Date: Thurs, October 01, 2015, 00:48:39 ET
Posted by: Bogus Lewis, eating

Joe Jackson played at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle last night. I was looking at the setlist and noticed he is playing a cover version of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi". No Steely Dan covers are on the setlist. He is also playing a cover version of David Bowie's "Scary Monsters".

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 23:52:17 ET
Posted by: Bogus Lewis, cooking

Maybe Donald or Walt will be the opener and play their own solo material. Just kidding. I think they are still searching for an organ trio to open for that night.

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 23:08:58 ET
Posted by: Beaconfused, jonesen for NYC

In looking at the Beacon run, for some reason there is no opening act listed on 10-10, Royal Scam night. All other nights have an opener. Anyone think there will be no opener and a longer show that night? Or will it just start later? Any thoughts/intel would be appreciated. Can't wait for my first ever Beacon visit!!

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 22:53:04 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Shoot, probably should have scrolled down first, ah well.

Either way, I'm guess with both the way that the industry is going and insane rising rent rates in cities like New York and Chicago that we thought were just about done with gentrification, we'll be seeing more and more of these stories.

Even Donald Fagen did his last album in some dude's living room, and Leonhart was technically squatting.

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 22:51:13 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Will Lee just tweeted that Avatar Studios, most recently the site of both Morph and Circus Money recordings, is in trouble. I'm not on Facebook so I don't really know what to do with whatever their version of re-tweeting is:

https://www.facebook.com/officialwilllee/posts/421700328038888

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 21:10:16 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

thanks for the digest, Hoops. a few things there I hadn't seen, including this:

The band is heading “home” with a two-week stint at the Beacon Theatre in New York City in October, and the success of this tour is fueling rumors of “carrying on somewhere else in November,” he says.

http://www.plsn.com/current-issue/125-wide-focus/17597-steely-dan.html

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 21:08:49 ET
Posted by: hoops, bronzeville, chicago

The latest edition of the Dandom Digest went out in the past few minutes and covers September 16-30, 2015. The previous edition covered July 24-September 15, 2015.

The following are the subjects/headlines of the items in the latest newsletter:

- Phil Woods Passes Away
- Wilton Felder Passes Away
- Avatar Studios on Life Support?
- SD Lighting Guy Jon Pollak Interview
- "Ready Freddie" Washington Interview
- Cat Russell & Tawatha Agee Perform on Late Show

If you are a subscriber, you should see the latest edition in your email box within the next hour. 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. Heck, if you want, email me privately that you DID get it. WIth email filters and spam what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a naughty word.

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.

---

One thing I wish to point out: the Dandom Digest is received by about 2,200 fans, of which it seems 1,700-1,800 actually read it. At least, this is as best as can be determine through a response survey from not too long ago. Perhaps accessing a certain audience of Danfans of this size will expose your ideas, performances, great music, etc. to the wider audience that you seek. Or maybe not.

---

Thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom.

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

Fly about as low, be so cool,

Jim

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 19:21:21 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Wayne Shorter ✔ @Wayne_Shorter
RIP Phil Woods. "Sunrise, Sunset" by #leemorgan w/ #mccoytyner #bobcranshaw #phillyjoejones. @bluenoterecords 1966.

https://youtu.be/IDtLjWL4l-0
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Media
29 Sep
Kazuhiko Gomi @MRGOMI
R.I.P Phil Woods.
#NowPlaying "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel in @TIDALHiFi http://tidal.com/track/1809081
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Media
29 Sep
Kazuhiko Gomi @MRGOMI
Phil Woods - Willow Weep For Me (Live on Night Music 1990) https://youtu.be/-jUgyG5JtuU via @YouTube
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Media
29 Sep
ArtLondon @arttwytter
Alto Sax Legend Phil Woods Has Died At 83 | The Jazz Line http://thejazzline.com/news/2015/09/alto-sax-legend-phil-woods-has-died-at-83/ … via @TheJazzLine #jazz
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Summary
29 Sep
JazzTimes Magazine @JazzTimes
Sadly, alto saxophone legend Phil Woods has passed away at age 83. He announced his retirement only a few weeks ago. http://fb.me/4pIzz2ISN
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
29 Sep
DownBeat Magazine @DownBeatMag
Saxophone legend Phil Woods has died. He was 83. http://bit.ly/1L2IbJ9 pic.twitter.com/597p34PDmI
Retweeted by Dandom.com
View image on Twitter
Expand
29 Sep
JAZZRADIO.com @JazzRadioNow
RIP Phil Woods. The great sax man was 83. https://youtu.be/ai3oU-O4h7k #PhilWoods
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Media
29 Sep
Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM @901JAZZ
Rest in peace, Phil Woods. #Jazz pic.twitter.com/NWCiy7GwOr
Retweeted by Dandom.com
View image on Twitter
Expand
29 Sep
Dony Koeswinarno @DonySaxSex
R.I.P Phil Woods (2 November 1931-29 September 2015) pic.twitter.com/HpECZhCqSw
Retweeted by Dandom.com
View image on Twitter
Expand
29 Sep
Slavin89 @Slavin89
Ho aggiunto un video a una playlist di @YouTube: http://youtu.be/1WpWx--BWYg?a Phil Woods & Barcelona Jazz Orquestra - My Man Benny
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Media
29 Sep
Alan Greenblatt @AlanGreenblatt
Keeper of the flame: alto sax great Phil Woods dies at 83; played almost to the end http://downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=news&subsect=news_detail&nid=2847 …
Retweeted by Dandom.com

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 19:20:11 ET
Posted by: hoops, bronzeville, chicago

Good heavens, some of this stuff sounds like it's from the "Real Househusbands of Dandom." Ridiculous.

And I know. It's rude to ask some of you to consider the feed of tweets at the top of the page, not to mention the kind post I saw< and expound on the legacy of Phil Woods.

All will discussed on October 17th. See you in NYC.

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 17:22:08 ET
Posted by: Jack of Speed, ANON

I really have the inside scoop on the guys.

Did you know that....

Walter once swam the English Channel while whistling Haitian Divorce.

Donald once road a goat from a show in Kansas City to a show in Chicago. He even had shirts made to commemorate the occasion "The Boston Goat Ride."

Kulee Baba was an actual experience the guys had in South America. They left out the part about Donald being possessed by an Aztec spirit of music "Tchistexkdrek" though. It was too hard to pronounce.

The band paid Steve Gadd in nothing but coffee and Roman Candles.

There is some REAL inside information!

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 10:17:47 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

ANON - sorry that we don't believe you. What's saddest is that your martyrdom is lost on something as pathetic as a frigging Steely Dan message board.

I guess you'll just have to find self-satisfaction elsewhere, which appears to have been a problem for you.

