Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren: Still Jamming after Nearly 55 Years

Frat houses, bars, stadiums, and theatres. Daryl Hall has played them all, including the Oncenter Civic Theatre in Syracuse on November 19. With special guest Todd Rundgren, the mostly over 50 crowd was treated to a night of mellow jams.

Rundgren opened the night with set of approximately 75 minutes including “Hello it’s Me,” “Black Maria,” and “I Saw the Light.” Although he has been playing shows since the late 60s, his look hasn’t changed much as he still flaunts his famous locks and flashy attire while performing.

Touring in support of recently released 2 disc retrospective album, Hall played a great selection on songs from his solo career as well as from Hall & Oates. The stage for this tour is a replica of his house from his 2017 webcast series, Daryl’s House. Lights, props, stairs, everything is there and lighting was amazing.

Highlight for me, personally, was his rendition of 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eurythmics Here Comes the Rain. With his own little spin on it, Hall made the song his own. By far, my favorite song from Annie Lennox, but Daryl Hall knows how to change it up and make it sound brand new, 30+ years later.

Made famous by Paul Young, Hall also put his piano bar style on Paul Young’s “Every Time You Go Away,” which was a Daryl Hall original in the mid 80s. Truly amazing to hear these songs again, for the first time and live as well.

While the crowd was mostly over 50, there was a surprising amount of under 30 and I heard many of them complaining that Daryl Hall didn’t play any of his heavier songs, as they were falling asleep. I couldn’t help to think maybe they thought they were going to see Dimebag Darrell, which might have been pretty epic in an alternate universe.

Regardless, go see these guys. For me, it was nice change of pace from the chaos I call life, and with the chaos ramping up over the next month or so, I welcomed the opportunity to kick back and chill to a couple of legends.

That being said, get your tickets, get your beverage of choice and kick back for a couple hours.

Todd Rundgren Setlist: Real Man/Love of a Common Man; It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference; We Gotta Get You a Woman; Buffalo Grass; I Saw the Light; Black Maria; Unloved Children; Hello It’s Me; Sometimes I Don’t Know How to Feel; I’m So Proud/Ooh Baby Baby/I Want You; The Want of a Nail

Daryl Hall Setlist: Dreamtime; Romeo is Bleeding; Problem With You; Philly Mood; Cab Driver; Everytime You Go Away; Sacred Songs; Babs and Babs; Here Comes the Rain; Sara Smile; No Can Do; Wait For Me; Can We Still Be Friends; Expressway; Dreams

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