September, July, August & September 2014 Posts

Date: Wed, October 01, 2014, 03:04:26 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Moon - surprisingly good. Roger's in fine form. Most energy since part of Who are You.

Who knew?

Date: Tues, September 30, 2014, 09:18:56 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, west of Sweden

Thanks to all who made it possible to once again live vicariously through another summer of SD shows I did not attend. All reviews were very much appreciated!

This has been posted before I think, but you can't get too much of a good thing. Not Don's worst solo, I'd say:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM13pdyn5JY

Date: Mon, September 29, 2014, 23:04:56 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

I confess that when I was a young man, I loved the Who like life itself. Until I heard Steely Dan. Good song. But a young man, ain't got nothin' in in the world these days...

Date: Mon, September 29, 2014, 21:17:18 ET
Posted by: Moonpie, Vegas

So what do you think of The Who's new song "Be Lucky"?

Date: Mon, September 29, 2014, 04:07:31 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Another version of Josie, with Chuck Rainey and Jeff Baxter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7odKcOMDpk&feature=youtu.be

Date: Sun, September 28, 2014, 21:59:02 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Denise, it was spectacular. Hope to catch up with you on the next tour. Roger challenged me to fly to NYC for a pure Jazz gig. My girlfriend used to live in NYC and volunteered there after 9/11, so a trip during or after the holidays is not out of the question. Also, Jon's next record will be out next year, so he should be doing some gigging as well. BTW, I really like your thoughtful and observant reviews...they are are the bomb!

Date: Sun, September 28, 2014, 20:22:43 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Thanks to all for the reports from the final shows of this tour. Wish I could have been with you all in NY.

Date: Sat, September 27, 2014, 16:13:42 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Sorry for the length of this post, but I've been meaning to do a post-tour post to sum up my experiences and feelings in the wake of an incredible summer. (Whole lot of "posting" going on.)

This is as much for my benefit to chronicle my adventures as it is for the SD community's information. I couldn't think of a better place to put it all down, so feel free to move on if the minutia of my life is not entertaining...I'll do it chronologically.

July 26, 2014: New Orleans- Drove up to NOLA from Baton Rouge after getting all of the belts on my Accord replaced. I was just going to get an oil change, but the mechanic said I probably would not make it to Geismar.

Got a room in the Lower Ninth Ward, NOLA. There are still many sad looking abandoned neighborhoods. I was hoping to see more life in the area, but it is still tough sledding.

Went to a very good neighborhood restaurant in the Lakeview area called "The Munch Factory," where I had the best seafood gumbo I have ever eaten. And that is saying something. Highly recommended for those who are going to Jazzfest next Spring. It is close to the Fairgrounds and easy to get to.

The Venue at UNO Lakefront Arena is a sports palace. I once saw Michael Jordan play there in his rookie season, back when the NBA played out on neutral courts for some regular season games. It was easily the largest venue I attended on this tour. I had 4th row seats in front of Donald and the Girls, and even there, I could hear the boom of the back of the hall. The fellow next to me came in with an iPad and a towel, which he used to record the show. He got shut down about 30 minutes in.

Obviously, the highlight of the show was "Pearl of the Quarter," which they whipped out without fanfare. This was also the only show of the 6 that I saw where they started with "Your Gold Teeth." They also played "Green Earrings." A fun show in a great city (of course, as a homie, I am biased).

July 27, 2014: Birmingham- My plan was to drive directly to Birmingham, attend the show, and then drive directly to The House on The Gulf Coast to join the Fam for some R&R. I checked out of the Days Inn in the LNWNOLA and drove to B'Ham. However, as I drove into town, I had second thoughts, so I went down I-65 south of town and got a room. A good thing, because I was able to experience the Barbecue at Jim and Nick's. Excellent Ribs and bodacious beans. I went to the original location, but they are now a chain with locations all over the south, mid-south and mid-Atlantic (Carolina's).

The venue was the Concert Hall at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. It is right downtown, and I just parked on the street several blocks from the hall. It is where the local symphony performs, and I have to say it was the best sounding room I heard a show in this summer. The sound was just pristine! I was sitting on the 11th row on Walter's side. Highlights were 2VN, which I had never heard live before, and a rousing rendition of Deacon Blues, which featured a light-show shout-out for the locals at "They call Alabama the Crimson Tide." I thought it was a nice touch, carrying on the theme of doing something locally referential. The band was in top form. Walter and Donald both seemed to revel in the crowd's appreciation. There are several high-quality YouTube videos of the beginning of the Birmingham show, which I highly recommend:http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Steely+Dan+Birmingham+cubano+Chant&FORM=VIRE4#view=detail&mid=3736013F3A25301C76973736013F3A25301C7697.

I left the next morning and drove down to The House on the Gulf Coast and hung out with my family, played some golf (not for free) and went out to eat at Diane Sawyers place, "King Neptune's," with my girlfriend: http://www.kingneptuneseafoodrestaurant.com/. I have been going there for years and it never disappoints. Try the Fried Oyster Poboy...or for that matter the seafood Platter!

August 1, 2014: Nashville- I got up at 3 A.M. and left Gulf Shores for Nashville. It was a hard slog, but safely arrived at my son's apartment and took a nap. The Venue was the Ryman Auditorium which is right downtown on 5th Ave. in Nashville. When I first moved to Nashville in 1973, the Grand Ole Opry was housed at the Ryman. I was a student at Vanderbilt and went a few times, but at the time I thought it was corny. I wish now that I had taken it a bit more seriously, because history was being made.

I attended the show with an old friend of 35 years (my band played at her first wedding). She had never seen SD before. She is well connected with the Nashville music industry and has suffered a recent tragedy, so I bought her a ticket to cheer her up and get her out. She took me to The Southern Steak and Seafood on Third Ave., where we were served an astounding array of appetizers and seafood.

The Ryman is an old-fashioned venue. There are lots of obstructed views, especially along the sight-lines stage right and stage left. The balcony is supported by posts that can obstruct your view as well. We were on the 12th row to the right of Donald and the Girls and had an excellent view. My friend remarked halfway through the show, "these guys are really fun!" which is something I think we sometimes lose track of here in the SD community.

Once again, they played "Deacon Blues," and the show had the feel of a "Greatest Hits Night." But no Rikki. I had never heard Rikki live before, and I was hoping they would play it at the Ryman... Not to be...

The security at the Ryman was close to Fascistic. People were being thrown out for using their cell phones or dancing in the aisle. It was really disappointing.

Post show, I got to meet She Who Shall Not Be Named, a lovely person, who, it is rumored, flew in from somewhere nameless for the weekend shows.

After the show my old friend and I drove around for awhile to look at old haunts and then she dropped me off at my son's place. When I got inside, I realized that I had left my iPhone in her car. Long Story Short, I finally got in touch with her on Face Book and picked it up the next morning. Took my daughter to lunch to eat Sushi and then got together with my son for the Saturday Show.

August 2, 2014 Nashville- this was a very exciting night because I was going with several old and new Nashville friends, plus taking my son to his first ever SD show. We went to eat at Demos', a venerable old Nashville establishment that was crowded as hell. I got there early to try and cop a table for our crew that was going to trickle in. They wouldn't give me a table any bigger than for who was present at the time. It was a party of one at that point, since my son was parking the car. As our crew trickled in, and we had a large group that was scattered around the restaurant moving back and forth visiting, the management finally took pity on us and moved us to one large table.

My ticket for this show was on the front row in front of Jon, Walter and the Solo horn mic. My son's seat was obstructed view, so I had him go up to the balcony in SRO for the first half of the show, and then he came down and took my seat at Band Intros. I went up and chatted with SWSNBN and watched the rest of the show from the vantage point of a witness to a street riot, as security staff chased people around for no apparent reason other than to justify their employment.

The band was, again, very focused. Highlights were "Home At Last" and "Green Earrings" back to back, and "Your Gold Teeth," which was placed between BF and SBK, which I found unique, in that I had never heard it played in any position other than #1.

Got back to my son's place late, posted a set list on the Blue and crashed. Got up the next morning and made a long, sad trek back to Baton Rouge, thinking that my Summer Of Dan was over.

But then something extraordinary happened.

Security Joan came up with an extra seat for the last show at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York and offered it to me. I thought about it for 30 seconds or so and cut the deal. Plane tickets to Newark, phone calls to an old Vanderbilt friend who works for the New York Times and lives in Queens, a short, expensive visit to Ticket Fly and all of a sudden, I was going to the last 2 shows of the tour.

September 20, 2014: Port Chester, Capitol Theater- I flew out of New Orleans to Newark at six in the morning. Landed at 10:26 local time and successfully navigated the ground transport to Penn Station, but then couldn't figure out how to get the Long Island Railroad to Forest Hills, Queens. My Friend had to talk me through it on the phone. Arrived at Forest Hills around 1:30 and had a glorious reunion with a college friend that I had not seen in 30 years. Went back to her place and had Bagels and Lox and an astounding Whitefish spread with her husband and daughters.

My friend's husband drove us to Port Chester, through harrowing traffic, where we easily found a place to park 3 blocks from the venue. The part of Port Chester where the theater is located is a wonderful Hispanic community, with all sorts of ( Mexican, Central American, etc.) restaurants scattered throughout the neighborhood. The theater is just a block or so from the train station, which would become important the next evening.

We went to eat at El Tio, which is just adjacent to The Capitol Theater. We ordered Margaritas, Tacos and Enchiladas...They were all excellent. Just before the show started, I was able to go down front and visit with Gus Winterbottom and the Ms. Winterbottom. A great couple and wonderful SD fans.

I sat with my friend on Row T, just behind the sound board, and her husband sat in the balcony. He kept sending us these hilarious texts about his predicament and the behavior of the crowd. Example: "I have a great view, but if there is a fire, I, and many drunks, will perish."

My friend had never seen SD, although she was familiar with the canon. At some point she remarked, "these guys are really smart!" I thought she was talking about their lyrics, but she said no, "What I meant was, they are giving this audience exactly what they want!"

This was one of those shows where Walter and David Rule spent the entire show fussing with his guitars. There was some kind of noise that occasionally emitted and I think it was Walters guitar, but I am not sure. The sound guy just kept shaking his head, so I don't think he had an influence over the situation. I have noticed that when Walter is not happy, he tends to pull off to the side of the stage behind Jon, almost off stage. This wasn't as serious as Houston, 2013, but he was just fussing with it.

Also, something weird happened. After Show Biz Kids, Freddie Washington said something to Donald and walked off stage. They went straight into Time Out of Mind with Freddie offstage. He came back on after having missed the first verse and half of the chorus. I was afraid he was sick. I later asked several people what happened, but nobody seemed to know. I have never seen anything like that before!

This show was notable for the fact that it was the first time I have ever heard "Rikki" live. It was a great experience. My friend was astounded that they hardly ever played it until this year, but that is the way it goes with these guys. My friend and her husband both were astounded by the show. So it goes for first timers. Or, old timers...

We drove back to Queens in much lighter traffic and watched Miss Congeniality, starring Sandra Bullock, with their daughters. I had never seen it before, and it was a laugh riot! I mean laugh out loud sight gags and double-takes.

September 21, 2014: Port Chester, Capitol Theater-I got up very early on Sunday and finished reading Richard Ellmann's, "Ulysses on the Liffey," an excellent, big picture exegesis on the book. Then, when we got ourselves situated, my friend and I went down to lower Manhattan to the 9/11 memorial. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=738829402818841&set=a.504877746214009.1073741825.100000753643151&type=1&theater.

I urge everyone to go by the site. It is moving and profound. The names of the dead are grouped according to their association, so that firemen from a particular station are grouped together, folks from an office are found together. I also heard amazing stories. My friend had a friend who decided to take her husband shopping that day because there was a sale on. He was late for work... Another acquaintance's son worked in the South Tower, and was evacuating when the "all-Clear" was announced. They stood there in the stair-well and debated whether they should leave or go back up. They decided to keep walking down and are alive today because of that casual decision.

I took my friend to the Stage Door Deli, overlooking St. Paul's Cemetery and Ground Zero because I wanted a slice of New York Pizza...and I wasn't disappointed! We sat there talking whilst drinking beer and coffee and eating pizza for almost 2 hours. We had to abandon our plan to walk through the theater district from 42nd street to Grand Central and instead made our way directly to GCS, where she put me on the subway to Penn Station, where I caught the train to Port Chester.

On the way to Port Chester, the train stopped in Harlem at 125th Street. As looked to my right, I saw the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. I had a visceral urge to get off the train, but it was moving at that point and I had places to go. Next time I am in town, I am fucking going there!

Upon arrival in Port Chester, I walked from the train station trying to find the "Brew Garden," where I thought that the Danfest would commence. As I walked down the side street, I heard "Time Out of Mind" kick off. You could have heard it from the train station, it was so close. I realized I was right outside the stage door, so I stopped and listened to sound check: 1) Time Out of Mind; 2) Daddy; 3) Josie (no Donald vocals) 4) Black Friday (No Donald vocals) 5) Black Friday again (No Donald Vocals). I have no idea what they played before TOOM. I have attended SC before, and this one seemed to run later than usual. It is usually 4:45 until 5:30 to 5:45 or so. This one ended at 6:00.

Around this time Hoops texted me and said they were all eating at Salsa Picante, yet another local Hispanic restaurant. When I got there, Hoops, Security Joan, Mary, Nate, Pete and Shari were munching down. I did not have time to eat, as I had spent the dinner hour at sound check, but we had a great time and moved on to the Brew Garden, where we were joined by Radar and friend, Don Patrol and wife, and She Who Shall Not Be Named and her sister. Great drinks and conversation.

I have to say the show on Sunday was flawless. I was on the fourth row right behind Hoops. None of the technical issues that plagued Saturday's show were present on Sunday. Highlights were 2VN and a scorching rendition of "Bodhisattva!" Also, it was good to hear "Babylon Sisters" one more time. There was also a very cool crew recognition walkout before the encore, which was, of course, "Kid Charlemagne."

Also, Gus Winterbottom's description of the incident before 2vn is 100% accurate. Donald appropriately called out that guy on the first row for his obnoxious behavior, and it worked. Dude sulked for the rest of the night, but he stopped calling attention to himself, which was a relief to us all!

At the end of the show, as we were leaving, I saw that Catherine Russell had been sitting right behind me. She was very gracious in handling my bug-eyed attempt to introduce myself.

Several of us took the train back to GCS, whereon I heard amazing stories of courage, zest and compassion. We then parted company there. My phone had long since died, but I had taken the trouble to write down the instructions I was told I would need to give to my cabbie on the trip from Grand Central Station to Forest Hills, Queens. I managed to find a fellow who had no comprehension of the English language and we therefore, bonded. I told him to go over the 59th Street Bridge, and he could do that, but then, he would turn around and look through the little cabbie window with this "where next?" look in his eyes and I would just say, "Queens." Finally, he got a dispatcher on the horn who could translate my southern drawl into Caribbean French, and I got to Forest Hills at 2 A.M. local, pretty much on the money, as I was told it would take both time wise and financially.

I left early the next morning for Newark, and got there 2 hours before my flight, so after clearing TSA, I ducked into a little place called Grand Central Station, where I had had a Bloody Mary, several fresh, local Blue Point Oysters at $3.39 a pop, and a bowl of Manhattan Clam Chowder, which was surprisingly good.

United Flight 1444 was boarded right on time and I arrived back in New Orleans at 2:45 on Monday September 23, 2014.

I hope that all of my SD friends will consider coming to NOLA for the Jazzfest this Spring. It won't be the same as a Danfest, but it's the next best thing, and I guarantee you that Sandra and I will extend all of the hospitality we can muster!

Date: Sat, September 27, 2014, 12:18:32 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

One of the best Dan bands. Any thoughts on that horn arrangement during the chorus? It doesn't sound like something DF would write, but I kinda like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt3XOK4Jk1k

Date: Sat, September 27, 2014, 07:40:55 ET
Posted by: Michael, @The Dean

"And BTW folks, the "political correctness" response to any claim of bigotry (be it of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual preference, etc) is almost as knee-jerk as some of the clearly ignorant and inappropriate remarks that are made. Surely not everyone who makes an insensitive remark is a bigot. But the mere idea that anyone who objects to these remarks is playing the politically correct card, is also foolish."

Just curious: by what measuring stick do you determine what constitutes for "ignorant or inappropriate remarks"? Political correctness is nothing more than an Babylonian ideology, a beating stick to attempt to force mass conformity, or the illusion thereof, which is to deny reality itself. Throwing around the racism and bigotry labels is ad hominem and doesn't add weight to your argument. Unless and until I read Strainer or anyone else call for the elimination of another race, or some other truly hate-filled diatribe, I consider it beneath my level.

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 22:48:13 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Strainer.

Eddie, auto correct strikes again. But I didn't bother to proof the post. I'll take the hit.

And I am an currently an IT guy, but self-trained. My degrees are in Communication (social science, not production) and most of my career (in TV) was in research. So I am very familiar with probability, set theory and I'm a huge Venn Diagram fan (I often draw them on bar napkins to explain various things to the other local drunks). But as a real researcher, I am way too careful to guess on the percentages of the overlapping circles. What percentage of a Dan audience is at a Dukes show? I simply don't know and I wouldn't care to speculate without some data. But that really isn't the point, is it? Just admit you were mistaken about Don's characterization about the audience. It was from a journal of the Duke's tour. Exaggerated? Maybe. But it was for specific audiences at specific shows. You were simply mistaken to attempt to extrapolate that to a different show at a different venue.

And BTW folks, the "political correctness" response to any claim of bigotry (be it of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual preference, etc) is almost as knee-jerk as some of the clearly ignorant and inappropriate remarks that are made. Surely not everyone who makes an insensitive remark is a bigot. But the mere idea that anyone who objects to these remarks is playing the politically correct card, is also foolish.

I'd like to think we have progressed to a point where, when posting relatively anonymous remarks on a forum, one would try not to use language that any socially aware person would try to avoid. That isn't to say there are times when potentially offensive remarks, in context, can be funny and appropriate. But unless one understand the person, and the context, isn't it best to simply use good sense?

As I said, I really doubt Strainer is a bigot in the true sense. Perhaps he if made it a bit clearer, through context and/or clever disclaimers, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

(Auto correct wanted to change a typo of "clever" to "cleaver". I considered leaving it.)


And Steve, I don't entirely disagree. I think the audience would dig those and the band would do an excellent job with those tunes. And I have a tune, I believe is in a similar vein as those you mentioned. Probably equally as unlikely to be performed: Happy Together -- The Turtles.

Then again, I'm a tiny bit stoned, so this could be total bullshit.

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 21:16:34 ET
Posted by: Smile, Eating pork rinds

Just remember, from now on, everything Donald does has GOT to be FUNKY.

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 20:21:02 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Donald would pick more R&B soulful tunes, but I think a lot of the 70's style tunes would really resonate with today's Dukes audience.

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 17:42:28 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

"Old School came on. Must’ve been 300 people on their feet dancing like white people. There were few and far between with moves out there. Most were like Julia Marie Dreyfus from the scene on Seinfeld."
Hilarious and so true. I cracked up at this line.
Of course had it been any other group than white people, some might call it racist, at least here in SF.
These are the times we live in.
Was surprised that topic came up here at this board though.
Maybe a little Humboldt Green would help?

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 15:50:09 ET
Posted by: Michael, @Chris

Fair enough.

P.S. Intellect =/= intelligence.

----------------------------

"What do they call you?"

"Dan. Steely Dan."

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 15:33:45 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

B. Strainer - Fair enough, we're arguing about a hypothetical so I'll agree to disagree. I know these guys make mistakes - hell, Fagen flubs at least 2 or 3 lines every night. I'd be pretty shocked if they all forgot what is arguably the high point of Josie, though.

Michael - It's not up to me, but I don't think it makes any sense to debate whether or not racial stereotypes are OK on a Steely Dan message board. It just invites a shitstorm. And really, the idea that we're all of superior intelligence because we all like a band that uses slash chords is silly. Steely Dan fans are not nearly as smart as they think they are. For further evidence, please reference my posts :)

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 13:34:14 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

Need to put a in a few further points for clarification for posters about the 21 Sept show.

@The Dean

Although Mrs. Paul Simon might wear the pants in the family, I’m not sure either of them would take kindly to her being referred to as “Eddie”. Dropping the extra “d” lengthens the vowel E for the proper pronunciation of the more feminine “Edie”. You were the first one to catch that reference.

Call me what you will, but I try to be an informed, free-thinking bigot. Hey, what did you think about that Anthropological stuff I put in there? Did you go on to further reading? It is interesting, I think. It seems nobody, even in the highest echelons like NPR realizes the clear difference between ethnicity and race. And the outrage it raises even to even year old, fairly intelligent white guys. It is like the Flat Earth belief of today. People were executed for believing in a spherical earth back then. Today, the mere mention of those topics gets you loss of employment, outrage. Consequences of an ethnic or racial remark, not even derogatory, are harsher than for brutal assault, as we are seeing in the NFL.

Now, you, as an IT guy, if you had any university training in E.E. or Comp Sci would have had exposure to Probability Analysis and Set Theory, including the use of Venn Diagrams to illustrate the relationships between components or groups of things. Overlaps in common characteristics are termed an intersection between two or more groups. This might help in understanding why whether or not my use of DF’s caricature of Dukes fans in the book was not strictly intended to be aimed at SD fans. It was more at that, “Damn, this SD audience does not seem at all like a Dukes audience as portrayed by DF in his book”.

Make no mistake though, I believe there is a large overlap in those who would attend EITHER show, and that overlap, or intersection contains many who are both SD and Dukes “fossils”, minus the apparent large contingent that SD picked in the New Testament era.

Here is the process, roughly of how you can look at the compositions of audiences or groups of whatevah. Assumptions need to be made, but you can get a fairly good basis from decades of observing or personally knowing types of fans.

Group 1 are Van Halen fans (hard rock/pop fairly close contemporaries of SD)

Group 2 are Boz Scaggs and McMike fans (soft rock, tending toward blues/jazz contemporaries of SD)

Group 3 are Steely Dan fans (relatively soft rock, blues/jazz)

Group 4 Iron Maiden fans (acid rock, somewhat comtemporary to SD)

Subgroups of Old Testament SD fans, Older Scaggs and McMike Dukes type of fans

You might see 5 percent Van Halen fans at an SD show, maybe a few fans at a Scaggs show, none at McMike, maybe 20 percent at Iron Maiden.

You might see, and this is key, 70 to 75 percent composition of older Scaggs and McMike fans at an SD show, maybe 5 percent at a Van Halen show. Fairly certain close to zero at Iron Maiden.

Steely Dan fans generally have more of a rock component to them, have been observed to be younger than Scaggs or McMike fans. Maybe only 40 percent, overall, and mostly Old Testament era fans would go to a Dukes show, many because of DF, 10 percent "old rockers" to Van halen, again none to Iron Maiden.

Iron Maiden fans, probably 50 percent or more would go to Van Halen, maybe virtually none to SD and maybe zero to the, Scaggs, McMike or the Dukes.

Guess what? I have been to at least one of 3 of these Group’s shows. NOT to the Dukes!

However, due to the large overlap or INTERSECTION of sets between the generally older Dukes and Old Testament SD fans, adding in the fact that DF is a main component of the Dukes and can be a solo draw, although not as much as SD itself, I will say that a Dukes audience contains about 60 to 65 percent composition of Old Testament SD or DF fans. The Dukes fan base would be older, on average, overall, due to SD picking up younger New Testament fans. Older fan base for Scaggs and McMike, who have not been in the public eye, post 2000, to the degree that SD has had with the popular TAN LP and extensive, publicized touring.

A Dukes audience’s older fan base would contain many who are also older SD fans. An SD audience would have a lower percentage of Dukes fans, and a larger number of younger fans not aware of or into Scaggs or McMike of the Dukes, and DF not being enough reason to attend a Dukes show. Dukes attendees, being overall, older would be less likely to dance. Fossils are in generally, less able or less inclined to dance. And the tunes the Dukes play are generally not as ”danceable”, if you will. And maybe the dancing, or lack thereof, is what led DF in part to see the Dukes audience not as reactive as an SD audience.

So, an SD audience is NOT a 100% Dukes audience, and vice-versa. Use of DFs book commentary was to use something familiar to contrast what I was seeing at the SD show compared to DF’s depiction of a “fossilized” Dukes audience, rather than asserting that DF was inaccurate in describing his audiences as a whole.

@Chris of New Hampshire

Well, if you count the NY Rock and Soul Revue it goes back to 1992, because I remember WB was raggin on then VP Dan Quayle, who wasn’t voted out until Nov of 1992. I guess we need to go with “IN SD WE TRUST”, that they won’t ever forget to resume an outro after what seemed like an eternity of solos and introductions. Or forget lyrics or whatevah. Yes, I have seen the best of them drop songs, leave out verses, so SD would not be immune. With about 12 or 13 people onstage need to work “in concert”, if you will, gaffes can be made.

@CJB near the Vancouver BC airport

No, I am not the least bit embarrassed by the Anthropologic stuff I put in there, and why should I be? The ignorance was not mine, rather that of those who chose to personally attack me based on their erroneous concepts. Vast majority of the people misuse of these terms and are ignorant what they really mean. It was off-topic, but so were the attacks. Did you pick up anything from it? Maybe you were already enlightened, more than those who were truly ignorant who started the attack. If you were, then you are an informed citizen, and you should scroll downward.

Also, any further news for the “commissioned” SD show request letter that you sent to Azoff or whomever? Now this would be something to look forward to if it happens.

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 12:01:24 ET
Posted by: CJB, I Got the Blues

Never understood why "Chain Lightning" & "Pretzel Logic" have been so scarce in the post-2000 setlists. Both tunes cook! Finally got to hear "PL" live a few years ago as a setlist closer; it was worth the wait for that slow, sly swagger.

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 10:27:55 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Steve G,

My only quibble with your setlist is, a couple of the covers aren't really in the spirit of what the Dukes typically performs. My understanding is the they are covering music that served to influence the music of the artists (and has tended to be mostly R&B oriented). I'm not sure Jackie Blue or 99 fit the bill--and I'm not all that convinced the Brother's Johnson tune or Mr Blue Sky do, either.

Perhaps you are suggesting they change the focus of their covers.

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 07:55:59 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', Hong Kong

Steve, I'm really liking your setlist for the Dukes.

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 07:49:43 ET
Posted by: Michael, @KD

"We don't come to this website to hear objectionable language that denigrates entire cultures. I'm not going stay silent just because it makes you uncomfortable.

BS made us uncomfortable by calling people derogatory names.

I'm making you uncomfortable by calling people out? Who's full of themselves, now?"

First, why should I feel uncomfortable? Second, why is it such an important thing? C'mon now. Sticks and stones and all that. Surely you're above it.

Chris, "Michael, dude, no wants to hear a rant about political correctness on a steely dan message board. But thanks for allowing us to return to discussing Steely Dan after your 500 words on the subject."

Just adding my two cents to the preexisting conversation. I was always under the impression that, us being SD listeners, we're somewhat intellectually above this sort of playground nonsense, especially given the nature of the subject matter discussed.

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 07:35:53 ET
Posted by: mario, Australia

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Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 03:09:38 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

On to the next point of business,
Let's do setlists for the next "Dukes of September" tour.

1. Jackie Blue - Cover of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils tune.
2. Strawberry Letter 22 - Cover of the Brothers Johnson tune.
3. Tuesday Heartbreak - Michael McDonald
4. Any Major Dude - Donald Fagen
5. Simone - Boz Scaggs
6. I'm Not the Same Without You -Fagen
7. Look What You've Done to Me - Scaggs
8. 99 - Cover of the Toto song.
9. I Gotta Try - Michael McDonald
10.Here at the Western World - Fagen
11.My Blue Sky - Cover of the ELO song
12.Lowdown - Scaggs
13.Ain't No Mountain - McDonald
14.IGY -Fagen
Encore
15.Chain Lightning- The Dukes

Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 00:48:40 ET
Posted by: rsgraoeopj, QcaxOqGoHgPmBXtVN

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Date: Fri, September 26, 2014, 00:30:21 ET
Posted by: nwalins, nwalins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-bBvE3qdHg

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 22:44:19 ET
Posted by: KFC, NJ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvxCCBiMPpE

I like this Aja vid from New Jersey about 3 weeks ago.

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 22:05:53 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Strainer,

Jesus H. Christ, enough with the anthropological mansplaining!

"Racism is now a widely used catch-all term for prejudice or insult aimed at individuals who are outside of Western Civilization’s predominantly Caucasian culture/society. RACE, by definition is a GENETIC thing. ETHNICITY or CULTURE are acquired things. Race, as taught to me as a youth, was that there were 3 “races”, Negroid, Caucasoid and Mongoloid (meaning out of Central Asia, now Mongolia). Two more genetic races, I believe have since been discovered."

How could you type this shit, CAPITAL LETTERS FOR EMPHASIS and all, & not feel even a twinge of embarrassment? It's like drunk Uncle Charlie at the Thanksgiving table, puffing & blowing and trying to explain to all assembled how the world works & wondering why his rap doesn't go down as smoothly with the grandkids as with his Bircher buddies.

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 21:59:49 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

A pretty good audience recording of Aja from August. Some very good closeups of KFC drumming his ass off. Fascinating to see how he works. Like any good drummer he's watching everything all the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p3kRmQonJs

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 20:55:47 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

and Brain Strainer - I can't fathom the Steely Dan band, on night 50 whatever of their tour, after playing the song every night since 1993, forgetting the outro to Josie. Can you?

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 20:48:44 ET
Posted by: Chris , Nh

Michael, dude, no wants to hear a rant about political correctness on a steely dan message board. But thanks for allowing us to return to discussing Steely Dan after your 500 words on the subject.

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 20:35:41 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

We don't come to this website to hear objectionable language that denigrates entire cultures. I'm not going stay silent just because it makes you uncomfortable.

BS made us uncomfortable by calling people derogatory names.

I'm making you uncomfortable by calling people out? Who's full of themselves, now?

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 20:22:07 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I blame the current political climate for the overreaction to every perceived racial slight. We don't live in a perfect world; far from it. Whether or not people are willing to admit it, the truth is that we have a natural inclination to view other races, ethnicity and culture in different ways, for better or worse. Different cultures develop different foods, architecture, music (oh yeah), philosophy, traditions. When we observe the world around us, especially where we perceive injustice or animosity, we develop certain prejudices. That's just all there is to it. It's delusional to expect everybody on the planet to get together and sing Kumbaya by the camp fire. The best we can hope for is to get along, to co-exist, despite our differences.

If you feel offended because of a ridiculous stereotype somebody says out of ignorance and feel the need to break out the pitch-forks, I believe you're full of yourself. Consider this: right now there are people living in abject poverty with no shelter, no possessions, no food, nothing. You've got it good by comparison. Words only have as much power as you allow them to.

Now let's get back to the good thing, the music, the Steely Dan.

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 18:36:55 ET
Posted by: Long winter ahead, on the blue

Lewis,

Please give us something to look forward to already.

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 18:07:17 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Strainer:

Nice Eddie Brickell reference.

I can't say the "some of my best friends are Hispanic" remark does all that much for your defense of your bigotry (intended or unintended). I let it slide, attributing it to ignorance.

You still haven't quite explained your mis-intrepration of Donald's characterization of the Dukes of September audience (not Steely Dan audiences).

The Dean is a lifelong nickname, nothing more, for whatever that is worth.

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 16:01:11 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

My synopsis of the “Last Steely Dan Show” (?) seems to have generated more inquiry than it might have informed. And some of it very much unintended. I attempted to characterise what I observed—the sights, sound, even smells that took place. That being said, I will address the queries and points that were brought up by the Blue members as a result of this article.

@Greg Moonspank & Godwhacker (Who are either genuine Hispanics, sanctimonious jokers, or white boys feigning indignation which is in vogue for the majority today. That, and the blame game and not paying their bills.)

I couldn’t resist using the word “Crapitol Theatre” to describe the venue. However, I did say it was classic, ornate, etc. I said it had a good sound system, strong air conditioning etc. But it is old, decrepit, but has palatial restrooms. I guess I have spent too much time in modern, cleaner arenas, amphitheatres, and yes (careful here) Native American/First Nation facilities in relatively “sterile” or remote locales.