For years on Twitter, as a joke I have to talk myself out of, I've considered the idea of making up a fake name and posting something like, "look up for up and comer Keith Wesley, one of the brightest young minds in basketball," because I know I'll get a billion @ replies along the lines of, "oh, yeah, Wesley's fantastic" or "Keith's a great dude."

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 09:52:10 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

ANON, I'm not sure I know what you are talking about.

I will say, I'm not inclined to believe EVERYTHING I hear or read. Like any reasonable human being, I consider the source. Some random fuckwad on the Internet could be bringing us legit information, previously unknown to this group (as I said earlier, it is possible). But how do you expect us to separate the bullshit from the good stuff? Without context? Without corroboration? Without any reputation of a history of having good/real/legit information?

Like I said earlier, if you care that your stuff is taken seriously and/or believed, you'd find a way to present it that gives it some credence. One way is to post with a consistent recognizable username. And if you don't give a damn if anyone believes your stuff---well, why even take the time to post it?

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 05:45:01 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

Jim T, that's hilarious.
Agree with you as well, Dean.
I use my name, and am fine with people who don't as long as it's somewhat consistent.
Rajah was a good example for this.
So is Hoops.
When a insider that throws us little nuggets that are relevant calls him/herself James Bond that is totally cool.
It's usually just a few keyboard warriors who contribute little stinking up forums, assuming other personas and such.
The boss does a great job not babying this too much and mostly leave it to us figure out who is who.
Although we don't know to which extend he has to sanitize this place sometimes.
Thanks, Jim, for keeping it up...

Date: Wed, September 30, 2015, 02:03:09 ET
Posted by: Lem, R

Listening to these comments from Don Henley on the state of the music industry, it's hard to imagine another SD album.

https://youtu.be/ypTaxS2awdA?t=1h6m16s

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 23:54:17 ET
Posted by: ANON,

Dean - The bottom line is.... if you guys don't read about it, it can't be true.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 23:28:42 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

I guess that I am stupid and reckless, but I have always used my real name on The Blue. I have a joke that I sometimes tell on stage: "One day, someone stole my identity. 3 days later, they called me up, begging me to take it back."

Steal my identity at your peril. You might have to get real with my ex.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 22:16:27 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Lewis' post (well the real Lewis' post) also demonstrates how a poster can be "close to the band" and still use a consistent username. It isn't as if most here use their real names. Just one that identifies you to the community---not to the outside world.

I'm not saying someone unknown to the community might not have good info, but for many (or at least me) my guard goes up when the post is completely anonymous. If you care if your info is taken seriously, a username you use for all your posts help us know if you might be someone to pay attention to, or some random idiot. Unfortunately, we have our share of those. I mean it IS the Internet, after all.

Have a beautiful night, everyone.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 21:09:46 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

If Lewis looks at the Blue often enough to see a bogus post using his name and then points it out, there is hope for us all. Many thanks to Lewis for smiling on us denizens of the Blue.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 16:55:16 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Another great one blows his last riff on earth.

RIP Mr Woods.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 16:32:21 ET
Posted by: Sad, l

Wayne Shorter has tweeted his condolences.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 15:45:47 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Janet Burgan is reporting that Phil Woods has died.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 13:51:37 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR

Re Joni Phil(e), thanks for your post suggesting that D&W were late for the party and all the good tracks were claimed, but this seems odd to me. Very few songwriters have a portfolio as strong and deep as Joni's, and surely D&W recognize that. The tribute album contains only 12 tracks, and I can easily think of 2 dozen more that might have interested D&W and resulted in very cool SD interpretations (Furry Sings the Blues, Black Crow, Song About the Midway, Trouble Child, In France, Harry's House, You Dream Flat Tires, California, God Must Be a Boogie Man, Love or Money, etc.)

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 09:13:18 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

My local Community Radio station played, Dirty Work this morning coming out of the NPR news break at the top of the hour during my commute. Oh, yeah! I flashed back to the great Paulette McWilliams vocal performance on the last tour. Sweet way to start the morning.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 09:11:39 ET
Posted by: TCN, X

You could almost say that EMG exists because of a kind of 'Joni clause'


It exists because tVn won all those Grammys. That's why they were back in the studio by the summer of 2001.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 04:01:54 ET
Posted by: Jack of Speed , Here

The tabloid post had me shaking my head (Don and Walt's SOs don't get along etc.) and laughing. It made me recall some gossip I heard first-hand.

I have a friend who, during college, worked for a company that serviced private jets (think cleaning, catering etc.) at an airport in the Midwest.

He did get to load the food onto/clean/prepare the Walter and Don shuttle jet once in 2009.

The only famous flyers who ever acknowledged and were nice to any of the staff were Don/Walt, The Rolling Stones, U2 and The Who.

They weren't allowed to make eye contact with The Eagles, and most of the younger "stars" were absolute terrors.

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 02:45:12 ET
Posted by: Joni Phil (e), behind the studio door

D&W were WAY late to the Joni project and simply put, all the songs they were interested in doing (or were worth doing) already had been taken.

Their very enthusiastic first choice was "Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire". Can you imagine the amazing fucki*ng kick-ass result of that one!?!!? (Trivia: the song was quoted in the Taxicab Confessions DVD). Howard…you still out there, man?

Dozens more titles -- all spoken for. Left were the fat kids nobody else had picked for their b-ball team. So they did the best they could -- in record time. Everybody knew it turned out sub-par.

(Obviously all those other 'spoken for' titles didn't end up on the album either, and many were never even cut. But dems da breaks).

But after all that, the track was a smashing success, because that new recording method/sequencing they used convinced someone that the next album could be completed in a single lifetime….as long as that same method was applied. You could almost say that EMG exists because of a kind of 'Joni clause'

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 01:29:42 ET
Posted by: Spicy Chicken #6, East coast

The Most Unforgettable Night of Whatever. I'm going to the show in a few weeks. I bought tickets in high hopes of hearing something not resembling the last half-dozen Dan shows I've seen. Any informed ideas about what the night may hold?

Date: Tues, September 29, 2015, 00:20:12 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland,

Of course, D&W remain free to release their version of Joni Mitchell's "Carey" on their own if they care to. One doesn't need a songwriter's permission to perform or record a cover version of their song (so long as they pay the compulsory licensing fees) (e.g., "Out of the Ghetto," "I Idolize You," "Hank's Pad," "Cubano Chant"). So it isn't Joni alone who might be keeping us from hearing the tune. Perhaps this will show up for rarities night in a few weeks.

Date: Mon, September 28, 2015, 23:45:03 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Re: Carey. I like the song--not my favorite of JM, but good nonetheless. Even the live version posted by Mt.B is decent, even if quite different from the original. I allow/appreciate great musicians interpreting their material any way they wish, and enjoy it for what it's worth. Good stuff stands up to different arrangements and interpretations (as long as those are competent and respectful)---especially by the original artist, IMO. I love when SD plays different arrangements of their tunes in concert. Some re-imaginings are better than others, but I dig all of them.


