For John Oates, one half of the legendary rock duo Hall & Oates, playing songs and touring alone is nothing unusual.
The 76-year-old musician has released seven solo albums over the course of 22 years, his first being “Phunk Shui,” and has undertaken numerous solo tours.
Oates, who is currently touring in support of his new album “Reunion,” will play two shows in Massachusetts this weekend.
But after his former bandmate Daryl Hall filed a lawsuit against Oates last year, the setlist for Oates’ tour might sound different than Hall & Oates fans might think.
“All I know is that they give me a standing ovation at the end of the show – that’s good enough for me,” Oates told MassLive about his audience’s reaction to his shows.
As Variety reported, Hall & Oates officially split up in May, but both artists have worked on their solo careers for decades.
When Oates started touring alone, people expected him to play Hall & Oates songs, which “really didn’t resonate,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee told MassLive.
But as Oates released more of his own music and began touring on his own, people’s expectations changed.
“I decided I’m just going to do what I do and eventually build my own audience, and that’s what’s happened over the years,” he said. “Now my audience is really open-minded and they don’t actually come to hear these songs. They come to hear whatever I’m doing.”
Although Oates still plays a handful of songs from his time with his former bandmate Hall, whom he met in 1967 when Oates was 18, most of the songs that Oates considers to be the most important come from the early days of the band Hall & Oates.
“I’m playing a couple of songs from ‘Abandoned Luncheonette’ from the early ’70s because it was a very influential album and I don’t think I would have even had a career without ‘Abandoned Luncheonette’ (Hall),” Oates said. “The hits of the ’80s were so ubiquitous with MTV and all that, everyone knows them. But very few people really know how we got there, and how we got there is more interesting in my opinion.”
Oates brings out more popular hits, like the chart-topping “Out of Touch” and others that put Hall & Oates on the map. But ultimately, Oates’ show is meant to reflect his own musical journey.
“I like to give people an idea of who I am as a musician,” he said. “Everyone knows me from Hall & Oates, (but) very few really know who I am. And so this gave me the chance to really make a personal statement.”
John Oates from the legendary rock duo Hall & OatesRocky Roode
Oates grew up with the sounds of swing, roots, folk and other music styles and tours playing songs that inspired him to become a musician.
These include songs by artists such as Mississippi John Hurt, Jimmy Rogers, Doc Watson, Curtis Mayfield, Smokey Robinson “and everything in between,” Oates said.
But on this tour, fans will primarily hear music from Oates’ ninth studio album, “Reunion,” which he released in May. The musician considers the album to be his most coherent, consistent and personal project to date.
“I think it really comes from a certain standpoint, from my songwriting and my performance. It’s mature. It’s thoughtful,” he said. “It’s about seeing the horizon. It’s about knowing there’s a horizon out there. It’s about honoring family and things like that and honoring the past.”
Hall & Oates haven’t played together in more than two years, Oates said, with the duo last performing in October 2022. according to Rolling Stone.
In November 2023, Hall filed a lawsuit against Oates and his trust over contractual and financial disputes. Philly Magazine reported at the time.
While the case was initially confidential, Hall filed a statement the following week accusing Oates of “ultimate partnership betrayal” for planning to sell his share of the duo’s releases to Primary Wave Music. according to The Guardian.
When asked if he had a specific reason for wanting to sell his half of the Hall & Oates catalog, Oates told MassLive, “Yes, but I can’t go into that.” However, Oates said his personal relationship with Hall has essentially disappeared.
“Unfortunately, the legal system has come between us,” said the musician. “It is based on a contractual and business partnership that was established over 50 years ago and is no longer up to date. And in order to change that, some legal issues had to be resolved and we are almost done with that.”
Aside from the legal battle, Oates maintains a positive attitude and is focused on furthering his solo career.
“I have completely evolved and am very happy with where I am now and hope (Hall) is too,” Oates said.
Oates will perform at The Cabot in Beverly on Saturday, August 24th and will be on Nantucket for the Dreamland Concert Series on Sunday, August 25th.
