How did the H20 band originally meet? What prompted you guys to start playing together?
The band has been in pre production rehearsals for 15 months. I originally called Jason Ames after racking my brain as to who I have worked with who has that range and the raw talents that might work for this project. I had my Drummer John Bennet and some players we were going to interview but knew it all starts with a voice. It had to be someone who would dive deep into the Daryl end of the pool
When did you realize your mutually love for Hall & Oates?
I always have enjoyed their music this is my generations music. In fact that is why this project even began. The FM Generation Concert series is a project I thought up to bring all the great music of a Generation back live using all the talented musicians out there to re produce and pay respect to the songs of our generation. Hall and Oates was the first project on the list as it has such a great body of work and so many musicians hold it in high regards musically, there was tremendous talent in and around the Hall and Oates Band.
How does it feel to be getting ready to play live again after this year of quarantine?
Really good, we miss playing. The crew and bands have been doing this most of their lives and it is what they do and always have so to have it not available rips out a part of who they are so I for one hope we all get through this ok and find creative ways to be back together enjoying the music live.
What can fans expect from an H20 show?
Well our goal is to play the music of Hall and Oates with passion and be true to the song and the background of that song,… the when, where and what of the song. We research every songs story from the writers. Even the artwork behind the band live is filled with the imagery of the origins and meanings of each song. So, as for the show people will see, it will be heartfelt, we have so much respect for the Hall and Oates family we just cannot do this any other way.
What’s your favorite track to perform live?
When we set out to select a set list, we searched for as many versions of live performances as we could find. We believe that an artists live versions seem to harness the true “sound” they were after when they created the song, so we want to do our best to reproduce that sound when playing one of their songs. As for which is our favorite, well, we each have one I am sure for me as the FOH and producer, I think the acoustic versions section we have set out to play is mine. It is a direct reflection of a tour Hall and Oates did to Japan in 1991 on a release called Acoustic Power. So much power yet with the sensitivity of an acoustic approach. Just a fantastic concert to listen to and enjoy. As for the hardest, there are a few that are so unique vocally that there is no room for anything but what they did and learning the phrasing and timing was hard, You Make My Dreams Come True is that way for sure.
Is there a specific city in which you enjoy performing the most?
not really they, all are great to play, Home Towns are always a cool thing so when we get to play in our home towns that always has a special thing going on for that night. But every night is cool we get to play! With what we are doing with the Hall and Oates Music it feels like folks just love their music and that puts everyone in a good mood which we feel from stage for sure.
Where would be your dream venue to perform at and why?
We Have set Red Rocks as our gold Standard, some of us are from the West and Mountain West and have gone to concerts there, it is a special venue so we decided we want to be a caliber of band that CAN play there, so we got to work and still are fine tuning every nuance of this music, it really in very unique in how it was all assembled by Daryl and John and T Bone and team, layered and structured yet it flows and has deep groves, it is hard to explain, but they are amazing musicians to say the least.
When and where can fans see you perform?
We start this first set of tour dates in Key West and then start heading North, with Covid we are having to be very thoughtful and careful. We are offering some venues to allow us to play 2 shows so we can accommodate all the fans that want to come but split the seating so we have safe distances.
How can our readers follow you all and keep up to date?
We are always available at our web site www.h2o.band and via Facebook at H20bandLIVE and Instagram at h20_live. The web site will be a place where you can find everything, links to social media, calendars, tickets, merchandise what ever or contact us we would love to hear from you.