As for why it wasn't included/completed/whatever, who the fuck really knows except for a select few? Is is impossible to believe Joni didn't care for their version? Of course it is possible, unless you know the story to be different, for certain. Based on absolutely no information, and just my hunch, I'd guess Don and Walt didn't like were it was going. Because, well, they're like that. I mean, I understand Joni is, deservedly, opinionated. But it's hard to imagine anyone turning down a Don and Walt composition, period.

And if I'm completely off the mark here, and anyone has a link to the finished SD version of Carey, please share.

Anyway, just my completely fact-free post for the night.

Date: Mon, September 28, 2015, 21:13:16 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR

I don't know why the SD "Carey" didn't make it on to Joni's tribute album, but Joni herself re-interpreted "Carey" quite differently on her late '74 "Miles of Aisles" live LP, performing italmost as an urban/jazz/disco sort of number barely resembling the dulcimer tune on her Blue LP. (You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr9sxXaacK4) I've always enjoyed it, but many Joni fans didn't.

(Joni had Tom Scott & the LA Express backing her on the tour, which proved a successful combination on only a few of the tour's songs ("Love or Money," "Woodstock"). Her '79 tour provided a much more effective musical collaboration with Pat Metheney, Jaco, Brecker and Don Alias, but I'm not sure that anyone ever collaborated all that well with Joni, who was quite devoted to her own expression, uniqueness and high self-opinion. Perhaps the sole exception is the magnificent Oct. 1970 BBC radio concert she performed with James Taylor when both were much younger (and humbler).)

Had the Dan been performing Aja-like tunes in '74, I might have accused Joni of modeling the live "Carey" after tunes like Peg, Black Cow or even The Fez - but her version predated these. In any event, perhaps she considered what D&W arrived at to be too close to her 74 version, or simply a more effective rendition than her own along a similar line.

Date: Mon, September 28, 2015, 20:16:27 ET
Posted by: a friend of Lewis, (the real one)

I was going to shred an example or two …but then thought…oh fuck, it's a never-ending waste of time.

But here's the funniest (saddest) part: of course he gets all the important stuff wrong. But he blows the obvious, PUBLICLY known stuff as well!

"Have a beer" and talk over a show -- What in the world is this clown blabbering about? Hey Brian, what do they talk about when they get into those 8-seater planes immediately after most gigs, and fly anywhere from 35 mins to a few hours? Thought so. Oh, and here's your Extra Credit Question, Brian, the type you get all those Gold Stars for. When was the last time you or anybody saw Becker drink a beer in any setting at all? Any interesting bio material in there, ya think?

It's like this guy repeatedly walks right past the pearls scattered out for all to see, because his eyes are fixed on the made-for-TV After School Special on the screen up ahead.

Talk about TV-Babies……


PS: All power to The Queen. Every good thought goes out toward her recovery.

Date: Mon, September 28, 2015, 17:47:00 ET
Posted by: Lewis, Sochi

Date: Sat, September 26, 2015, 16:04:15 ET
Posted by: Lewis, San Diego

Then our boys shouldn't let Joni push them around. Joni made a lot of clunkers in her career too."


Don't look at me in that tone of voice !!!
What fresh hell is this?

Poster is a fraud
Poster is NOT Lewis,

I am.

How can you tell?

I wouldn't have a bad word say of Roberta Joan...except maybe about her parallel parking..The Woman is the most revered person in music.
To those who matter that is...

Date: Mon, September 28, 2015, 11:38:53 ET
Posted by: thomas,

It looks like we finally solved the mystery of SHUFFLING UP YOUR DOWNS AND TAKE A DIP WITH DINAH.

Kenny vance sings them on you tube. I could only wish we had Donny singing DIP WITH DINAH.

Date: Mon, September 28, 2015, 10:13:54 ET
Posted by: L.C, G

Additional gossip in the latest printing: Juanna Fatouros

Date: Mon, September 28, 2015, 09:20:36 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

I love the tidbit about Don and Walt going straight back to separate hotel rooms every night. does Sweet think they should be staying up all night talking about Duke Ellington or something?

Date: Mon, September 28, 2015, 08:05:30 ET
Posted by: Frederick, R

If it's any consolation, Nancy Wilson's husband is a big SD fan. He wrote a Rolling Stone piece on them one time, and features their music in a lot of his movies.

Date: Mon, September 28, 2015, 01:51:58 ET
Posted by: Bucket T, SoCal

I guess Donald & Walt don't have much luck with women. They record a song for a Joni Mitchell tribute album and it gets tossed aside. Now they lose to Heart in the Guitar World poll.

Date: Sun, September 27, 2015, 22:46:56 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Sorry to post again so soon

Well, that DOES it. I mean, this is the last straw. Steely Dan loses in a very important, prestigious contest to the band that enriched the '80s with such stellar hits as "Those Dreams" [sic] and that one other song they did on the same album?? I am outraged.

I've just listed all my SD material - 7" singles, albums, books (most but not all by Brian Sweet), CDs, vinyl bootlegs, promo stuff, even those delightful original studio reels containing nine drastically different versions of "Barrytown", and much, much more - on eBay. I'm done with this band.

I'm now totally into the mid-'70s Led-Zep-done-by-girls thing...the one that turned into the '80s soft rock thing with the fat chick.

Date: Sun, September 27, 2015, 20:58:56 ET
Posted by: Blue Jay, Albany NY

Looks like Heart beat Steely Dan in that stupid Guitar World Poll. I didn't even get a chance to vote! Actually I wouldn't mind seeing Ann & Nancy Wilson win that poll. Those gals really rock hard!

Date: Sun, September 27, 2015, 16:27:36 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, A dick, sometimes, maybe, but not an anonymous one

I don't think Mr. Sweet's book - whatever version - is totally worthless. The original was certainly a decent read, but I also don't consider it to be definitive or faultless.

This one, though, is as close as it gets, SD-wise:

http://www.amazon.com/AJA-Don-Breithaupt/dp/0826427839/ref=sr_1_1/191-7362032-9304368?ie=UTF8&qid=1443384177&sr=8-1&keywords=don+breithaupt

If you're a fan and you don't already have a copy of Mr. Breithaupt's tome, you should hang your head in abject shame. After doing so, just hit the button and buy the darn thing. It's well under the cost of a crappy chain pizza, but so much more fulfilling.

As far as these anonymous dicks who keep taking shit-shots at a handful of regulars here - most recently & regularly KD - they're not "insiders". They're just cowardly assholes (the worst kind of asshole, according to several recent independent studies) with nothing of value to contribute.

