has happened in Daryl's creative world since then.  And that's to be expected of course.  We'd be fools to think he was in the same creative place or working with the same producers and writers for that matter.  I can't help but thinking this album will take on a "rock-ier" feel given the direction of Live From Daryl's House and it's appeal to the younger crowd.  

And now to tie in one of my experiences from last weeks H&O shows in CA.  The set's from the first two shows included a song which is in my "Top 5" Hall & Oates tracks.  D & J cracked "Method of Modern Love" out of the cedar chest and played that sucker as if it were 1985.  Pure bliss ran through me and the track sounded better than ever!  You could see the elation on D's face.  I've always thought that "Method" was the quintessential Daryl song...even though it was written by he and Jana Allen...I think the thoughts and lyrics scream Daryl.  If someone were to ask me to name a song that defines Daryl and speaks to what he is about...it's this one, hands down.  Now, if he'd only lose the guitar....





  

Live in JAPAN!!!! Part 1



John Oates - Big Bam Boom Tour

2011 is bringing along with it some great news for Japanese Hall & Oates fans!  Daryl & John will be heading to Japan for a 5 date tour at the beginning of the year.  They'll be making stops in Osaka, Aichi and Tokyo after a 5 year absence.  Although John has had solo gigs in Japan as recently as 2009 it's obviously been quite some time since the fellas have performed there as a duo. 

Japanese die-hard fans are already chomping at the bit for the opportunity to purchase tickets to these shows.  Daryl & John have long been a popular band in Japan.  Their introduction to this country and it's pop-loving culture was via a 5-date tour in February of 1980.  Hall & Oates travelled to the east numerous times in the 1980's including a 7-date tour in 1982, a 9-date tour in 1984, 8 dates in 1985 and perhaps most well known, the 9-date ooh yeah! tour in 1988.  The band continued to tour there through the 90's and early 2000's.  Both Daryl and John have toured there numerous times on a solo basis as well.  



Tour book from the 1980 Japan Tour.

 One of H&O's frequently played venues happens to be the Nippon Budokan Arena, better known more simply as "Budokan".  This arena is located in the center of Tokyo and was originally built in the 1960's for use in the 1964 Summer Olympics. I should also mention that in 1966 the Beatles were the first music act/concert to appear at this arena.   

Back to the 80's...Daryl and John spent a slew of time there and also appeared in countless Japanese magazines and television specials.  They were on the cover of the popular Music Life magazine 3 times and were featured in many issues.  United States magazines typically used official press photos and tended to recycle the same images over and over.  The photo spreads found in these Japanese magazines are unparalleled.  You seriously can't find anything even remotely close to this in the US.   



A Day With Hall & Oates



One interesting spread published by Music Life was entitled "A Day With Hall & Oates".  It featured numerous photos and comments from the band backstage prior to one of the gigs while on the Big Bam Boom tour.  The pictorial gives fans a rare glimpse as to what happened behind the scenes back in those days.  Of course, these pics were taken prior to the concert....there really is no telling what went on after the show!  Even still....these types of shots are not even remotely like anything ever printed in the US....at least not that I have found. 

The photos show band members chatting before the show, John Oates stretches and checks his appearance in the mirror, and Daryl sips on a beverage while relaxing on the sofa.  Check out Daryl's perfectly coiffed hair, Charlie De Chant's wild suit and John's painted-on leather pants! 



John & GE check out an acoustic guitar.









Daryl signs autographs as John checks
himself out in the mirror.







Live Updates From The Road!

6 days to go and all the bags are packed!!!  I think this is the first time I have ever been this prepared for a trip...and quite frankly it's a little scary!  Still tweaking our itinerary on a daily basis to maximise our time on the west coast.  Pretty sure everything is narrowed down at this point.  Some of our stops include Hearst Castle, Pier 39 in San Francisco, walking the Golden Gate Bridge, Disneyland, and a whole bunch more!!!

I've decided that I am going to post video updates from the road at every chance I get.  I'll include the whole trip...not just H&O moments...although those are the best!!  I'll post the videos here and on my Facebook page so they'll be easy to find and follow.  Videos will begin next Sunday AM so stay tuned!!!

9 Day Countdown to Cali BEGINS!



Steve & Darren in front of Artisan.



I am officially on the 9 Day Countdown to my trip to CA for

the H&O west coast tour.  I am really starting to get excited now.  I've had so much going on at home that I haven't had too much time to think about it.  Realizing today that I am 9 days out has really made the buzzer go off in my head.  So YEA for that!!! 

Jimmy and I have pretty much decided on all of our activities...as of right now that is.  One stop on our agenda is a shop in Venice Beach called Artisan.  This particular outlet is ripe with the fruit of local Venice artists.  And by fruit I, of course, mean ART!!  Artisan is owned and operated by none other than Darren Hall and his business partner Steve Avila.  Their shop boasts a wide array of paintings, drawings, photography, jewelry and glass sculpture.  On select evenings you can even enjoy local musicians including the owners...after all, they are artist's too!

Artisan has a website which will be expanded in the coming months.  Visit ArtisanVenice.com to sample some of the gorgeous pieces that are currently available.  According to Darren Hall, the shop will soon be moving to a larger space that will include a coffee shop and cafe!  Hoping to catch one of Darren's gigs while we are in town...and at the very least I hope they are not moving while we are there.  Now check out Darren and this acoustic ditty!

New Album From Eliot Lewis - Keyboardist w/ H&O

Eliot has a really great new album out called 6 & One!  I do hope that you folks will check it out!  I swear you won't be disappointed! 

Here's a sneak peek at one of the tracks on the album called "Lost"! 



Hall Had A Hold On Smokey

Photo Courtesy LFDH.com.

If you are a current H&O fan you are familiar with Live From Daryl's House...and you also know that Smokey Robinson was a guest on LFDH a few months back.   Smokey Robinson and The Miracles  brought us such tracks as "Tracks of My Tears", "Ooo Baby Baby" and "Tears of a Clown". 

The LFDH appearance isn't the first time Daryl has chosen to feature Smokey's music in a show, however.  Hall & Oates fans will recognize a number of Smokey & The Miracles songs from H&O shows in the late 70's and early 80's!  Daryl and John used a couple tracks as segues into their own newly crafted songs and a funky band medley.

One of my favorite examples of this uber-cool tactic is the use of "You've Really Got a Hold On Me" to build up into "Ennui On The Mountain".  The arrangement works so well with these two songs you'd think they were from the same album!  Take a listen:







Daryl and John continued to pay homage to Smokey through the 80's as well!  If you were lucky enough to rock out at a show in 1982 you would have been treated to "Going To A Go-Go" as a lead in to an oldies medley.  That medley included Daryl on lead vocals for "Going To A Go-Go", T-Bone Wolk on bass and lead vocals for "I Like It Like That", G.E. Smith's lead guitar on an instrumental version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", Mickey Curry's fierce drum solo on "Wipe Out" and last but not least, John Oates lead vocals on "Funky Broadway". 







For good measure I thought that I would add Daryl and Smokey singing "Sara Smile" and "Ooh Baby Baby".  I think Daryl's respect and admiration for Smokey are quite evident here.  This really puts the influence that Smokey had on Daryl's music into perspective. 

Eliot Lewis - 6 & One

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Eliot's brand new CD is now available!!! You can snag 6 & One from Eliot's website.  CLICK HERE!