Port Chester is indeed typical of many Northeastern former boomtowns, such as being a significant , “major seaport” in the past whose fortunes were lost and went into a downward spiral. The main drag of any town is an indicator of its prosperity. There were rundown buildings, no new construction etc. I saw many Hispanic (spoke with a few) individuals, some Caucasian panhandlers, and a few individuals with backpacks hanging out, possibly peddling controlled substances. No apparent yuppies, except maybe some of the SD fans. Maybe the place is gentrifying, as you suggest, but it has a long way to go.

Been to about 100 States, Provinces, and countries and I don’t demand that the streets be paved in gold. For now, from what I observed for about 5 hours and it not being a major urban center, Port Chester is a place to move from, and not “to”. I might understand your finding Port Chester to be “vibrant” considering your frame of reference or standard is White Plains.


At this point, I am going to digress from the Dan due to the charges of my “unleashing a tide of racism”. BTW, I should have moved the sentence about fleeing Port Chester to another paragraph. It had nothing whatsoever to do with escaping from NewYorkRicans, which by the way is how many Hispanics of the NY metro area have jokingly identified themselves, like Borrinquen, Borricua etc. Didn’t care if Port Chester had Martians living there, I was outta there, “pronto” for the aforementioned reasons.

I will make a few Anthropological/Sociological points I learned from somewhere, maybe Nat Geo or Wikipedia that I recently found interesting, and perhaps others will too. Racism is now a widely used catch-all term for prejudice or insult aimed at individuals who are outside of Western Civilization’s predominantly Caucasian culture/society. RACE, by definition is a GENETIC thing. ETHNICITY or CULTURE are acquired things. Race, as taught to me as a youth, was that there were 3 “races”, Negroid, Caucasoid and Mongoloid (meaning out of Central Asia, now Mongolia). Two more genetic races, I believe have since been discovered.

Being Hispanic has nothing to do with race. There are Caucasian Hispanics (J Lo.), Negroid Hispanics (David Ortiz), and Mongoloid Hispanics (Phillipinos). A white boy might be adopted and raised in Nigeria and grow up speaking Swahili. Still a Caucasian by race. Tiger Woods combines all three. “Latino” is another term, which western Hispanics have claimed. Yes, Spanish is derived largely from Latin, but Italians (principally Caucasian), nearly direct decendents from the epicenter of Latium, are actually the most “Latin” people in the world, strictly ethnically speaking. DF reclaimed Ghetto for the Jewish people, since that term stuck over the years with other ethnicities. More than enough of this stuff, but I think I more than made the point. Again, Wikipedia has an excellent write up for those interested.

Suffice it to say, I have lifelong buds named Esteban and Adolfo, and Ahmad and Abu, and I enjoy Vietnamese and Thai cuisines. Like the Anti-Christ, I am the Anti-Xenophobe, and like the Blue’s musician, Michael, I am involved with many peoples, arts and cultures. I walk the talk.

So, Greg Moonspank, ( Hispanic?) of not-so-White Plains, sorry you were offended. I guess I was thrown off by the surname Moonspank. Maybe you get the Hispanic roots from your mom’s side. Anyway, if there is another Steely show, maybe we can meet up for some Arroz con Pollo and we can be Steely Hermanos.

@Gus W.

Thanks for the thanks for my effort. And thanks for clarifying the DF situation with the obnoxious fan. It was difficult to hear many of the spoken words from further out, including WB’s monologue via the sound system. You could probably hear DF’s un-microphoned voice going by from how close to the front you said you were sitting.

@Hutch

This is about my fifth (maybe the LAST for SD??) show. Best ones were Solo Fagen and the legendary Soboba.

@KD
2013, A7 4.0T Quattro. Julia Louis-Dreyfus. And, as DF said, “Ease Up Dude”!

@Billy Goat Gruff
I wrote it. And I would go back, jack, and Do It Again.

@Michael
Exactly.

@Chris of New Hampshire

I knew about the stoppage on Josie. But with all the improvisation, solos and diversions going on, I feared they might have forgotten to go back and do the Josie outro, with the guitar noodling and saxophones.

Something you can relate to. Port Chester is no Roxbury. But it is no Beacon Hill either.

@The Dean

Perhaps it was presumptuous to assume that DF tries to be true to the recordings in live performance, which I have observed during most shows. To me, this always was amazing how he could do it (if he wanted to) on stage. DF always seemed to have the equipment, palyers and vocalists to pull it off. The point is that this was the most improvised, jamming of the five or so SD shows that I have been to.

I never claimed expertise, and much of what I know was learned on the Blue. The Strainers and Hemorrhagers deal with mainly sonic observations. I know what I know, if you know what I mean. Do ya?

Your acrimony comes from having just one Strainer point due to near total lack of confidence in your ability, taking yourself too seriously and abject fear to participate. And I never bit off anyone's head that participated.

If Mike Jackson was was the King of Pop, you and your handle itself speak volumes, The (self-anointed) Dean ARE the King of POMP.

EPILOGUE

Well, I think I got everybody who had questions or concerns. Hope we are done with indignation over falsely perceived “race” and “ethnicity” issues and we focus back on aspects of SD and the show in question. If there are any other aspects of the show itself for anybody, I will be glad to provide further details about this possibly Historic Event of the SD era.

Date: Thurs, September 25, 2014, 12:55:19 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Congrats, Don. I know you're to modest to include a link to the Slate article, so here it is:

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_completist/2014/09/_33_1_3_books_the_30_best_from_aretha_franklin_to_neutral_milk_hotel.html

I like Slate but hate their front page. Negotiating the site is a bear.


I wont say much about the review posted by Brain Strainer, except to say my initial thought was much the same as Billy Goat. Strainer is a pompous ass who contributes very little, but he is usually cerebral.

Among the odd things here are the notion that Fagen mischaracterized the age of the audience in his book. Small detail here, Fagen was talking about the audiences for The Dukes of September, not Steely Dan.

Another swing and miss, was the idea Steely Dan attempted, at one time, to have their shows sound precisely like their albums. To my knowledge, and in my experience, that is complete bunk. The Dan has never been a note-for-note band. And they regularly play with arrangements, time sigs, etc.

Maybe the strangest thing in that review, was his multiple references to this being "perhaps" their final live concert. WTF? Has there been any indication this will be the last SD tour? Any viable rumors, even?

I'll stop there. But needless to say, this doesn't sound like a review from a supposed Steely Dan "expert"--one who feels qualified asking subjective questions, then deeming which answers are "correct" (with the bonus absurdity of awarding points). Seems more like a review from a first-time SD concert attendee working with outdated (and wrongheaded stereotypes) as to what to expect from a Steely Dan concert.

Date: Wed, September 24, 2014, 20:05:35 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Toronto

Of all the 33-1/3 series books that I own and/or have read ("quite a few"), the Aja book is far & away my favourite and in my opinion the very best of the series, not merely "in the top ten". Eminently readable, yet technically/musically informative at the same time. Anyone reading here who doesn't have this one should hang his or her head in shame. Abject shame, to be more specific.

Date: Wed, September 24, 2014, 12:32:21 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

Good for you, Don. I really enjoyed reading that book!

Date: Wed, September 24, 2014, 12:09:13 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

It's so great, Don. Thanks for putting that one together.

Date: Wed, September 24, 2014, 12:03:14 ET
Posted by: DoBreithaupt, Los Angeles

<Very> excited that slate.com picked my wee volume on Aja as one of the ten best books in the 100-volume 33-1/3 series!

Date: Wed, September 24, 2014, 09:09:28 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

yeah, not gonna get into a discussion about race on a steely dan message board ...

Strainer, you know the stop in Josie before the outro is intentional right?

Date: Wed, September 24, 2014, 08:32:51 ET
Posted by: Michael, Re: Brain Strainer's review

Interesting take, though a bit pompous in delivery and tone.

Racial stereotypes don't bother me; I'm beyond the whole "I'm so offended! My feelings! Somebody do something!" hypersensitive overreaction to any perceived slight. If we applied the same PC-Marxist nonsense to the past, great works such as Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles would not exist.

There are good and bad in every race and certainly differences in culture, social construct, etc. Pointing out those differences is not a problem, in and of itself. Believing another race to be *inferior* is where problems begin to arise.

If we were all monotone, this world would be a boring place to live. I for one like to experience the fruits of different cultures. Well, to an extent. I wouldn't want to take a walk through the inner-city projects at night.

Date: Wed, September 24, 2014, 05:46:31 ET
Posted by: Billy Goat, Gruff

I would just like to suggest the possibility that the 'review' by Brain Strainer may in fact have been written by somebody else just using that handle. The general mild acidity about SD and its fans, plus the unneccessary racist undertone don't sit right with his generally cerebral, if slightly irritating, previous posts. Just sayin' - could be wrong. Worth checking with Mordor in case they are missing an Orc and a laptop, though.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 19:47:40 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Also, who the fuck is "Julia Marie Dreyfus?"

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 19:44:34 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Oh, come off it. Everyone here knows 'Brain Strainer' has always been an insufferable, anonymous, shyte writer that delights in skimming above a message board frequented by dozens.

He still calls his Audi a "Quattro," which means it's either over 30 years old or that ... oh god. I don't even want to contemplate the alternative.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 19:29:46 ET
Posted by: Old Hippy, Greenwich

That was when Steely Dan had their best touring line-up: Skunk Baxter, Michael McDonald, Denny Dias and Jeff Porcaro.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 18:14:20 ET
Posted by: Wow, 40 Years Hence

I saw Steely Dan, for the first time, 40 years ago touring Pretzel Logic.

That year Nixon resigned, Patty Hearst was kidnapped, OPEC ended the Oil Embargo and Ford became the 38th US President...oh, and there was that war in SE Asia.

Remarkable.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 18:03:00 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

Sorry about the repeat posts; I didn't close the window on my laptop. And I also plead guilty to failure to read an entire post before commenting on one item therein.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 17:56:25 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

Strainer,

Thanks for the report. I'll just add a different opinion on one point, based mainly on my wife's observations. It is possible that when Donald mistakenly announced the CTE tune when TAN was starting, the cause was his own distraction by a fan at the end of the front row, just across the aisle from Mrs. GW in orchestra right, who could both see and hear him better than I could. Among other things, that fan was shouting requests. Mrs. GW noticed Donald's displeasure, and was expecting him to say something. And in my notes, it was at the end of TAN that Donald admonished the guy with "Ease up dude. You're annoying the people around you." So I don't think the cause was a "senior moment". Donald did correct himself with something like "this is from Two Against Nature" about the time Freddie started the bass groove for TAN, but it was hard to hear.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 17:56:21 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

Strainer,

Thanks for the report. I'll just add a different opinion on one point, based mainly on my wife's observations. It is possible that when Donald mistakenly announced the CTE tune when TAN was starting, the cause was his own distraction by a fan at the end of the front row, just across the aisle from Mrs. GW in orchestra right, who could both see and hear him better than I could. Among other things, that fan was shouting requests. Mrs. GW noticed Donald's displeasure, and was expecting him to say something. And in my notes, it was at the end of TAN that Donald admonished the guy with "Ease up dude. You're annoying the people around you." So I don't think the cause was a "senior moment". Donald did correct himself with something like "this is from Two Against Nature" about the time Freddie started the bass groove for TAN, but it was hard to hear.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 17:50:47 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, ok

Brain-

You seem to imply that the area isn't safe in part due to the Puerto Rican/NYC influx. That is a pretty strong xenophobic inflection you have there. The ease with which you unleash the tide of racism seems stunningly easy for you.

Disturbing to say the least.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 17:12:22 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

Strainer - Your first live SD show?

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 17:08:53 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

Strainer,

Thanks for the report. I'll just add a different opinion on one point, based mainly on my wife's observations. It is possible that when Donald mistakenly announced the CTE tune when TAN was starting, the cause was his own distraction by a fan at the end of the front row, just across the aisle from Mrs. GW in orchestra right, who could both see and hear him better than I could. Among other things, that fan was shouting requests. Mrs. GW noticed Donald's displeasure, and was expecting him to say something. And in my notes, it was at the end of TAN that Donald admonished the guy with "Ease up dude. You're annoying the people around you." So I don't think the cause was a "senior moment". Donald did correct himself with something like "this is from Two Against Nature" about the time Freddie started the bass groove for TAN, but it was hard to hear.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 17:06:16 ET
Posted by: Greg M, NY

<<"The Crapitol Theatre">>
I really, really hope this was a typo. Yet you wrote it twice. If you meant this, I challenge you to name a classier theater in the USA right now.

<<"Port Chester, NY. A town, which many in the Northeast has seen better days">>
How much time did you spend there? Are you SURE it's seen better days? Was this just a guess? It's quite vibrant these days ya know.

<<"NewYorkRican influx">>
I suppose I should be offended by that. And I am.

<<"I laid several tire patches simultanously [sic] from all four wheels of the Quattro fleeing out of Port Chester.">>
Lol, tell that to the vibrant community of young professionals/NYC commuters that make their home in Port Chester, not to mention its kind natives, many of whom, yes, are Latin American in origin, and likewise make it their home. The village is NOTHING like you portray it to be in your misinformed, idiotic and frankly racist post.

"That, and the seediness of the area at 1100 at night, led me to a quick exit."
UGH. Again!

Your musical interpretation of the show is almost as bad as this commentary about the "area." But I guess I should stop wasting my time.

Date: Tues, September 23, 2014, 16:25:00 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

With the sudden advent of what could indeed be the Last Steely Dan Show I decided after an epiphany to cruise down there myself, last minute, alone to attend. Wanted a total immersive experience without the distraction of the Mrs. That, or the high expense any forking out of jack for any impoverished Dan friends. I mean, after all, there could be another SD tour, but probabilities are increasing by the day that there won’t. Whether or not DF or WB decide to retire, time and circumstance could decide otherwise. So you don’t want to take chances. In addition, the setlist for this tour featured some rarer tunes and was improved over the previous tours.

THE VENUE was The Crapitol Theatre in a seedy area in Port Chester, NY. A town, which many in the Northeast has seen better days. The area has had a notable NewYorkRican influx, a few of whom I spoke to in Spanglish getting some chow prior to the show. Suffice it to say, after the show, I laid several tire patches simultanously from all four wheels of the Quattro fleeing out of Port Chester.

Crapitol Theater is a classic, very ornate, art deco theater that you might see in Anytown USA, now murky, dank, musty etc. It does have powerful air conditioning and it seems like they pump a strong patchouli type perfume like is used in strip joints to reduce the background stench of mustiness and funk. The sound system was robust and well-distributed throughout the room.

As usual, The Dan did not go to any expense on stage features. They had a few lighting changes and a cheap backdrop curtain that occasionally flashed vertical columns of lacy, cobweb-looking, gothic-looking arch shadows. Carlock had some color-changing floor lights that shone through his drum kit which featured transparent kettles and kick drum. Though most Dan songs do not require percussive pyrotechnics, Carlock let er’rip on several solos and was impressive.

Quite a surprise were the restrooms which were very well done and clean enough to use. Very high end, they were of the sort that you typically see in places like Revel or Trump Plaza and featured black toilets and sinks. One of the bathrooms at my crib, though dated, is done in a “mod” 1970’s black, silver and teal so the restroom gave me a sort of “homey’ feeling. I resisted the temptation to get up and re-experience the restroom, as well as the call of nature, not wanting to miss out on what was a captivating, and perhaps final SD performance.

THE CROWD was surprisingly young, on average and virtually devoid of the geriatric fossils as what was described in DFs book. Quite a few of these SD fans probably are a product of the New Testament era one might surmise, and I would guess there weren’t many over 55 or 60 years of age. During Old School, a few hundred of them were dancing at their seats and in the aisles. This perhaps is an indication that DF exaggerated a bit about the age and condition of the crowds in the book for humourous purposes.

THE (final?) STEELY DAN SHOW featured what myself and others suggested last spring and improvised, or “jammed” on quite a number of the tunes which added a unique flavour to the “live” show experience. This Jamalot concept for the tour was at the very least a “Jamalittle” performance. The improvisation of intros on many of the tunes was so good, it took about 20 seconds or so to determine what tune it was. Which normally I can do right off the bat for songs that are true to the studio record. This was a welcome departure from the customary practice of the fastidious DF trying to make the songs sound “just like the records”, although on about half the songs they did just that.

The true Dan opener Black Cow was true to the record, but the next one Aja, whose natural length provided an excellent opportunity to jam, which the band did do, incorporating various solos.

A key aspect that I wanted to assess, first hand, was the condition of WB, without whom there is no Steely Dan. Contrary to reports of the decay and decline of WB, WB seemed fine. He stood there for 2 hours with NO intermission which is quite a feat for any man approaching his eighth decade. Though he was introduced as “lead guitar”, he is by far eclipsed by Jon Herington both sonically and on stage. It seems like Herington’s amp is cranked up to 9 or 10, and WB’s amp is set on 3 or 4. When WB plays, and gets intently into it, he does this Parkinson’s bobble-head thing, which hopefully is not the case.

Though there have been many complaints about WB’s rant during Hey 19, it was perhaps the highlight of the show. It was a little tough to hear everything WB said due to being drowned out by the background music of a looped Hey 19.

WB said that he grew up about 10 minutes from Port Chester, and he that he told the previous two sold-out shows that the area’s fans were the world’s best. He went on to intimate about his neighborhood, about the Irish and Italian families that dropped kids out like bombers drop bombs. He portrayed the virtues of that simpler life, and that the maybe the good old days were the way to live. Then he went into a little vignette about stealing from the liquor cabinet about a drink he couldn’t think of the name of and invited the audience guess that it was Cuervo Gold. then the full band performance Hey 19 resumed.

WB’s contribution to this show was his showmanship and witty monologue. He did sing on Daddy, but he is not a singer, unless he were to do Johnny Cash-type songs which are of a narrative type. It can work with certain songs. Which he does mostly on his solo material. Where WB excels is his rich voice. The kind of voice you want to read or tell stories to you. If WB is ever unable to perform live musically, I would say a second career awaits him in Audio Book readings.

Black Friday jammed a bit, Rikki was very performed very close to the record.

A telling feature of the Jamalot Show was the inclusion of 3 cuts from the CTE LP, out of a possible 17 Dan tunes for this show, and has often been described as their jamming, prog-rock album, if you will. Show Biz Kids and Old School jammed they should, with some new improvisation. This was followed by a true to the studio record Time Out of Mind. As a bonus, DF stood up at the piano and enunciated the lyrics so intensely, he looked as though he was, indeed, Out of His Mind.

DF then announced that the next song was a cut from the Countdown to Ecstasy album. This was a fuck up since DF was perhaps having a senior moment, or maybe that the set list was dominated by CTE cuts. The band then went into Two Against Nature, which, again, is probably the most jamming tune of the New Testament Era. DF then corrected himself on the next tune, Razor Boy, from CTE which replaced Dirty Work and was by the backup singing Danettes, as DF introduced them.

Then came Bodhisattva, true to recording, then Daddy with a weak vocal performance by WB. Possibly there might have been problems with his microphone, since there were problems hearing him on his Hey 19 monologue. Babylon sisters was record authentic. Then there was the Joe Tex cover which served to allow each Danettes to display their impressive pipes. They seem to be wasted as backup singers. Carolyn, the white girl, was every bit as soulful, perhaps a bit higher pitched than her black fellow Danettes, in providing that Black female voice that DF said has certain qualities, I would guess for his type of music.

On Josie, WB was talking again with some more band intros and solos. As a footnote, I was almost a bit pissed off because there was some stoppage, and I thought Josie was going to be cut short WITHOUT the outro, which is the best part of the song with that jazzy, recurrent saxophone riff. Nonetheless play resumed and they came through with the goods. Peg was like the record, but the true jamming and dancing came when Old School came on. Must’ve been 300 people on their feet dancing like white people. There were few and far between with moves out there. Most were like Julia Marie Dreyfus from the scene on Seinfeld.

Reelin attempted to be true to the record, but came up short. The doubling DF does on his voice on the record cannot be replicated with him singing solo with the backup singers. And Herington is good, but the solo on the actual studio record, which I believe was by Eliot Randall, and voted among the best in rock history can never be duplicated. The encore, Kid Charlemagne, which also was attempted to be true to the record, was not best rendition of that tune that I have heard, but still pretty good. Favourite rendition is one of some concert footage that I saw on YouTube or somewhere where the improvisation really super-enhances Kid C.

EPILOGUE. After the last note of Untouchables was played, I wanted more “shot” to experience that fine restroom, but there was a long line of beer-soaked codgers whose urinary tract condition at their stage in life take 10 minutes each to take a piss. That, and the seediness of the area at 1100 at night, led me to a quick exit.

It is difficult to say at this point to think that this could be the last SD live show. There are possibilities, but more importantly, PROBABLITIES in life. Many people, particularly those who buy lottery tickets daily focus on the possible winning, but not the low probabilities of winning. If it is the last show, I experienced it, and can tell anyone interested or my grandchildren when they are old enough and can comprehend. Of the two, WB and DF, I believe that, DF has demonstrated that he is more into the live performing, and DF probably will go on with perhaps solo tours. I do not think that SD will be like Cher or Streisand and announce their final tour, only to come back later as both of them did.

One thing that should be said, is that if not for recording royalties drying up for most of the classic rock acts, who previously could retire and live off of them. SD being among them, and notably WB have probably been forced somewhat financially, or to fatten their nest egg to tour. What this portends for SD fans and others is that these tours are taking place long past the "expiration date" of bands as a byproduct of this reality.

The Last Steely Dan Show? It all depends on where that Wheel of Chance in the sky and the Kamakiri takes DF (and WB) as it moves along, out into the ether through time……

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 21:50:47 ET
Posted by: 44, 18 miles away

Wait!!!
As of this afternoon.. Carlock's been replaced!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3eCuwrTvrU

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 17:30:53 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, SoBe

Thanks Lewis, that made me laugh.

Have a safe flight.

Until next time......

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 17:29:00 ET
Posted by: Jake, Nebraska

Similarly, Carlock is no Elitch. And that's totally ok!

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 17:27:47 ET
Posted by: Jake, Nebraska

Not comparing by any means, they definitely aren't really in the same arena of drumming. Carlock compared to any "chops monster" drummer doesn't really make a lot of sense. I just wanted to dispell any thoughts that because it's Miley Cyrus that her band is mediocre. Her band is composed of a ton of great players in their own right.

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 16:56:09 ET
Posted by: drummer,

I wouldn't compare Elitch to Carlock. They're both phenomenal professional drummers, differently suited for different styles.

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 16:26:57 ET
Posted by: Twatter, -

Ray, not according to this tweet: https://twitter.com/KeithCarlock/status/513917374488408064

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 15:12:37 ET
Posted by: Jake, Nebraska

Funny you mention that. The drummer for Miley is no slouch, a phenomenal player named Dave Elitch...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG9vviCnHqA

He's no Carlock though. ;)

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 15:02:00 ET
Posted by: 44, Airport

Keith is joining the Miley Cyrus tour for then next 10 years

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 13:40:24 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, SoBe

At the Interlochen show they let us
rush the stage and dance from the
start of the band intros! ;O)

So was Sunday's show absolutely, positively
the last Steely Dan show with Keith Carlock?

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 01:23:45 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Packing

Peaches, yes they did. They started to let people move up tonight at the beginning of MOS.

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 01:18:24 ET
Posted by: Peaches, sick in bed

So did they let the audience rush up to the front of the stage like on Saturday's show?

Date: Mon, September 22, 2014, 00:36:19 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Rye, NY

Steely Dan, Port Chester, NY
21 Sep 2014 Setlist


We just got back to the room after leaving Hoops, Pete and Shari, Security Joan, Jim Taylor, and others I may have missed. I am going to just post the setlist and leave the reports to the more capable hands in the house tonight, but it was an excellent performance.

Intro: Cubano Chant ~8:53 PM

Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Show Biz Kids
Time Out of Mind
Two Against Nature
Razor Boy (Ladies on Vocals)
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More (WB Vocals)
Babylon Sisters
I Want To (Do Everything For You); Band Intros
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years

Encore: Kid Charlemagne
Outro: Untouchables Theme

Date: Sun, September 21, 2014, 13:26:40 ET
Posted by: Friday, Setlist

https://twitter.com/keithcarlock/status/513446553311514626

Date: Sun, September 21, 2014, 13:14:10 ET
Posted by: The EQ, here, there . . . everywhere!

It's all the same setlist.

Date: Sun, September 21, 2014, 10:23:17 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, SoBe

Where is Friday's Port Chester setlist????????

Date: Sun, September 21, 2014, 07:32:17 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, C

Artists can specify in their riders when they want to allow fans to rush the stage. I've seen it in a Steve Miller Band rider. They provide security with a set list.

Date: Sun, September 21, 2014, 04:14:24 ET
Posted by: Mason, Harrison NY

Won't work for me. I'm sitting up in the balcony for the Sunday show :(

Date: Sun, September 21, 2014, 00:48:18 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Rye, NY

Steely Dan at Port Chester, NY
20 Sep 2014 setlist

Intro: Cubano Chant ~8:48 PM

Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Show Biz Kids
Time Out Of Mind
Godwhacker
Dirty Work (Ladies rotating vocals)
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More
FM
I Want To (Do Everything For You); Band Intros
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years

Encore: Kid Charlemagne
Outro: Untouchables Theme ~10:50 PM

I am going to have to skip the report for now, but I will just supply one tip based on my observations tonight. At about the start of RITY, one of the ushers in front of us started encouraging people to move to the front of the stage, which had been prohibited up to that point. I assume this occurred house left as well, based on the crowd that formed. So if you want to be part of the stage rush tomorrow, work your way down the aisles to about the second or third row during My Old School. Maybe the same thing will happen tomorrow night.

Date: Sun, September 21, 2014, 00:41:35 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Queens

Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY 9/20/14

1. Cubano Chant
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey 19
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki
7. Show Biz Kids
8. TOOM
9. Godwhacker
10.Dirty Work
11.Bodhisattva
12. Daddy
13. FM
14. Joe Tex
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin
19. Kid Charlemagne
20. Untouchables

A very fine sounding show. There were a few technical issues that caused a weird buzz to be emitted. It might have been Walter's guitar... He and the tech fussed with it all night. Freddy left the stage after Show Biz Kids and missed the first verse and part of the chorus of TOOM. It was really weird. I thought maybe he was sick, but he played his ass off for the rest of the show. I have never seen anything like it! Looking forward to the last show of the tour Sunday night.

Date: Sun, September 21, 2014, 00:36:02 ET
Posted by: SRO, Last Chance

Standing Room tix for $150- are available for the final show.

Date: Sat, September 20, 2014, 02:15:19 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Rye, NY

Mrs. GW and I drove up today from Virginia. We did not go to the Friday show, but have tickets for both Saturday and Sunday. Hope to see all of you there.

Date: Fri, September 19, 2014, 23:36:21 ET
Posted by: Reidar from Norway, Port Chester

Looking forward to see you all. The Beer Garden,on the Capitol Theatre side off the railwaystation is maybe the best place to meet up before the show.
The show tonight was a good one, crowd on their feet near the end, but a standard setlist. I enjoyed it though and why shouldn't I, it's a great band.

Date: Fri, September 19, 2014, 20:12:42 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Hoops, great to hear you're going to make the last show. When we heard that our favourite Norwegian Danfan was going, we knew it was necessary to go to one more show this tour. Hope to meet you there! And others from the Blue too.

Date: Fri, September 19, 2014, 12:21:47 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Lurker Ray, others. Thanks for the good wishes. I plan to attend Sunday night's show.

Best,

Jim

Date: Fri, September 19, 2014, 10:57:03 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, SoBe

Have a blast at the final 2014 3 day trifecta
in Port Chester you lucky So-and-So's!

Have a blast!

Wish I could be there!

Date: Fri, September 19, 2014, 10:49:23 ET
Posted by: Charles, Q

I wonder if Donald's post Nightfly issues had something to do with the introduction of New Coke in 85.

Date: Fri, September 19, 2014, 07:27:56 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Bodhisattva

I won't say that the Donald impersonation is the best I've seen but for the music, well , just have a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAvYHXz7XsA

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2014, 20:58:08 ET
Posted by: Nike air max sko, http://www.norkred.com/

You should phrase any posts that includes a critique without straight calling out another affiliate here or members out of other forums or supporter sites. Doing so can induce messy "flame wars" that might be difficult to extinguish. One good way is to just phrase everything to be your own opinion. For example, "I personally find Shawn's express grating, her style over-the-top aggravating, and the fact that she wears much purple makes me think she need to be mentally unstable" (or what maybe you've). You can stop generally there. You don't have to take to explain how dumbfounded you are that anyone disagrees in hand.

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2014, 16:15:58 ET
Posted by: Baltimore Show,

I actually didn't see Donald with a Coke. He had a water bottle, and joked that he hoped the crowd was staying "hydrated" as he lifted up his water bottle, that it was "good for ya."

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2014, 15:45:43 ET
Posted by: soundboard sammy, Ive been to too many shows

So Walter's "always the same" Hey 19 raps are true nightly improvisations, whereas Fagen draws on a small collection of fake-spontaneous exclamations. Funny how that works out.

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2014, 14:54:07 ET
Posted by: Ace, Washington

It's probably too much caffeine from that can of coke Donald drinks out of.

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2014, 13:07:04 ET
Posted by: RB, 1

Donald also yelled out "Yeah Baby" in Red Bank. They he feigned embarrassment and said "I don't know what just came over me."

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2014, 10:33:10 ET
Posted by: tact, poise and reason, grinding through my day gig on 4 hours sleep

Baltimore Show- Your setlist is indeed accurate. I got there very early and caught sound-check which included:
1.Black Cow with a couple starts and stops and Donald checking his microphone quite a bit.
2.Time Out Of Mind- full run through, pretty good jam at the end.
3.Razor Boy- chicks singing, of course.

As for the show, sell-out crowd probably 4000, sound at the venue was OK but a bit muddled IMO. Perfect weather, beautiful night, good energy. Donald did indeed sound energized and animated including letting out a raucous, almost yelping, "Yeah Baby" during the applause after Time Out Of Mind. Surprising but good to see. Walters Hey 19 rap was a bit lengthy but not bad. Aja is always fantastic. Herington and Carlock were absolutely killin' it during Bodi. Walters band intros were a bit lengthy as well but when he got to Donald he went with the old "not sure I should mention him......but every time I look over he's still sitting there". Massive partial standing ovation for Donald. Great to see and well deserved. Chicks sounded and looked great all night. About half the crowd standing, some dancing, during School. Full standing ovation after School and all remained standing for Reelin and massive ovation after Reelin which carried through until they came back out for Kid C. Almost forgot Walter soloing his ass off with the flying V on Josie. Sounded great. Great day, wonderful night, another great memory thanks in large part to The Dan!

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2014, 09:16:09 ET
Posted by: Ken, PA

Did they really play Gaucho in Atlantic City?

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2014, 04:05:45 ET
Posted by: Bumstead, Atlanta

You got a free ticket to Steely Dan from a press person who was leaving? I wonder why he left? Sure wish I had that kind of luck.

Date: Wed, September 17, 2014, 23:52:16 ET
Posted by: Baltimore Show,

Sorry, to clarify, Carlock exchanged smiles with Herrington.

Date: Wed, September 17, 2014, 23:50:43 ET
Posted by: Baltimore Show,

Here's my recollection of the set in Baltimore tonight. It was a Razor Boy/Home at Last/FM variant. I wasn't there for the first 4 songs, but assume they were the same as past shows. Didn't buy a ticket in advance, and the show was sold out, but I waited at the entrance and got a free ticket from a press person leaving. Lo and behold, it was 10 rows from Donald. I was blessed by the Steely Dan gods.

Band was tight as always. Donald was very lively and interactive with the crowd. Herrington was smiling a lot. One of my favorite moments was when Carlock missed a back beat or something during Josie, and him and Carlock exchanged smiles with wide-eyed suprise. It was an extremely minor thing, something only the most die-hard drummer fan would notice. But fun to see.

Waited outside the venue for the small chance I might see someone. Saw Freddy, waved hi, and he waved back. No other luck.


1. Cubano Chant
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Razor Boy
10. Bodhisattva
11. Home at Last
12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
13. FM
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You)(Joe Tex cover)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
19. Kid Charlemagne
20. The Untouchables Theme

Date: Wed, September 17, 2014, 13:31:07 ET
Posted by: Hamp, at home

I notice the band has been playing Home at Last at lot as this tour comes to a close. Donald, Walt and the rest of the band are tired and in need of a rest. They all want to be "home at last".