There's a big difference between a real "insider" (think "Lewis", for instance, an occasional poster whose "predictions" ALWAYS come true) and some ham-fisted cluck who can't (or doesn't) cite his sources but instead post-bombs other contributors with juvenile taunts and general internet jackassery.

Date: Sun, September 27, 2015, 14:40:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Lionel: lol Sweet's never interviewed D nor W. He's a bandwagonner, not an insider.


His new additions to the book could have been pulled from much better sources, ironically, on the interwebz.


Breithaupt's bio on Aja is the only published treatise a danfan should lay down a Jackson or two for...

Date: Sun, September 27, 2015, 14:01:49 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

" ... says 'Lionel' from 'Internet dot com.'"

Because she totally had roster control over the album that came out six years later that was completely unrelated.

Date: Sun, September 27, 2015, 09:07:17 ET
Posted by: pete_ j, Branscombe, Devon, England

The long-running BBC Radio show, Desert Island Discs, just aired.

It's been going since soon after the second world war. The interviewees choose the eight records he or she would want on the proverbial desert island, if shipwrecked.

It's a great format.

Today's featured a couple of comedy writers - and they selected "Aja".

About the 5th time a Dan song has been chosen.

A notable earlier example was the excellent English novelist Sebastian Faulks, who chose "Rose Darling".

In Faulks's book "Engleby", the main protagonist (a somewhat worrying character) is a Dan obsessive.

Date: Sun, September 27, 2015, 03:22:36 ET
Posted by: Lionel, Not TX

KD: Did it ever occur to you that some people come on here anonymously to give inside info because people close to SD know who they are? Stop with you holier-than-thou attitude. Because, when it comes down to it, you really don't know jack shit!

Date: Sun, September 27, 2015, 01:51:31 ET
Posted by: Name handle etc, On location

Looks like Brisn Sweet is now resorting to gossip to justify these revisions.

They cut out Roger Nichols from the EMG sessions. He found out from another source that they were recording without him.

Don & Walt did not attend services for Roger or send flowers.

Don & Walt each go straight back to their hotel room after concerts and do not socialize.

Don & Walt's respective SOs do not get along

Date: Sat, September 26, 2015, 20:19:46 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

OK, anonymous poster on the internet without a name. Credibility above all on a Saturday on the internet without a name, anonymous poster on the internet without a name.

Date: Sat, September 26, 2015, 19:18:37 ET
Posted by: search, k

By the way, the Sweet bio was updated this year to include C$ and Sunken Condos.

Date: Sat, September 26, 2015, 18:52:24 ET
Posted by: search, k

Here's Brian Sweet's account of Carey. No mention of what became of it, only how it was recorded.

http://tinyurl.com/o58wwx4

Date: Sat, September 26, 2015, 17:02:36 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Sandman, I thought that was a song recorded during the EMG sessions. Or am I misremembering? Or were they one in the same?

Date: Sat, September 26, 2015, 16:04:15 ET
Posted by: Lewis, San Diego

Then our boys shouldn't let Joni push them around. Joni made a lot of clunkers in her career too.

Date: Sat, September 26, 2015, 14:10:20 ET
Posted by: ANON, Blah Blah Blah

True story: Joni didn't care for the boys version. That's why it was never released. That's the exact reason why nobody has ever heard it!
Just because KD never read that, doesn't make it not true. What a douche bag!

Date: Sat, September 26, 2015, 12:30:07 ET
Posted by: Jared, sipping a mocha latte

You can win a super rare collector's edition of Two Against Nature at www.crooksandliars.com/2015/09/walls-walls-between-us-and-chance-steely

Date: Sat, September 26, 2015, 00:50:16 ET
Posted by: Sandman, NJ

Carey must have some merit. Keith Carlock played on it. It's become known as "the fastest Steely Dan song ever".

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 20:47:21 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Taking a firm stance against song scraping

Count me among those folks who really hate it when a song gets scraped - and I don't even care what "they" scrape it with, because I firmly believe that no song deserves to be scraped. At best, the song suffers irreversible cosmetic damage. At worst, it completely ruins the song. A little minor scuffing may be OK from time to time, but scraping a song is just plain disrespectful.

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 17:31:22 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Yes, it totally happened. Documented for all the world to see.

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 16:29:20 ET
Posted by: Lionel, NJ

KD- Just because you didn't read it, doesn't mean it isn't true.

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 15:48:10 ET
Posted by: B Tougon,

RE Carey:

Kind of a "femmy" song for DF to sing, don't cha think?

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 14:40:50 ET
Posted by: Hemp, at work

Joni Mitchell did some great interviews on the "Jaco" documentary. It chronicles the life of famed jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius. It's scheduled to be released on DVD on November 27.

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 14:12:12 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Sure. That "Joni heard it but didn't like it"-totally real "read" was all around the world-wide-web ("WWW") in 2001.

Who could ever forget?

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 14:10:00 ET
Posted by: Hemp, at work

Why would D&W choose a shitty song like Carey anyway? It stinks. I can't stand anything from Joni's early folk period. Things got better after the For The Roses album.

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 11:26:10 ET
Posted by: Askin, Q

What did they use to scrape it? And did it sound any better?

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 10:10:48 ET
Posted by: HEy KD!, truth

I had read that when Joni heard SD version of Carey that she didn't care for it. That's when D&W scraped it.

Date: Fri, September 25, 2015, 08:48:07 ET
Posted by: Les, R

I never heard Carey before. I listened on youtube and I can imagine DF singing it.

Date: Thurs, September 24, 2015, 18:10:31 ET
Posted by: Hippie Dave, Bay Area California

Really looking forward to seeing The Doobie Brothers performing with Michael McDonald next weekend at the Sonoma Music Festival on October 4. Gregg Allman will be onstage as well. It's gonna be one hot jam!

Date: Thurs, September 24, 2015, 13:35:50 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

When did I ever suggest that their cover of 'Carey' ever came out or was even completed?

I just said people were talking about it on the Blue, no Joni pun intended, well before September of that year. Someone from the band's camp, maybe Roger or Elliott, probably gave an interview that we all read.

Date: Thurs, September 24, 2015, 11:16:21 ET
Posted by: Not a Newbie, NJ

KD- Carey actually never came out. I mean, do you know anybody that ever heard it?

Date: Thurs, September 24, 2015, 02:44:05 ET
Posted by: Newbie, Allentown PA

How come Denny Dias, Jeff Skunk Baxter and David Palmer were not inducted with Steely Dan at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in 2001? They are always mentioned as founding members (along with Jim Hodder who passed away in 1990) of Steely Dan.

Date: Wed, September 23, 2015, 17:27:40 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

I bought that Rolling Stone on eBay back in college, it has a cool set of photos in the middle that aren't online, one featuring Walter (apparently displeased with the monitor setup) playing bass with headphones on during a show as he apparently did through that last 1974 tour.

