Old school bands part ways with Joe Louis Arena

A crowd of all ages from all generations gathered in full force Wednesday night, May 17, at Joe Louis Arena for the joint concert tour of Hall and Oates and Tears for Fears.

Both 80s duos were major parts of MTV’s early days and the nearly four-hour set was filled with hits during each group’s colorful light-packed set.

Tears for Fears went on first, opening the show with its British moody pop and doing a great job doing so. The group began the hour-long set with the feel good smash song “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.” This then lead into some not-as-recognized singles like “Secret Love,” “Advice For The Young At Heart,” “Head Over Heels” and “Sowing The Seeds Of Love.” The band ended its joyful set with the 80s chart-topper “Shout.”

The pair, which consist of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, started their set smiling and ended their set smiling even bigger. The duo sounded true to their nearly 30-year-old songs.

After a 20-minute intermission between sets, Hall and Oates casually walked out onto stage like it’s their second home (which it basically is since the group has been touring together for over 40 years.) They began their 16 song and hour-and-40-minute set with “Adult Education” and lead into arrangements of extended versions of their hits “Maneater,” “Say It Isn’t So,” “Out of Touch,” and ended it out with a nearly 10 minute “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do).” But they didn’t really end it without a proper encore, which consisted of “Rich Girl,” “Kiss On My List,” “Private Eyes” and “You Make My Dreams.”

Hall and Oates have been around for a long time, and their stage presence and obvious still present love for the music shows that Daryl Hall, 70 and John Oates, 69 will continue to be around for a while more.

The concert ended with some parting words to soon-demolished Joe Louis Arena from Hall and Oates. “We’ve been coming here for a few years,” said Oates, “and now it’s the end of an era, right? But, you know what, it’s the beginning of a better era, I have a feeling, which is cool.”

“One door closes, another door opens.” Hall added.