When you think of New York City in the late 70’s, a lot of musical names probably spring to me: The New York Dolls, The Ramones, Debbie Harry, Patti Smith, Richard Hell, Lou Reed, The Dead Boys but … Hall & Oates? Probably not.
Now, as far as I’m concerned, while they’ve never been especially “edgy,” Hall & Oates are pretty unimpeachable. Sure, you may listen to none-blacker-than variants of metal or super-esoteric indie or wildly forward-thinking electronic music or deep, underground hip-hop or WHATEVER, but if you can’t appreciate the finer moments of Hall & Oates’ august catalog of rock, pop and soul, there’s probably something wrong with you. Just as I said about Rush some time ago, Hall & Oates may never have been hip or cool, but for what they do, they are untouchable.
So, imagine my surprise, this morning, upon spying a new interview on Legs McNeil’s Please Kill Me website with John Oates, talking about his formative days in New York City, braving the Downtown scene with Daryl Hall, opening for Lou Reed, checking out the New York Dolls at the Mercer Arts Center and Television at CBGB. Hell, John even played in a part-time band with Pat Place from the Bush Tetras. WHO THE HELL KNEW?
Anyway, it’s cool stuff. Check it out here.
I clearly remember running into him in 1981 after a show at the Capitol Theater in Passaic and being very surprised. Not because I was a fan of his, but because it was a moderately cool show (and I guess in my narrow view at the time 'not something he would be into') and also a pretty downtrodden venue by then. It was either XTC or Boomtown Rats, as they were the only acts I saw there other than the Clash the year before and I'm pretty sure it wasn't that show, though it's remotely possible it was. I'd like to ask him someday, especially now after reading that article.
Posted by: John | March 22, 2021 at 02:09 PM
Crazy--the only time I ever went to the Capitol Theater was to see the Boomtown Rats! Maybe same show as you, John... Probably '81... Mondo Bongo tour & Jim Carroll Band opened up!
Posted by: the G | March 25, 2021 at 10:18 PM
Hi G,
Yes, that was the one. I had a Mondo Bongo shirt from it for a long time after. They had a pretty good live show back then, still doing a lot of punkier material from the 1st two lps as well as inviting audience members up on stage to take pictures at one point. People who only know 'I Don't Like Mondays' would have probably been surprised by it.
Posted by: John | March 27, 2021 at 01:42 PM