Date: Wed, September 17, 2014, 11:13:12 ET
Posted by: Andy30ips, Woodmont, CT

Oakdale last night. No deep cuts, but a great show - a Bodhisattva for the ages...just smokin'. Sound was spoiled by a mic overload on Carlock's drum kit that spit treble distortion timed to the beat all night - spoiled an otherwise super show.

Date: Wed, September 17, 2014, 07:12:14 ET
Posted by: Big Fan, Home at Last

Setlist from Oakdale - Home at Last a little bit of a surprise. Nothing from the new albums - a greatest hits type setlist. Some of the best seats we've ever had. My 43rd show since 1993. Band a little listless to start, but appreciative at the end. The guitar tech visited Walter during every song - he obviously wasn't pleased with something. I swear Carolyn Leonhart gets more beautiful every year. Don dropped the Escoffery in the intros. I wore my Y2K polo shirt - hard to believe 14 years. I get more comments on it - still the best shirt they ever sold.


1. Cubano Chant
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Dirty Work
10. Bodhisattva
11. Home at Last
12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
13. Babylon Sister
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You)(Joe Tex cover)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
19. . Kid Charlemagne
20. The Untouchables Theme

Date: Tues, September 16, 2014, 15:34:10 ET
Posted by: Slade, Fairfield, CT

I'm going to the show at Oakdale tonight too. I'm in section 102, row G. It's a good seat. Only 4 hours until the show starts!

Date: Tues, September 16, 2014, 09:58:59 ET
Posted by: Big Fan, Not Home at Last

The big day is finally here. It seems like a year ago when I bought the tickets for tonight. Waiting till the end of the tour while the rest of the continent got to see them has been tough. I was lucky to get tickets 5th row center the first day they went on sale. Thank heavens they chose to play at the Oakdale rather than the hideous casino venues. The Oakdale is pretty good – decent sound, nice venue. Our son saw them in Bangor, ME a few weeks ago. Small outdoor venue – he said it got cold but that it was a great show. He's now seen them perform in 4 different states.

Date: Tues, September 16, 2014, 07:32:47 ET
Posted by: Michael, @M/O/D/P

What a crap thing for a sports personality to do (the host, not Tyson).

These days, all the sportscasters are so full of themselves, they think their position makes them qualified experts on everything from domestic abuse and personal relationships to political issues. Just a couple days ago an ESPN sportscaster was sounding off on Ray Rice, stating that children (other people's, mind you) need to be *re-programmed* at school, to which I would reply, "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Date: Tues, September 16, 2014, 01:47:46 ET
Posted by: Sib, C

Some information about the sound gear they are using this tour.

http://livedesignonline.com/steely-dan-s-pursuit-perfection-mla

Date: Tues, September 16, 2014, 00:07:50 ET
Posted by: Jeff, Hyde Park, London

09/14/14. 28 years in the making :

1. All Over the World
2. Evil Woman
3. Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
4. Showdown
5. Livin' Thing
6. Strange Magic
7. 10538 Overture
8. Can't Get It Out of My Head
9. Sweet Talkin' Woman
10. Turn to Stone
11. Steppin' Out (Live debut)
12. Handle with Care (Traveling Wilburys cover)
13. Don't Bring Me Down
14. Rock 'n' Roll Is King
15. Telephone Line
16. Mr. Blue Sky
Encore:
17. Roll Over Beethoven


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBEMnV2I3K8

Date: Mon, September 15, 2014, 17:13:11 ET
Posted by: The Mapmaker, of maps

Beaubo - I thought that you were a Dallasite.

Date: Mon, September 15, 2014, 15:00:44 ET
Posted by: Disco Duck, NY

Not going. His music ain't funky enough and I can't dance to it.

Date: Mon, September 15, 2014, 14:18:38 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, TThe Cat's out of the bag, and on the road!

Yusuf Islam's U.S. tour 2014; first time in 40 years.
A Cat by any other name sounds just the same!

Dec 01 • Toronto Massey Hall
Dec 04 • Boston Wang Theatre
Dec 07 • New York Beacon Theatre
Dec 09 • Chicago Chicago Theatre
Dec 12 • San Francisco Masonic Auditorium
Dec 14 • Los Angeles Nokia Theatre

Date: Mon, September 15, 2014, 13:39:11 ET
Posted by: Jimbo, Philly

I'm glad they played Pretzel Logic. I love encore surprises. Steely Dan should do that more often.

Date: Mon, September 15, 2014, 10:08:10 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

Loving that Cubano Chant is opening again, one of, if not, the best. IMHO

Date: Mon, September 15, 2014, 09:47:11 ET
Posted by: tact, poise and reason,

Beaubo- I think Kid C simply requested a night off as he has been busting his ass all summer long, pretty much carrying the entire encore burden single-handedly. Luckily Pretzel Logic, with previous encore experience, was available on short notice and I'm sure filled in admirably.

But seriously folks, I've been surprised Pretzel Logic hasn't popped up more frequently the past 2 tours. I love hearing that song live.

Date: Mon, September 15, 2014, 08:27:20 ET
Posted by: beaubo, Cleveland

of Hunting, Tonight Uno


1. Cubano Chant
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Two Against Nature
10. Dirty Work
11. Bodhisattva
12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
13. Babylon Sister
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You)(Joe Tex cover)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
19. Pretzel Logic KID C inexplicably skipped over
20. The Untouchables Theme

Date: Sun, September 14, 2014, 14:32:29 ET
Posted by: .,

Madames and Monseurs:

Pierre J. Fogel!

Date: Sun, September 14, 2014, 14:29:52 ET
Posted by: .,

Ladies and Gentlemen: Pete Fogel

Date: Sun, September 14, 2014, 11:18:15 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau France

The Joe Sample/Peter Fogel interview:

http://granatino.com/sdresource/21sample.htm

Date: Sun, September 14, 2014, 03:02:11 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Rikki and FM. Nice.

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 23:59:17 ET
Posted by: Ton of Hunting, Tonight Uno

1. Cubano Chant
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. FM
10. Razor Boy
11. Bodhisattva
12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
13. Green Earrings
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You)(Joe Tex cover)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
19. Kid Charlemagne
20. The Untouchables Theme

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 20:06:27 ET
Posted by: IMHO, pp

I'd rather Herington more or less replicated the original solos and suspect that your average ticket buyer does too.

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 18:55:32 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, sneering just a bit, but not so's you'd notice really

Recently, Mike Tyson (former boxing champ turned cartoon character) was in town doing his one man show, and he made some personal appearances locally. He met with Mayor Rob Ford (former city councillor turned mayor turned cartoon character) for a photo op, and, following that, did a Q&A on a local TV station - one of the ones that always has way too many different things going on all over the screen at the same time. The bush league host, obviously attempting to be "edgy" (yawn), asked Tyson if he though that meeting with a convicted rapist would help or hurt the Mayor in the polls. Tyson, never the most eloquent guy on the planet, responded with a lengthy stream of cussin' and then walked out. In the end, both the interviewer and interviewee behaved with zero class - not uncommon in today's classless entertainment world.

A better question - one that showed some respect for both the interview subject and the viewing/listening/reading audience - might have been, "Do you think a public meeting with a controversial public figure such as yourself will help or hurt the Mayor?". The new question asks essentially the same thing as the first one, but avoids the sensationalistic daytime TV host "hey-everybody-look-at-me-I'm-just-like-Mike-Wallace" shtick. The interviewee (in this case Tyson) is needled, just a bit, but politely enough to maybe get a quote-worthy answer without resorting to sophomoric asshole tactics.

The recently-posted list of potential SD queries contains the seeds of some that might just lead to some clever and interesting answers. Posing versions of those questions with a bit of tact and class might actually make for some good reading. Asking them like you're trying desperately to make you and your easily-amused friends giggle like schoolgirls while hoping to get your teeth knocked out in a "viral video" (yawn) as well probably wouldn't lead anywhere worthwhile.

Unless you happen to be a fan of, y'know, "daytime TV".

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 18:48:44 ET
Posted by: Chubby, Utah

The one thing I can't stand is having diarrhea when I'm at a concert. It's the absolute worst. I've been thinking about wearing a diaper at future shows to help me alleviate this problem. Growing old really does suck.

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 16:11:10 ET
Posted by: Jordan, Phoenix AZ

Does Walter ever throw out guitar picks into the audience? I've never seen it at all the Steely Dan shows I've been to.

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 16:09:45 ET
Posted by: Al Generalli, Bath, ME

Jim Taylor, etal -

Remember this segment w/ Tom Barney?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pOt3QZDQwA


They like to jokingly rake him over the coals here.


Why shouldn't an interviewer do the same to them, occasionally?

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 16:00:37 ET
Posted by: Al Generalli , Bath, ME

Jim Taylor -

I don't really consider what I've written as Trollsville, JIm.

I love SD's music and I think they're pretty astutely cool guys.

I also think they can take/should maybe field a few fiery questions from time to time.

Also I don't really understand why you or others feel compelled or so minded to defend them from have someone poke a little pointed fun at them.

I think they can deal w/ it, Jim.

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 14:27:53 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Walter Becker's rhythm guitar work on 'Reelin' during this tour has been absolutely killer.

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 13:01:29 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Al, you remind me of the guy in "My Rival". Or maybe, LaPage. I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but...it's stomping time.

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 12:10:05 ET
Posted by: Al Generalli, Bath, ME

Ha. Nicholas, I KNEW someome, and why not you, would think I would think unfavorably of Steely Dan. Oh, but how wrong you can be, dear Nikolai! Au contrere, my dear. Quite the opposite.

I just think it would be nice not to always ask the same self-satisfying and boring Qs incessantly. See what I mean, Nikolo?

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 11:47:51 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

Al, we get it. You think that D&W are assholes, creeps, misanthropes, and worse. To quote Ernie Merriman in Broadcast News, "Who gives a shit what you think?"

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 11:30:02 ET
Posted by: Al Generalli, Bath, ME

10 Questions Steely Dan has never been asked in interviews, but probably should be:


*Because of your often highbrow, snobby attitudes, growing up, did you have many other kids wanting to kick your asses?
*As teens, did you have a difficult time dating girls?
*Did girls generally think you were kind of creepy?
*Did you feel alienated because you were weirdos? Did that bother either of you in any way?
*Did any of the studio musicians tell you to “fuck yourselves” during any of the sessions?
*Do you relate in some way, and if you do, how do you relate to some of the characters you depict in your songs?
*If not, why would you choose to write about them specifically?
*How much of your “steely personae” is really a defense mechanism used to obscure your innermost vulnerabilities and neuroses?
*Does being intelligent/well-read self-proclaimed hipsters make you feel superior to other people, generally speaking? If so, in what ways?
*Do you think Skunk Baxter has the knowledge necessary to aid in crushing ISIS? If so, please explain.

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 10:31:46 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Al, they were writing about you...

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 10:06:19 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

RIP Joe Sample. What a player.

Date: Sat, September 13, 2014, 00:38:14 ET
Posted by: bikemann, colorado

Thanks to "hope this helps" Got it.

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 23:05:28 ET
Posted by: I was, there

Gaucho in AC tonight. Don vox

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 22:18:47 ET
Posted by: Flatbush Chuck, That NYC

For me Stevie's can-do-no-wrong period ran about 1971-74 (Innervisions, what can you say?), though plenty good stuff would follow.


Funny how the 1973-75 period tends to get cast in romantic histories of rock as a fallow period-- you know, after the Sixties' jism was spent but before Punk/Wave regalvanized the corpse; the ascendancy of "corporate rock", etc. But when I think of how well the crop of albums that defined that period for me have aged-- Countdown, Pretzel Logic, Katy, Court and Spark, Good Old Boys, 461 Ocean Boulevard, Tonight's the Night, On the Beach, Blood On the Tracks, Before the Flood, Call Me (Al Green), Radio City (Big Star), Innervisions and Fulfillingness, both the NY Dolls albums, and plenty of stuff I'm not calling to mind at the moment-- that period might actually have been one of the best for a 14-17-year-old vinyl collector to have come of age in.

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 21:35:20 ET
Posted by: Hope this, helps

Make certain that all the characters are included when you highlight the URL, do a copy & paste, and it should work fine. I just tried it again and it goes right to the archived ebay page.

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 21:24:00 ET
Posted by: bikemann, colorado

Trying to see this Dr Wu demo. Can't seem to get it. Could someone help please.

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 19:53:53 ET
Posted by: Barnaby Jones, Toon Town

For what? Oh yeah, I forgot. There's a Steely Dan show tonight.

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 18:41:52 ET
Posted by: sf, nj

Anybody at ceasars?

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 17:31:59 ET
Posted by: EC, NY

M/O/D/P - Cool find. I guess it could be either of 2 things:

1) a reference pressing (done around the time the Katy Lied final track listing was being put together) of the album version for internal record company use (i.e radio single consideration) OR

2) a demo recorded in NYC well before the Katy Lied sessions and maybe even pressed in this format as a demo for possible consideration/inclusion on CBAT or Countdown.

I don't think it's a well circulated rarity, though, because I have never heard it/heard of it either. Although I don't claim to be the definitive historian of the band, just a fairly knowledgeable fan.

OR, since nowhere on the label is the name Steely Dan mentioned, just songwriter credits to Becker and Fagen, could it be another pre CBAT demo or a song perhaps intended for another act? Just speculating of course.

Hopefully the ebay winner is a poster or reader here and can confirm or deny when the disc arrives. A previously unheard version of one of SD's best tunes would be a real find!

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 15:14:12 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Dangental: Catherine Russell is performing tonight at Berklee Performance Center. I missed her presence on the SD tour this year, so I am looking forward to seeing her tonight.

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 15:04:14 ET
Posted by: SDV, I Just Called To Say:

you guys have fun in the boys room! anything Stevie wants to play is alright by me.

(though I assume we won't be hearing any of his 80s material at a Songs in the Key of Life concert)

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 14:50:10 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG, PA

Sorry to turn this into a Stevie board, but Moe, I will be right behind you in line at the loo if he plays that song. I will stop now.

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 12:46:44 ET
Posted by: Moe, 3rd place in line for Stevie Wonder tix at Wells Fargo

I've been listening to a lot of Stevie Wonder CDs because of the upcoming Songs in the Key of Life tour. I love all of his music until he wrote I just Called to Say I Love You. That song was a big stinker and it marked a decline in his songwriting. If he plays that song on this tour I'm heading straight to the toilet.

Date: Fri, September 12, 2014, 11:10:59 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG, PA

M/O/D/P/ I am right behind you in line. Wells Fargo in Philly!

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 21:23:22 ET
Posted by: NYB, Anywhere's Everywhere...

Made every way cut you like a knife
Any moment in time could change your life
Will you be ready with the time you got?
Maker is ready if your ready or not...

Hangin on by a fragile thread
Livin your life like your already dead
Will you be happy with the time you gave?
These words will be your final days...


(Cary Ann Hearst)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCTvpHkQLKw

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 19:32:18 ET
Posted by: whomever, wherever

M/O/D/P,

Interesting find. There have been a ton of fake acetates that have appeared for sale on eBay in the past couple of years, especially Beatles and other artists whose (genuine) acetates command big bucks. The fakes are getting better as the sellers fine-tune their artificial label-aging methods. Caveat emptor.

Anyway, this disc looks legit - there's a collector I'm familiar with that has a set of original Countdown To Ecstasy acetates - one for each song - on 8" discs with the Associated label just like this, except without handwritten songwriting credits or ABC copyright blurb. I can't tell whether the seller has listened to the disc or is especially familiar with Steely Dan, so it may not be a "demo" but the studio version. I question whether Don n' Walt ever intended Doctor Wu to be recorded by anyone but themselves, which means cutting a "songwriter's demo" for audition by other potential artists wouldn't make sense.

Cool disc, though.

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 18:10:03 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, In the lineup for Stevie Wonder tickets already

I don't need a guaranteed and affordable loan, I'm (frankly) a bit suspicious of most internet spell-casters (with apologies to the good doctor in Nigeria of course), and my tolerance for bad music is now at an all-time low...however, I was wondering if anyone here knows the provenance of this recent eBay item:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEELY-DAN-Doctor-Wu-10-034-45RPM-SONGWRITER-039-S-DEMO-Rare-ABC-MUSIC-Single-Sided-/261583597529?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=dEvTNrCKtQOOtfS%252B8LyxoNC4qRs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

I know the URL looks too long, but I tested it and it works. If this really is a "songwriters' demo", then it obviously precedes the album version and may very well be a version I've never heard. The 1974 copyright has been added to the label, not printed on it. The recording studio is a famous one in NYC (!), and the record company address is LA. Could this be an early working version of the song? Is this a real find, or is it a well-circulated rarity that I've somehow missed so far?

Anyone out there intrigued?

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 17:50:31 ET
Posted by: Roy, Santa Monica CA

I wonder why they took those pics off the website now? There's still eight more shows left in the tour.

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 17:30:00 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

I see they have removed the "pics from the road" link on steelydan.com

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 16:04:06 ET
Posted by: Doug P., Buffalo, NY

Gonna see Sheena Easton at Seneca Niagara Casino on the 27th. Haven't seen Sheena perform in a long time. I've always had a big crush on her when I was growing up.

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 15:02:13 ET
Posted by: NYB, Box #10

Hey how 'bout "Shovels & Rope"? You guys like "Shovels & Rope"?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1n7FAsiezo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydU2j_MZg3c

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 13:51:18 ET
Posted by: Old Rocker, Florida

Bad news for Paul Revere & the Raiders fans. Paul Revere has now retired from performing due to his declining health. His band will continue to tour without him but who wants to see a band with no original members?

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 13:29:44 ET
Posted by: Washburn, Boston

I'm definitely going. I'm surprised he's only playing 11 shows on this tour. Makes it more of a "must see" performance.

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2014, 09:37:03 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Stevie Wonder is performing all of Song In The Key of Life on a short tour this fall.

Unlike Steely Dan, Stevie rarely tours these days. I saw him on his last US tour - 09 I think? - and he and his band were phenomenal. His voice hasn't aged a bit. And Songs in the Key of Life is his masterpiece. This is going to be a must-see.

http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/09/stevie-wonder-announces-songs-in-the-key-of-life-tour/

Date: Wed, September 10, 2014, 23:17:14 ET
Posted by: unkle fahkwad, live from nowhere

Just got back from a trip to Vegas, where I sung a mean 'Deacon Blues' at the piano/karaoke bar 'Don't Tell Mama'
I dedicated it to Carl "Safe Sax" Ferris , a man who has been playing the sax on the Freemont street strip near Binion's Casino (to slick smooth jazz backing tracks) for money for 11 years.
Have any of you ever been there and seen him ? He is LIVING THE DEACON BLUES DREAM... He plays just what he feels, and I rather like the vibe he has. He's got alto, soprano, and tenor saxes he swiches up..
I know you guys just want talk setlists setlists setlists setlists setlists setlists.. but if you're ever in the Freemont strip area of vegas , give him some love..

Date: Wed, September 10, 2014, 23:01:36 ET
Posted by: kelvin key, Canada

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Date: Wed, September 10, 2014, 15:34:05 ET
Posted by: Fat Lazy Guy, New Jersey

They played Green Earrings last night.

Date: Wed, September 10, 2014, 13:53:23 ET
Posted by: Bradley, Annapolis, MD

Zilch. Nobody has posted the setlist for last night's show on Setlist.fm. No reviews from the press or on this board either. Hopefully that will change by the end of the day.

Date: Wed, September 10, 2014, 10:49:15 ET
Posted by: Hugh, C

Any reports from Morristown?

Date: Wed, September 10, 2014, 09:13:55 ET
Posted by: Who, Cares

Big Jake - Wrong forum.

Date: Tues, September 09, 2014, 23:17:56 ET
Posted by: NYB, Tripstar

Excuse me, but can we take a second to realize that women over 40 are far superior to women under that age? Take Leslie Wunderman here for example... Leslie is 52 years old, and Leslie makes my heart pound like the 400 meter dash!


Girls, if you ain't over 40, then you ain't got this... and if you ain't got this, you ain't GOT IT...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj_-RGREIkw

Date: Tues, September 09, 2014, 21:53:00 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Hi Jim, the Boston show is all for me this year, I'm afraid. I hope you have a great time at those 2 shows. Thanks to everyone for their kind words.

Date: Tues, September 09, 2014, 21:41:34 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Denise, I hope you are going to be at some of the Capitol Theater Shows. I will be at the last 2 and am looking forward to meeting many of the people that I converse with on this board! Your insights and enthusiasm are much appreciated.

Date: Tues, September 09, 2014, 21:21:40 ET
Posted by: Jazzy Jeff, New Orleans

Jazz great Gerald Wilson has died..RIP.

Date: Tues, September 09, 2014, 18:34:02 ET
Posted by: Big Jake, Austin TX

New photo of Keith Richards on www.pollstar.com. He's not wearing his trademark bandana so you can see his balding receding hairline.

Date: Tues, September 09, 2014, 15:32:40 ET
Posted by: Sweat, White Plains, NY

I want that Steely Dan Aja Hoodie really bad. I'm gonna see if the merchandise vendors can lower the price at the final Capitol Theatre shows.

Date: Tues, September 09, 2014, 13:47:57 ET
Posted by: Troy, NY

Huh? I went to the Mayo PAC website and I saw some tickets available for both Steely Dan shows.

Date: Tues, September 09, 2014, 13:09:35 ET
Posted by: No tickets, No life

Anyone familiar with the Mayo PAC, any chance of tickets for tonight or tomorrow freeing up?

Date: Tues, September 09, 2014, 02:08:58 ET
Posted by: kelvin key, canada

Do you need Guaranteed and affordable Loan? If yes apply With Us and get fast approval today. No Credit Checks, No Collateral. easy steps, Fast Funding and low interest rate. Contact us today via kelvinkeyloanservices@gmail.com

Date: Mon, September 08, 2014, 18:02:19 ET
Posted by: Paul, New Haven CT

Denise is the best reviewer of Steely Dan shows on this board.

Date: Mon, September 08, 2014, 12:26:21 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, SoBe

Thanks for all of the great reports Denise!

Always a pleasure to read your stuff.

Date: Mon, September 08, 2014, 09:32:09 ET
Posted by: Road that Island!, Yee-haw!

1. Cubano Chant (band intro)
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Two Against Nature
9. Godwhacker
10. Razor Boy
11. Bodhisattva
12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
13. Third World Man
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You)(Joe Tex cover)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years
19. Kid Charlemagne
20. The Untouchables Theme (band outro)

Date: Mon, September 08, 2014, 06:20:58 ET
Posted by: Providence, Review

http://www.providencejournal.com/features/entertainment/music/20140907-steely-dan-shines-at-ppac-sunday-night.ece

Date: Mon, September 08, 2014, 03:55:52 ET
Posted by: living in the past, 1973..thank you

ah...yes the golden days

http://stephenvincentorourke.wordpress.com/2014/03/01/sdf-45s-1973/

Date: Mon, September 08, 2014, 00:47:26 ET
Posted by: Fat Lazy Guy, New Jersey

Looks like they played Third World Man in Rhode Island last night.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2014, 19:33:46 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Toronto

Denise, thanks for the detailed review. The way you fleshed everything out really brought back the feel of the 2014 shows I attended. The enthusiasm you write with is infectious, and very much appreciated at this end! I didn't get Razor Boy at any of my three 2014 shows - we got Dirty Work (a fair trade for most of the audience I'm sure), and as I was reading your post I found myself wishing I could squeeze in just one more show this year...

Date: Sun, September 07, 2014, 18:45:41 ET
Posted by: Flatbush Chuck, That NYC

Thank you Denise. If they don't eventually book something at the Beacon or some other Apple haunt (the Barclay comes to mind-- wonder why I'D think of that?), your detailed phenomenology will be my SD concert experience for 2014.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2014, 17:28:21 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Brilliant review, Denise. Cheers, appreciate it.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2014, 15:18:50 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Great posts Denise, I can feel the enthusiasm from here The attention to detail is appreciated!

Date: Sun, September 07, 2014, 11:34:21 ET
Posted by: s, k

Review from one of the Boston rags

http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/guestlisted/2014/09/last_best_show_steely_dan_at_the_pavilion

Date: Sun, September 07, 2014, 11:13:29 ET
Posted by: bring back,

the boston rag...

double entendre!

Date: Sun, September 07, 2014, 09:45:17 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Outstanding review, Denise. I too remember the first time I heard Razor Boy live. It was at sound check in Houston last year. I was pretty mesmerized. Ignore the cynical.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2014, 02:14:52 ET
Posted by: Paul, New Haven CT

Thanks for the great review, Denise!

Date: Sun, September 07, 2014, 01:56:46 ET
Posted by: Denise, BOS

Short version: same setlist as Red Bank.

Long version below:

Blue Hills Pavilion is a large tent-like structure on Boston Harbor (or as we say, habah.) The rain and lightning storm let up and we were treated to a warm, somewhat humid, but breezy evening: a pleasant setting for a summer SD concert. I was seated 13 rows back in the center section, Walter-side.

Bobby Broom Org. trio played jazzy, subtle versions of classics making them their own: Superstition, Sunny, House of the Rising Sun to name a few. Hammond organ, drums, and guitar. They were a very enjoyable opener. It must be difficult playing to half-empty seats. I would like to see them in a smaller, more intimate setting like Scullers or the Regattabar in Cambridge.

1. Cubano Chant: musician’s onstage, each has a short solo: Jim Pugh, Walt W, Michael (very nice bit), then Jim Beard,Carlock (feels like he's warming up-a taste of things to come) and the Don & Walt come onstage with the ladies.

2. Black Cow: They then slide into a smooth Black Cow. Walt playing his blue & white strat. Spotlight moves from D&W to Jim Beard, then to Roger. Ladies are “so outrageous” and in perfect sync as always.

3. Aja: Opens with stage bathed in purple light with a loose herringbone pattern on the backdrop going in and out of focus. Magenta spot on the Duke photo in front of Donald. Volume turned up on Walter – what a treat. Love to listen to him play. Then out comes the melodica and lights turn red, orange, then teal. Don returns to the Rhodes (is that right?) and Walt W. is front and center, then the focus goes to Keith for the monumental finish.

4. Hey 19: Well, everyone here loves the ‘sweet things from Boston” line and applauds, then sings along with “where the hell am I?” This happens every time. Then Walter goes into his soliloquy. Begins with the weather: “summer is dead and gone, the flippy dippy almanac forecasts hailstones, asteroids… and Louisiana will continue to sink into hell: Lord have mercy. But that’s tomorrow night. Tonight we’re here”…and onto the run up to cuervo gold. Jim Pugh front and center for solo.

5. Black Friday: Stage goes dark, then a spot on Jim as you hear that rumble that opens and builds. The audience claps as the band gets into the groove. A handful of people in the first few front rows have been drunk-dancing for a while, but all of a sudden this woman in the end of the 5th row stands up just for this song and is seriously rockin’ out. This is clearly her favorite song:)

6. Rikki: soft green lights on the backdrop with purple lights on the band, then teal lights brighten slowly as they ease into this song.

7. Show Biz Kids: Spot on Walt W front & center. Orange lights in rear reflecting off the cymbals. Crowd cheers at the Steely Dan t-shirt line. Heavy funk on this song: thank you Freddie! Ladies great on an extended Lost Wages bit.

8. Time Out of Mind: DF on melodica center stage and Walt volume turned up. Red lights turn to blue…and then a salt-air breeze comes through. I close my eyes and listen to Walt play: what an exquisite moment.

DF says, "Thank you, boys and girls!"

9. Green Earrings: Green backdrop, green lights on the band. Walt walks to the far left side of the stage. Jon is in the spotlight, playing his heart out. He is just amazing. Jim has the spot next, then Roger. A lot of strength in his playing.

DF: "What a crazy night."

10. Razor Boy: So glad to hear this: I had not heard it live before. Ladies sing this one. Wonderful solo by Michael.

11. Bodhisattva: Begin with lights sparkling in the background. Astounding energy. Everyone playing at full-tilt. The crowd is cheering: they just love it. Standing O.

12. Daddy Don't Live in That NYC: Walt sings. Looked around and it was great to see all the heads bobbing ups and down in the audience to this one. One guy stands up and snaps his fingers throughout.

13. Babylon Sisters: The ladies are just great on this. Can see the humidity in the air as the mist wafts by the lights.

14. I Want To (Do Everything for You): Walt talks about a dream he had: jungle…cars…bats…and then a great swing band…then everyone gets introduced and plays/sings a short solo.

15. Josie: Emerald green backdrop at beginning and returns when those distinctive chords are played. Walt playing on fire. First time I have seen Jon smile all night.

DF gives credit to "Dr. Becker"

16. Peg: Half the audience is out of their seats and dancing. The crowd is energized by Josie and Peg benefits. It has cooled down somewhat and a nice breeze is blowing through the pavilion. People are happily singing the Peg refrain.

17. My Old School: crowd sings, “Oh, no, William and Mary won’t do!” … Apparently Guadalajara won’t do either. Everyone standing & clapping along.

18. Reelin' in the Years: Most people are up and dancing. Some people rush up the aisles with their cell phones to take quick photos before security turns them back. A father and 3 boys are all standing: the kids are clearly enjoying the music: it was nice to see. Jon blazes through this: his playing is magnificent. Keith closes with an incredible feat of drumming.
Everyone walks offstage but crowd continues to yell and clup until they reappear for the encore.

19. Kid Charlemagne: Cool zebra pattern lights. Bostonians always sing, “Yes, there’s gas in the cah!”

20. Untouchables Theme. Half the audience rushes out to their cars, the other half remain in hopes of a second encore, which was not to be.

Thank you Walt, Don, band, and crew for a great performance.

Good night.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 23:48:27 ET
Posted by: Jm, Glasgow

Yah.

Glasgow2000.

Opening song: The Boston Rag.

Seen our boys a few times,

Never heard 'em better;wholly unexpected deep cut opener.

Gold.

I cried a wee bit it was so profound for me :-)

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 23:22:17 ET
Posted by: Yeah, and?

Razor Boy? So what, they play it every other night. Deep cuts? B-Rag? Now that would deserve an exclamation!

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 21:53:00 ET
Posted by: Denise, Bos

Razor boy!

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 20:51:31 ET
Posted by: Paul, New Haven CT

Enjoy the show, Denise!

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 20:31:03 ET
Posted by: Denise, Bos

Setting up music stands for everyone... Wonder if we will hear something out of the ordinary

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 20:29:14 ET
Posted by: Denise, Bos

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 18:53:53 ET
Posted by: Denise, Bos

Standing outside the pavilion listening to the sound check. The rain has stopped and csn't wait... Great music ahead!

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 13:41:08 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

And to all going to the Boston show tonight, I fervently hope they play The Boston Rag. It was such a thrill when they played Pearl of the Quarter in New Orleans, and I hope you can have the same feeling I had when they cranked it up!

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 13:37:48 ET
Posted by: D2000,

Man, I'm listening to the boot from Detroit 2000 - that's gotta be one of the best live SD bands and recordings. Bob Shephard on tenor, Ted Baker on Keys, Cave/Leonhart/Calhoun on vox, the late great Ricky Lawson. Chris Potter in that band was amazing too.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 13:32:42 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

@M/O/P/D: Excellent questions... and I think that the answer comes down to "Character". Donald and Walter have character, in the sense that even as they carefully write these exquisite masterpieces about people with no or very little character, they exhibit character in the execution of their craft. I can't remember who it was (maybe Gary Katz) who said they never left the studio saying (and I paraphrase here), "well, that will do."

Although Mr. Roth has never been accused of having "character," his comments actually highlight the strength of Donald and Walter's work process. They were willing to take the time and push their budget to make a record they liked, that would sell enough records to get them a budget for the next record. David Lee Roth is a carney show, a lazy trapeze artist who never practices, and always uses a net.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 13:10:35 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Where is the danfest tonight in Boston? I have quit FB and am out of touch. Hope to see old friends there!

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 12:45:39 ET
Posted by: Tony, Boston

If they play The Boston Rag tonight I'm afraid I might soil and wet my pants. So excited!

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 12:26:54 ET
Posted by: JaneLightning, Boston

Excited to be seeing my Danfriends tonight !

