Daryl Hall’s project, “Live from Daryl’s House” went from a simple online podcast to one of the more popular music programs on TV today. Currently, it is featured on the MTV Live channel (formerly Palladia.) Creating the show, and introducing himself to the digital age, really rejuvenated Hall’s career. He has welcomed a variety of artists to the show ranging from Robby Krieger of the Doors to Smokey Robinson. He has also tapped into the new wave of musical talent by showcasing artists such as Aloe Blacc and Kandace Spring. Recently, Hall decided to take the outfit live on the road to perform these intimate engagements. This past weekend he invited Buffalo native, Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, to play both the Seneca Niagara and Seneca Allegany Casinos.
The setup was exactly like you see on the TV show, giving that warm and cozy feeling. Hall took the stage with pretty much the same band Hall & Oates use as their backing band: Klyde Jones on bass, Charles DeGrant on percussion, Shane Theriot on guitar and Eliot Lewis on keyboards. They played the first two songs of the evening before Rzeznik made his appearance.
Both Hall and Rzeznik played off of each other and shared stories throughout the evening. Rzeznik commented on the song “Broadway,” which he said was written about his time living on the east side of Buffalo, NY. He also joked to Hall about how all of his friends hate his songs (laughs). He also explained how the song “Come to Me” was the deal sealer in getting his then girlfriend to become Mrs. Rzeznik. The song “Rebel Beat” was one of the more upbeat tracks played during the Allegany show.
When you watch the show on TV it always includes a cooking segment. Since Rzeznik appeared on the show back in 2011, the band exited the stage and they showed the clip from that episode of him making chicken wings.
Hall talked about how he remembered hearing himself on the radio for the first time and Rzeznik responded about how he envisions hearing his songs; being in a supermarket later at night where he is picking up dog food and the aisles are being mopped and then he hears his song comes over the radio.
I was glad I got to see the show in a live setting. Though I’m not sure how it felt to others, I thought the venue was too large for such an intimate performance. I think a smaller setting is key to enjoying the full impact of the show. However, both Hall and Rzeznik really seemed to enjoy playing with each other so who knows, maybe they will do some more shows in this type of setting and perhaps scale down the room sizes a tad more.
Setlist:
Bring it On Home to my House (Daryl Hall song)
Bank on Your Love (Hall & Oates song)
Slide (Goo Goo Dolls song)
Did it in a Minute (Hall & Oates song)
Broadway (Goo Goo Dolls song)
Some Things better Left Unsaid (Hall & Oates song)
Baby Come to Me (Hall & Oates song)
Guessing Games (Hall & Oates song)
Rebel Beat (Goo Goo Dolls song)
Iris (Goo Goo Dolls song)
You Make my Dreams (Hall & Oates song)
Encore:
Home (Goo Goo Dolls song)
Kiss on my List (Hall & Oates song)
Private Eyes (Hall & Oates song)
