Just saw the concert at The House of Blues (LA) 08/21/96, and this one goes down as the best from them I have seen yet!! Daryl and John just keep getting better!! I have been a fan since I was a young kid (She's Gone days), this is the first time I have been to The House of Blues, when I got the tickets from ticketmaster (those greedy schmucks) they said "General Admission" on them, which translated to "Standing room only", I was concerned that we would get a lousy place to view the concert, my father and I went, got there by 8 pm (show started at 10:15) and much to my father's and my amazement, we got to stand 15 feet away from the stage!!!! (The HOB is very small and intimate) Being early paid off- and the $37.50 we paid for each of these tickets was well spent. If you have read Marc's Pittsburgh review, you know the songs that were played, but let me tell you something!!! Hall and Oates are back, they are so polished and have the show so well put together, I have never seen them so sure of themselves, and at ease--- the soul poured out of Daryl's voice, he breathed new life into their vast song library. They played a lot of slow stuff, and yes I am a devoted fan, but the way Daryl and John went through the slow stuff like She's Gone, So Close, One on One, Sara Smile, etc, made them sound new and refreshing and sooooo smooth!! Daryl (as Marc mentioned) sang a song from his forthcoming solo effort "Can't Stop Dreaming" this tune titled "Something About you" was awesome, Daryl carried this song to the max, milking every soulful hook, and we loved it!! I predict that radio will set aside its current mindless dance and grunge fotter and fall for Daryl's infectious hooks!!! You'd have to be dead not to like this song!!!! My father and I will remember this concert for a long time, it combined the intimacy of their last unplugged tour with the smoothness of their H20 and OOH Yeah tours!! We had 3 encores, and the guys played "Hot Fun in The Summertime" and "Me and Mrs. Jones", the crowd was very well behaved and if I had the big bucks, I would love to see them at Bally's in Vegas they are on the mark and I hope people take notice---- the guys are back, and look out for the killer sax solos by Charlie De Chant, excellent work on I can't go for That!!! If they are coming near you and you are a fan-- this is a must see!!!!! Spend it, and do it!!! you won't be dissapointed.

Enjoy,
Michael Robbins (mrobbins@ix.netcom.com)