Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The creative partnership of Daryl Hall & John Oates is in no danger of slowing down, but every once in awhile, the principal players take a collaboration break and see what’s in store on the solo side.

For singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist Hall, it means a chance to explore the recent “BeforeAfter” retrospective, covers of others and his take on quite a few from the best-selling musical duo of all time.

Along with a six-piece band, the headliner set up a traveling version of his “Live From Daryl’s House” set inside the versatile and venerable Hard Rock Live, tapping into the spontaneous spirit of the popular webcast turned television show, which practically paved the way for artists all across the internet to stream performances.

Nonetheless, there was nothing like seeing the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer in the flesh, who at 76, continues to be a distinctively soulful singer, committed to adventurous arrangements of his own “Dreamtime” and “Foolish Pride,” plus the pair’s “Out Of Touch” and “Say It Isn’t So.”

“I’m In A Philly Mood” brought a slice of Hall’s geographical roots to Gary, Indiana, while “Everytime You Go Away,” eventually covered by England’s Paul Young, made for another significant breath of blue-eyed soul.

A stripped down “Here Comes The Rain Again” served as a nod to the Eurythmics, another prominent pair who reached similar heights throughout the 1980s, followed by fellow MTV favorites “Sara Smile” and “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do).”

The encore was even more magnetic as longtime collaborator and friend, Todd Rundgren, helped interpret Hall & Oates’ “Wait For Me” as a chilling ballad and had the favor returned during “Can We Still Be Friends.”

Their shared influence of The Delfonics’ “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” was an added bonus, prior to Hall tackling “You Make My Dreams” and making sure they all came true for an elated Hard Rock crowd.

Rundgren, 75, also plowed through a power hour and some change of his own, backed by the same players, for a innovative overview of power pop, psychedelic and progressive material that belatedly but deservedly landed him in the Rock Hall as well.

They included the shiny start of “Real Man” and “Love Of The Common Man,” ballads such as “I Saw The Light” and “Hello It’s Me,” a guitar-fueled jam through the experimental “Black Maria,” plus a few R&B remakes, making the acclaimed artist/A-list producer impossible to pinpoint, but just as easy to admire.  

For additional information on Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren, visit DarylHall.com and Todd-Rundgren.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana include 
“Invincible: A Glorious Tribute To Michael Jackson” (Aug. 26); Black Veil Brides and Ville Valo (Sept. 28); Gipsy Kings (Sept. 29); Cannibal Corpse and Mayhem (Oct. 3); Styx (Oct. 13); Tom Segura (Oct. 14); Static-X and Sevendust (Oct. 19); Aaron Lewis (Oct. 27-28); Grand Funk Railroad and Foghat (Nov. 2); In This Moment and Ice Nine Kills (Nov. 3); Dwight Yoakam (Nov. 4); Jay Leno (Nov. 11); Blue October (Nov. 30) and Meshuggah (Dec. 5). For additional details, visit HardRockCasinoNorthernIndiana.com.

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