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 11:12:35 ET
Posted by: Michael, sorry

Fixed the link.

http://www.motifator.com/index.php?ACT=39&fid=130&aid=14770_gloa26JfVr3bj3ZgbJCB&board_id=1

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 11:11:50 ET
Posted by: Michael, My latest work

Enjoy.

Still Life People

[url=http://www.motifator.com/index.php?ACT=39&fid=130&aid=14770_gloa26JfVr3bj3ZgbJCB&board_id=1]Still Life People[/url]

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 05:07:01 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, late spell(cast) checker

*alchemist

Date: Sat, September 06, 2014, 05:03:25 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Don't wrap your dreams in troubles

Now listen tight, bitches and gangsters, let's forget about the LeRotten gigolo and spend some time with a musical alchymist of the highest order; the zuzu man, the good doctor John McRebenack.

He just released his tribute to Louis Armstrong called "Ske-Dat-De-Dat - The Spirit Of Satch", and after maybe ten full spins I can only say "he did it again"!

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dr.+john+ske-dat-de-dat

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 21:39:08 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, still not a fan of "Journey" or "Bon Jovi" or "Van Halen" or "Foreigner" or...you get it...

Ah, yes, David Lee Roth. The acclaimed "musician". I vaguely remember that goofy celeb from the late '70s and early '80s. He had hair back then - long, blond, Pretty Lady hair - back when he looked more than a little bit like a transgendered-Bridget-Bardot-circa-'65 clone/drag queen hybrid.

He may have a bit of a point, though. I mean, why spend endless hours getting things right when your (to say the least) undiscerning audience will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams by devouring the worst of your sloppy, rushed, thoroughly predictable cookie-cutter corporate product in record numbers anyways? And why spend all of those hours locked away in a recording studio when you could be prancing & mincing all over a live stage wearing fashionable red leotards?

Why, I ask? Why?

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 21:19:11 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, Metro North?

FYI (2) -
Seats have been released for all 3 shows (09/19,20,21) at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY; last 3 dates of tour. Great front orchestra's ($175-) for the final night are available.
Perhaps I go north....too?

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 21:07:33 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Jim Taylor posted:
"If somebody put a gun to my head and told me the choices are: pay 10 bucks to listen to David Lee Roth for 10 minutes or pay $150 to listen to a Howler Monkey for an hour, I'd go with the monkey."

When you put it that way, Jim, a Howler Monkey seems like a fairly pleasant experience.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 20:36:03 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, LIRR bound?

FYI - Some great ($250-) front orchestra seats have been released by the Paramount Theatre in Huntington's box office for next Sunday's (09/14) show. Little too steep for my blood, spent close to that for Red Bank. I'm not saying no of course jut yet...

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 20:17:48 ET
Posted by: Sheldon, San Francisco

Well, I guess David Lee Roth must be a Steely Dan fan. He does a version of My Old School. You can listen to it on YouTube: The Roth Show Episode 9.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 18:47:08 ET
Posted by: EdOB, Whitma MA

Saturday 9/6 will be a great night!! Even better for anyone that is still looking for quality seats. I have a pair 15 rows from the stage, Section 3 row L. Absolutely no markup on price - original $146.5 x2 = 293. A friend & wife unfortunately cannot make it. Email me if interested eoum1978@comcast.net
Thanks .. Ed O'Brien

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 18:42:34 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

If somebody put a gun to my head and told me the choices are: pay 10 bucks to listen to David Lee Roth for 10 minutes or pay $150 to listen to a Howler Monkey for an hour, I'd go with the monkey.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 14:33:52 ET
Posted by: off topic, (but I can help myself)

Legal, the chain restaurant that insists it's not a chain.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 13:49:49 ET
Posted by: Patrick, Somerville, MA

I highly recommend eating at the Legal Test Kitchen before the show in Boston tomorrow night. They serve the best chowder in town.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 13:15:44 ET
Posted by: PF, C

Seeing Cubano Chant back in the setlist, it reminds me how I preferred where Ted Baker used to be positioned vs. Jim Beard. Seeing a pianist live, visually you are reacting to his physical ability to execute a passage as much as the music.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 08:39:33 ET
Posted by: Red Bank Thur Show, NJ

1. Cubano Chant
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey 19
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Green Earrings
10. Razor Boy
11. Bodhisattva
12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
13. Babylon Sisters
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years
19. Kid Charlemagne
20. Untouchables Theme

I think that's right going off memory...

The bad: The 4 variables were standards, Rikki, earrings, razor boy and Babylon.

Also the audio was disappointing. One of the main reasons I see them is for Herrington and his guitar work and you could not hear him very well at all.

The good: Walter played much more out front than he did last year and sounded great. Very impressed he seemed to enjoy himself.

The crowd was very into the set people were dancing in the aisles during the last 3 songs which for some reason made the show more enjoyable, seeing people having fun despite that fact that setlist was rather vanilla.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2014, 07:40:08 ET
Posted by: Moe, NJ

Any set list report from the 2nd Red Bank show?

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 23:45:36 ET
Posted by: Jm, Earth

Well i hope Joan Rivers is at peace wherever she is..

But she recently had some very simplistic views of a highly complex situation.

Anyway...peace.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 20:25:11 ET
Posted by: Hot Hunk, Tampa, FL

I love u, Joan Rivers...RIP

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 18:22:11 ET
Posted by: NYB,

"Oh Joan, there's the most attractive young man down here with a mask and a gun".



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpPCFoXXhF0




RIP Joan...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWmxIIBs5q8

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 18:21:12 ET
Posted by: g-funk, the south

This is kinda funny. David Lee Roth talking about the recording of their third album, Women And Children First:

The instrumental tracks were recorded in four days and the vocals added afterward in six days. Inside of a week later, they had a finished record. “I don’t think we’ll ever be confused with Fleetwood Mac or Steely Dan, who spend jillions of dollars and years in the studio just to make one record,” Roth guffawed in Hit Parader. “How boring can you get, man? I like to think that all we’re really trying to do is capture some of our youthful enthusiasm.”

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 18:16:02 ET
Posted by: search, v

Home at Last from Count Basie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXYOAYTu5mA

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 14:42:01 ET
Posted by: Street Player, Franklin TN

Really looking forward to seeing Chicago at the Ryman Auditorium on the 28th. Only reason I'm going is because my favorite song "Street Player" is on the setlist. It's a hot funky disco tune from the late '70's that makes you wanna get up and dance. The late great Maynard Ferguson played on the original recording. I know Steely Dan fans would love the song.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 11:17:52 ET
Posted by: Tim, Fairview

I really love going to the Count Basie Theatre. Almost all the seats are good and lots of great restaurants nearby. Should be fun tonight!

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 11:03:15 ET
Posted by: Asbury Park Press, Basie Review

http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/09/04/review-steely-dan-count-basie-theatre/15060291/

Worth noting: This review makes reference to the jazz influence in SD's music and that they were primarily a studio unit back in the day.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 06:02:44 ET
Posted by: Red Bank, Night 1

Yes, after I posted I realized I may have been off with the sequence.

I though Walter's constant gear changes between songs were excessive. Not the best sounding show, but an improvement over when the Dukes played there in 2012. In EH, Don mentioned how the place was dead silent when he said they were stoked to play in Count Basie's home town. So this time, he said something along similar lines and kept talking.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 00:55:24 ET
Posted by: Actually, Newer Jersey

They didn't play Deacon Blues either.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 00:32:50 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, 90 minutes from Red Bank to New York

Actually, Godwacker followed TOOM, but anywho...couple of thoughts as I ride the rail back to NYC.
Firstly of course, I am so happy I snagged my amazing 12th row, dead center seat from the box office at 3pm. Woo-hoo!! The band was great, feeding off the incredible vibe from this packed room. We were on our feet dancing from My Old School till the end. Can't imagine Aja being played any more ferociously by Carlock, but I think I say that every time. Great seeing Becker standing the entire show even with his chair right next to him.
They really could've added I've Got The News and called it an album night. Got a Home At Last, YES!!
This might have been my only show if the tour. Had a window of opportunity along with the ticket release, same for Huntington next weekend. Hoping that box office does the same thing day if show. Otherwise, I'm happy, they were effing great!
Thank you Donald & Walter. Again!!

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2014, 00:32:48 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, 90 minutes from Red Bank to New York

Actually, Godwacker followed TOOM, but anywho...couple of thoughts as I ride the rail back to NYC.
Firstly of course, I am so happy I snagged my amazing 12th row, dead center seat from the box office at 3pm. Woo-hoo!! The band was great, feeding off the incredible vibe from this packed room. We were on our feet dancing from My Old School till the end. Can't imagine Aja being played any more ferociously by Carlock, but I think I say that every time. Great seeing Becker standing the entire show even with his chair right next to him.
They really could've added I've Got The News and called it an album night. Got a Home At Last, YES!!
This might have been my only show if the tour. Had a window of opportunity along with the ticket release, same for Huntington next weekend. Hoping that box office does the same thing day if show. Otherwise, I'm happy, they were effing great!
Thank you Donald & Walter. Again!!
man

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 23:36:07 ET
Posted by: Red Bank, Night 1

1. Cubano Chant (band only)
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Dirty Work
10. Bodhisattva
11. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
12. Home at Last
13. Godwhacker
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You) (Joe Tex cover)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
19. Kid Charlemagne
20. The Untouchables (Nelson Riddle cover) (band only)

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 20:44:16 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

The latest edition of the Dandom Digest was just emailed and covers August 19-31, 2014.
If you are a subscriber, you should see the latest edition in your email box within the next hour of this posting. If you don't see it, check your spam filters first; then, if it's not there, please email me.

As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition.

The following are the subject headlines of the Dandom Digest for August 19-31, 2014.

=======

- Steely Dan Saxophonist Walt Weiskopf releases new CD
- Jon Herington Dates
- Three Recent Jon Herington Interviews
- LIsten to the Breithaupt Bros "Pass Through"
- Everyday is Like "Steely Dan Sunday"
- ANYTHING BUT a Spoiler: Steely Dan at Saratoga Preview

SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS

- SPOILER: 8/19 - Appleton: "An expertly-assembled team"
- SPOILER: 8/20 - Interlochen: "The Band Was Hotso"
- SPOILER: 8/21 - Windsor: "Polished, virtuoso"
- SPOILER: 8/23 - Toronto: "I will now die"
- SPOILER: 8/23 - Toronto: "I will now die again"
- SPOILER: 8/26 - Ottawa: "Otta-wow!"
- SPOILER: 8/27 - Montreal: "Montreal World Man"
- SPOILER: 8/29 - Bangor: "BANG! Or?
- SPOILER: 8/30 - New Hampshire: "Every one so good"
- SPOILER: 8/30 - New Hampshire: "NewHamp, Shire"
- SPOILER: 8/30 - New Hampshire: "fu ck ing phenomenal"
- SPOILER: 8/31 - Saratoga

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at hoops AT dandom DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest.

For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydan.com, walterbecker.com, donaldfagen.com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates.

As always, thank you for your support through the years, especially Pete and Shari, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Winterbottom, and espcially thinking of Mark and Bill, and purposely not to mention a couple of people who request anonymity.

Fly low, be cool,

Jim

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 19:19:32 ET
Posted by: Sinbad, Trenton NJ

Tell 'em to play Cousin Dupree instead.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 18:16:36 ET
Posted by: Basie Bound, red bank

At Tommy's pizza in Red Bsnk. Josie is playing.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 18:15:42 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Phil,

If you get back this way, do come by our fair city. We'd love to have you.

I just noticed I called you Pau---accidental of course. You can call me St Augustine, sometime. :#)

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 14:15:17 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, NY to Jersey in 90 minutes

Some great seats were just released for tonight & tomorrow at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ. I'm on my way!!

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 13:14:10 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Hey the Dean, we could have met, I travelled around Florida for two weeks this summer, we even considered coming to St Augustine, my Kulee Baba moment, but didn't have time. Lucky man, nice pace to live

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 08:53:12 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Should have said, solo piano, with bass, on that last post.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 08:50:19 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Pau, thanks for the link. Great guitar and general musicianship. I can't help but kinda hate that repetitive little vocal stunt, and the lyrics are fairly banal. But for a dance tune, better than most.

I assume this is the same guy. He's having a bit of solo piano fun here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwWo98z-ad8

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 05:53:55 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

And the link to the reissue:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/person/188278

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 04:58:28 ET
Posted by: Phil again, ?

Oops, I forgot the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKprGwMcySg&feature=youtu.be

Date: Wed, September 03, 2014, 04:55:50 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Hello folks, between two set lists or concert reviews I'm afraid nobody will read my post and it would be sad as it's a great song. Very Steely Dan oriented, especially the guitar solo, played by ayoung John Herrington, in 1981. So enjoy the fine music of Robert Kraft on his 1st album, recently rereleased in Japan

Date: Tues, September 02, 2014, 18:10:07 ET
Posted by: qnlybpd, swTqRTWBOLilJGWtUD

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Date: Tues, September 02, 2014, 14:06:09 ET
Posted by: Ross, Lake Tahoe

That's strange. I always thought Reelin' was the last song before the encore.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2014, 12:05:47 ET
Posted by: SS, 8/31

1. Cubano Chant (orchestra)
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Show Biz Kids
7. Time Out of Mind
8. Two Against Nature
9. Dirty Work
10. Bodhisattva
11. I Want To (Do Everything for You) (Joe Tex cover)
12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
13. Babylon Sisters
14. Reelin' In The Years
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Encore:
19. Kid Charlemagne
20. The Untouchables Theme

Date: Tues, September 02, 2014, 09:44:48 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Someone posted this on the Dandom Facebook group ... nice cover of Black Cow by a band called The Nth Power:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63U7wycWJSo

These guys are something of a supergroup - the drummer toured with Beyonce for a few years after tearing up Boston, singer/keyboardist plays with Soulive and Lettuce, bassist plays with John Brown's Body and a ton of other groups ... they're a blast to see live as they're still getting started and tend to play small rooms.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2014, 09:22:52 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Bobby Broom is a fantastic guitarist. I preferred the Deep Blue Organ Trio, but his new band is approximately 97% as killing. Obviously, seeing them in a huge room with most of the audience ignoring them isn't the best way to experience an organ trio, but they're worth getting there early for.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2014, 00:00:25 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

I agree with The Dean, the opening act is worth checking out! It can sometimes be thankless job, but having seen him with the Blue Organ Trio and this tour they do a good warm up. Also consider picking up a CD after their set, while you wait for the boys to play!

Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 23:42:18 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Bucko, I recommend you try to go and see Bobby Broom. In my experience the opening act is always quite enjoyable. Even with most of the audience talking and milling about.

Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 15:25:03 ET
Posted by: Bucko, Boston

Thanks Sheldon!

Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 13:50:59 ET
Posted by: Sheldon, San Francisco

Bobby Broom plays for about 30 minutes. After a 20 - 30 minute intermission, Steely Dan will take the stage. That's how it went at the two shows I attended in California.

Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 13:18:27 ET
Posted by: Bucko, Boston

Ticket time for Boston is 7:30. How long has Bobby Broom's set been? Just trying to figure out what time the Dan comes on.
Thanks

Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 11:09:05 ET
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Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 10:18:46 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Saratoga NY

Another fine show. The weather co-operated with no rain during the show, but goodness, rain of biblical proportions before. Great to be back at SPAC after all this time. It seems that the extreme dampness caused Donald to lose the G key on his Rhodes but said he would "work around it". Great work by the band, usual set list. Also during band intros Walt had his best Donald intro, rather than the drawn out one, he turned to Don and said "Oh it's you". Our first show was SPAC 93 and 21 years later back to SPAC! Heading home today after 4 shows in 6 days. 2 provinces 2 states 3 new venues,very nice people met. I've said it before and I'll say it again Ain't life grand!!!! Peace

Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 09:54:56 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Saratoga NY

Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 08:17:52 ET
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Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 07:40:51 ET
Posted by: SPAC, review

http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts/review-steely-dan-spac-83114/34621/

Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 05:25:00 ET
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Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 02:31:04 ET
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Date: Mon, September 01, 2014, 02:03:53 ET
Posted by: Sandra, Stamford CT

So how was the show last night in Saratoga Springs?

Date: Sun, August 31, 2014, 23:43:06 ET
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Date: Sun, August 31, 2014, 20:03:50 ET
Posted by: Rock Candy, Albany

Sure wish I had the time and money to attend the Kate Bush concerts happening overseas in London.

Date: Sun, August 31, 2014, 19:09:36 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

Also, that order isn't correct ... TVN and Bodhi were back to back ... i'll figure out the rest later

Date: Sun, August 31, 2014, 19:04:24 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

awesome show last night. Not much to add, band is just so fucking phenomenal, knows every song inside and out, each player adds something wonderfully tasteful and new to every song. Mix was perfect from our seats, really added to the enjoyment of the show. Becker was playing some pretty weird shit and there were a few songs where i could have done without him altogether. Fagen sounded great, a little hoarse by the end.

Date: Sun, August 31, 2014, 17:43:37 ET
Posted by: NewHamp, Shire 8/30

1. Cubano Chant (band only)
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Dirty Work
10. Bodhisattva
11. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
12. Home at Last
13. Two Against Nature
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You) (Joe Tex cover)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
19. Kid Charlemagne
20. The Untouchables (Nelson Riddle cover) (band only)

Date: Sun, August 31, 2014, 10:36:09 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

Just noticed an array of photos on the SD site. Lower left corner... "Pics from the road". Some I've seen before and some are new to me.

Date: Sun, August 31, 2014, 10:26:07 ET
Posted by: mark from north of boston, north of boston

All the players have not missed a beat after touring together all these past years. The Horns, Jim Beards keyboards, Herringtons Steely Licks, Carlocks total whacking of the drum kit and ooowww and the sultry Danette's. Every one so good.
Donalds voice was really strong. I did not expect this due to this tight tour schedule.
We here have all heard him having difficulty during past shows....but not this night! He gave his all and was also very animated. He and Walter were loose and were having a good time onstage.
We were lucky to be right up front at this Meadowbrook Show. It was great to see and hear the many many quintessential Steely Dan guitar rifts that Walter was playing when no spotlight was on him. So great to see the man that wrote these sounds we are addicted to up there playing them in the darkness at times.
Great night for us. Here's to a continuing great tour for the Jamalot tour. Cheers!

Date: Sun, August 31, 2014, 09:45:16 ET
Posted by: mark from north of boston, north of boston

Date: Sun, August 31, 2014, 00:35:56 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

What was this "stale setlist" for the Moody Blues? Can you remember about how many songs and what they were? Might not have been many, since they made many long songs.

Whatever it was, it had to be mostly deep cuts. They sold tons of LPs which is how they made their money. Not many Top 40 singles. Go Now, Nights in White Satin, Just a Singer and In Your Wildest Dreams were among the highest sellers. And even those weren't huge. There should have been no problem with a Greatest Hits type of setlist, it would be pretty short. Anyone showing up (IF anyone showed up) had to be serious fans.

There are no "casual" Moody Blues fans showing up to listen to radio hits. If they were, they would probably spend about 90% of the show drinking beer and urinating as their "non Greatest Hits" were played.

As for the Dan's setlist, it appears they have been putting in some variety this year here and there. However, I don't know why they persist in repeatedly doing these cover tunes. I would recommend that Cubano Chant, Untouchables, Joe Tex and such be removed. Songs like these waste three or four slots in the set list where original material should be put in from DF, WB or other Dan cuts.

Date: Sat, August 30, 2014, 20:41:44 ET
Posted by: R. Lento,

Jazzassin, etal. -

"Bobbing for apples"= Giving headly? That's HEDLY Lamarr...:)

Date: Sat, August 30, 2014, 15:30:41 ET
Posted by: Snake Mary, asks

Opposite which part - diddling or oeuvre?

Date: Sat, August 30, 2014, 13:53:37 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, @Snake Mary

No. It's the opposite way.

Date: Sat, August 30, 2014, 13:23:59 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

If I had $151.00 to spare I'd wear this every day for the rest of my life:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141389768139

Date: Sat, August 30, 2014, 12:55:31 ET
Posted by: Snake Mary, dreams along

Rose Darling is an oeuvre to masturbation. Right?

Date: Sat, August 30, 2014, 11:12:27 ET
Posted by: BANG! Or?, 8/29

1. Cubano Chant (orchestra)
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Razor Boy
10. Bodhisattva
11. Everyone's Gone to the Movies
12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
13. Godwhacker
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You) (Joe Tex cover)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years

19. Kid Charlemagne

20. Untouchables Theme

Date: Sat, August 30, 2014, 09:12:42 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, teeth in tub

The application for further detailed info on particulary sleazy lyrics is rejected until you tell us what you think it means. We're not mind readers here, fortunately.

Or it could be a halloween game.

Date: Sat, August 30, 2014, 08:28:37 ET
Posted by: APaline,

Thanks Doc MU and Jazzassin!

I never knew that! I always thought he was referring to the number of apples.

BTW, is "bobbing for "apples"" what I think it means?:)

Date: Fri, August 29, 2014, 23:17:49 ET
Posted by: Slim Shady, Manchester, NH

I saw the Moody Blues at Meadowbrook about two weeks ago. Great venue but the show really stunk because of the same old stale setlist.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2014, 20:56:34 ET
Posted by: mark from north of boston, north of boston

Fun times at Meadowbrook tomorrow night.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2014, 19:29:06 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

The higher the film gauge (thickness) the better in quality. 35mm was a Hollywood standard with epic films like Laurence of Arabia, Oklahoma!, Ben-Hur, and West Side Story filmed in luxurious 70 mm. IMAX is 70 mm stuff.


8 mm = low budget pornos.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2014, 15:58:24 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, @A Paline

8mm and 16mm are old celluloid film formats.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2014, 15:43:53 ET
Posted by: A Paline,

What does the line from BS mean, exactly: "I know you're used to 16 or more sorry we only have 8?"

Date: Fri, August 29, 2014, 13:47:25 ET
Posted by: for , shame

Big Red is a Blazer, and the case is federal. Come on now ...

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 23:44:53 ET
Posted by: Sammy, C

Big red? Will that be an international case?

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 21:39:11 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

@chris nh, We'll be there early-ish to tailgate also. Should be easy to find us,we'll be at the big red stationwagon. With the tailgate actually down! Can't wait for our first outdoor show this tour. Hope we can meet up.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 17:47:14 ET
Posted by: Kevin, NY

I agree. Would love to to hear Any Major Dude, Night by Night or the rarely played Barrytown before this tour comes to a close.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 14:45:52 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, SoBe

Thanks Montreal World Man!

That has to be the best set list so far this tour!

Need more Pretzel Logic tunes!!!!!!

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 13:43:13 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

BTW, in 03 I saw Steely Dan at the Verizon Center in Manchvegas/ghanistan. Terrible sound (it's an ice hockey arena but I thought they might have some idea how to mix for it!), place was 2/3 full at best, crowd was comatose. Who's going? Let's kick some ass.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 13:39:43 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Just a few days til Steely Dan comes to my state for the first time since '03 (I think?). I haven't been to Meadowbrook in over a decade, when I attended a lackluster Blues Traveler show. (Actually, I think was a few months after I saw Steely Dan for the first time, which was my first big concert -- what a bummer for 12 year old me to discover not all concerts were as good as Steely Dan!)

I'm hoping to get there early enough to catch the soundcheck. I'll definitely get there early enough to tailgate for a bit. Anyone been to Meadowbrook recently and know what the security situation is like?

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 10:29:18 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

correction to my prior post. Should read....he usually (not usual).

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 09:48:16 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

Just checked out some video online of the Pittsburgh show. Of note to me is that Jon Herington played the Kid Charglemagne first/main solo almost exactly as Carlton did on the original recording. He usual hits a signature part of the lick then vamps away. COOL to hear this version as well. Had a good beat, easy to dance to....I give it a high score.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 00:46:21 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Just back from Mtl show. Don't want to sound too much like a homer, but the crowd tonight was electric! Multiple standing Os from the getgo. Nice to hear a few different tunes from last night. Venue was great, about 2100 seats,so fairly intimate setting. Walt was having a few rig problems, but seemed in great spirits none the less! As always, What a night! But I'm wondering, am I the only one who misses intermissions? 2 set shows were always great. Anyway a short break, and off to NH and then Saratoga Springs, where it all started for me in '93. Didn't think I'd be seeing the boys 23 yrs later at same place. Ain't life grand?

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 00:30:48 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Wow, Third World Man and Bad Sneakers. Nice.

Thanks for the tip, CJB. Pretty good recording, but the cameraman (or woman) seems to get lost quite a bit and has a hard time finding Jon, apparently.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2014, 00:12:20 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, OK

Oh man.

Now that is a set, Third World Man!!!

Also, Your Gold Teeth seems to have disappeared after 6 performances earlier in the tour.

Date: Wed, August 27, 2014, 23:55:56 ET
Posted by: Montreal World Man, 8/27

1. Cubano Chant
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Dirty Work
10. Bodhisattva
11. Bad Sneakers
12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
13. Third World Man
14. I Want To (Do Everything for You) (Joe Tex cover)
15. Josie
16. Peg
17. My Old School
18. Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
19. Kid Charlemagne
20. Untouchables Theme

Date: Wed, August 27, 2014, 23:31:18 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Full set in glorious high-res audio inc. 2VN, Movies, Deacon Blues, Razor Boy.

YouTube Search, "SD," "CLUBDOC"

You're welcome!

Date: Wed, August 27, 2014, 18:45:31 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Toronto

Chris, nh - I should clarify my response to your post last night. I was trying to fly cool & be low...or something like that. Feel free to send me an email if you'd like the story behind the story, since we're not supposed to do that stuff here.

Date: Wed, August 27, 2014, 18:33:52 ET
Posted by: St Denis, Soundcheck

ALERT!! Anyone on the fence about going tonight, if you're interested in set list changes --- GO!

Date: Wed, August 27, 2014, 16:13:18 ET
Posted by: Otta-wow!, 8/26

Cubano Chant
Black Cow
Aja
Hey Nineteen
Black Friday
Show Biz Kids
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Janie Runaway
Green Earrings
Dirty Work
Bodhisattva
Babylon Sisters
I Want To (Do Everything for You)(Joe Tex cover)
Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
Kid Charlemagne
Untouchables Theme (Nelson Riddle cover)

Date: Wed, August 27, 2014, 15:04:48 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Just back from Ottawa show last night. The show was as usual, band smokin, Walt in fab form, Don's voice was solid. Crowd was rather staid and reserved, maybe cause of the venue? Now just enough time to get ready for tonights show at home!

Date: Tues, August 26, 2014, 23:46:34 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, How's my little illicit fan recording?

Chris, on the subject of fan-shot videos or fan-recorded audio, as you well know we really have to be discreet here. Hoops has a strict prohibition - rightly and understandably so - on outright promotion of such things. Yes, I know that posters here regularly submit links to YouTube for obviously unauthorized content, but for the stuff that doesn't (and won't, for good reason) make it the internet's largest community cesspool, what is one to do?

My advice? You don't need my advice. You already know what to do...

Emmo Deepea

ps - "How's my little Sony SL-3000?"
pps - "How's my little Uher 4000?"
ppps - "Walkman Professional D-6"
pppps - "No Commercial Potential"

Date: Tues, August 26, 2014, 22:17:10 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

at the risk of self insemination - where might one find those videos, assuming one has looked in the usual spots?

Date: Tues, August 26, 2014, 21:48:28 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Home at Last, again.

Phil - With the non-casino shows - the ones opened by Bobby Broom & Co. - SD generally comes on five or ten minutes before 9:00pm. Hope this info helps. Like DYLYNFAN, I'm really just here to help.

Speaking of Bobby Broom, several of us tried to buy the shiny-noo Organi-Sation CD not once, not twice, not three times, but an astounding six times during the recent two show Toronto run, all to no avail. Before the show started, at intermission, and after the show. Both nights. The folks hawking the tacky "I'd-be-embarrassed-to-pay-that-much-for-an-unbelievably-crappy-looking-T-shirt" shirts kept sayin', "check back, they'll be here", but the CDs never showed. Poor Mr. Broom announced that the new CD was "available here tonight", but someone sure submarined him on that one. Maybe they would have sold only a handful, but even that wasn't happening. It wasn't, as I suspected, a border issue (or so I was told). Someone just didn't bother to get the music to the table. I will make it a point to find the damn thing online, somewhere, but I wonder how many impulse sales they missed. Sad, because the guy is an amazing player who deserves our support.

My truncated review of the second Toronto show notes that the set was the same as the previous night, except that Home at Last was switched for Babylon Sisters - a fair trade, I figger - and also notes that the band was once again in exceptional form. DF's voice held up really well (third show in three nights) until the encore (Kid Charlemagne) where he strained a bit and intentionally missed some bits. There's a reason they don't do four in a row.

Although I was hoping for Everyone's Gone to the Movies, or maybe Two Against Nature, or even Deacon Blues, we did get Janie Runaway again, and for that I am internally (yes, I know) grateful. A discretely-shot hi-res video of Janie, Home at Last, and WB's take on Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More from the 24th reputedly exists. I can't confirm that, though, because I fully realize that anything I say here might possibly inseminate myself.

M/O/D/P
ps - An "Aja hoodie" for $75? Sounds like a dream purchase for that special someone who's just won the state lottery and then received a generous settlement after suffering severe brain damage in multiple "accidents".

Date: Tues, August 26, 2014, 16:40:11 ET
Posted by: Steely Dad, Boston

Looking at September 6th show in Boston. Major conflict in early evening. I was looking for an estimated time The Boys hit stage at other 7:30 shows. Thinking SD on stage at 8:45 or so. Any advise?

Thanks

Date: Tues, August 26, 2014, 13:49:05 ET
Posted by: Ride the train, E

Ted, they run about once an hour until 12:30am. The train station is 2 blocks from the theater and it's a 90 minute commute back to NY.

Date: Sun, August 24, 2014, 16:43:57 ET
Posted by: T.O. Danfan, on the deck

Here's a nice review for last night.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/08/24/steely-dan-electrifying

Cheers

Date: Sun, August 24, 2014, 12:26:57 ET
Posted by: Ticker, T

Night one at Count Basie, previously announced as being sold out, now has some 6th row center orchestra seats available.

Date: Sun, August 24, 2014, 09:48:34 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Glen Lake, MI

M/O/D/P,

Thanks for the great report!

Glad to see that "Janie" is back!!!!!!

Sadly on my back to SoBe.

Date: Sun, August 24, 2014, 01:33:55 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, I have a friend named "Melanie"

T.O.Danfan - I have to agree with you as far as your assessment of the audience at tonight's show. Definitely one of the best I've seen in a very long time. Amazingly, no disruptive bathroom/booze breaks in our section at all during the entire performance (!), and from the mezzanine it looked like everyone on the lower level was mostly staying in their seats and enjoying the music - even Janie Runaway, which unbelievably did not start a mass exodus to the terlets. That song alone was worth the price of admission for some of us. Oh, and a killer version of Green Earrings as well.

Looking forward to tomorrow night's show to see what they might rotate out/in. Don Patrol - I wish I could do Ottawa and/or Montreal, but two mid-week out-of-towners are not in the cards this year. This will be the first Montreal SD show I've ever missed...sadly.

Date: Sun, August 24, 2014, 00:17:35 ET
Posted by: T.O. Danfan, Back home

Tonight's show at the Sony Centre was superb! Finally got to hear Rikki live...I will now die a happy man... and we got Janie too!
And WB gave us the flying V. Sounded great to me.

What a show. The band was hot as usual and everyone was havin' fun. Great sound and lighting. Crowd was mostly respectful and into it. Too bad the only way to hear this band is live or boots. As many of us have often said/asked/begged....please release somethin' live boys!

Cheers

Date: Sat, August 23, 2014, 23:57:59 ET
Posted by: Curious,

Brilliant! Nice work, and thank you on behalf of the Dandom. You'll definitely need to be honored in some way if this actually works...

Date: Sat, August 23, 2014, 20:31:06 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Curious,

I didn't send an email. Email's too easy to ignore.

I sent an actual letter via FedEx to the contact details on the Azoff organization's site.

If and when I receive a response, I'll post the details here.

Date: Sat, August 23, 2014, 19:16:52 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Hutch, nice videos of Lucy's restore. Very interesting.

And, SD, I assume if What I Do is a valid answer, so is Circus Money. Correct?

Date: Sat, August 23, 2014, 18:51:28 ET
Posted by: curious,

was wondering if the poster who started the discussion about a fan-sponsored concert sent the email yet and if there's been a response...

