John Oates debuted songs from his forthcoming solo album at a well-attended private party Tuesday at the Mint, sprinkling the evening with tales from throughout his career, most of which involved relationships with other songwriters.
Set began with three songs from the second Hall & Oates disc, 1973's "Abandoned Luncheonette," the album that Oates feels connects best with his "1000 Miles of Life," which he will self-release in September through his website. Some of the new material does bear the unmistakable folk-soul chord progressions of early H&O tunes, but Oates has ventured into several different directions that hit paydirt, especially his gospel-infused take on Jerry Lynn Williams' "Sending Me Angels"  and the title track, which he wrote with his keyboardist Jed Leiber and singer Geoff Byrd, who climbed out of the audience to sing some full-bodied harmonies. Veteran H&O bassist-guitarist T-Bone Wolk and drummer John Michel anchored the band.
Besides the "Luncheonette tunes," one of which was "She's Gone," which was accompanied by the real-life story - girl fails to show on a New Year's Eve date and never calls -  he also performed 1980's "Change of Season," which he has recut for the new album.