Meant to scan it off in the days before I could afford my own scanner, and now apparently even the scanner era has passed.

Date: Wed, September 23, 2015, 17:19:23 ET
Posted by: News, San Francisco

There's a nice photo of Jon Herington with members of Zappa Plays Zappa on Jon's Facebook page.

Date: Wed, September 23, 2015, 17:11:31 ET
Posted by: News, San Francisco

The article mentions Frank Zappa several times. Zappa Plays Zappa would be a good opener for next Summer's tour.

Date: Wed, September 23, 2015, 14:59:50 ET
Posted by: Dan, Historian

Clasic Rolling Stone piece on SD. Haven't read this since I searched it out on microfilm in the mid 80s.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/steely-dan-comes-up-swinging-19740815

Date: Wed, September 23, 2015, 11:39:08 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Yeah, a picture of Donald with a half-smirk while wearing flannel. I think Q-Tip recorded there during that website's era as well.

Date: Wed, September 23, 2015, 10:32:41 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, actually...

Jack of Speed, I was referring to my recent search for some info on the later days (2008/2009/2010-ish?) of River Sound, DF's Upper East Side recording studio. Somewhere on an old hard drive I have some saved pages & screen captures of the studio's website. It was pretty basic as I recall - contact info and location etc., as well as a tiny 90s-era photo of DF labelled "Mr. Steely Don himself!" - but there was a section that listed who was working in the studio at the time, and there was a constant "Steely Dan - working on a new album" on that list. I always assumed that it was probably DF using his own studio for whatever he was doing at the time, because there was never any mention of any work on a specific "new album" by Donald or Walter during any interviews in this period. It would be reasonable to guess that some of that recording ended up on Sunken Condos.

I was just looking for some history on the studio itself - when it opened to the paying public, who recorded there over the years, the story behind its closing, and so on, and I found that old Observer article while looking.

Date: Wed, September 23, 2015, 09:17:45 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

News about 'Carey' came out as early as June/July of that summer, it was one of the first Dangential topics discussed on this here web-site.

Date: Wed, September 23, 2015, 07:39:16 ET
Posted by: L, Ff

On 9/11, working on Carey for Joni Mitchell tribute. Carey never released.

Date: Wed, September 23, 2015, 02:59:58 ET
Posted by: Jack of Speed , Here

MODP,

Please enlighten me on these 09-11 sessions.

Were these for Sunken Condos? Or were Don and Walt working together?

Date: Tues, September 22, 2015, 22:29:37 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Enjoying one last Summer (evening) Breeze

Here's a damn funny interview from a little over fifteen years ago. Some of us may have missed it the first time 'round - I know I did. I found it while trying to find out some more about those 2009/10/11 River Sound sessions (remember? "They Might Be Giants - working on a new album"? "Steely Dan, working on a new album"? That's what I kept reading before the site - and DF's studio - disappeared).

Anyways:

http://observer.com/2000/03/becker-fagen-return-as-steely-dan-after-years-in-east-side-studio/

Date: Tues, September 22, 2015, 22:04:31 ET
Posted by: Political Poacher, .

Here's some musicians and celebrities who are supporting Bernie Sanders for President: Bonnie Raitt, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Donovan, Elvin Bishop, Belinda Carlisle, Charlie Musselwhite, Bill Frisell, Jackson Browne, Will Ferrell, Danny DeVito, Susan Sarandon, Will Wheaton, Juliette Lewis and Sarah Silverman. Will Joe Biden jump into the race? I don't know.

Date: Tues, September 22, 2015, 14:41:37 ET
Posted by: Boyle, Manchester NH

I wonder if Keith Carlock will now join Toto for the 2015-2016 tour which begins in November. His commitments to the Steely Dan 2015 tour are finished after the Beacon Theatre run.

Date: Tues, September 22, 2015, 05:39:34 ET
Posted by: Abu, With Pixeleen

Recent video postings on the Steely Dan Covers page on Facebook (aka Fakebook, for some here):

Runnin' Child - by Christopher Kearney
Haitian Divorce - by Kung Fu, with featured guest Jon Herrington
Do It Again - Eumir Deodato Trio, video recorded live in 2011.
Josie - by Chuck Rainey, (guitar solo by Jeff Baxter)
Like A Steely Dan Movie - Malcolm Hunter
-and-
Sampler video of the "Tommy Igoe Groove Conspiracy", which contains excerpts from several Dan tunes

Click "like" on the page if you enjoy some quality covers of stuff by Fagen and Becker.


https://www.facebook.com/SteelyDanCovers

Date: Sun, September 20, 2015, 20:26:02 ET
Posted by: Jack of Speed, Here

Cash Only Island is great. Wet Side Story too.

I also really love the versions the band did of Walter's material (especially the few performances of Girlfriend and Cringemaker in 93).

Down in the Bottom with the 94 band is sublime.

Date: Sun, September 20, 2015, 12:00:47 ET
Posted by: Napoleon, Just realised...

*cash

Date: Sun, September 20, 2015, 11:59:47 ET
Posted by: Napoleon, U.K

People cant get over Second Arrangement but Xash Only Island is where it's at. I'd love to know why it didn't appear on record. Wonder if it was considered for 2vN. Would've been a good fit.

Date: Sat, September 19, 2015, 18:07:38 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

I have also created a Walter Becker channel on Pandora, and have enjoyed more "Steely Dan" and other great performers like David Crosby...Thanks for the suggestion. Steve

Date: Sat, September 19, 2015, 02:27:22 ET
Posted by: Doc mu ,

Phil Collins' childrens' music is pretty darn good. No, really.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMgOVc1DHp4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMaxJaulxN8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag288QztBrU

Date: Sat, September 19, 2015, 01:08:08 ET
Posted by: comma guy,

Was that the first time they played YGT also, if I recall correctly? Wish I was there. I went to one Beacon night and it was the SHIT. Every Dan Fan should go to at least one Beacon night in their lives.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 23:55:07 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

One of the things I remember of Rarities night was the anticipatory
electricity in the building. Even before show, you met people who
were from all over the continent and beyond! I heard so many great
stories of why this particular night deserved special attention. I hope
that same vibe is there this year. Hope to run into a few Bluebookers
there.
Peace

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 21:47:27 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Belzoni (now Jack of Speed) not Mt Belzoni.

That clears up some of my confusion. No more explanation needed, hopefully.

Thanks.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 21:34:13 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Sorry to post a million times, but Moby, I feel that Denny Dias is a real possibility. He recently did a couple nights in NYC mainly playing SD songs he soloed on. Could be coincidence, but I like to think it was a warm up...