Date: Sat, August 23, 2014, 15:17:07 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Now that the Canuck leg of the tour is on, anyone from the blue going to Ottawa or Montreal ?

Date: Sat, August 23, 2014, 15:00:48 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

Yes, I was just answering the SD trivia question.
Those brain strainers... well, they just strain my brain.

Ran across this. Don's piano goes in for a lube job!

Before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uParFk2FRew&list=PLGMBXFTdgzyWB7Up65xjSPig0TaK2UBfA

And after:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTHnOdMysAM

Date: Sat, August 23, 2014, 11:16:47 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Glen Lake, Michigan

Nice Windsor Review - No Janie Runaway, wonder if it was a "one time affair" this tour?????

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/entertainment/steely-dan-show-packed-with-bands-best

Date: Sat, August 23, 2014, 08:43:10 ET
Posted by: SD, T

What I Do was a valid answer for the trivia.

Date: Fri, August 22, 2014, 18:12:44 ET
Posted by: OR...,

Does that mean Hutch is disqualified? If so, he might not get either correct since we still don't know the answer to SD trivia.

Date: Fri, August 22, 2014, 17:24:41 ET
Posted by: A. Metana, Peacedale, RI

"Weather In My Head was listed as one of three tunes placed on a sticker on the CD packaging of the Sunken Condos LP. Possibly the strongest tune ever put out by DF."

Possibly the strongest tune ever put out by DF? You're not serious, are you, Brain Straining?

Date: Fri, August 22, 2014, 16:11:58 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

Lmao, I believe SD Trivia and Brain Strainer are the same douchebag's
but with different nozzles.

Date: Fri, August 22, 2014, 15:12:48 ET
Posted by: lmao, c

I believe Hutch was responding to "SD Trivia" and lo and behold it was also the Strainer answer. That's gotta be worth 50 points.

Date: Fri, August 22, 2014, 14:25:54 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

The most recent Strainer was:

"Wishful speculation has been de rigueur as of late on the Blue, particularly among those who are pining for LIVE solo DF/WB. Since those individuals who can bring this about are alive and well there is the "possibility" of this happening. Probability of this happening is probably fairly low. If I choose to view the possibility of it happening as a 50/50 chance I might express this outlook as "Whether" (or not) In My Head, the first word of which is a homonym for tonite's tune in question.

Name the tune which sonically most resembles the tune in question and from which the tune in question possibly evolved.

Level of Difficulty is approximately 5.5 out of 10."

EPILOGUE:

Weather In My Head was listed as one of three tunes placed on a sticker on the CD packaging of the Sunken Condos LP. Possibly the strongest tune ever put out by DF sol, it could have been the lead single and was the most recent DF solo tune to be performed Live. I’m Not the Same Without You also appeared on the sticker was of course the lead “single”, whatever that means in today’s music marketing scheme, such that it is.

Weather does have some features of some of the suggested tunes such as Jack of Speed and EMG. But Jack is a little to uptempo,bouncy. Funky if you will. Closest match would be Century’s End. EMG is closer in tempo, but too slow and not bluesy enough.

A strong bluesy tune with about similar tempo and verse structure is What I Do from the Morph the Cat LP. In addition, neither Weather nor What I Do have “true” choruses, rather the song’s title is used as a refrain at or toward the ends of the verses, which is a common DF trait in songs like TTIMTM, for example. Hutch of Richmond was first responder with the tune we were looking for and picks up his third Strainer point.

As a footnote, Weather being very similar to and possibly evolving from What I Do represents a sort of change in DF’s general modus operandi in that it likely evolved from a tune on the latest album preceding a new release. In the past, DF seemed to have exhibited a pattern of evolving from mainly at least two or sometimes more albums prior to a new release, particularly during the Dan’s Old Testament period. A classic example is Daddy Don’t Live in that NYC No More (Katy Lied, fourth SD LP) "evolving" into Josie (Aja, sixth SD LP)....

Date: Fri, August 22, 2014, 14:11:33 ET
Posted by: T. Bering,

How many of you think that "Donald Don't Live...", "Everything You Did", and "Everyone's Gone..." are mainly WB's creations/initial contributions?

Date: Fri, August 22, 2014, 09:20:35 ET
Posted by: U guys, should be ashamed

Never knew she dug the heavy stuff....

Date: Fri, August 22, 2014, 09:04:44 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

If solo efforts count, the either What I Do, or Circus Money could work, as both mention the author by their first name.

Date: Fri, August 22, 2014, 08:58:21 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

Three interviews with Jon Herington just posted on his website. As expected, a good deal of SD discussion.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 23:54:49 ET
Posted by: SD trivia, Trivia Bonus

hint: It's as audible as Show Biz Kids.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 19:50:26 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

I thought the barely audible stuff in 'King of the World' might count, but I don't think any names were named. Just positions.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 19:01:19 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

Parker's Band.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 18:17:58 ET
Posted by: SD, Trivia Bonus

I can think of one other song that is a valid answer for one of the three questions.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 18:06:23 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

What I Do.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 17:58:44 ET
Posted by: SD, Trivia

Without giving too much of a hint, I'll say the song falls within an acceptable category for SD trivia. A category that many Strainer related songs fall into.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 17:53:28 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

SD - I'm assuming that you'll have some tricked-up answer to "Name a song where a band member is mentioned," like West of Hollywood - "Warren" Kruger and player "Warren" Bernhardt.

Post it already, and then get ready to duck!

Or maybe you've outsmarted us all.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 15:35:20 ET
Posted by: SD, trivia

Do it without using the same song twice.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 15:31:30 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, OK

Name a song where the band mentions its own name. Show Biz kids

Name a song where a band member is mentioned. The Steely Dan Show

Name a song that mentions both the band's name and one or more members.

The Steely Dan Show

I will accept my $15,000 as a cashiers check or wire transfer.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 15:15:07 ET
Posted by: SD, trivia

Name a song where the band mentions its own name.

Name a song where a band member is mentioned.

Name a song that mentions both the band's name and one or more members.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 14:42:58 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Glen Lake, Michigan

Chris & Dean,

The great thing about Interlochen is that you can drink all the booze you want and eat all the food you want before the shows as they allow you to picnic and tailgate under the pines. You just can't bring any in with you. ;O)

STEELY DAN INTERLOCHEN MICHIGAN SET LIST AUGUST 20 2014

1. Cubano Chant

2. Black Cow

3. Aja

4. Hey Nineteen

5. Black Friday

6. Show Biz Kids

7. Green Earrings

8. Time Out of Mind

9. Dirty Work

10. Bodhisattva

11. Janie Runaway

12. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More

13. Babylon Sisters

14. Band Intros - I Want To (Do Everything for You) Joe Tex Cover

15. Josie

16. Peg

17. My Old School

18. Reeling In The Years

19. Kid Charlemagne

20. Untouchables Theme
(Nelson Riddle cover)

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 13:58:06 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Thanks for the great post, Ray. I'd love to have been there.

And Chris, I think you are right. But perhaps I'd amend that to "a venue that didn't serve booze, except perhaps to me." :#)

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 10:25:30 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Lurker Ray, always happy to see your thoughtful show reviews.

While I'm guilty of drinking many an overpriced beer at The Steely Dan Show, I'd love to see them at a venue that didn't serve booze.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 10:02:02 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Glen Lake, Michigan

Steely Dan - Interlochen, Michigan, August 20, 2014

Each summer, student artists in grades 3-12 gather at Interlochen to learn, create and perform alongside leading artists and instructors such as Steely Dan alumnus Peter Erskin who as a young lad also attended Interlochen.

Last night another Steely Dan band memeber was once again back to Interlochen where he also learned from the masters, Walt Weiskopf
"A potent tenor saxophonist and composer firmly in the tradition of John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins" came to blow and was featured often by this band who at this point in the 2014 Jamalot Tour are on fire.

The highlight for me was another exteneded "Jam" featuring Walt, "Janie Runaway"! Don't think this song has been featured this year and I am not quite sure when it was last played live but man did it smoke! No bathroom breaks, no beer runs cause Interlochen does not serve booze inside and this crowd came to dance and listen to great music played by this amazing band.

I say, "dance" because at the start of the band intros they let us rush the stage and we stood and danced for the rest of the night.
Great false start "Babylon Sisters" due to Donald's mic becoming unplugged. Great to see him and Walter in such fine spirits has he joked and started the song back up from the top.

They clearly love this sleepy music camp in the great north woods of Michigan and said that they couldn't wait to get back to play here.
Crowd love them and the band was hotso and really into it. Girls also danced up a storm and were "toying" with Jim Beard all night.
Big smiles on their faces all night long. Freddie really loved Keith's solo on "KC". This band is a rock and roll family and they clearly love to play together and travel together.

Mom's got breakfast on and the sun is already dancing on Glen Lake so I gotta run. Will post a full set list later as I see the one posted on setlist.com is missing many songs played last night including "Janie Runaway".

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 01:30:26 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

The closest thing to Weather is Jack of Speed, but JoS is altered Blues while Weather is pretty close to the real thing. I hear a touch of the title track from EMG. Sounds like the same songwriter natch, but that's about as far as the resemblance goes.

We know it works live.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2014, 00:22:07 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

Wishful speculation has been de rigeur as of late on the Blue, particularly among those who are pining for LIVE solo DF/WB. Since those individuals who can bring this about are alive and well there is the "possibility" of this happening. Probability of this happening is probably fairly low. If I choose to view the possibility of it happening as a 50/50 chance I might express this outlook as "Whether" (or not) In My Head, the first word of which is a homonym for tonite's tune in question.

Name the tune which sonically most resembles the tune in question and from which the tune in question possibly evolved.

Level of Difficulty is approximately 5.5 out of 10.

Date: Wed, August 20, 2014, 18:22:40 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

"I'm Not the Same Without You"...that would be spectacular live....I'm sure they could pull it off.

Date: Wed, August 20, 2014, 14:12:15 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Condos and C$ more than hold their own

Downtown Canon and Good Stuff would be spectacular live. Miss Marlene would have those not in the bathroom swinging and bobbing.

From EMG - Lunch with Gina and Pixeleen would be fantastic.

Let's Do This.

Date: Wed, August 20, 2014, 00:00:29 ET
Posted by: Miguel Jive In Appleton, Appleton, WI

TVN in Appleton
Everyone's Gone to the Movies &
Razor Boy by the Dan-ettes.
No Rikki . Dirty Work or Home at Last.
10 minutes from my home, I would not miss this one.

Date: Tues, August 19, 2014, 21:01:00 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

A few tickets have become available for the Boston show in the center section.

http://concerts.livenation.com/event/01004C710836752A?tm_link=artist_msg-0_01004C710836752A&crosssite=TM_US:736195:8310

Date: Tues, August 19, 2014, 19:25:41 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

The latest EDITIONS -- yes, plural-- of the Dandom Digest were e-mailed last night. Once again, one has all non-concert posts from August 1-18. The other has all the SPOILERS for the same period.

If you are a subscriber, you should ALREADY see BOTH Dandom Digests--Yep! TWO of 'em -- in your email box. If you don't see them, check your spam filters first; then, if they're not there, please email me.

As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition.

The following are the subject headlines of the regular Dandom Digest for August 1-18, 2014.

=======

- No Static as Performance Art
- First Walter, then Donald, then SD
- Re: First Walter, then Donald, then SD
- SD 101 bit: Spot the needed corrections
- Re: SD 101 bit: Spot the needed corrections
- Revisiting a great interview

=======

The following are the subject headlines of the Special Dandom Digest SPOILERS for August 1-18,2014.

=======

- SPOILER: 7/31-Biltmore House: "How old is Steely Dan?"
- SPOILER: 8/1-Nashville: "Looking forward to another great show"
- SPOILER: 8/2-Nashville: "Astonishing, virtuosic spectacle that is SD"
- SPOILER: 8/4-Greensboro: "The Band was ultra-hotso"
- SPOILER: 8/6-Bethlehem: No Slouch at Bethlehem
- SPOILER: 8/11-Pittsburgh: Throwaway Review?
- SPOILER: 8/11-Pittsburgh: "One of the best shows I've ever seen"
- SPOILER: 8/16-Madison: Eating SD Crow is the Best
- SPOILER: 8/15 & 17-Springfield & Hammond: "(speechless)"

=======

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at hoops AT dandom DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest.

For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydan.com, walterbecker.com, donaldfagen.com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates.

As always, thank you for your support through the years, especially Pete and Shari, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Winterbottom, and espcially thinking of Mark and Bill, and purposely not to mention a couple of people who request anonymity.

Fly low, be cool,

Jim

Date: Tues, August 19, 2014, 18:04:17 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, OK

@ Hoops, I figured as much.

Date: Tues, August 19, 2014, 17:27:16 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago, when am I NOT on the Quick?

East St Louis Toodle-OO at Hammond???? NO!

Date: Tues, August 19, 2014, 15:16:07 ET
Posted by: Brewster, SF

The person who posted that setlist seems very dubious to me. There is a question mark for the ninth song selection, so he/she doesn't even know what was played. Maybe someone here can confirm the setlist for that show.

Date: Tues, August 19, 2014, 12:25:55 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, OK

Setlist.fm has them playing East St. Louis Toodle-oo in Indiana. Did this really happen?

Date: Tues, August 19, 2014, 08:14:30 ET
Posted by: Link, Haze

KD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2QL72hr9lE

Date: Tues, August 19, 2014, 07:14:31 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Weird, did "Steely Dan Everyone's Gone to the Movies" and then "Steely Dan" in both this "this week" and "24 hours" thing and it didn't show up. Perhaps these licks were too hot and YouTube wanted me to wait.

Thanks guys.

Date: Mon, August 18, 2014, 20:53:40 ET
Posted by: Ports, Minneapolis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2QL72hr9lE

Link to Everyone's Gone to the Movies.

Date: Mon, August 18, 2014, 20:49:00 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

Just do a search for "Steely Dan" on you tube and then refine your search to show only updates within the last 24 hrs and you'll see the video.

Date: Mon, August 18, 2014, 18:32:27 ET
Posted by: KD, adsf

Steve, link?

A search produced no results.

Date: Mon, August 18, 2014, 18:07:52 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa FL

Thanks to all of the posters who put clips of songs up on "You Tube"...I even see "Everyone's Gone to the Movies" is now up.
For those of us who can't go to the shows, this is truly the next best thing. Thanks again, Steve

Date: Mon, August 18, 2014, 10:54:05 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Was a great show (again) last night. Springfield was also great.

Friday's show was at the Illinois State Fair. The seating is unusual. The stage is set in side a race track. There's standing room only on the track in front of the stage, then a gap and then people can sit in the grandstands far, far away. So being on the track, you would work your way up front. Very high energy and wonderfully loud and clear sounding. I was especially pleased to see so many young and younger 20 and 30-something Danfans in the audience to carry the torch of Steely Dan. As a side note, I was also struck by the cultural differences between Chicagoland and the rest of the state of Illinois. Incredible show. They sound great!

Sunday's show was, of course, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN, across the Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge. Also a great show. This one had some musical surprises--most of all, the newly-reworked "Everyone's Gone To the Movies." "Two Against Nature" was also a great surprise, although they have done it live in the past, as was the case with "Godwhacker." Of course, too bad "Two Against Nature" became a beer and potty run, even though it was early in the show. All in all, amazing shows, amazing performances!

I posted some photos to @dandomdotcom (see above). If you expand the tweets, there are multiple photos for each.

Thanks again to Earthbound Keith for getting it together for after the show Friday night. Thanks again to Joe, Chris, Sherry, Dino and others for the all-too-brief (my bad) meet-up before the show.

I'm hoping I can get to at least one more show, probably one of the last ones in suburban NYC at the end of September.

Jim

Date: Mon, August 18, 2014, 09:45:14 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Chris, thanks for the explanation. But given the history of Walt and Don, and the tendency of both to take time off from---well whatever. I wouldn't simply assume this is a permanent thing. Just because he wasn't ready then, doesn't mean he might not be ready in a year or two. Hopefully he changes his mind and it isn't related to his health.

Date: Mon, August 18, 2014, 09:15:49 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Dean, MODP beat me to it, but I was referring to the fact that Sunken Condos could have been a Steely Dan album if Becker wanted it to be, as well as other comments Becker has made over the years about getting tired of studio perfectionism. He seems to be having fun touring these days, and that's where the money is, so my guess is he's content to do that until he can't anymore.

I think Fagen will make another record or two because Fagen likes to work. I think he's driven to make records in a way that Becker no longer is.

Date: Mon, August 18, 2014, 07:17:40 ET
Posted by: Michael, @Jim Taylor

There's a big difference between people like us and the run-of-the-mill concert-goer. The latter attends solely for the radio hits, whereas we'd gladly accept a more varied set list.

Date: Mon, August 18, 2014, 00:06:48 ET
Posted by: ugh,

What a waste of an interview. Trite questions, clueless interviewers attempting to interject cute references that make any real fan roll their eyes. Facepalm at the My Old School question.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 23:07:06 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Here's some media from the 2014 tour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU_jiLMZ9Wc

The dulcet-toned, apparently bored guy is not really my cup of tea, but the snarky answers get better as they go along.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 22:13:28 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Morgan, I agree that Walter could have done *something*, but I don't see any TV talk shows busting down the door trying to lure viewers in by hosting Walter Becker in 2008. And even attempting to approximate the brilliant sounds of that album on stage would result in a pricey band that the sorts of smaller places Walter Becker would play in 2008 wouldn't have been able to afford.

Hell, Donald Fagen even had a solo band in place in 2006 when 'Morph' came out, and outside of very nice Rolling Stone and NY Times write-ups, no television show booked him for an appearance. That's what made the 2012 Letterman shot (for which he had to cobble a group together, with Wayne Krantz -- who I like -- unfortunately whiffing on Jon Herrington's great solo) so odd.

What they should have done was what we've been bitching about since 2000 (maybe; I mean, that was a pretty long show) and put a solo tune or two inside the mix. There were several candidates from that album, but the title track in particular would seem to be perfect for Walter, the band, and Donald to work up.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 21:19:41 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Listening to Paging Audrey RIGHT NOW

When Circus Money first came out, I played the hell out of it for days on end. I just couldn't believe how incredibly good it was ("is"). I bought multiple copies (including the overseas version with Dark Horse Dub - highly recommended if ya don't have it) from multiple sources, both online and old fashioned bricks 'n' mortar retailers. I gave nearly a dozen copies away as gifts, and twice I left a copy surreptitiously as part of the tip at favorite restaurants). I even considered running up behind total strangers, pulling their pants back, and dropping in a sealed copy of this brilliant, brilliant bit of work. In the end, I dismissed that last idea as unworkable, but believe me I did what I could to expose the general public around me to WB's disproportionally awesome 2008 offering. Then I watched as the damn thing sunk like a goddamned rock.

I was pissed.

I can only imagine how the guy who created this fucking masterpiece might have felt.

QUOTE from KD - "It's a shame that things are how they are these days". Perhaps no truer words have ever been spoken here.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 18:58:41 ET
Posted by: Mark, USA

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Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 17:13:54 ET
Posted by: Morgan, San Diego

Yes, Circus Money is a masterpiece but maybe Walter could have done more to promote the album. Perhaps a solo tour or TV appearances may have helped spread the word and boost the sales for that album.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 16:37:26 ET
Posted by: BenJammin, Madison en route to Hammond en route late to Indy

Just a head's up to any other cool cats catching the show tonight in Hammond, IN at the Horseshoe: Bobby Broom's not opening, so our guys and dolls stroll out right at 8ish (CDT). Casino shows also are shortened, as I've learned from other posts here, so get in while the getting's good! This is my first time seeing SD three nites straight, and it's been a blast. From dancing on a dirt track at a fairgrounds, to a part of an anti-dance crowd (even when My Old School jammed?!) at an amazing venue, to a casino shortly - these are some special times in the DanDom.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 16:28:13 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

I've said it a bunch of times on here and I'll repeat -- I think the fact that 'Circus Money' disappeared without a trace really got to him. I don't think the dude was expecting things to go bloody platnium, but ... something. Something more than, "OK, album out, let's go out and play 'Peg' again."

It's such a genius piece of work. It's a shame that things are how they are these days.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 10:49:59 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

And Michael, although I respect your opinion, I do not agree that we go to these shows for nostalgia. I go to these shows to watch the greatest band in the world do their thing. Night after night, it is never the same...always different. The only thing that is the same is the level of musicianship, which never ceases to blow my mind.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 10:23:12 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

I have never complained about a set list, but I went to 4 shows this year and not once did they play Rikki. I have never heard it live, and this goes all the way back to 1993. So there, I said it...

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 08:37:58 ET
Posted by: Michael,

On the subject of a new SD album, I don't see it happening. If anything, we'll probably get some more solo DF (which is just swell with me).

The entire music industry (or what's left of it) is in a rut, hence the slagging sales. The primary reason to create an album in this day and age is for artistic pursuit and satisfaction, not sales. It's become more about promoting an image, a name brand affixed to merch and anything else they can get people to consume. Many of the acts from the bygone era have become entrepreneurs, because they realize that they can only milk the old material for so long before the well runs dry. That's why you see guys like Jon Bon Jovi pondering purchasing co-ownership of an NFL franchise and teen idols plastered on everything from clothing apparel to sofas. Well OK, maybe not the latter, but how far-fetched is that?

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 01:05:24 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Thinking out loud

If memory serves me, DF noted in at least one Sunken Condos-era interview that he had initially approached Walter about making what eventually became Sunken Condos into a Steely Dan project. WB - according to the story - wasn't particularly interested/motivated, and so things proceeded without him. In the end, it's a very good set of songs that, as great as they are, likely might have benefited from Walter Carl Becker's involvement.

So - in 2014/15 and onward, does the brand name "Steely Dan", particularly when connected to new material, have any more commercial cachet than new material from the "solo artist" Donald Fagen? I doubt it. I've spoken to way too many concertgoers (the ones who currently pay the freight and keep the whole concept of Steely Dan live shows financially viable) who aren't even aware of 2VN or EMG, and who don't give a flying Hey 19 about any new material. These loveable three-quarter-brain-dead dummies - the ones who actually subsidize our live Steely Dan indulgences - are often, believe it or don't, actually hostile to new material. Hostile. As in, "We don't want no filler, just the hits!". As in, "We dread having to sit through anything The Stones recorded after 1980 or so"*. Surely everyone here is aware of this awful, sad reality.

My uneducated guess (and it's only a guess) is that Don &/or Walt likely aren't overly interested in a Steely Dan flop - an album that sells to a few thousand rabid fans, gets no promotion or radio exposure at all, and in the end makes the poor-selling EMG look like a word beater. Remember the sales figures for the absolutely brilliant Circus Money? See how Sunken Condos got great reviews but barely made a ripple in the charts? Now try to imagine the band touring again in 2015 to (ostensibly) promote a new set of songs, but playing only one or (maximum) two of them for fear of alienating the audience packed full of Classic-Rock-addled-$15-beer-swilling-balding-bearding-ponytailing-bathroom-breaking "fans".

On the other hand, maybe we will eventually see a collection of new stuff and the notorious unfinished stuff before 2015 is over, I dunno. We can only hope. But at a time when the majority of people still spending actual money on new music are (mostly) kids throwing that money at disposable boy band/overproduced novelty pop crud, and in an age where nostalgia trumps all, what possible reason could there be for a bunch of new Steely Dan songs?

I'd be really, really happy to be proven wrong. DF has made it clear that he's still writing, and WB was reputed to be working on something of his own a while back. Obviously, there's still hope.

Right now, though, I have more pressing matters to think about. Like the two Steely Dan shows I'm seeing next week.

M/O/D/P
ps - *OK, when it comes to the brutal cookie-cutter sludge offered up by The World's Most Embarrassing Rock Band™ over the past few decades, I completely get the "no new stuff" crowd. In defense of my hurtful, mean-spirited opinion, I hereby dare anyone to sit through ALL of "Steel Wheels" or "A Bigger Bang" without falling asleep, coughing up your last three meals, or jamming an icepick into each ear just to stop the pain.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 00:21:09 ET
Posted by: Ports , Mpls via Madison

Sorry about the below post, poor late night copy and paste of partial previous set list, got too much of previous post...sorry man!

Date: Sun, August 17, 2014, 00:17:04 ET
Posted by: Ports, Mpls...but Madison tonight

First, I am loving this idea of crowdfunding a really deep rarities night. I'm not sure they would consider it worth their while to work up long-dormant or never-performed tunes for just one night, but it's a delicious thought. I would be totally in.

Second, I am here to eat some serious crow. I was down-rapping the rest of the Carolinas, but I am just back from the Greensboro concert, and those Greensborovians give MAD crowd. Por ejemplo: I had an extra ticket, took a last-moment stab, and connected with some random stranger on craigslist. He turned out to be a Danfan of old, has seen them four times, knew the music, and was a rabidly enthusiastic, welcome seatmate (If you were there, he was the one who kept yelling "Steely DAN. Steely DAN. Steely DAN!!" and ululating.), now Danfriend for life. Sure, the acoustics were kinda muddy, and the solos not always up enough in the mix, but the energy was high and the band was ultra-hotso. Everyone was genial with the enthusiasts. And everyone was on their feet, stage-rushing and dancing, by the last couple of tunes.

Set list:

Cubano Chant
Black Cow
Aja
Hey Nineteen
Black Friday
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Show Biz Kids
Time Out of Mind
Green Earrings
Dirty Work
Bodhisattva
Home at Last
Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
Band intros with Joe Tex
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In the Years
Kid Charlemagne
Untouchables outro

Great night in Madison, very good but "greatest hits" set. Glad we got Rikki. I was right in front of John & Walt. Walt was spot on tonight and was featured many times., despite the back to back night shows he showed no signs of wear and tear.

Date: Sat, August 16, 2014, 22:54:23 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Gil said: "IMO, the fact that any new album is guaranteed DOA trumps any desire they may have to record it.

The only reason they recorded EMG is because of the Grammys they won in early 2001. They wasted no time getting back into the studio."

Er, um, how do you explain Morph, Circus Money and Sunken Condos?

Think what you want. But getting together, outside of a tour, to create a new album, is likely what is holding them back. Unless Don isn't to be believed. Your take might be more credible if you said there was no monetary pressure on them to do it at this point, given how little (if any) money an album will make.

And what makes you think Walt has no interest to go into a studio, Chris? It was 14 years between his solo albums. Seems like there is a LOT of speculation going on here. Are you basing your statement on anything in particular?

Date: Sat, August 16, 2014, 18:53:43 ET
Posted by: Chris, Nh

We'll probably get another Fagen record in the next few years. I don't think Becker wants to work in the studio anymore.

Date: Sat, August 16, 2014, 16:45:44 ET
Posted by: Gil, P

IMO, the fact that any new album is guaranteed DOA trumps any desire they may have to record it.

The only reason they recorded EMG is because of the Grammys they won in early 2001. They wasted no time getting back into the studio.

Date: Sat, August 16, 2014, 11:30:32 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

I would love a new album, but if that's not in the cards, perhaps a multi CD release of the best of the tours.
I would love a Studio version of "The Second Arrangement" but if that can't be done, releasing the live version from the Beacon would be the next best thing, IMO.

Date: Sat, August 16, 2014, 11:22:59 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

They're still doing enough to argue it away. The songs are still subversive, even if they're 40 years old, and Donald can point to his recent books and solo albums as evidence of a ball that hasn't stopped rolling.

That said, yeah. The band is better than ever; but if you were gutsy enough to dive into a new album after 20 years away from the charts, what's wrong with trying it after 11 years away?

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 23:43:48 ET
Posted by: Jive, Bed

I aint trying to bust balls here,i love our boys most dearly...

But imo( and i get why theyre doing it) its becoming a bit of a routine,comfortable.

I just wish theyd be true to their sneering angular provenance and take some more chances,risks...

A wee bit of "outre" would be most welcome.

As you were.

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 21:41:24 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Winding down? I still have 3 or 4 shows to see!

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 21:39:15 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, OK

I think they REALLY need to do something new, studio-wise. Hopefully they'll go finish the 1984 stuff Donald was talking about recently. While they're at it, write a few brand new songs and re-record the lost Gaucho stuff. Knock it all out from December-March, release it and go on a tour.

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 21:10:37 ET
Posted by: Bon, NYC

Now that the 2014 tour is winding down it is time to reflect on the good, the bad and the future.

Thoughts?

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 20:21:48 ET
Posted by: SteelyDirector, Memory Lane

Jim, I distinctly recall "Two Against Nature" as the first SD tune at Jazz Fest (after "Jeri" as the opening number, I believe?). I remember thinking how nice it was for them to customize the set like that for the NOLA crowd, what with the voodoo references and all. At the time I was also impressed that they'd do such a complex tune live, and one largely unknown to most of the crowd, to boot. Don't remember much about the setlist beyond that, though.

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 18:00:06 ET
Posted by: Old Man, NJ

Don't ever mention Yanni on this board again. His music makes me wanna puke.

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 16:33:02 ET
Posted by: SteelyDon, RVA

IF anyone has tickets to the September 17th show in Baltimore I am interested. I need one ticket. Thanks!

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 16:05:54 ET
Posted by: SD , is

More popular than Yanni

https://online.mayoarts.org/online/

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 14:59:27 ET
Posted by: Pat, O'Butter

Black cow? How's about I meet you at the butter cow.

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 12:00:17 ET
Posted by: Deep , Tape

there are a few tapes from this tour floating around, but none with EGTTM.

as much as i'd love to see more stuff pop up on youtube, i don't think i'll ever contribute myself because doing so detracts from other's enjoyment. same with live tweeting - i didn't mind doing it from my dumbphone years ago, but my big glowing smartphone might be distracting. (i always try my best to snag a copy of the setlist, though).

tapers, on the other hand, have to be stealthy and quiet. they do nothing to disrupt the show and document one of the best bands in existence. basically, they do god's work.

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 11:45:35 ET
Posted by: Tapey McTape, in the crowd, shhhhh

the Ref calls 'em as he or she sees 'em.

Regarding YouTube clips, there haven't been many for Jamalot partly because venue security has explicit instructions from SD and associates to swoop down on concertgoers using cell phones in any way during the performance. It's nice to be able to watch the band without a constellation of smartphones in the air, though it means the performance doesn't get documented much.

Tapers continue to do what they do so we'll see some audio captures surface sooner or later... allow sufficient time for nip/tuck edits to dampen customary WHOOOOOOs, off-key singalongs, and shouty personal conversations.

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 10:32:02 ET
Posted by: Ref, A

15 yard penalty and loss of down on Steve.

Date: Fri, August 15, 2014, 07:02:04 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

Now that the boys have expanded their set list it seems that the only people putting any footage on "You Tube" are casual fans who think no one's ever put up a clip from "Kid Charlemagne" or "Hey Nineteen".
So on behalf of us fans in Florida (a Steely Dan free zone this tour), please someone tape something worthwhile for the rest of us.
Thanks, Steve

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 22:43:47 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

If my memory serves me correctly, in NOLA 2007 they opened with Green Earrings and in the 4 spot they played Jack of Speed. They did not play 2VN. But my memory has played tricks with me before.

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 22:35:19 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

I was just checking out the set list for the 2007 New Orleans Jazz Fest on Setlisfm, and they list 2VN as the opening number, (which I don't remember) but they also don't list Jack of Speed, which I distinctly remember as being sung by Donald. Monkey was sung by Walter. I have lost my notes, so I am fabled by the daughters of memory. Anybody have a better record of that show?

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 22:09:49 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

I loved the new Tee. The best of the last three tours that I bought swag, IMHO. Colorful and fun. I also bought my girlfriend a coffee mug. She is not a fan, but she drinks coffee... In the 2007 tour I remember that the Walter and the band wore identical black tee shirts...sort of a band uniform. I can't tell you if they were selling those as swag in the lobby.

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 21:40:26 ET
Posted by: Security Joan, behind the screen

Danny, I don't know about during the show (we didn't have close-up seats) but after Bethlehem show, I noted that Roger Rosenberg was wearing a shirt -- I think it was like a black polo/t-shirt, I may be wrong -- with a Steely Dan tour insignia on it. I think I stored that in my memory because it's the first time I'd seen a band member sporting the logo, but in fact I didn't give it much mind until you asked that question. I may be wrong on that, but I do have a little visual snapshot in my head...

