Daryl Hall talks playing the hits and why he isn’t ready to retire
ATLANTA — One of the most reliable outings of the summer comes from Daryl Hall and John Oates.
Armed with one of pop music’s brawniest catalogs — they might need a full day to perform all of their hits — the duo is still rolling out its shimmery soul (“She’s Gone,” “Maneater”), ’80s-slick pop (“Out of Touch”) and even a new song — “Philly Forget Me Not,” their new collaboration with tour mates Train — on their current tour.
Recently, Hall, 71, chatted from one of his residences in Charleston, South Carolina, about choosing tour mates, his venerated music show, “Live From Daryl’s House,” and why he doesn’t want to hear the word “retirement.”
Q: You’ve had some great acts on the road with you the past few summers — the late, great Sharon Jones, and last year Tears for Fears. Who makes those decisions?
A: I like to choose — I don’t let others choose. We had Sharon because I really liked Sharon and thought she was great. Tears for Fears, I didn’t know them, but I thought their music was compatible.
And Train, they go back to (singer) Pat (Monahan) being a friend of mine. We’ve been sort of in contact (lately), and as soon as I needed to decide who to go out with, they were my first choice. Pat is a great guy. He’s easy to work with.
Q: A lot of artists — like Elton John and Paul Simon — have announced that they’re making their final runs. How much longer do
you see yourself out on the road?
A: I don’t know, as long as I like doing it. I don’t understand announcing retirement. I don’t get it. It’s weird. I ain’t buying it. They have their reasons, but I don’t share them. It’s one thing I can do that I completely control my own environment. It’s good energy; physically it’s good. I’m a singer, man. I like to get in front of people and sing. It works for me just fine. I don’t love going out for long periods of time, but it’s all part of the game.
Q: You have a rather stable set list. Do you think you’ll make any tweaks for this tour? How do you determine what songs to play?
A: I have the good old problem, the high-class problem of too many songs that people need to hear — not just want, they need. I could fill two sets! It’s hard to pick the obligatory songs, and (perform them) within a certain time limit. I try and throw things in and change things up within the songs, maybe change the instrumentation. I think that doing the end of the show with (Train singer) Pat (Monahan) will give the show a different feel.
Q: Are there songs you’d like to play, but don’t feel as if the audience would appreciate them as much as you and John might?
A: It becomes about whether I have to throw out a song that they demand. What am I gonna do, not play “Sara Smile”? That’s what I do on (monthly webcast) “Live From Daryl’s House.” I always tell my artists on the show, I’m not into doing the same old, same old. That’s my outlet for doing those things.