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 21:32:30 ET
Posted by: Moby Jack, Brooklyn

I hope they invite Skunk Baxter and Denny Dias onstage.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 21:30:40 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Funny thing is, Rikki was kind of a rarity back in '11 - I believe Don introduced it as something they don't usually play.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 20:41:52 ET
Posted by: Jack of Speed (formerly Belzoni), Here

I love how it descends into amazing insanity after Rikki.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 19:58:27 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

According to Facebook, I posted a picture of the Rarities Night setlist 4 years ago today.

It's still the best show I've ever seen, by virtue of the fact that STEELY DAN PLAYED THE SECOND FUCKIN' ARRANGEMENT!!

Here's hoping The Most Glorious NIght Of Whatever has some special treats song-wise....

http://i.imgur.com/CAxL3hV.jpg

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 16:44:23 ET
Posted by: Scrunch, St. Paul, MN

Funniest Phil Collins video: "Two Hearts" from 1988. I love the parts where Phil plays all four members of the band.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 15:33:43 ET
Posted by: Prog Peter, Pittsburgh

Seconds Out is my all-time favorite Genesis album. It's the jazziest album the band ever made. Bill Bruford plays on one of the tracks.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 15:29:40 ET
Posted by: Doc Kelly, Here at the Dude Ranch

Sorry for the previous comment-free post... and sorry for jumping on the Genesis bandwagon, too!

Phil Collins was part of a band in the 70's named Brand X... a fusion jazz hobby band. Tasty stuff!!

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 15:27:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Kelly, Here at the Dude Ranch

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 14:49:56 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

Best Genesis album after Peter Gabriel left: Trick of the Tail

Best Genesis song after they entered their pop phase: Illegal Alien. (Somebody could write the lyrics today and be relevant.)


The carpet crawlers heed their callers...


How is this dangenital? SD: Have you ever seen a squonk's tears, well look at mine. Genesis: I opened up the sack, all that I had, a pool of bubbles and tears.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 13:36:25 ET
Posted by: Not Mt. Belzoni, but Belzoni, Here

Oh man.

I didn't know there was a Mt. Belzoni. Now I feel like a jerk.

I'll pick out a new moniker.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 13:27:09 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR

Enjoying all of the discussion, anticipating the upcoming Beacon shows (and set lists), just want to note the the individual now posting extensively as "Belzoni" is not me, as one or two folks have recently asked me privately. I've been posting (less frequently but hopefully as informatively) for years as Mt. Belzoni from out here in the Pacific NW.

As D&W would say, don't cross your old man back in Oregon . . .

Happy listening.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 11:44:39 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

Niles-

He felt trapped. He had just had his first child and felt as if the band didn't see anything else as a priority.

There were huuuuuuge tours being planned years into the future and he didn't want to feel as if he were a part of a machine.

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 11:18:58 ET
Posted by: Niles, R

Do you know what Peter Gabriel's inspiration for Solisbury Hill/quitting Genesis was?

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 09:58:10 ET
Posted by: Beast w/o A Name, Losin' It, NJ

In an interview with Roger Waters, he was asked about Genesis. This was 1991-92, I think. Anyway, he summed it all up pretty well. He said it was difficult to accept that the group which was once fronted by Peter Gabriel was now making videos in which they prance around with their trousers down ( I Can't Dance ). He also said that the "ubiquitous sound of Phil Collins is a constant irritant." Funny stuff...

Date: Fri, September 18, 2015, 03:14:38 ET
Posted by: Prog Peter, Pittsburgh

Lots of talk about Genesis/Phil Collins going on in here. All I can say is to go see Steve Hackett's Genesis Revisited shows if it comes to your area. Steve is the only member of Genesis that's carrying on the Genesis legacy and his shows focus entirely on the 1971-77 REAL Genesis period before it became the Phil Collins Pop Band. Phil became too much of a megastar starring in movies like Buster.

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 23:49:12 ET
Posted by: Buzzy, NY

That's very interesting. I thought The Doors and The Eagles would be the frontrunners. I like Heart but Steely Dan is better.

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 23:24:45 ET
Posted by: Abu, same as a few mins ago

Check out the bracket for the Guitarworld for the Best American Rock Band Ever. Go to guitarworld.com, and then scroll down and click on "Cecil", which shows the bracket for all 32 bands. Or, go directly to Cecil's bracket: http://www.scribd.com/doc/281558683/Cecil

It looks like in the next round, the Dan will be up against Heart. Winners in the other brackets so far are: Aerosmith, Van Halen, ZZ Top, Grateful Dead, and Steely Dan (as it appears now). Bands that have already been eliminated: The Doors, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beach Boys, Kiss, White Stripes, and the Eagles. Stay tuned for the next round, in the near future, it seems.

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 23:07:37 ET
Posted by: Abu, The Inland Empire

Update on the Guitarworld poll:

As of this time, Steely Dan - 62.93%, CCR - 37.07%. SD has increased their lead, I'm glad to report.

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 21:47:06 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, here

I wish I could have seen that tour in 1982. My parents went (my mom was pregnant with me- so I was kind of there, I guess). I agree with you in general over their direction in the 80s except for two points...

The Shapes album had some pretty good moments though- Mama, Home by The Sea.Invisible Touch suffers from TONS of 80s-itis (although Domino really comes to life live).

I also love those first two PC solo albums-there is some really dark, out there stuff on them. Then he released No Jacket Required and things went crazy and overproduced in a hurry.

The big moments for me in 2007 were

In the Cage
Mama
Ripples (played for the first time since 1980)
Any time Phil and Chester played together
Firth of Fifth/I Know What I Like
Domino
Los Endos
Carpet Crawl

They didn't play anything from Abacab, that was the only downside for me.

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 21:24:33 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Supper's Over - It's almost 9:30 PM!

I saw "Supper's Ready" in '82 as well, and even with the soon-to-be-everywhere-all-the-time-Phil in charge it was something to behold. The later Genesis stuff - 1983/4 onward - IS impossible to tell from Mr. Collins's solo material. And not in a good way. But what had become of Genesis by the early '80s was just a part of a Dead Zone for popular/mainstream music that cursed most of the entire decade thanks to bad writing and bad production and bad everything else. Sorry, "Flock of Seagulls"...

I'm glad to see the Summer Breeze story made at least a few people larf. The best part of it for me was that the UPS guy actually knew who "Fagen" was, and even better, he considered "Fagen" to be an asshole for not playing one of his biggest hits, in this instance, the thoroughly delightful "Summer Breeze". In case no-one's noticed over the years, I kinda collect these Steely Dan Misconceptions. Occasionally, I even seek them out. I'm always on the lookout for new stories, mostly so that I can post them here. It's just my way of giving back to the community.