As to all the Walter comments: I think he still looks better than he did in '11, when he was heavier and was seated on a stool (it looked like he had some leg pain). Compared to '11, there has been an uptick IMO.

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 17:17:13 ET
Posted by: KMITB, Mt. Belzoni

He played great...so whatever is going on isn't effecting his performance. Maybe it's just old age catching up. He did ramble for a good 5 minutes during "Hey 19". I know that is his gig for the tour...but after a bit I was like..."I get it".

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 17:16:44 ET
Posted by: KMITB, Mt. Belzoni

He played great...so whatever is going on isn't effecting his performance. Maybe it's just old age catching up. He did ramble for a good 5 minutes during "Hey 19". I know that is his gig for the tour...but after a bit I was like..."I get it".

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 16:15:56 ET
Posted by: SoulMonkey, The Ville

I'm not sure what is going on with Walter. My wife commented on his weight during the Cincinnati gig on Tues. He seemed to being getting around just fine, was in great spirits and played well. Maybe something happened between shows.

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 15:11:54 ET
Posted by: Walterrr, ;

Well, hopefully it is something that isn't too threatening. I know in a lot of cases that in order for a tour to get off the ground it has to be insured, meaning that he and Donald would to have passed a physical or had a Dr. sign-off on their ability to successfully complete it. So if they're on the road, chances are it can't be THAT bad.

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 15:09:05 ET
Posted by: KMITB, Mt. Belzoni

Yeah...he looked worn out. A couple of times the song ended and he took a deep breath as if he didn't have anything left. His walk was labored, too.

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 14:54:31 ET
Posted by: Walterrr, h

I'm not sure what is up with Walter. I noticed him taking about 15 seconds to go up the five steps to the stage at the show I saw while walking in an extremely stiff manner. Hope he is okay.

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 13:34:36 ET
Posted by: KMITB, Mt. Belzoni

The show last night in Columbus was really, really good. The band was on top of their game and the crowd was loud and appreciative.

Couple things...

1. A ton of people got up throughout to go to the bathroom. I get that the age of the crowd is skewed to the older half of the spectrum...but wow...you can't wait until the show is done?

2. Walter has put on a lot of weight. Anyone know if it is horrible eating habits or other issues? And his rambling during "Hey 19" got old after about 3 minutes or so.

Overall it was a great experience and I'm glad to see they can still bring the quality after all these years. Now if we could only get another album from them...

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 11:59:13 ET
Posted by: bennyman, in the Midwest

Guess I'm out of the loop.
Is there a specific danfest set for the fair?
I'd be interested in meeting up with those of my kind
over a funnel cake, a black cow or a Scotch or two.
I've invited a couple who don't know they love the Dan yet.
I'm pumped!
Be there now.

Date: Thurs, August 14, 2014, 10:59:13 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Doc: Thank you as always for the heads u.

Danny: I don't think it's quite their style, although I think one of the girls -- maybe Carolyn -- had a hoodie on an SD zipper sweat thingy. The swag is more the idea of the fans expecting it. That said, for more than a few items, I"ve been less than impressed and they seem less than inspired. A new Steely Dan polo shirt would be great.

Looking forward to Danfests at Springfield and Hammond (suburban Chicago).

Jim

Date: Wed, August 13, 2014, 21:47:54 ET
Posted by: Danny , Ohio

Have you ever seen the band members (including Donald & Walter) wear the merchandise they are selling on stage? I don't think I've ever seen it on all the shows that I've attended.

Date: Wed, August 13, 2014, 20:58:32 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

a new item has been added to the merch section on steelydan.com , an Aja hoodie...

Date: Wed, August 13, 2014, 20:58:31 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

a new item has been added to the merch section on steelydan.com , an Aja hoodie...

Date: Wed, August 13, 2014, 18:22:07 ET
Posted by: Maybe, It's because

Lower overhead booking dates in Westchester county.

Date: Wed, August 13, 2014, 17:37:52 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Surprised Beacon dates weren't scheduled. Maybe Azoff is pissed at Donald for putting those emails in his book.

Date: Wed, August 13, 2014, 14:52:31 ET
Posted by: Dude in the Nude, Burbank

Sure doesn't look like it. Someone on this board was spreading rumours about a run of Beacon shows at the end of the year.

Date: Wed, August 13, 2014, 14:19:11 ET
Posted by: IsTheBeaconShowsHappening, New York

I guess I've become spoiled expecting Steely Dan to play the Beacon theater every year. As always I was looking forward to album nights. I see they aren't doing any album night shows. What's the word? Are they going to play any Beacon shows this year and/or album nights?

Date: Wed, August 13, 2014, 14:02:31 ET
Posted by: Dude in the Nude, Burbank

That's why I always try to avoid going to those Casino shows. The artists/bands always have to shorten the setlist due to some stupid strict curfew.

Date: Tues, August 12, 2014, 22:05:42 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Back from Niagara Falls

OK - Here's what they HAVE been playing this tour that they DIDN'T play last Friday night (August 08) in Niagara Falls:

Rikki
Time Out of Mind
Home at Last
Godwhacker
Your Gold Teeth
Green Earrings
Babylon Sisters

Nor did they play:

Deacon Blues
Two Against Nature
Things I Miss the Most
Everyone's Gone to the Movies

Of course, it was a shortened "casino" show (95 mins. + or -), and WB acknowledged this in his truncated Hey 19 monologue (he actually used the phrase, "and bibbity-bobbity-boo" to fill in the blanks and expedite the proceedings - at least twice - as he exhorted the crowd to get back to losing money). But it was a killer (if shortened) show. Absolutely fucking killer. In every respect. We were five rows back, just to the right of WB and Jon Herington. Great seats in a pretty bad venue, and worth every penny.


Looking forward to two more shows next week, and after that...?


M/O/D/P

Date: Tues, August 12, 2014, 17:41:28 ET
Posted by: misquote,

The article said a lesser song WITHOUT the "Fagen touch," presumably meaning him singing rather than the ladies. I've heard the live version - it's nice - but I like the studio better. It is arguably lesser - definitely simplified musically.

Date: Tues, August 12, 2014, 16:12:30 ET
Posted by: yeah, ok

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music-reviews/2014/08/11/Steely-Dan-recreates-its-studio-magic-at-the-Benedum/stories/201408110163

* Razor Boy is a "lesser song."

* Two Against Nature is a throwaway.

Date: Tues, August 12, 2014, 15:55:24 ET
Posted by: Danny, Ohio

Sure wish I was at that show down in Pittsburgh. I think it's the best setlist Steely Dan have played on this tour so far.

Date: Tues, August 12, 2014, 10:19:21 ET
Posted by: going out, everything must

Walter tried his best to keep this from happening.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/life/steely-dan-opens-new-tour-at-revel-in-atlantic-city/article_61087a0e-f0e8-11e2-9ccc-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=jqm

"there were some neat moments, particularly when Becker joked during “Hey Nineteen” about Revel “escaping receivership for one more day”


alas...


http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/atlantic-citys-revel-casino-close-september-24943242

Date: Tues, August 12, 2014, 09:12:27 ET
Posted by: BillfromPgh, Pittsburgh

Great show in Pittsburgh last night. I ran into Jon Herington outside the venue before the show and got to talk to him a little - very nice guy.

I didn't take notes but the set list was impressive and not as formulaic as some - we got the new arrangement of Everyone's Gone To The Movies (closer to the record than 96 but with more guitar like the Citizen demo and a killer horn arrangement that transcribed the original piano solo); Two Against Nature; Razor Boy (with a great Jim Beard piano intro - Donald mistakenly said it was from CBAT); and Deacon Blues.

Seeing them in a theater is better than the usual outdoor shed, even without the video screens. The lighting effects were impressive, perfectly timed to highlight each horn lick, backing vocal, guitar fill, etc. Walter was amiable and engaged, played tastefully (except for some borderline atonal stuff on Hey 19) and trotted out about a dozen guitars, each of which actually sounded different from the others. Donald hit all the vocals and didn't muff any lyrics, although he did let the ladies handle some of the choruses. He was particularly good on melodica this time out, getting an almost Stevie Wonder-like sound. The mix was clear and all the parts were audible. Carlock was explosive but subtle. They didn't feature Jon H. as much as in years past except for the hits-heavy closing sequence. One of the best shows I've ever seen them do.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 23:41:05 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Disagree, then all I can say is you would be disappointed. "Give me exactly what I want, and nothing else" is a pretty narrow minded way to approach life, I think. Make it easy for the artist to feel free to deliver what they like (as opposed to what they think the audience demands) and live with the results, i say. I agree your conception of what should be done here can't come to fruition. But that's your flaw, IMO. How is what you want any different than the fans who demand they play the hits?

BTW, I have never read a William Gibson novel. I have read his reviews of SD and an odd article or two in Wired. But today, at Dollar Tree, they had Gibson's "Zero History" for (what else) $1. Brand new hardcopies. I need a new bathroom book, so what the hell. But is it THAT bad? Just wondering if any of you have checked this out. I understand it's the third part of a trilogy so that might be an issues. I'm hoping it isn't a strict trilogy, but more like Fagen's solo trilogy.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 20:13:29 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, On month away

RIP Robin Williams

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 19:48:29 ET
Posted by: disagree,

Dean, if people are going to shell out $300+, there needs to be a greater guarantee there won't be hits. At least that's how I feel. For example, rarities night - that wasn't anywhere near sufficient. Yes, a couple gems, but way too much concentration of hits.

That's why I proposed what I did before: give a list of songs NOT to play, and then let them choose to play from the remainder of the catalog. That's how you give them freedom while also respecting the fans.

It would be ridiculous to tolerate more than 1 or 2 hits from this - just attend a tour any other year. I'd prefer 0.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 17:48:33 ET
Posted by: BillfromPgh, pgh

No luck on soundcheck - went over around 4 and the backstage door was open and surrounded by several surly-looking stage hands, no music. Went back around 5:30 and backstage door was closed. Doesn't matter, I'm going to hear SD in a beautiful, restored movie-palace of a theater which usually has great sound, first time I'll hear them indoors anywhere. Hoping they're refreshed from a day off and will deliver the goods, but I've never heard them on an off night in person. (I've heard some iffy recordings, though).

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 17:33:10 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour

I certainly don't think you can dictate a setlist to Don and Walt. I agree that won't happen. But you is make it inviting for them to play tunes they typically do not. You would have to leave it up to them, though.

First, let me say, once again, I think this speculation is fun, but unlikely to happen.

You position it as a show, bought and paid for by die-hard SD fans. Be sure they understand anything they want to play is inbounds. That these people won't be heading to the bathrooms should they decide to play something from 2vN, EMG or any of the solo albums---in fact it is encouraged. There won't be booing if they decide to do something weird and, say, play a James Brown song Steely-Danified. Put it in a fabulous venue, known for amazing sound. Maybe discuss recording the event (with their permission, of course) and get someone they know and admire to handle that aspect.

There are people on this forum involved in some way with the music industry. And certainly they know people who know people. There are a lot of hard-core Dan fans in the music industry. Maybe getting Libby involved is a key (she organized the NY Rock and Soul Revue). You understand I'm just thinking out loud here.

Now you may hear Josie. Don loves to play Josie. Is that really a deal breaker? I question just how hard-core of a fan someone is if they can't take a few of the "hits" they seem to love to play.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 16:42:26 ET
Posted by: not happening,

By the way, I would be one of the people willing to fly across the country and spend $400 to hear a night of "No Hits At All".

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 16:39:59 ET
Posted by: not happening,

I don't think they're against playing private shows, or big shows, or small shows. They like to play.

What I don't think they would ever do is have a setlist dictated to them, or get put in a position where they owe the audience a specific response. We all know what their response to external expectations would be...

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 16:33:54 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Well, they could always put together a private concert, live from anywhere, just for the deep cut-savvy internet users. Of course the *live* aspect of it would be somewhat negated, but then there are many chomping at the bit who would savor every second of it. There's no rule that everything need be cut-and-dry, standard protocol.

Just an idea.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 11:10:32 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Also, I listened to 'Circus Money' last night, then set the CD back to the first track and listened to it again. What a scorcher.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 10:59:12 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, OK

Billfrompgh:

I heard soundcheck in OKC from 430-545

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 09:19:53 ET
Posted by: tact, poise and reason, the reptile cage

KD- We are spending money to hear My Old School for the trillionth time because the options are that or nothing. The question is are they and the band enthused about playing MOS for the trillionth time? I would suggest the answer is no.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 08:57:58 ET
Posted by: BillfromPgh, Pgh

I'm excited about tonight's show. I work across the street from the venue and am wondering if I can sneak in for soundcheck - what time does it generally happen? I might just hang out near the stage door and see if I can hear anything.

As to "dream shows," we got a glimpse of what D&F would do if they could when they did the "rarities" show in 2011. Mobile Home was the only 70s live tune they resurrected. The Bear was good enough to play a few other times, and the recent mention that they may be dusting off unfinished songs for release suggests this may be one of them. I got the feeling they did The Second Arrangement somewhat reluctantly, but they did work it up and have the charts (and I may be one of the few fans who think that song is rather overrated). I agree that they'd like to do more 2VN, EMG and solo stuff but other than the songs they have in the "book" I think that would be unlikely, and nothing from Circus Money or Sunken Condos has ever been done live (except one TV performance of Weather in my Head).

I've noticed more variation in the set list this year, but mostly drawing on regularly performed songs, not real rarities. I'd still like to hear TIMTM, 2nN, Movies, etc. tonight but will be happy to hear the standard live tunes anyway.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 08:45:14 ET
Posted by: BillfromPgh, pgh

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 08:30:45 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Possibly. "Nostalgia" implies that they've been there before, and I would posit that less than one percent of the paying crowds at this year's concerts actually saw a Steely Dan show between 1972 and 1974. And even if they did, any nostalgia-seekers would be disappointed -- I listened to the 'Memphis Blues Again' bootleg after we came home from the pub the other night, and only four or five songs from that last tour are actually in the current setlist. At best.

What's a little shocking is that nostalgia could be in place for shows from 2006 (the beginning of the "let's bitch about the staid setlists"-era) to now. The cargo shorts/too much chardonnay-crowd might be pining for some night in 2006-07-08-11-13 more than some show they didn't attend in June of 1974.

Also, a crowd-sourced Steely Dan show is an absolute joke, guys. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are going to rehearse "Surf And/Or Die" because you put a few quid up? You're already putting money up to hear "My Old School" again for the trillionth time. Come on.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2014, 08:18:11 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Put simply, the vast majority of concert-goers are paying for nostalgia.

Date: Sun, August 10, 2014, 23:34:12 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, 15 minutes from Massey Hall/2 hours from The Beacon

DF is on record as stating that he would love to perform more of the 20th Century Dan material than the band currently does, or has been doing on recent tours. It's a safe bet to say that solo material - once fairly commonly presented in past live SD performances - would be enthusiastically presented as well if not for past negative/neutral audience reaction. The problem is not that Donald, Walter, and the rest of the band don't want to deviate from the familiar, the problem is that a set full of the stuff they might just wanna play would very likely scare away the mainstream "Classic Rock Totally Rocks, Dude" audiences. Sans radio hits, and with too many unrecognized songs, promoters wouldn't be able to book the band into profitable venues. C'mon, everybody - you know this.

Last time 'round - 2013 - I saw the band do Green Book, and no matter how many times the pants I was wearing that evening get sent to the cleaners*, they still come back unwearable. Sure, it's embarrassing, but that was my reaction. Sadly, the audience around us was, shall we say, substantially less receptive to that particular song. All it really elicited from the folks near me was blank stares and/or a mass exodus to the beer lineup or to the terlets. That's the reality of a Steely Dan concert nowadays.

A SuperFan show crammed with wormy, unplayed-live-for-a-very-good-reason** stuff from Can't Buy a Thrill? A concerto dominated by dusty pre-first album demo material - songs many of us here love dearly, but which both songwriters have described as "juvenilia" on more than one occasion? Maybe that's what many here would wish for, but not me. A few old nuggets, fer shure (we all have our own faves), but for my money the dream SD show would be heavily weighted in favor of DF/WB solo stuff and tracks from 2VN/EMG. To hell with re-creations of dusty old memories - mostly.

So it probably doesn't add much to the enormous potential for unimaginable future fun to categorically state that "the boys" would steadfastly refuse to play the stuff they almost certainly would prefer to play live, simply to be contrary, or to suggest that they would refuse to play a show or two of different material simply to be perceived as being contrary. As The Dean sez, maybe such a suggestor is just an ass. Because I'm not nearly as harsh as The Dean, I'll add..."an ass wrapped in a wet blanket".

M/O/D/P

ps- * - Exact number of pant cleanings currently unavailable. Please check back later.
pps - **The "good reason"? The two guys who wrote 'em, don't like 'em.
ppps - "ppps"

Date: Sun, August 10, 2014, 15:36:51 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Not happening, you are absolutely correct. If they don't want to do something chances are it won't happen.

What makes you think they won't want to do this, whatever "this" happens to be? They have played private/corporate gigs before, so they must not be totally opposed to the idea of a private show.

Again, I think this is the longest of shots, but definitive negative posts such as yours really add nothing to the conversation. And quite frankly, make you sound like an ass.

Date: Sun, August 10, 2014, 15:26:54 ET
Posted by: not happening,

The boys have lived their whole lives by not doing anything they're asked to do. They simply don't like to be told what to do. Three or four million dollars won't change that.

Date: Sun, August 10, 2014, 13:04:13 ET
Posted by: still new,

JB - thanks, not sure he's said it on TV. But he gets into in this article - http://www.vulture.com/2013/06/pharrell-williams-interview.html

After reading that, I couldn't help but think "Fun, Fun, Fun" sounds heavily influenced by I.G.Y..

Date: Sun, August 10, 2014, 11:37:21 ET
Posted by: Repeat,

JB - Old news

Date: Sun, August 10, 2014, 10:09:05 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Thanks Brutus. Now all I have to do is come up with lyrics. The first two notes which comprise the chorus w/ a descending minor 3rd interval would be perfect for ♪Niiiight Drive♪ but the rest is still up in the air.

Date: Sun, August 10, 2014, 09:57:39 ET
Posted by: JB, NY

,So, Pharell Williams was on CBS Sunday Morning today. He credits Steely Dan,
specifically Donald Fagen, and Stevie Wonder as major influences, saying that their music had purpose.

Date: Sun, August 10, 2014, 09:25:29 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

Nice job Michael.:)

Date: Sun, August 10, 2014, 07:17:38 ET
Posted by: Russell Lynes (1910-1991), c/o Jazzassin

Every good journalist has a novel in him - which is an excellent place for it.

Date: Sat, August 09, 2014, 21:58:56 ET
Posted by: Security Joan, Philly, alas

Gordon, that article, which is more high school paper sophomoric than real journalism -- granted there are lots of such articles out there -- really irks me, mainly because he regurgitated the misinterpretation of Donald Fagen's book that says he "disdains" fans. I'm getting sick of people who don't take time to read the damn book to understand the context and humor behind DF's fairly witty comments, and instead rely on convenient secondhand observations.

Date: Sat, August 09, 2014, 18:46:45 ET
Posted by: Michael, Sweet treats and surprises...

Hope you enjoy.

Night Drive (working title)

http://www.motifator.com/index.php?ACT=39&fid=130&aid=14708_xPHJwIUKcDf39oCOBkhv&board_id=1

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 20:38:44 ET
Posted by: Gordon Cavalero, Butler

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2014/08/07/Crunching-on-Steely-Dan-s-Pretzel-Logic/stories

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 19:08:33 ET
Posted by: Jim Johnson, Los Angeles

What a shame. Looks like the only people who had a chance to hear EGTTM was the Pacific Northwest audience. They always seem to drop those rarely played songs early in the tour.

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 18:48:13 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Great in-depth interview. Jon H. comes across as a thoughtful guy and total class act.

I heard the new EOGTTM twice this tour. A real (sorry to say) highlight with an extended rolling up-tempo almost-unrecognizable horn intro and big horn flourishes throughout.

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 16:18:56 ET
Posted by: egttm,

Did anyone here hear Everyone's Gone to the Movies this tour? Was it different than the 96 version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yluqvI4EvKY)? Nothing has surfaced on the YouTubes yet - makes me think it won't, unless they give it another shot this tour.

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 15:58:20 ET
Posted by: jh,

Great interview. Love reading about the rehearsal prep. Also love how Herrington is such a fan, with respect to his comments on mixing up the set lists with some of the deeper cuts and solo songs. I bet if he wasn't in the band but a participant on this board, he'd be clamoring for the deep cuts / altered sets like most of us do.

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 14:57:14 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Jon Herington has an interesting idea in a new interview ...

"I used to fantasize about a night where we’d have, basically an entire night with an intermission, maybe even two short intermissions. Do like a half hour of Walter’s tunes, then do Donald solo tunes for a half hour and take a break, and then come back and do Steely Dan for the second half of the show. I think that would be an amazing night. Like, dispense with an opening band and just have those guys do their solo thing as the opening act. I think that would be great. But that would be a long night for everybody, so they might not go for that. It’s probably going to remain just a fantasy of mine…"

http://themusicroom.me/dishing-with-jon-herington/

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 11:20:16 ET
Posted by: eeeeee, in the crowd

I really dig the Day With The Dan idea, but I am also skeptical of the high draw estimate. I just don't see 7,000 people (maybe not even 700) jetting across the country to hear Brain Tap Shuffle. Don and Walt may have an aversion to dusting off those chestnuts anyway, considering they branded a lot of their early material "stinko".

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 09:37:53 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

M/O/D/P,

Enjoy the show. Unfortunately I couldn't make it up there again this year (I was there last month at this time). I bartended at the Seneca Casino when it first opened for about a year. At that time the only venue in the casino was the Bear's Den (about 400 seats). Not sure if that is still even operative.

Anyway, posted to say Massey Hall is a really nice place. I'd love to see SD or one of the boys there.

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 01:07:23 ET
Posted by: CJB, Tonight's YouTube

Jay & The Americans, "There Goes my Baby"

Horn & string arrangements by some guys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNEsRbnEGXc

Date: Fri, August 08, 2014, 00:34:09 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Cazadores Anejo

Going to see SD in Niagara Falls, NY later today. The drive from Toronto will be horrible - guaranteed - because it's Friday and the end-'o'-the-week outbound traffic always rivals any mess LA or NYC may care to brag about. The venue itself is absolutely wretched - level gymnasium-style seating, bad sightlines, and poor sound (saw them there in '07). No doubt the set will be typically casino-shortened. And yet...

And yet I can hardly wait for the opening notes. Call me a sap (or worse if ya like - I can take it), but even after all the SD shows I've been to over the years, I still get pumped for the next one(s). I have been looking forward to this night since this tour was announced, and I've been living vicariously through the commentaries posted here over the last many weeks. Thanks to everybody, by the way, but especially to Jim Taylor for the ongoing reports. I have at least two more Jamalot shows in me after this one, maybe more. It's summer again, fer crap's sakes. These ARE the good old days...

As far as the fan-oriented show idea goes, I'm not as skeptical as some others might be. I think there's a chance this could actually be done if approached properly. Once, a long, long time ago (possibly 2009 or 2010 - I can't recall) I myself proposed such an idiotic idea, right here on The Blue. My venue of choice, for semi-selfish reasons, was Toronto's legendary Massey Hall, because it IS available for these sorts of things, and because music played there tends to, y'know, sound real good, and because DF himself reputedly loves the place. As a more realistic, fan-friendly option I would also endorse The Beacon. The trade-off would be sound quality for accessibility, I figger. Realistically, if given the choice, more folks would be likely to travel to NYC vs. crossing a border to head to some sprawling generic megalopolis in Canada. I think.

Anyways, count me in. Like lots of others here, I've spent an embarrassing amount of cabbage following this band. A Hardcore Fan Approved show free of wormy hits - OK, a show more-or-less free of wormy hits (because this band, believe it or not, has absolutely no junk songs, no annoying tracks, and no "bad hits") - would be a dream come true. I really don't see the need to request a metric tonne of 2014 (15?) live renditions of pre-CBAT demo stuff - as if that's even a long shot - but a split set of '70s "deep cuts" (Here at the Western World would be an absolute must) followed by a second set of 2VN/EMG/solo Walter/solo Don material would be just what the doctor ordered, if the doctor - in this case, me - is paying the freight. Encore the whole shootin' match with a couple of unexpected treats (I Can't Write Home About You followed by Kulee Baba for example), and you've got yerself one helluva show. I think.

If someone can figure out a way to get the ball rolling/make this thing happen, I'd be good for substantial seed money in addition to ticket costs.

M/O/D/P

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 23:12:53 ET
Posted by: Marv, C

In the meantime there's an actual tour going on. All you need to to is buy a ticket and attend. No wheelin' and dealin' with Irving A necessary!

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 21:03:59 ET
Posted by: Jeff, Austin

I think the Dan only with the 36 mostly rarities songs would work, even on a smalller scale. On the other hand, a large audience would actually help with expenses since there are fixed costs for the band transport and roadies whether the paying crowd is 2000 or 20000. Back in 2007 the Stones cam to Austin which is a small city. They did a late day night show and drew over 40000 people most likely from Dallas, Houston, San Antone, New Orleans, OK City and others. So the show would have to be located where they could get a regional audience.

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 16:39:22 ET
Posted by: hmmm,

The major drawback is the large crowd, and it'd be harder to get that many people willing to live through all the deep cuts, esp if you start having openers. Think about the 2vN dvd audience size - now that would be sweet. But unrealistic. I'd rather have a smaller show with pure, rabid Dan fans. I don't need lobster.

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 15:59:46 ET
Posted by: tact, poise and reason, can't ya hear the balls rumble

Mr. A day with SD- Wow, I love the plan, I love the thinking, I agree with you on almost every point and I would absolutely be there. The only issue I have is with the "easily draw 7-10K" part. I am highly skeptical of this. I'd love to be proven wrong.

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 15:47:51 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Re: A Day with Steely Dan

What you propose sounds interesting, but is totally different than what was discussed earlier (I think) and would be much harder, and far more expensive, to organize. I hate to speak for others, but I believe the initial proposal was for a more intimate evening---something on the corporate/private party scale--maybe a bit larger.

Now you are getting into having to promote the show and such. I'm not poo pooing it, just saying it is a far bigger project (and far less attractive to me) than something on a smaller scale. Either way though, I'd be interested.

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 15:34:33 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

I spent an embarrassing amount of money just on the tickets to this year's tour. I look back at 2011 and laugh at how cheap it was to get 5th row in Vegas compared to what I spent this year. I would be willing to drop some serious change on such a show, as long as I had a good seat. But I don't think they would do it. For starters, is Keith officially leaving after this tour? He is going to be very hard to replace. From Walter's comments in the past, I am not sure that he would like to continue to tour without Keith. I hope this initiative bears fruit.

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 14:27:51 ET
Posted by: A Day with Steely Dan (not just an evening),

Before you laugh at what follows, consider the thousands of dollars many of you have spent on SD in hotels, tickets, parking, air travel, food, beer, ganja etc. over the years. I would pay about 300 to 400US, plus travel for what is proposed below. You must reach deep down into your kids 529 college fund, your IRA or your moldy change purse, but it would be worth your while. Hell, you already paying 200 to see the same tired setlist of 15 songs multiple times, travelling hundreds of miles away

These are the requirements.

What I am seeing is a 3PM to 11PM Woodstock type affair, outdoor venue, in April or Sept so it won't be too fucking hot. It would take place probably in a mid Atlantic state to get maximum crowd draw. An alternative would be Red Rocks, Denver, which is the near the geographic centre. And you would be able to legally light up, so to speak. There would be all you can eat crabs, steak, raw bar, or whatever. They can do this because it would only represent about 50 dollars of the ticket price, max. If this Really Big Shoe is performed in the mid Atlantic it will easily draw 7000 to 10000 people, particularly if they add Mc Mike, Boz or other headliner. At 400 per person, this amounts to about 3 or 4 million dollars.

The setlist must be about 30 to 35 songs, which has been done by other bands, which would be about 3 to 4 hours of actual music playing. with a one hour intermission, and a one hour Q & A session. The band also could take two one hour breaks to rest up. With some Steely creativity, more songs could be crammed in with some jammin style medleys. The band would really have to do some work to rehearse these songs, but instead of touring they could take their time and prepare for 4 or 5 months.

If about 36 songs are chosen, the breakdown would be generally proportional to the studio output of SD/DF/WB SD songs about 20, solo Don about 10 and solo Walt 5 or 6. Absolutely no filler, no Cubanos, No Joe Tex, No Supremes, No Untouchables, No Tangos in Paris. In other words, no fucking BS.


The setlist must be selected from what would be a song list developed by The Blue suggestions, which must not include any songs that SD has played since about 2007, with the exception of rarities night, which would be a good place to start to compile this master set list.

If the unwashed masses and asses are allowed to vote, you will wind up with a 2007 to the present set list this is why the internet request vote they tried backfired a few years back. Having said that, I would say that the 2014 setlist has shown a marked improvement over 2007 to 2013 SD shows.

If CJB is already sending something to Azoff or whomever, it could include the 36 song setlist, which would come from pre-Dan demos, SD outtakes, post 2000 Dan, solo Don and solo Walt. The 9 Dan studio albums would be maybe 2 or 3 deep cuts since we are tired of hearing much of that.

Personally I am not too particular, but I will shell out serious coin for anything other than songs that have been hits, or have worn out via airplay. Don's comments folowing his excellent, but short 2006 solo tour mentioned that all that people wanted were wormy radio hits. The recent proposals on the Blue present ways for him to have a chance to do the type of minus the wormy radio hits that he has been serving up for almost 8 years.

Yes, this could happen indeed. The numbers work out. If most of the principals involved are not insanely greedy they will make a nice chunk of change and maybe have some fun doing it.

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 11:58:20 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago, on the quick

Thanks, Doc!

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 11:26:07 ET
Posted by: Jerry , PA

Thanks Steely Doc!

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 11:20:32 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

Bethlehem 8/6/2014

Cubano Chant
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Show Biz Kids
Time out of Mind
Godwhacker
Dirty Work
Do it Again
Bodhisattva
Babylon Sisters
Daddy Don't Live....
Joe Tex
josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin

Encore:
Kid Charlemagne
Untouchables

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 11:13:07 ET
Posted by: Yepp, F

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/musikfest/index.ssf/2014/08/steely_dan_brings_party_to_musikfest_with_well-preserved_hits.html

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 11:06:51 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

I posted a copy of the setlist from Bethlehem on the Dandom.com Facebook page.

Great show, and a nice 4-song sound check around 4PM...

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 10:48:40 ET
Posted by: Filling out forms, Standing in line

Any reports from Bethlehem?

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2014, 00:09:25 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, OK

Or as Frank also said...

"F*ck all them writers with the pen in their hand."

Date: Wed, August 06, 2014, 21:41:51 ET
Posted by: Regarding that , silly old Aja review

Whenever I'm confronted with an article that appears to have been composed by (a) someone who's in love with his own sense of deliberate obtuseness or by (b) someone who's attempting to impress an audience of impressionable fourteen year olds with his amazing "writing skills", I often wonder if it's the esteemed Mr. Marcus. It often is. It doesn't bother me, though, because I always remember what Frank Zappa said about "Rock Journalism".

Date: Wed, August 06, 2014, 19:02:44 ET
Posted by: Hackensack, missouri

It's not a freeway bullet or a bug with monster wheels

Date: Wed, August 06, 2014, 19:01:59 ET
Posted by: Hackensack, missouri

It's not a freeway bullet or a big with monster wheels

Date: Wed, August 06, 2014, 18:52:23 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour

Regarding that aja review....

Music journalism at it's most pretentious. 'nuff said

Date: Wed, August 06, 2014, 16:05:35 ET
Posted by: Michael, @Hackensack

Don't forget I Can't Write Home About You.

Date: Wed, August 06, 2014, 11:52:12 ET
Posted by: aja, review

http://greilmarcus.net/2014/06/25/steely-dan-covers-up-11-14-77/


Read the text below the newspaper photocopy.

Date: Wed, August 06, 2014, 11:47:04 ET
Posted by: The peak,

Great Herrington article. Why do people think Aja is SD's peak, which Herrington seems to agree with? To me Gaucho is at least as good, song quality and engineering. Babylon Sisters, Glamour Profession, Gaucho, and Third World Man easily match if not exceed Deacon Blues, Home at Last, Aja, and Black Cow.

