SXSW: Daryl Hall, beautiful dreamer

Daryl Hall knew how to groove with the crowd at his SXSW show Wednesday night. The angular haircuts and Duffy badges on the kids grooving to “Kiss on My List” might have been a surprise to some older fans who’d lined up to see the 61-year-old legend -- but get used to it, '80s nostalgiacs, because the Hall revival is in full effect. Not only are such younger artists as the Gym Class Heroes name-checking (and collaborating with) Hall & Oates; Hall himself, always the more artistically forceful of that pair, has entered the cyber age with his own monthly live performance Web cast, “Live From Daryl’s House.” And the supple-voiced soulman re-created the vibe of that show during his set at the Austin Convention Center, sponsored by DirecTV.

Fronting a small band that included his longtime bassist, T-Bone Wolk (who’ll also play with Daryl when yours truly conducts a live chat-with-music at SXSW on Saturday), Hall pulled out some real obscurities along with such faves as “Sara Smile.” He pulled out the sultry “Cab Driver” from his 2003 solo outing “Can’t Stop Dreaming” and “It’s Uncanny,” a sleek bit of Philly soul, from a 1970s Atlantic Records compilation. Hall, who’s working on a new solo album, relished every vamp and high note as he and the band stretched out as if they were, indeed, just hanging out at the singer-songwriter’s upstate New York retreat.

Hall even invited a friend over to jam. The singularly named Mutlu is a young scion of Philadelphia who’s working with Wolk on his upcoming Manhattan Records debut; Hall makes a guest appearance. Mutlu sat in for the last half of Hall’s set, adding his silky vocals to a reggae version of “Maneater” (according to Hall, that was the song’s original style), an original duet and an almost tropical take on “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.”

Mutlu did himself proud, but let’s be honest -- trying to stand out vocally when Hall’s in the room is like taking a spin on the dance floor next to Baryshnikov. Hall basked in the crowd’s fervent appreciation, losing himself in extended vocal improvisations and pretty much nailing every note. Next week, he told the crowd, KT Tunstall will be on “Live From Daryl’s House.” But for this show, he made this converted corner of Austin’s downtown exhibition hall his house -- and we were all lucky to be invited in.

-- Ann Powers

Photo of Daryl Hall before a Hollywood Bowl show last year by Justin Wilson.