Oh, and that silly Guitar World poll? It's just more stupid clickbait, folks. First, you can vote as many times as you like - just like in real elections, I know, I know - and secondly the candidates it proposes for "best American rock band" include Kiss ("a costume & make-up band fer chrissakes"), Metallica (<snicker>), "Alice in Chains" (??), and Styx. The "slickness of seventies West Coast sounds" [sic] of our guys may very well prevail tonight, but how can they possibly defeat the eventual winner, Bon Jovi/Van Halen/Guns 'n' Roses - all essentially the same fucking band?

And IF Steely Dan somehow does miraculously win the whole shootin' match, what sort of prize does he get? Hopefully not a year's free subscription to Guitar World. Who the hell would want that?

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 20:23:51 ET
Posted by: Buzzy, NY

Steely Dan is now ahead of Creedence Clearwater in that Guitar World poll. Results are now 56.79% to 43.21% in Steely Dan's favor. They are going to win. I've always felt CCR was just an overrated jug music type band.

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 20:01:09 ET
Posted by: Beast w/o A Name, Mad Man Moon, NJ

Fair-weather fans at concerts who don't know Phil Collins solo material from Genesis material are not totally at fault.

Later-period Genesis material is difficult to discern at times from Phil's solo stuff.

I did not see the 2007 shows, but I do know that "half the show" was not devoted to prog-Rock, maybe an eighth...

I had the good fortune of seeing Supper's Ready performed in its entirety in 1982. THAT's prog.

Oh no. We're talking about something other than Steely Dan. Someone call the nerd-police.

Sometimes the nature of some posts on this board remind me of "Comic-Bookstore Guy," from The Simpsons... And not in a good way.

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 15:24:21 ET
Posted by: Stan, in line at Starbucks

The highlight of those Genesis concerts were always the drum battles/duets between Chester Thompson and Phil Collins.

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 14:17:16 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

Denver 2007-

After a Genesis show at the Pepsi Center I hear the following.

"That was okay...there was too much instrumental music and they didn't play In the Air Tonight or Sussudio. I came to hear Phil Collins, not watch him play the drums with another guy to prog rock for half the show."

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 14:03:50 ET
Posted by: Noo, w

How can they hate Ride Captain Ride? It was inspired by a Rhodes Piano.

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 12:41:11 ET
Posted by: Shep, Princeton NJ

Guitar World Poll is bullshit. I just voted for Steely Dan vs. Creedence Clearwater Revival, but Creedence Clearwater is ahead 72.92% to 27.08% for Steely Dan. What's wrong with these morons anyway? Creedence Clearwater is garbage compared to Steely Dan. Go to www.guitarworld.com and cast your vote for Steely Dan!

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 11:45:17 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

M/O/D/P

That is a terrific story! I'll repeat it to the handful of fans I know who will get it. Its right up there with the standard question you often hear from some nameless faceless person a few rows back, "Which one is Dan?"

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 09:51:08 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

FREEBIRD!!!!!!

Date: Thurs, September 17, 2015, 00:48:43 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, here

yeah, everyone knows it is Ride Captain Ride that they hate!

Date: Wed, September 16, 2015, 23:23:38 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

M/O/D/P, I KNOW that's a bullshit story. How you ask? Because Steely Dan plays Summer Breeze at Every Show. Any REAL fan knows that.

You're killing me here.

Date: Wed, September 16, 2015, 20:45:51 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, enjoying a nice summer (evening) breeze

EC, NY - Thanks for those links and the cool info. I'm in. I know a lot of FZ fans/collectors who don't bother with those Zappa forums. Belzoni just gave a small handful of examples that illustrate why it just isn't worth the effort.

So today I was making some shipping arrangements with a UPS guy and part way through things he dropped a semi-cryptic Steely Dan reference. I picked up on it right away, and, thinking maybe he was a fan, I mentioned that I'd seen the band play live a few times over the years. "I saw them once, six or eight years ago, but it was a bit disappointing - they left out way too many hits", he told me. Fair enough, I thought - he obviously got a night where there was no "Rikki", no "Reelin' ", and no "Do It Again", three biggies that often missed the cut only a handful of tours ago. That wasn't his point, though.

"Y'know why they never play "Summer Breeze"?", he asked, obviously already equipped with the definitive answer.

"I think I do", was my response.

"Fagen really hates that song, so even though it was a huge hit, he refuses to play it live", he informed me.

Completely unable to resist, I had to add that they also never play "Year of the Cat". "Oh, I don't think that's their song anyways", he quickly corrected me.

Before we were done, he let me know that his all time favourite live band was "Journey". That probably explains everything.

Date: Wed, September 16, 2015, 18:41:23 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

Hahaha.

Not quite... I don't have the time (or the patience) to go look right now, but from memory I recall the following.

1. Someone writing a huge fantasy about a threesome with Moon and Diva while Gail watched.

2. One guy threatening to drive 8 hours to kick another guy's ass.

3. Someone attempting to get a rival member fired from his job.

4. Multiple uses of phrases such as "Motherfucker! Fuck you!" "Your mom wishes she had miscarried, I bet" etc.

Date: Wed, September 16, 2015, 17:54:48 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

Belzoni you have me confused? So FZ's official forum is the
BlueBook? Sorry ladies and gents, I couldn't resist.

Date: Wed, September 16, 2015, 17:00:07 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

Can't wait for the Roxy DVD.

Chester, Ruth, the Fowlers, George Duke, Ralph....

I highly suggest that if Chester Thompson ever comes near you to do a drum clinic, go even if you aren't a drummer. He can tell you some great FZ stories (along with some pretty entertaining ones about the Genesis guys).

The zappateers forum is really good. The official forum has devolved into a bunch of guys just sniping at each other constantly.

Date: Wed, September 16, 2015, 10:11:28 ET
Posted by: EC, NY

The only worthwhile thing I got from checking out that poll is: Frank's 1973 Roxy movie will finally see the light of day on October 30! That is definitely news to me (I gave up reading FZ forums a long time ago). I know there are a lot of FZ fans here, so here are the links:

http://www.guitarworld.com/frank-zappa-s-long-awaited-roxy-movie-coming-watch-trailer-video/25446

http://www.eagle-rock.com/2015/09/frank-zappa-roxy-the-movie/#.Vfg2EoeFNjp

Date: Wed, September 16, 2015, 00:40:23 ET
Posted by: suedave, Over here

Denise, thanks for the Walter Becker station tip for Pandora. While they could stand to broaden their offerings a la Rarities night, it is fun to hear Circus Money followed by the Night Belongs to Mona. Nice treats.

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 20:40:45 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

The latest edition of the Dandom Digest went out in the past few minutes and covers July 24-September 15, 2015. The previous edition covered July 9-23, 2015.