Date: Wed, August 06, 2014, 08:53:33 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Jonland

Just been reading the Penny Black Music Mag interview with Jon Herington that was linked to in the latest Dandom Digest a week ago.
I lack words to express how likeable, cool and smart this man is, but he sure is.

http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=7512

Part 2 is behind a link at the bottom of part 1.

I have lost count of the times I've read or heard him explain his methods of working, and for SD songs particulary his attitude of always trying to find the good compromise of maintaining the essence of the originals while adding his personal touch to them. So many times, when otherwise good or even great musicians try to put into words what they think they do, or "explain" their style or way of working, it's not neccessarily possible for an audience to relate to that other than as theory when we listen to their playing. But Jon he puts his money where his mouth is, and you can hear in the music that his explanations and analysis of his own work is 100% correct and spot-on.
To me he is THE ultimate Dan guitar hero and a big inspiration.

The first paragraph of the interview, however, neds to be corrected.

Quote:

"It was his intricate group of original instrumentals recorded in 1982 and entitled ‘The Complete Rhyming Dictionary’ that piqued the interest of Steely Dan’s Walter Becker and Donald Fagen."

This should read 1992, of course. The guy and his playing is pretty f sensational as it is. If that collection of songs were recorded by Jon in '82 he would've given himself away as an alien right away. He's too smart for that.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 22:51:03 ET
Posted by: Jivester, Commonwealthia

Oops!

South of here:

"oeuvre" ..:-)

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 22:46:41 ET
Posted by: Jivester, Commonwealthia

Ok yoll,

One stage.

Don in front of a well-tuned Bosendorfer/Fender Rhodes and Walt with a Dan Armstrong plexiglass bass just talking and illustrating how they came up with the classic ouvrre.

How many Jacksons would yer lay down fer zat? :-)

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 21:03:32 ET
Posted by: Al, PF

Maybe try this approach.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/boz-scaggs/

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 20:18:41 ET
Posted by: abc,

As far as getting the band together - I'd be more than fine with getting players other than who they currently use. For example, Fagen used Krantz and Lefebvre (sp) for his solo performance on Letterman. There are tons of killer horn players in NYC who'd do a great job. I'd love to see Potter, Shepard, or whomever back alternatively.

In fact, as amazing as the current band is, I'd welcome a change up for the live tour, for something new.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 20:12:49 ET
Posted by: abc,

Hackensack - I'd go for that, but maybe throw in Almost Gothic for something...

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 19:14:18 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Just a "solo" night. 10-12 songs culled from six solo LPs, then the usual Josie/Kid C/Reelin'/My Old School/whatever roundup to end things.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 18:25:35 ET
Posted by: Hackensack, missouri

The idea of a funded concert is a great but would never happen. If it did I'd go for the following:

Second Arrangement
The Bear
Kings
Midnight Cruiser
Fire in the Hole
The Boston Rag
King of the World
Charlie Freak
Bad Sneakers
Dr. Wu
Your Gold Teeth 2
Dont Take Me Alive
The Royal Scam
Glamour Profession
Gaucho
My Rival
West of Hollywood
EVerything Must Go
The Goodbye Look
The Nightfly
Memerobilla
The Good Stuff
Fall of '92
Surf and/or Die
Downtown Cannon

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 16:27:34 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Indy

Saturday night provided an amazing way to kickoff my Jamalot Ever After journey! SD at such a venue as The Ryman, and in such a city as Nashville, was really extra special. My buddy was a first-time attendee, long-time listener, and he dug the vibe. While our tix were good, we couldn't see Cindy, LaTonya, nor Jim, because of side speakers, so my only gripe is the "obstructed view" seating. I feel that if ya can't see everyone on the stage, that should be noted by TicketBastardo. The post-show jaunt around the honky tonk district quickly made up for my gripe however, as the young ladies boot scootin' around the party district were lovely, but probably just 19.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 14:19:30 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

All valid points, casual. I just think the first step (for anyone with the time and energy to do it) is to find out first, if this is something the boys (or Don) would do. Then it's a bunch of details and that can be worked out. Can you find 2,000 fans willing to pay $200 plus? Maybe, maybe not. But what is some fans are willing to pay $500 for the first two rows? We already know some tickets for the show go for well over $200.

With something like a kickstarter campaign, it's a bit easier to find the fans willing to pay the price. Would you have imagined someone could raise over $55K to make a potato salad?

My guess is the cost is moot, as I think Azoff (or whoever) will give it no consideration. But in the unlikely event they entertain the idea, then the next step is to figure out a venue, calculate costs and find a way to cover them. My philosophy is never discount an idea based solely on what it MIGHT cost. After all, we have no idea if they will consider this idea, let alone what it will cost.

If someone has the wherewithal to pursue it, lets figure out ways to help out, if we can. I'm not at all optimistic, but with your thinking nothing magical ever happens.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 13:42:21 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

Dean, I wish the wishful thinking were valid. But, do you really think there are 2,000 people that would pay $200 a pop, plus travel, to see SD play their most obscure material on one date in particular, in on venue in particular?

Hey, don't get me wrong, I'd love to have them play my backyard. And I'm bummed they did not play Florida AT ALL this year. I just think that the business side of doing anything like this is much more daunting than people are giving credit.

I mean, I assume the logical city is New York, the logical venue the Beacon. If its not during a tour, they have to get the location, insurance, find 2,000 people willing to pay $200 for a ticket -- what, no fees for the ticket broker? Advertising to the 2,000 isn't free, either. Etc., etc.

As you point out, on the rare occasion they played some corporate private event, it was in connection with a planned tour. Honestly, I think you are more likely to get Fagen by himself, with a small band that can get around with minimum of muss and fuss, than a dozen people plus tech, management, and roadies, to put something together.

If they'd come to Florida, I'd have paid $200 to see IGY, plus the standards and a few of the obscure ones. If we could re-create such a scenario, how many form New York are willing to fly down here and pay $200 for a ticket, $350 or so in airfare, $150 for a hotel, plus meals out and taxis or a rental car .....

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 13:19:51 ET
Posted by: Bad Sneakers, SSNY

Insurance

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 12:59:34 ET
Posted by: abc,

Look forward to the response, whatever it is! I agree it's unlikely, but definitely worth the shot!

Just for kicks, maybe it'd be easier as a group to agree on what not to play as opposed to what to play. That way would also give the band more leeway in deciding what to choose.

Here's opinion, which I'm sure there is bound to be tons of disagreement on. I eliminated based on an arbitrary mix of frequency of past live play and gut feeling of kinds of songs participants would be less interested in (bound to be off in places here).

***Can't Buy a Thrill***
Do it Again
Dirty Work
Reelin

***Countdown***
Bodhisattva
Show Biz Kids
My Old School

***Katy Lied***
Black Friday
Daddy Don't
Chain Lightning

***Pretzel***
Rikki
Parker's
Pretzel Logic
Monkey in your Soul

***The Royal Scam***
Green Earrings
The Royal Scam
Don't Take Me Alive
Kid Charlemagne (tempted to let last two slide)

***Aja*** This is a tough one because so many fabulous songs but they play them all often...

***Gaucho***
Hey Nineteen
Time Out Of Mind

***2vN***
Gaslighting Abbie
What a shame
Janie
2vN
Jack of Speed
Cousin Dupree

***EMG***
The Last Mall
Things
Blues Beach
Godwhacker
Lunch with Gina

*Gold* - century's end and here at the western remain in the running

Then all the solo stuff etc...

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 12:48:40 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Not to throw cold water on the idea (I'm in if it happens---promise) but I think you need to consider:

When the boys have done private events (there have been relatively few) they have almost always been during a tour. So there is that to consider. You couldn't book the venue until you got a solid date, and you probably wouldn't get a solid date until they announce the dates of their next tour. For the others private gigs, I'm sure the event was already booked, and SD just happened to be available. Had they not been available, another band would have been booked. That won't work here.

They haven't been asked to learn new material. In fact, I'd be willing to bet the private gigs are phoned-in, to the degree SD ever phones in a show. There are reasons SD doesn't play some of the material we want to hear. For some tunes it is that Fagen/Becker don't want to play them.

Now,one might think a group of rabid, knowledgeable fans might sway the boys to do something a bit different. I see that as more likely if they weren't Don and Walt.

Casual Fan, just to get things straight. CJB talks about 2,000 fans and over $400,000 dollars raised. And I think this would have to come during (or just before/after) a tour. So getting the band together is not an issue, and travel would be minimal if you booked it properly.

While I think this is an extreme longshot, if someone is willing to put in the time and effort, go for it! We might be seriously under estimating the cost, but you can't know that until you know if the idea has any legs at all.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 11:53:13 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

A fan-funded show? By 1,000 of their dearest fans, paying $200 a pop? So 200k because there's no management fees?

You've forgotten:

1) Most of the 1,000 die hards will have to come from pretty far away.
2) There's management and agent fees. Don't forget the band members, themselves.
3) They going to rehearse the rarities for a one off show?
4) Cost of the band members getting there.
5) Availability of band members, particularly Carlock.
6) Location will want some money.


Even if the stars somehow aligned and everyone could do it, personally I think you are way overestimating the number of fans willing to pay, more realistically, something closer to $700 to see Sign in Stranger.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 11:47:35 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

A fan-funded show? By 1,000 of their dearest fans, paying $200 a pop? So 200k because there's no management fees?

You've forgotten:

1) Most of the 1,000 die hards will have to come from pretty far away.
2) There's management and agent fees. Don't forget the band members, themselves.
3) They going to rehearse the rarities for a one off show?
4) Cost of the band members getting there.
5) Availability of band members, particularly Carlock.
6) Location will want some money.


Even if the stars somehow aligned and everyone could do it, personally I think you are way overestimating the number of fans willing to pay, more realistically, something closer to $700 to see Sign in Stranger.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 11:30:16 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Sounds like there is at least casual interest in the idea of commissioning a night of "New Material" and/or "Rare Cuts."

I will write a short exploratory letter and send it off to Irving Azoff & Associates.

If I receive a reply, however brief, I'll post that information here.

If IA throws cold water on the plan, there's always the old Open Internet Letter to one's heroes. It worked for W & D vis-a-vis Owen Wilson!

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 10:24:35 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Hell, count me in for a fan show. I don't think it's super likely, but it'd be great if it happened.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 10:21:27 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Skype peer

I hereby confirm, and will quote my immediate answer:

The idea's just been launched on the blue by CJB. I'd probably cross the atlantic by feet to see that happen.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 08:53:37 ET
Posted by: fagenism, She go (I cry)

This is a little bit uncanny. WIthout having read CJB's comment below, I sent the following in a Skype PM to Jazzassin a few moments ago. Synchronicity anyone?

* * *

i was thinking about something the other day.

***GRANTED*** that donald and walter would never do such a thing...

i wonder if it would be possible for us hardcore fans - with a little effort you should be able to get together, say, 1000 people - to crowd fund a one time concert. a sort of deep cuts night. say you get 1000 people to pitch in $200 each. that's $200.000 dollar, with no middlemen like management, promoters et cetera. a venue should not be difficult to find. add the date right at the end of a tour, when the band is together regardless. i'm sure - with the nice gesture from the fans, the nice pr value and all - that they would be happy to get together and practice at least a couple of nights for this. thoughts?

with the outreach of the bluebook, many of us probably having access to some strings to pull (radio, internet, online magazines) maybe you could get together 2000 people. and you're looking at $400.000.

* * *

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 08:02:01 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

@ CJB: I apologize, I wasn't making fun of your idea, but I am skeptical.

However you are correct, you never know until you ask.

The amount of money I spent on this tour alone would exceed what you are talking about for a contribution. I am assuming that the ticket price is extra.

The thing is, Donald and Walter have all the money they need, or as they said on the notes to Citizen, they are "quite well fixed."

But where would you play such a show? The Pearl? Excellent acoustics, but not enough seats. Believe it or not, the best sound I heard on this tour was at the BJCC in Birmingham. It was pristine.

I just don't know. Can they be bought to play what we want them to play, as opposed to what they want to play on any given night. My preferred set list would probably be different from yours. I told a friend recently that part of the thrill of going to a show was NOT knowing what the stuff out of left field would consist of. I have been rewarded several times on this tour with a song I was not expecting (Pearl, 2 V N).

As for the trouble it would take for the band to work up such a show, I am told that Walter handed the band the charts for the Beacon 2011 Rarities Night the week before the show. These guys can play anything at the drop of a hat. Jon is on record as saying that he has learned the entire Canon.

So go for it, I am in.

These are just random thoughts early on a Tuesday morning.

BTW, as an investor, I would insist that "Here at the Western World" be on the program.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 05:21:34 ET
Posted by: SoulMonkey, The Ville

I'd be in for a fan show, and know a slew of others that would love to contribute. While not nearly on the same level, 200 Blue Oyster Cult fans, including me, hired the band for $20,000 to play a "fan show" in Hoboken, NJ in 2007. The show wound up being a 28 song set and the longest in their history. Going this route with SD seems to be a great idea as long as they agree. The solo and rare stuff is a must.

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 02:48:24 ET
Posted by: oleander, Only a fool

First, I am loving this idea of crowdfunding a really deep rarities night. I'm not sure they would consider it worth their while to work up long-dormant or never-performed tunes for just one night, but it's a delicious thought. I would be totally in.

Second, I am here to eat some serious crow. I was down-rapping the rest of the Carolinas, but I am just back from the Greensboro concert, and those Greensborovians give MAD crowd. Por ejemplo: I had an extra ticket, took a last-moment stab, and connected with some random stranger on craigslist. He turned out to be a Danfan of old, has seen them four times, knew the music, and was a rabidly enthusiastic, welcome seatmate (If you were there, he was the one who kept yelling "Steely DAN. Steely DAN. Steely DAN!!" and ululating.), now Danfriend for life. Sure, the acoustics were kinda muddy, and the solos not always up enough in the mix, but the energy was high and the band was ultra-hotso. Everyone was genial with the enthusiasts. And everyone was on their feet, stage-rushing and dancing, by the last couple of tunes.

Set list:

Cubano Chant
Black Cow
Aja
Hey Nineteen
Black Friday
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Show Biz Kids
Time Out of Mind
I Got the News (yesss!!)
Dirty Work
Bodhisattva
Home at Last
Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
Band intros with Joe Tex
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In the Years
Kid Charlemagne
Untouchables outro

I know there are hots and colds on Dr. Becker's playing, but to my ear he was terrific--fluid and kissin' clean. Even on that sparkly guitar that looks like the bottom of a swimming pool.

The more I hear Jon Herington, the more I think he's a guitar ninja. His habitus, his movements--not a wasted or flamboyant thing; it all goes into his agile, nuanced but scintillating mastery.

The horn section is my awe touchstone. When I think of the combined experience and chops of these guys my mind goes on the fritz. I can't grok how Roger Rosenberg can blow that giant thing with all that power. (Yes, I do know it's a bari sax.)

Freddy Washington really dawned on me anew tonight as well. He MAKES Show Biz Kids, for example, and lifts Josie into the stratosphere, if that's the right metaphorical direction for a bass.

Keith Carlock got a little more stretching room tonight than he did in Asheville, which is always a splendid thing. Dr. Becker alluded to "another band in California that shall be nameless (Toto)" trying to lure Mr. Carlock to play with them, and that this is NOT gonna happen.

Kudos to the Danettes as always. They seemed to be drinking in the adulation beamed at them.

I would love to hear more obviously from Jim Beard, of whose style I am fond. He seems so self-effacing. I guess that's part of the amazing sound-meld of the band overall.

Dr. Fagen seemed very on, smiling and relaxed; how does he maintain that voice? One of my favorite moments was when he & Dr. Becker were trading fours in Josie.

To close: Near the end, Dr. Becker made us a promise: he said that as long as we keep on coming and rocking out with them, they'll keep on playing. Sirs, you have thrown down the gauntlet, and this member of the Dandom, for one, is picking it up. Quotha! And play on!

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 02:07:35 ET
Posted by: abc,

It's a great idea - why don't you send the email?

Date: Tues, August 05, 2014, 00:12:59 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Jim,

I'm suggesting that it is now totally possible for rabid fans to "commission work" from their favorite artists.

SD plays some corporate and casino dates "by request." On past tours, there has been discussion of a few "private dates" in between public concerts. Basically you give Azoff & Co. c. $300-500,000 and the band shows up at a venue of your choice at a time of their choosing & plays.

Nothing to stop a group of SD fans from trying to commission a "private date" with a "new material" and/or "rarities night" set list.

Would I pay $150-300 for a seat to hear a set of truly deep cuts, and/or solo material? Sure. Would c. 2500 other people? With enough advance warning, very likely.

I don't think such a thing is plausible by Kickstarter's rules as I read them, but there are other crowdfunding sites that would totally take a project like this. If enough $ gets raised, cheque goes to Azoff & Co. in trust. If not enough $ gets raised, no one is out anything.

Like I say, first step would be for someone to write to Azoff and say, "Hey, many of us would like to hear a night of (mostly) solo Don & Walter, plus 'Second Arrangement,' plus whatever else the guys would like to play, if we can raise the $, is this possible?"

Answer might be "Yes," answer might be "Never in a million years." But the question has never been asked before and I think the response might be interesting, or at least within the realm of possibility.

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 23:13:34 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Just making sure.

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 23:10:49 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

CJB: Are you suggesting that Steely Dan initiate a kick Starter project? https://www.kickstarter.com.

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 22:29:43 ET
Posted by: Jives, Earth

CJB,

Well id happily pay handsomely to watch Donald,on his own,recite his lyrics whilst intermittently blowing some tenor sax licks but it aint gonna happen.

I fear it may be a minority sport.

Is that more than one line? :-)

Cheers.

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 18:50:04 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

I would instantly set aside vacation time, & pretty much travel anywhere to see, shows of "New Material" or "Solo Material."

I made a suggestion, once, that it would be pretty easy to Kickstart or otherwise crowd-fund a single date of "New Material" and/or Rarities Night 2.0. No one seemed to take me seriously at the time, but if a single SD date runs $250-300,000 USD (as Walter has previously stated), and the Beacon, say, seats 2900 bodies, then:

$425,000 (fudge factor) / 2600 seats (not quite a sellout): $165 a seat. Seems doable. People have raised much more online for much weirder projects.

I imagine the proper way to do this would be to write to Azoff Associates, find out if Constant Listeners can book a date just as corporations have in the past, and, if Irving gives a thumbs-up, then try to raise the $.

Open to feedback about this, preferably more than one-liners telling me why it won't work.

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 16:00:32 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour

I, for one, am very glad they AREN'T like everyone else.

With that said, I'd love to hear some new material.

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 15:35:21 ET
Posted by: Outbreak!, Atlanta

I attended the August 2nd Nashville show at the elegant Ryman Auditorium. The band was extremely tight, a perfect study in precision. Donald was hitting the high notes like a 30 year old, especially impressed with his range on Aja.

I, like many others, would love to hear the plethora of fine, newer material, especially from my favourite album, 2 Against Nature. However, as I look around each venue (I have attended shows in Atlanta, Clearwater, the Beacon Theatre and now Nashville) the crowd is actually becoming younger every year. Further, the younger people seem every bit as engaged and captivated by the performances as us more mature folks. So if the older "AM Gold" songs ironically work at keeping the younger people coming through the turn styles, rather than the guys performing the newer stuff, which younger fans may not be as familiar with, than perhaps the current formula works just fine.

One suggestion for future tours might be for the guys to reserve special shows, perhaps at the Beacon, for "New Material". I would bet these shows, like any of their others, would yield sell-out, standing room only crowds, such as the great crowd that turned out at the Ryman.

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 15:32:44 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

"Sometimes, I wish they were like everyone else ... "

This!

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 14:14:19 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

"Any other band would have completed or mixed whatever those old things were lying around," Fagen says. "They would have been done with great fanfare but we don't play like that. We keep threatening to work on them. Anybody else would have put them on an album."

Sometimes, I wish they were like everyone else ...

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 13:33:09 ET
Posted by: search, k

http://articles.mcall.com/2014-07-31/entertainment/mc-musikfest-steely-dan-20140731_1_steely-dan-becker-and-fagen-walter-becker

"...the duo has a bunch of songs they half-completed in 1984 that they're considering finally finishing."

Date: Mon, August 04, 2014, 00:15:21 ET
Posted by: oleander, Ashevegas, NoCa

Sec. Joan, Dr. Becker's Asheville riff tended to revolve around a shoebox of chiba-chiba and an old bottle of Cuervo Gold left under the sink....

On to Greensboro. Hope to see y'all there.

Date: Sun, August 03, 2014, 23:31:04 ET
Posted by: Hackensack, missouri

Re: security Joan. In arkansas Walter said something to the effect "sometimes you wake up in the morning and you hate yourself. Sometimes you wake up and make the same cereal that you've had every morning for 20 years and realize how much you hate it. Sometimes you wake up and realize you hate your wife. But as long as you keep on loving great music that's all that matters

Date: Sun, August 03, 2014, 22:55:26 ET
Posted by: Security Joan, Bethlehem bound...

Here's a proposition: We all see the set lists, but unless someone captures and posts a show on YouTube, we don't hear any quotes from the oft-bizarre and/or hilarious -- and occasionally risque -- Walter "Hey 19" monologue bon mots. So hey people, it would be fun to see these, even if they are snippets. As examples, here are two of my favorites: From a Beacon show in '11, "I know a lot of you are fans of string theory. I, myself, am not," and from show in Australia same year, after a riff about how the world doesn't know about Australia and how cool it is, but if they did, "You'd have Chevy Impalas, and regular animals" (The bizarro-land risque one I personally remember is from Philly '06, when his scenario was a picnic in the desert where guy's Johnson - that's term he used -- gets bitten by a poisonous snake, and the 911 dispatcher instructs his date to ... well, you get where this one went...)

Anyway, let's document these!

Date: Sun, August 03, 2014, 09:00:24 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Baton Rouge Bound

A little peek at the Ryman.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=715460251822423&set=a.504877746214009.1073741825.100000753643151&type=1&theater¬if_t=like.

Date: Sun, August 03, 2014, 01:58:16 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Leaving Nashvegas

Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tennessee, August 2, 2014

1.[Cubano Chant]
2.Black Cow
3.Aja
4.Hey Nineteen
5.Black Friday
6.Your Gold Teeth
7.Show Biz Kids
8.Time Out of Mind
9.Home At Last
10.Green Earrings
11.Dirty Work
12.Bodhisattva
13.Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
14.[Band intros/ I Want To Do Everything For You]
15.Josie
16.Peg
17.My Old School
18.Reelin' In The Years
19.Kid Charlemagne
20.[Untouchables theme]

Have to get up early in the morning and make the long sad trek from Nashville to Baton Rouge. But, what a great run: 4 shows in 8 days with a lot of wonderful memories. New friends made and great music played.

This last show was special for several reasons. I met some very cool people in the SD community; I got to sit on the front row for a show right in front of Walter, Jon and the solo horn microphone. What a blast that was!; and finally, I took my son to his first show and he got to witness the astonishing, virtuosic spectacle that is Steely Dan live... and I think he loved it. And I didn't have to drive... More later...

Date: Sat, August 02, 2014, 14:57:47 ET
Posted by: Joe M, CT

Can't wait for The Mighty Dan to make their way to the East Coast for the final leg of the tour! Really looking forward to it - as always...

Here's an interesting little Dan related tidbit...

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Yale-Drama-School-grad-s-No-Static-at-All-at-NY-5660477.php

Carole and I are gonna make a point to check this one out. Should be fun and interesting.

And how great is it to hear from our own illustrious Oleander and all the details of her awesome Danfest! Man, I enjoyed reading that...

Joe

Article from the CT Post below:

"No Static at All"

After scoring hits at theater festivals in Los Angeles and Seattle with his one-man show "No Static at All," Yale Drama School graduate Alex Knox is heading back east to present the piece as part of the New York International Fringe Festival that starts on Friday, Aug. 8.

The play is a production of Tilted Field, a company Knox created with other Yalies who are scattered around the country.

In a phone interview last week, Knox said "No Static at All" tells the story of his childhood best friend, and how they lost touch when the friend moved to Israel. It's about the relationship changes that most of us face as we move from adolescence to adulthood.

At least one West Coast reviewer has compared "No Static at All" to the direct-address theater of the late Spalding Gray, who turned his own life experiences into a very successful series of monologues/plays featuring himself, including "Swimming to Cambodia."

"I started it while at Yale when I was feeling a little out of place myself," Knox said, adding that music has always helped him make sense of his life, and during that period "I went to Steely Dan."

"No static at all" is a line from the hit title track Steely Dan wrote for the 1978 film, "FM."

"The show is based on real experiences and reflections on my own life as dramatized for the sake of a one-man show," Knox said.

The irony of finding success for a play that is almost all talk is not lost on Knox, who made waves at Yale for non-verbal, non-linear shows he created and acted in.

The 2007 Summer Cabaret show "Eye" was especially striking, with Knox and the other players rendered invisible via black body suits as they manipulated objects and light.

"I started from a place of physical theater, so it is interesting to go from a show with no words to one that is all words," Knox said, chuckling.

Since his company Tilted Field is made up of Yale graduates, it seemed natural to bring their West Coast success east for a test run. Indeed, the original plan was to include a few Yale Cabaret performances of "No Static at All," but the Fringe Festival does not allow its shows to be produced elsewhere during the annual event.

"This seemed like a natural development. New York is where half of our company is now, and going the Fringe route gets you certain opportunities you wouldn't get on your own," Knox said of the press coverage and good word of mouth that can be generated by the 17-day event.

The New York run also gives Knox and his director Becca Wolff a chance to do more tweaking on the piece.

"Each time we put the show up we feel like we should make it as good as we can," he said.

In addition to being something of a love letter to Steely Dan, the show celebrates the lost age of record players and vinyl.

"We don't use CDs or Mp3s, just a little portable record player. I use my parents' copy of `Aja,' " Knox said of the 1977 Steely Dan album that remains the group's biggest-selling

recording.

It is too soon to say where "No Static at All" might go after the Fringe Festival, but Knox hopes to present it at Yale at some point in the future.

"The show was created to be as portable as possible. It's just a guy with records. I can put that in the trunk and hit the road," he said, laughing.

Date: Sat, August 02, 2014, 12:24:24 ET
Posted by: Person in agreement with Jim, Tennisshoe, USA

Completely agree with Jim... having seen SD multiple times and tours since '00 I have to say last night's Ryman show was tops. Donald is animated and reaching for higher-hanging fruit with his vocal lines. The recently-bandied criticism of Walt's guitar ability had me skeptical, but what I saw and heard last night dispelled it all... Hey 19 was indeed great, and his phrasing/melodic runs in Josie were stellar.

Date: Sat, August 02, 2014, 08:38:06 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Looking for my Cell Phone

And I forgot to mention how "on" Donald was last night. It's hard to imagine that back in the day, he doubted his abilities to be the lead singer of his little project with Walter, and now, he is the undisputed front man and leader of the greatest band in the world...

Date: Sat, August 02, 2014, 08:05:34 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Music City, USA

Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tennessee, August 1, 2014

1.[Cubano Chant]
2.Black Cow
3.Aja
4.Hey Nineteen
5.Black Friday
6.Deacon Blues
7.Show Biz Kids
8.Time Out of Mind
9.Babylon Sisters
10.Godwhacker
11.Razor Boy
12.Bodhisattva
13.Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
14.[Band intros/ I Want To Do Everything For You]
15.Josie
16.Peg
17.My Old School
18.Reelin' In The Years
19.Kid Charlemagne
20.[Untouchables theme]

I have to admit that I botched my note taking and can't read the order of the set around BS, GW and Razor Boy. Not to make excuses but, I use my iPhone as a light to record set lists in my Moleskine, and the Ryman Staff were very militant about accosting anyone who had a cell phone out. So I was trying to write in the pitch black as I watched the show.

The sound was excellent after they got rid of the boom in the mix. Jon continues to amaze, especially on Bodhi and Reelin'.

Also a great night for Walter, especially on Hey 19. A very funny rap. His playing continues to excel at the shows I have seen so far.

And a very good look for the girls tonight. The person I brought to the show had never seen the band before, and she was especially taken with Caroline, who was dressed in a very hot Black Leather mini. She's an ageless wonder! We sat on the 12th row just to the right of Donald in front of the Girls. The Ryman is very old fashioned and has columns supporting the balcony, which extends out over the main floor. There are some obstructed view seats as a result.

Looking forward to another great show tonight, which will be my last of the tour unless I win the lottery. There were some folks from The Blue at the show last night who prefer to remain nameless, but it's always good to meet y'all in person. Still having the Danfest at Demos on Commerce street for anyone who is interested. I'll be there at 5 PM with my son, who is attending his first show tonight!

Date: Fri, August 01, 2014, 20:22:05 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

The boys did "The Boston Rag" in Boston on their 09' stop there. And I agree with the previous poster who said the arrangement for "The Boston Rag" the version from 2000 was unbelievably good.
Credit in part goes to Ted Baker & Michael Leonhart for the charts for the 2000 tour.

Date: Fri, August 01, 2014, 19:42:58 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour

I think "No chance" of the boys playing Boston Rag in Boston is only correct if you have no understanding of the word "chance".

They HAVE played it, so they MIGHT play it, especially in light of what they have played in a couple venues so far on this tour. I wouldn't count on it, but there is always a chance.

Date: Fri, August 01, 2014, 19:34:58 ET
Posted by: boston rag,

The live arrangement w/ horns from 2000 is amazing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_uuG8CfMBc

Date: Fri, August 01, 2014, 18:36:10 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Boston got a LOUD "Dirty Water" cover a tour or two ago, though, so don't lose heart!

Date: Fri, August 01, 2014, 17:28:03 ET
Posted by: skmusic, Chicago, IL

Greetings to all - and HAPPY SUMMER!

Deacon Blues returns to the legendary FitzGerald’s Nightclub TONIGHT! Saturday, AUGUST 1ST! . . . HAPPY SUMMER!!

This time at FitzGerald’s, The Deacons will not only be celebrating all things Dan, but will be incorporating a few songs from The New York Rock & Soul Revue record (with a little Michael McDonald, a little Phoebe Snow, and a lot of Donald Fagen)! Please join the loyal Dandom as we once again will be paying tribute to Mssrs. Becker & Fagen, and performing the Steely Dan hits, the rarities, and a few “new-to-us” SD tunes that we have always wanted to play!

This Saturday's gig will feature special guest artist Tom Mendel.

The DB Website is here:
www.DeaconBlues.com

The DB-FB Page is here:
DeaconBluesOfficialFacebook

Several of the musicians in Deacon Blues have been playing together since the dawn of the century - when they were in an original jazz-rock collective known as Bebop Daddys, which featured the renowned Chicago rhythm section of Tom Hipskind and Tom Mendel. Our friend Donald Fagen can be found on many a YouTube video wearing his Bebop Daddy’s T-Shirt on stage with Steely Dan! Due to numerous requests, BD T’s are now available at DB concerts, as well as a plethora of DB swag!

Please join America’s Premier Steely Dan Revue, Deacon Blues - TONIGHT at FitzGerald’s!

For your GPS convenience: Fitzgerald’s is located at 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, 60402.

- Deacon Blues

Date: Fri, August 01, 2014, 16:31:07 ET
Posted by: Ed, Chelsea MA

No chance, Vinnie. Longtime fans love The Boston Rag, but Donald & Walter rarely play this song even in Boston.

Date: Fri, August 01, 2014, 09:04:42 ET
Posted by: Vinnie, UK

Given the lack of a European tour in 5 years, I'm going to the Boston show. Any chance they'll do "The Boston Rag" given their location-friendly songs (Deacon in Alabama, POTQ in N'Awlins, etc.)? Mail me to provide guidance on Dan-fests and local Hoops McCann/ Kid Charlemagne-types looking for a show pre-load: I don't know the social form for such things over there, being a limey.

Date: Fri, August 01, 2014, 00:07:44 ET
Posted by: oleander, Smoky mountain high

I suppose it must be a kick to be in the band and play in all these striking settings, such as the Biltmore House, the largest privately-owned dwelling in the US. And it was beautiful--cool and invigorating mountain air and a Prufrockian sunset to boot.

As a spectator it is an ordeal to get into and out of the place, though it was leavened by a couple of archetypal interactions with tipsy total strangers, one who said "Yeah, Steely Dan! I love his music!" and the other who asked me:

"How old is Steely Dan?"

