Review: Hall & Oates – Live at the Troubadour DVD

Rather than do the typical promotional rodeo, Daryl Hall and John Oates appeared on “The Daily Show” of all places, delivering a soulful tribute to liberal pundit/sock puppet Alan Colmes. Playfully dubbing the words to their hit “She’s Gone” for “He’s Gone” and gamely delivering it in person was a smooth bit of self-deprecation, right up there with Billy Idol crooning about the tax code on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”

In their prime they were as ubiquitous as oxygen, thanks to an obscene run of top-charting pop tunes that covered every conceivable angle of the human experience short of pumping gas or getting a prostate exam. Now in the late stretch of their careers even they acknowledge that “She’s Gone” is the farewell tune that must be played, with or without irony.

It seems a wasted opportunity that they recorded a concert DVD back in May instead of now, flush with the winnings of their comedic gamble. Instead this two hour show at the Troubadour is solid enough to earn smiles from fans and shrugs from casual listeners.

Music from the 1980′s has a sound. Hall and Oates played a major role in defining it. Rather than wholeheartedly embracing that legacy, the songs have been rearranged for a more traditional onstage lineup. The effortless harmonies are still the backbone of the hits, but they’re missing the crisp counterpoint of artificial instrumentation. It’s always been part of their charm, perhaps their trademark to refit cold synth into blue-eyed soul. The youthful bounce is here in rhythm only, and the duo stays a little too laid-back. It’s a good show, but it isn’t a rock show. They want to give the crowd their money’s worth, as seasoned performers do. Still, it would have been nice to see them loosen up a little bit more and throw a little of that reverb back in the mix.

That’s not to say the flip in dynamic is a total wash. Ballads like “Abandoned Luncheonette” and, yes, “She’s Gone” improve with an intimate sound and setting. The apparent years on Hall’s voice add a touch of weariness that cuts nicely into the melodies and narratives. Songcraft is the main attraction here, more faithful than retro, so don’t expect any gags with giant drum sets or starch-white summer suits.

The disc also contains two polite solo interviews with the front men. Not much is revealed, but longtime aficionados should enjoy seeing the stark contrast between the artists play out.

Buy Blu-Ray for 18.99 here

Written by Artie