"You mean, when did the band start?"

"No, how old is he?"

The set list will sound familiar. I was taking all sorts of notes on my ticket stub to comment on blazing solos by...well, nearly everybody, and how splendidly they were all cooking together, but suffice it to say that I am agog at how they JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. Also, I haven't seen the Permasqueeze as happy in a dog's age as he was after Jon Herington's pyrotechnics on "Reelin'."

[Cubano Chant]
Black Cow
Aja
Hey Nineteen
Black Friday
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Show Biz Kids
Time Out of Mind
Babylon Sisters
Godwhacker
Razor Boy
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
[Band intros/ I Want To Do Everything For You]
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years
Kid Charlemagne
[Untouchables theme]

Just. Plain. Wow.

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 21:41:25 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

The latest EDITIONS -- yes, plural-- of the Dandom Digest was just e-mailed. One has all the non-concert posts back through July 4th. The other has all the SPOILERS for the same period. So they are both dated July 4-31, 2014. (The Dandom Digest before that was dated July 1-3, 2014 and pretty much featured the set list from the first show and some miscellany.)

If you are a subscriber, you should see TWO Dandom Digests in your email box within an hour of this post. If you don't see them, check your spam filters first; then, if they're not there, please email me.

As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition.

The following are the subject headlines of the regular Dandom Digest for July 4-31, 2014.

=======

- Asheville Danfest...[ it happened but read about it ]
- Good Reads Galore
- Rudimental Donald
- Dennis Chambers: Better Than You Might Think
- Reelin' in the Years with Roger Nichols
- A Big Thumbs Up: SD Itself
- The Set NEVER Gets Dull for Jon H.
- Walter to Rickie to Larry to Joni to Walter to Rickie to Larry to...
- Miss Marlene Revived & Transcribed
- Jon Herrington Split In Two
- Jon H: Classic Interview at Vintage Site

=======

The following are the subject headlines of the Special Dandom Digest SPOILERS for July 4-31,2014.

=======

- PORTLAND - 7/2: "Tremendous Energy"
- PORTLAND - 7/2: "Tremendous Energy" AGAIN
- MARYMOOR, WA State - 7/5: Rikki, Accordingly
- MARYMOOR, WA State - 7/5: "all the cheers"
- SARATOGA, CA - 7/8: "God help us (to more SD!)"
- SARATOGA, CA - 7/9: "excellent performance"
- CONCORD, CA - 7/10: "Digging it"
- CONCORD, CA - 7/10: "Best 'Dirty Work' I've seen"
- CONCORD, CA - 7/10: "Steely Dan Vibrates"
- VENTURA - 7/12: "Great set, Guys and Dolls!"
- VENTURA - 7/12: "a funny thing happened"
- PHOENIX - 7/15: So there!
- PHOENIX - 7/15: "Steely Dan brought sunshine" --and cured the world of genital warts
- PHOENIX - 7/15: More curing...
- THACKERVILLE, OK - 7/18: "some joyous stare-downs"
- KC, MO - 7/19: "They sounded great"
- OKC, OK - 7/21: "WOW"
- OK, not OK: Since everyone else is doing it
- ROGERS, AR - 7/24: Over and Out
- NOLA - 7/26: Sacrificing to Hear the Best
- NOLA - 7/26: A Homie Fantasy Come True
- NOLA - 7/26: "What a blast!"
- NOLA Reviews: Nola Would be Complete without Base Drums
- Another NOLA Review: The Advocate
- BIRMINGGAM - 7/27: After 40 years, Nevertheless
- BIRMINGHAM - 7.27: Walter fuc king nailed it!

=======

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at hoops AT dandom DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest.

For the record, the Dandom Digest is a newsletter with unofficial content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydan.com, walterbecker.com, donaldfagen.com and other sites of Steely Dan associates.

Thanks for your support through the years, especially Pete and Shari, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Winterbottom, and espcially thinking of Mark and Bill, and not to mention one or two people who request anonymity.

Fly low, be cool,

Jim

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 21:34:28 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Chris in NH and JIm Taylor:

I have to dig back but, again, what I do remember was that "Rumour Boy" was being sarcastic and even said so. But rumors live on.

Best,

Jim

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 16:07:26 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

@Jim, yeah, it was posted by someone calling himself "Rumour Boy." Not Lewis. But the name does suggest a connection to someone else who may be aware - that's all I'll say here (again with the caveat that I know absolutely nothing).

Mostly I'm just hoping it does happen as I'd love an excuse to sneak in a few more shows than the 1 or 2 I'll be able to make this summer.

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 15:54:55 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, House on the Gulf Coast

@ Chris: I have heard the same rumor. But nobody reliable can confirm. I do know that Jon and Keith are booked through November, as has been reported here and elsewhere. But what a great holiday trip THAT would be!

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 15:43:51 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Gulf Shores

The only time I have ever met Keith was in Lost Wages at the Palms in 2011. They were playing the Pearl Theater that night and he, Lynn and their brand new baby walked in to the buffet where I was having dinner and sat down next to me. I bit my tongue until Lynn and the baby went to the desert bar. I asked Keith when they were leaving for Australia, and he couldn't have been more gracious. We didn't talk shop. But he is the nicest guy. Mississippi manners.

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 13:59:26 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, SE USA

I almost forgot, since Keith Carlock lives in Nashville part time, do any of " y'all " know him from his gigs at 3rd&Lindsley or studio sessions around town? I can't recall ever running into him but since so many of the studio places are in Berry Hill now, that is not totally unexpected. I don't go to Forks Drum Closet too often but that seems like a place you might run into him now and then??

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 13:52:34 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, SE USA

I like the "all day cooked pot roast" at Demos' - you can't get it like that anywhere else unless your granny cooks it! I might not make it to the Demos get-together, but did get warmed up for this by going to YES the other night at the Ryman - was also primo. Chris Squire is still one of the best bass players alive.

See " y'all " at the show!!

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 13:39:13 ET
Posted by: Julo, Brentwood

Sounds yummy. I love eating the pepper steak at Demos.

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 12:37:31 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Where the hell am I? Still at the House on the Gulf Coast...

Andrea and I are hosting a Danfest at Demos Restaurant before the Saturday Ryman show in Nashville. I have put up a link that has menus, directions etc. Demos is located at 300 Commerce St, in downtown Nashville, and is right around the corner from The Ryman. I am very excited because I am taking my son to his first SD show. I should get there around 5 PM. I called and it is first come, first served, but we will figure out something. I am hoping some of the Louisville folks (you know who you are!) will be in town for this show. Anyway, can't wait for another great SD experience.

(615) 256-4655 · $$ · Italian, American, Steak
http://www.bing.com/local?lid=YN808x13718458&id=YN808x13718458&q=Demo%27s+Restaurant+Nashville+TN.

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 08:53:40 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

There was a rumor of a Christmas/NYE Beacon run. Presently there is nothing booked at the venue during that time. I have no idea whether or not it's true, but it's not impossible...

Date: Thurs, July 31, 2014, 02:25:59 ET
Posted by: Ross, Albany

I highly doubt it. Keith Carlock is supposed to do a European tour with Mike Stern in October and Jon Herington has tour dates with his own band in November.

Date: Wed, July 30, 2014, 23:57:36 ET
Posted by: hbjimmy, Huntington Beach

Has anyone heard if more dates will be added after September? They have done that before. Just 2 shows in So Cal is not enough.

Date: Wed, July 30, 2014, 14:53:59 ET
Posted by: Danny19, atl

Did anybody on here go to the Columbia, SC show last night?

Date: Wed, July 30, 2014, 13:35:48 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

Seconding Birthday Wishes to David Sanborn. Originally from Tampa, Florida.

Check out the link to David's 1980's show Night Music with Donald Fagen appearing on piano and keyboard. At approximately the 42 minute mark, Patti Austin sings IGY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw3ZDAhSreA

Date: Wed, July 30, 2014, 09:59:58 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, cool part of the summer

Happy birthday, Dave!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK4uNFsze5A

Date: Tues, July 29, 2014, 15:55:20 ET
Posted by: BillfromPgh, Pittsburgh

Sorry, Hoops, I missed the warning about posting ticket offers. Please delete my last post. I'll send to digest@dandom.com

Date: Tues, July 29, 2014, 15:52:39 ET
Posted by: BillfromPgh, Pittsburgh

I have an extra single ticket (not near the pair I'm using) for the sold-out August 11 show at Pittsburgh's . Orchestra Right Seats: W 54. Email me if interested.

http://pittsburghopera.org/files/file/tickets/benedum_basic_seating.pdf

I bought it because during the first few moments when the tickets went on sale there were nothing but single tickets available (scalper-bots pounding the web site, I suspect). Shortly after some pairs turned up and I grabbed two tickets so I could take my wife, who is not a hard-core fan but has seen them a couple times with me before.

Date: Tues, July 29, 2014, 12:45:40 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, House on the Gulf Coast

And yes, Happy Birthday to Cindy. What a treat to see her back on tour with SD!

Date: Tues, July 29, 2014, 12:31:54 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, House on the Gulf Coast

@ Wormy: Thanks for the recommendation! I have lived in Louisiana most of my life, and love looking for local New Orleans neighborhood restaurants. I am not real familiar with the Lakefront/Gentilly area and showed up late. I got a room in New Orleans East, which is another story with Katrina and all that still killing the community. But I found a great local eatery on 6325 Elysian Fields in Gentilly called The Munch Factory. Great, great gumbo, and friendly service! I told them I was running late for the show, and they got me right up to the bar and served me my Gumbo immediately.

The last time I was at Lakefront was December, 1984. It was one of those NBA games they used to have at neutral sites. This one featured Michael Jordan in his rookie season with the Bulls V Dominique Wilkins, AKA "The Human Highlight Film." At first, I could feel the boom from Keith's Kick reverberating back off the wall of the arena. But, after awhile it seemed to settle in.

Jon was having a technical issue at the beginning of the show, but it seemed to get resolved. I noticed that Jon is using some kind of pad on a stand that I have never observed before. If anyone has any information on that I would love to hear the story.

I went up to a backstage person who was hanging out at the front and I told her to make sure that everyone understood how much Pearl of the Quarter was appreciated. If there is any doubt that Donald and Walter care about their audience, it was resolved when they kicked off POTQ. The next night in Birmingham, Deacon Blues had the same feel of doing it for the locals.

Speaking of Birmingham, I was on Walter's side of the stage, and he absolutely killed, as far as I am concerned. A lot of us miss his writing on the SD website, but during the Hey 19 colloquy, it occurred to me that he really is doing his writing every night. It's funny, current, irreverent... all of the things we liked about his memos to Craig, etc.

It was a great weekend. Now I am at the house on the Gulf Coast, and then Friday on to Nashville and new adventures!

Date: Tues, July 29, 2014, 11:00:32 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago, on the quick

Michael:

Obviously, your last post is plagiarized from the several posts I've made saying much the same! ;-)

Best,

Jim

Date: Tues, July 29, 2014, 08:58:13 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Hoops, seeing as neither Donald or Walter are performing solo material, it's logical to conclude that they decided to emphasize SD material over solo output well before the tour got underway. People are paying to go see a Steely Dan show, after all. People like us on the Blue would savor every second of the solo material and the rarities, but most of the crowd wouldn't share our enthusiasm -- they came to hear Peg, Josie, Reelin' and the rest of the radio-friendly material they grew up with.

It's essentially the same situation that Duke Ellington and a hundred other artists have to live with. What the audiences demand, they give them. Otherwise they'll be touring in gymnasium and coffee shops.

Date: Mon, July 28, 2014, 12:27:40 ET
Posted by: oleander, North Cackalacky

LATE-BREAKING DANFEST BULLETIN!

For those of you who actually got your July 31 Asheville (Biltmore Estate) tickets during the nanosecond before they sold out, please join us for:

NOT MY CACKALACKY

--or,

CAROLINAKIRIAD


When: Thursday, 7/31, 5:30ish to 7ish (Showtime: 8 pm)

Where: Rezaz, 28 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, in Biltmore Village, extremely close (one block) to the entrance to the Biltmore Estate. We’ll meet on the Deli/ Bakery side if possible. If you plan to have a full supper, I recommend you make a reservation on Open Table and plan an hour/ hour and a half in the restaurant. Or you can join us for libations and Middle Eastern-themed splendid noshery (small plates) aplenty. Please e me at oleander1atgmaildotcom if you plan to come.

Why Rezaz? It’s informal, welcoming, delectable, and has been our go-to place for more than a decade. Chef Reza is a standout in this haut-foodie town. Plus it’s absurdly close to the entrance to the Estate.

Why a DanFest? Because of my abject gratitude that the Dan would deign to play here.

Who: “Hosted by” (i.e., will also show up and try not to get ejected on account of pre-show enthusiasm) oleander

How to figure out who the party is: Look, Rezaz is not very big, and we’ll come up with some way to express visual Danitude without being embarrassing. Use your imagination. You won’t be asked for your Bluebook handle or anything.

Why are you harping on “close to the entrance to the Estate”? Because the Vanderbilts built to impress, and, once you get through the entrance, it could take you 15 minutes plus just to navigate the gorgeous 3-mile drive up the entrance road through the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed landscape to the parking area. (That's right, you will have to have a DD or be circumspect about your alcohol intake prior to arrival at the concert. Yes, they will sell drinks there.) Once parked, it may take you another little while to get to the venue next to the House, so rather than gourmandize and run, it may be well to nosh, cruise on up and give yourself plenty of time to drink in the breathtaking ostentation of the House and environs before concert time.

This isn’t the only Carolina show. What makes you think you can claim “Carolinakiriad”? Because I can’t begin to count the ways Asheville is superior to Columbia, SC or Greensboro, NC, no offense, of course. All I can say is, come and stay a while to visit the Estate, the multifaceted, Borgesesque beer and food culture, the mountains, rivers, art, music, crafts, bookstores, politics, graffiti—in short, the good life without traffic jams. (And before you ask or google, Cackalacky is a slang name, origin unknown, for “Carolina.”) If you would like to endure a jaundiced verbal tour of and recommendations for Asheville juke joints and watering holes, please e me.

What to bring: This is a completely uncovered (except for the band) outdoor venue with gorgeous views. The weather will be relatively unpredictable even if you monitor it closely, so be ready for rain, wind, hail, frogs, etc. Also, bring your dancing shoes, for there will be some room within earshot to shake a tail feather without blocking everyone's view. It’s been hot and humid, so a well-chosen fan may be in order for both ladies and gentlemen. On the other hand, evenings in the mountains can be cool, so dress accordingly.

What not to bring: They frown severely on outside food and/or beverages.

What to dread: Besides the weather? This is the kind of venue with lots of season ticket holders who may consider the performances background music to their conversations, so come prepared. Just sing louder than they talk, until they stop.

What about an after-party? The Estate limits concert duration, so we won’t be there til all hours (Listed as 8 pm - 11 pm). If there’s interest in after-show conviviality, let me know and I can recommend some enjoyable spots.

Tingling with anticipation,

oleander

PS: Just kidding about the frogs.

Date: Mon, July 28, 2014, 11:59:15 ET
Posted by: EstebanJ, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Here's another review of the New Orleans show, from the Baton Rouge Advocate:

http://theadvocate.com/home/9824900-125/steely-dan-mixes-jamming-with

Date: Mon, July 28, 2014, 10:59:35 ET
Posted by: SteelyDirector, The Fifth Estate

Other review, and Danette pics too!

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/home/9824900-172/steely-dan-mixes-jamming-with

Date: Mon, July 28, 2014, 10:39:28 ET
Posted by: SteelyDirector, Funk & Wagnall's

Another NOLA review...complete with "base" drum and "saxaphone" mentions. That's just sic!

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2014/07/steely_dans_jamalot_ever_after.html

Date: Mon, July 28, 2014, 10:14:14 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

I didn't know Steely Dan had dancers? The NOLA review states that there were 11 musicians and dancers. The girls will shake and bake during songs, but calling them dancers invokes images of something entirely different.

Date: Mon, July 28, 2014, 09:36:00 ET
Posted by: w tom, home

Oh and Donald was in perfect voice
and blended so well with the girls

he really was into it

after having heard an off night before
this was great to see

Date: Mon, July 28, 2014, 09:16:45 ET
Posted by: wormy, new orleans

DeaconBlues and Jim

thanks for the Birmingham play by play

Yes playing TAN sounds great
I would have loved to heard a Y2k Dan song
but we did get Gold Teeth, Razor Boy and wow - Pearl of the Quarter in New Orleans

too much pandering still in the set to the "boogie" hits
but glad to see Babylon Sisters back in

UNO Arena - the sound was bad, too muddy in the low end
what a shame as it is usually perfect

Walter has really lost it
even on his songs with signature licks like Josie
he had no nuance, sometimes totally out of key
it was a train wreck, didn't help that Herrington was having amp problems early on

I usually have to drive to Gulf Shores Alabama where my dad has a beach condo to see the Dan. I love the crowd reaction to Deacon Blues. Donald even commented on it in Eminent Hipsters where they would demand it in Alabama and most of the locals have no idea what the lyrics mean

Jim - sounds like you were jumping in and out of cities, but it's a shame in New Orleans. The arena is out in Lakeview on the lake with nothing around it, and rarely used for concerts. Also New Orleans East has none of the charm and great food in New Orleans proper. A stroll down Frenchman street music clubs would have been a nice touch for you.

Date: Mon, July 28, 2014, 01:09:57 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Somewhere South Of Birmingham (pretty freaking far south!)

Birmingham July 27, 2014 Set List:
1. Cubano Chant
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey 19
5. Black Friday
6. 2 Against Nature
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Babylon Sisters
10. Green Earrings
11. Razor Boy
12. Bodhisattva
13. Daddy
14. Deacon Blues
15. Joe Tex (band intros)
16. Josie
17. Peg
18. My Old School
19. Reelin'
20. King Charlemagne
21. Untouchables

Without going into details, because I am road weary, high points were 2 V N, which I had never heard live and Deacon Blues, which I have not heard since Nashville, 2011. By my count, 6 shows. But that is more luck of the draw. I'll have better answers tomorrow! A great show in a rather intimate setting with good sound. Also, I was on Walter's side of the stage tonight and paid special attention to his playing, especially in light of recent comments. I thought he fucking nailed it! But that's just me... Time Out of Mind just gets better every time I hear them play it!

Date: Mon, July 28, 2014, 01:08:04 ET
Posted by: DeaconBlues16,

Steely Dan
Birmingham, AL
Sunday, July 27th, 2014
BJCC Concert Hall

Setlist

1. Cubano Chant (began approx 8:49 PM Central)

2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Two Against Nature
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Babylon Sisters
10. Green Earrings
11. Razor Boy
12. Bodhisattva
13. Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More
14. Deacon Blues
15. I Want To Do (Everything For You)/Band Intros
16. Josie
17. Peg
18. My Old School
19. Reelin' in the Years

20. Kid Charlemagne
21. Untouchables Theme (Ended approx 10:56 PM Central)

Notes

- Great show, as always. Thank you Donald, Walter, and the band for all that you do (not that you're reading this but nevertheless)

- Bobby Broom trio opened... played Layla, Jitterbug Waltz, House of the Rising Sun - might've played more; I arrived in the middle of Layla

- This is my 7th SD show overall (all since 2006), and at 3 of those shows, I've had really really close seats (first four rows). This one was one of those 3 shows, and just from an awe-inspiring standpoint, these were the best seats I've had. 2nd row, basically as close to Donald Fagen as possible from those seats, and that was really, really special for me. I actually won these tickets in a radio promotion, so I got that for free!

-Sound was great, as far as I could tell. Occasionally things got lost in the mix, but can't complain. No video monitors in this venue. Strangely (or maybe not so strangely if you think about it), this was the first time I've seen them indoors.

-Crowd surprisingly good. I had very low expectations of the crowd based on seeing them in Tuscaloosa in 2011 and seeing the Dukes in Tuscaloosa in 2012 (Donald Fagen called the crowd one of the more non-responsive Dukes crowds of that tour, which is saying something, considering his opinion of most of the Dukes crowds that tour... and I tend to agree with him sadly). But this crowd was very responsive. A lot of standing Os, as early as Bodhisattva, and obviously, Deacon Blues got everybody excited. Not too many empty seats either, although there were some in the first couple of rows where I was sitting.

-Speaking of Deacon Blues, the lighting switched to the crowd during the Crimson Tide lyric, which I thought was funny and slightly embarrassing, even though I do support the Tide. Crowd definitely standing and shouting that lyric when it came up in the song, and I don't remember that being the case in Tuscaloosa (where the actual University is located) or at least not to that extent.

-Two Against Nature was the big surprise of the set, and it was definitely one of the highlights for me. I think someone mentioned how good the live outro of that is with the background vocalists singing the last verse (or lyrics). I definitely agree with whoever said that (and have agreed in the past but it was nice to be reminded of it live).

-Pre-show, I'm always thinking I wish they'd replace Show Biz Kids (and Time Out of Mind) with a relative rarity - like Gaucho, Don't Take Me Alive, Everyone's Gone to the Movies, Everything You Did, Lunch with Gina, any solo tune etc. But after I hear it, I realize how amazing that funky live version is and can't believe I'd not want that in the set. Of course, Time Out of Mind is great as well, but I think it's more replaceable than Show Biz Kids.

-I think Black Cow is just such a cool opener. Your Gold Teeth gets a lot of hype here and rightfully so, but I'll gladly take Black Cow.

-Super long Hey Nineteen speech from Walter (which is actually probably normal length on this tour from what I've heard). Still got a few laughs.

-Also according to Walter, it was Cindy Mizelle's birthday tonight. Happy birthday Cindy!

-Danettes were on fire tonight, in every single connotation being on fire could have for them (excluding the literal denotation of being on fire, as far as I could tell).

-Mr. Herington really picked it up the 2nd half of the set (when he was doing more soloing). My Old School and Reelin' in the Years were incredible.

-I like their arrangement of Razor Boy now more than I remember liking it last year, but I still find it a bit unnecessarily maudlin.

-I know people are aching for Walter to sing a solo song or something other than Daddy Don't Live in that NYC No More, and on their own merits, I think any song he's done previously, with the exception of Midnite Cruiser, is one I like more than Daddy (i.e. Gaucho, Haitian Divorce, Monkey in Your Soul). But I think we should take a minute to appreciate the arrangement of Daddy with the brilliant baritone saxophone throughout.

-Being as close to the stage as I was, this was probably the first time I paid as much attention to the mannerisms of the musicians as I ever had. For example, during Daddy (and maybe this was subconscious but I like to think it was part of the routine), when Walter sang "I got to see a joker," he pointed in the general direction of Jon/stage techs off stage, and when he sang "and I'll be right back," he tapped his left wrist as if he were trying to tell someone the time. I thought that was funny.

-Donald Fagen did leave the stage during the band intros, but I couldn't see him smoking. I imagine he was though.

- Can't remember after which song - it was first part of the set, maybe Time Out of Mind- Donald Fagen said something like "this is really nice." I assume he was referring to the atmosphere and not being outside in the heat, but I have no idea.

-No major lyrical flubs from Mr. Fagen. I think he might've (might've) messed something up from Two Against Nature, but if he did, it was hardly noticeable.

-On the subject of Becker's guitar playing... it's Walter Becker. It is what it is, to use a cliched phrase. Some songs his noodling was a little overkill; others, I felt it fit in quite nicely and really complimented the songs. For instance, I thought he did really well in the end of Green Earrings trading licks with Jon.

- Drum solo to close out Reelin' in the Years incredible. Carlock in general incredible. Sad to see him go.

- All in all, I'm so thankful to be able to even have the opportunity to see Steely Dan over 40 years since they released their first album. It's really amazing when you think about it.

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 16:58:00 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Michael:

I understand what you are saying, but I don't think I agree with the possible implication that they WOULD be happy if everyone stayed in their seats and peed their pants. Not that some of us haven't been so excited at so many SD shows that we almost could have.

---

The older posts back to last December have been restored. What can I say except I forgot to mention that it would be thirty hours ON PLUTO.

Best,

Jim

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 16:01:16 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

Pearl of the Quarter was played at NOLA!

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 14:54:02 ET
Posted by: SteelyDirector, Where it's at

NOLA show review (No pics of the Danettes? Outrageous!)

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2014/07/steely_dan_at_the_uno_lakefron.html#cmpid=nsltr_stryheadline

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 10:56:49 ET
Posted by: Michael, @Security Joan

My two cents: imagine yourself standing on stage performing one of your tunes, only to watch people get up and hit the bathrooms/concession stands. How would you feel?

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 07:30:09 ET
Posted by: EstebanJ, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Loved the show at New Orleans last night! Had "nosebleed" seats but Lakefront Arena is so small we were pretty close anyway and the acoustics were good for a basketball stadium.

The "rarities" side of me loved hearing "Pearl of the Quarter", a big thrill! The "nostalgic" in me missed not hearing teenage favorites "Do it Again" and "Deacon Blues", but what I did hear was a fantastic show! "My Old School" was the highlight for me, as was Walter's hilarious rap in "Hey Nineteen". What a blast!

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 03:27:11 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

I've had a few smoke breaks at shows myself.

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 02:37:27 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, OK

@Chris

No, but you can see him on the side of the stage puffing away.

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 02:05:57 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Many thanks to Steely Director and Jim for the setlist. Curious - does someone announce Fagen's smoke break?

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 01:25:05 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Days Inn, Nawlns East

New Orleans, July 26, 2014:

1. Cubano Chant
2. Gold Teeth
3. Black Cow
4. Aja
5. Hey 19
6. Black Friday
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Pearl of the Quarter
10. Green Earrings
11. Razor Boy
12. Bodhisattva
13. Daddy
14. Babylon Sisters
15. Joe Tex (band Intros)
16. Josie
17. Peg
18. My Old School
19. Reelin
20. Kid Charlemagne
21. Theme From The Untouchables

To say, as a homie, that I have fantasized that they would play "Pearl of the Quarter" in New Orleans, is like my fantasy that...well I can't go there. But they did, and it is all I am really capable of saying tonight. I have notes that I will share later, but, WOW, what a night of Steely Dan!

And, thanks to Security Joan, I have a set list to prove it!

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 01:18:16 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker, OK

Wow! Pearl of the Quarter!

Deacon Blues was played last week at my show and has missed the three shows since. I'll bet it shows up again tomorrow night.

He left the stage for a smoke in OKC as well.

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 01:14:14 ET
Posted by: aaa,

Wow best set so far. Gold, Razor and Pearl. They're really stretching this tour.

Date: Sun, July 27, 2014, 01:10:38 ET
Posted by: SteelyDirector, Crankin' up the afterglow

NOLA report 7/26/2014:
Bobby Broom Organ-isation 7:50-8:24
Steely Dan 8:50-11(ish)

Cubano Chant
Gold Teeth
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19 [including Walter's rap)
Black Friday
Show Biz Kids
Time Out Of Mind
Pearl Of The Quarter
Green Earrings
Razor Boy (Danette vocals)
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More (Walter vocals)
Babylon Sisters
I Want To Do (Everything For You) [Joe Tex; band intros]
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years

Kid Charlemagne [encore]
Untouchables theme

First time I've seen Donald leave the stage for a smoke break (during the Joe Tex tune). Coca-Cola habit still going strong though.
Sound was pretty good for an indoor arena, although Carlock's bass drum could've been dialed back a notch or two. Wish they would've had some video screens, but thank goodness I brought the binoculars (I was in the nosebleed section). As always, a great show. Now if I only didn't have to be at work in four hours...ah the sacrifices we make in order to hear good music...

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 23:02:12 ET
Posted by: Security Joan, netherworld

wb: Yes, Surf and/or Die is totally the WB gold standard. That's the one I most want to hear him do live... I asked DF about it and he said "I'd like to hear him do that, too..." and then he said that WB, for whatever reason, doesn't like to do his solo stuff live anymore. Maybe if enough people made noise to make him realize lots of us really, really, want to hear the solo work, WB would relent and toss us a bone or two.

THANK YOU mr. New Orleans for the reports tonight :)

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 22:47:19 ET
Posted by: Wow, Newwalns

Pearl of the quarter!!!!

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 21:16:49 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Casual Fan, I really hope you get to the Cincy show. Damn, I wish I could go. Nearly all sold out shows have last minute tickets available (especially if you don't mind single seats). And, of course, there are always people selling (scalping) in the parking lots. Sometimes you don't even have to pay the scalper fee. Plenty of people end up having extra tickets they need to move and are just looking to get their money back.

I will say this. If I wanted to go to a show/game/whatever and have been financially able (which was most of my life) I never let a "sold out" designation discourage me. I almost never paid above retail value and the few times I did it was just a bit for primo seats.

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 19:29:29 ET
Posted by: SteelyDirector, Approaching musical Nirvana (no, not the group)

In the catbird seat, fixin' to lay it all on Don and Walt, at the STEELY DAN SHOW. Setlist will be posted once the festivities are over.

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 18:39:48 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Days Inn, New Orleans East

Getting ready for show. Have no idea where to go eat! There's a Popeye's fried chicken, but it doesn't look Danaphilish to me, more Danophobic than anything. If I find something, I'll yell!

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 14:24:09 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR

I can spot a bit of SD influence in Zanzibar (though that SD influence would have been pre-78) and perhaps Stiletto and Rosalinda's Eyes. I don't see any Nightfly influence in BJ's work, though BJ's Innocent Man is a tribute to his youthful musical tastes and sensibilities in the same way that Nightfly was for DF's.

While SD took 12 years off before they (and their founders individually) resumed as a writing, recording and performing entity, BJ simply stopped writing new rock/pop material 20 years ago, and now merely performs his older work. Wish he'd find his way back to songwriting as Don and Walt have - we can always use new music, especially from more mature voices.

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 12:56:17 ET
Posted by: SoulMonkey, The Ville

Damn, Casual Fan. The show IS sold out. I saw tickets available as late as last week. Too bad.

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 12:50:50 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

I'm trying soul for that cincinnati show but no tix. Let me know if u hear of any.

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 12:49:00 ET
Posted by: SoulMonkey, The Ville

Anyone else going to the Cincy show on 8/12? We're catching the Sox/Reds game the next day. Any word on a Danfest?

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 12:05:12 ET
Posted by: Piano Man, L.I., NY

The ONLY time I ever heard Billy Joel talk about SD is when he put out the song "Zanzibar". He basically said that was his nod to the band.

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 10:01:03 ET
Posted by: Uptown Baby, UT

re: The SD influence on Billy Joel. I always thought The Nightfly was the inspiration for An Innocent Man.

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 08:16:20 ET
Posted by: Stu, Portland

Enjoyed the Steely Dan show a few weeks ago and wish I could see more.

Does Donald ever play Nightfly stuff. It's an album just as amazing as Aja but nothing played from it.

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 06:45:33 ET
Posted by: EstebanJ, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Gus, thanks very much. Steel Dan is one of the bands that was the soundtrack to my youth in the 1970s and I have never seen them live.Can't wait!

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 04:47:06 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

EstebanJ,

This is based on the shows I have seen earlier in the tour. If there is an opening act, expect Steely Dan to take the stage about 45 minutes after the announced start time. For the Saratoga shows, the SD set was about 2 hours. The show at the Forum, with one more song, lasted about 2:10 from my notes.

As one of my Cajun ancestors used to say, "Let the bon temps roulet!"

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 04:25:51 ET
Posted by: EstebanJ, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Am seeing SD tonight in New Orleans. Have some logistical issues so does anyone know (a) approximately what time SD take the stage and (b) what time their concerts on this tour are ending?

Date: Sat, July 26, 2014, 00:34:26 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Brutus.

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I would have loved to be in that room.

Date: Fri, July 25, 2014, 20:55:25 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

What a nice, brilliant gentleman Roger Nichols was.

Here he discusses the making of the WENDEL and DF's ever-apparent OCD in the studio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlhLFzzGCEc

Date: Fri, July 25, 2014, 17:26:08 ET
Posted by: Skunk Boy, Hog Harlem

I've always loved Billy Joel's 52nd Street album. The track "Zanzibar" is considered a tribute to Donald Fagen.

Date: Fri, July 25, 2014, 13:03:18 ET
Posted by: MCC, R

He left off Billy Joel, even though Seinfeld bought his house.

Date: Fri, July 25, 2014, 13:02:03 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

There's also this:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2014/07/24/jerry-seinfeld/13061677/