The following are the subjects/headlines of the items in the latest newsletter:

How Steely Dan Created ‘Deacon Blues’ - WSJ
- Larry Carlton Talks Kid C & Don't Take Me Alive
- Phil Woods Ends His Playing on High Note
- Greg Phillinganes Wins Creative Arts Emmy
- ‘Skunk’ Goes Solo
- Revue: Denny Dias at Iridium
- Denny Dias at Iridium Sets
- Drew Zingg Sighting
- 9/18 & 9/19/15: Upcoming Jon Herington Band Dates

- SPOILER: STL STLY DAN
- SPOILER: Ravinia Review
- SPOILEResque: Walter Quoted at Ravinia
- SPOILER: Ravinia Review
- SPOILER: Pine Knob
- SPOILER: Boston
- SPOILER: Boston
- SPOILER: PNC Pavilion
- SPOILER: PNC NJ Show
- SPOILER: Camden Setlist and Musings
- SPOILER: Thoughts About the Camden Show
- SPOILER: Philly
- SPOILER: Virginia
- SPOILER: Asheville
- SPOILER: Nashville Review
- SPOILER: Nashville
- SPOILEResque: Tampa Media Interview
- SPOILER: Tampa
- SPOILER: Palm Beach

- Close Encounters of the Dan Kind

If you are a subscriber, you should see the latest edition in your email box within the next hour. 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. Heck, if you want, email me privately that you DID get it. WIth email filters and spam what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a naughty word.

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.

---

One thing I wish to point out: the Dandom Digest is received by about 2,200 fans, of which it seems 1,700-1,800 actually read it. At least, this is as best as can be determine through a response survey from not too long ago. Perhaps accessing a certain audience of Danfans of this size will expose your ideas, performances, great music, etc. to the wider audience that you seek. Or maybe not.

---

Thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom.

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

Fly about as low, be so cool,

Jim

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 18:57:11 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, here

I have a few recording of Zappa (bootlegs) from the late 70s where he tells the audience that they're going to start off slow with easy material "Because I know you've all been listening to the Eagles."

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 17:53:12 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

KD said:

"The Eagles are the Jay Leno of "rock." The Doors are the Denis Leary of "rock." "

Laughing my ass off. I really don't understand the analogy, but I find it funny anyway. And I agree The Byrds were a terrific band. Of course, I think this entire list could be populated by pre-1980's bands--and greatly improved, but that isn't going to happen--nor should it actually. The publication does need to appeal to some younger readers.

And the Bannana Splits were a major slight. Fleegle was a monster! Rumor has it Bingo played The Black Page perfectly, on the first try, from a sight read. Plus they clearly wrote Buffalo Soldier, though for some reason Bob Marley failed to give them the credit.

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 16:19:09 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, here

I think the most egregious group to leave off would be the Banana Splits.

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 14:45:39 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

What about Jerry Rafferty?!? Shouldn't he make the list? No, wait, too much Yacht Rock radio.

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 14:33:13 ET
Posted by: Tucker, Philly

The Velvet Underground should be in that poll too.

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 14:30:34 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

Hey comma guy,

We can be as ridiculous as we want.

Love,

Blue Book

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 12:59:54 ET
Posted by: ,

Waah! Why does Guitar World's best-of rock poll have the Eagles and the Doors? It should have Captain Beefheart!

Take a step back and try to see how ridiculous you're sounding.

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 11:15:40 ET
Posted by: I don't like cricket, no, no

I love it.

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 10:09:23 ET
Posted by: JJ, etc.

When I got hooked on SD in the mid 80s, I sought out other 70s bands whom I hoped I might like as much. Dreadlock Holiday was my favorite 10cc song and the one that most reminded me of SD.

No music video has ever made me laugh as much as Godley & Creme's "Cry."

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 09:32:27 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG, PA

Nicholas, I was going to post virtually the same exact thing you did
almost verbatim. While it is great to hear The Boys, what makes up
the rest of "Yacht Rock" leaves very little to be desired. IMHO

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 08:37:16 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

XM Radio channel 31 is currently broadcasting a limited-run channel called "Yacht Rock." It includes a healthy dose of Steely Dan, almost exclusively from Aja and Gaucho. Some of the other artists that they play are okay, but I cringe at much of what our heroes are getting grouped with here. (For example, Starbuck just started playing Moonlight Feels Right.)

As an aside, I hadn't heard Dreadlock Holiday by 10cc in years - and probably would have never heard it again if it wasn't in the rotation on this XM channel. The lyrics are kind of funny the first few times you listen. And while I would never call the lyrics Dan-esque, they do have the appealing quality of telling a story without giving you all of the details, letting you fill in the spaces.

Date: Tues, September 15, 2015, 00:31:55 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

The Eagles are the Jay Leno of "rock."

The Doors are the Denis Leary of "rock."

Both are to be left behind by the time you're legally allowed to drink and also start to feel ashamed for still putting posters on your wall.

They didn't even put the fucking Byrds up there. Pardon my language.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 20:47:19 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

I completely forgot about the Doobies. I agree they should be on there as well. They provided an amazing soundtrack for people's lives.

Never got Cobain at all. Most of my peer-group worships him, I don't get it at all.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 20:02:24 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

KD, we are usually in reasonable musical simpatico, but the Eagles deserve to be on any list of Great American Bands, IMO. I can take or leave some of their stuff (and really like a fairly good amount), but irrespective of personal tastes, they belong, IMO. So do the Doors, though the worship of Jim Morrison always struck me as odd.

You know Nirvana has to make the list because, as I'm continuously told, Kurt Cobain was a GENIUS. I have no idea what the fuck they are talking about---but it must be true, because, you know, everyone says so.

Belzoni, the day Beefhart gets a nod from Guitar World is the day I start caring about it. I wouldn't expect the Magic Band to make this list, but wouldn't it be great if it did?

How about Blue Oyster Cult (well, the first few albums, anyway)? Captain Beyond, motherfucker! (OK, I might be a bit drunk, but they were awesome!) No Doobie Brothers? Really? The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kiss (a costume band, for God's sake) make the list? I'm a bit surprised the horrid Black Eyed Peas didn't make this reprehensible list.

The more I think about it, I'm almost insulted Steely Dan is on this horrendous list.

I know, I'm getting way too worked up about a meaningless POS list from some rag just trying to sell copies of their magazine. But I had a few at happy hour, and then made a quesadilla with ghost chili pepper sauce, and threw in some fresh habaneros to boot. I need to vent so I don't explode.

Thank you for bearing with me.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 18:04:44 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

Not to mention Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 17:23:32 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Hahahahaha Talking Heads isn't on this list (I just downloaded it) but the Doors are.

There's a reason I only subscribed to Guitar World when I was in junior high.

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Green Day
Aerosmith
The Doors
Styx
Steve Miller
Nirvana
Bon Jovi
Stevie Ray "I Wank a Lot" Vaughn
KISS
The fucking Eagles

You know what? Maybe we did deserve two different George W. Bush administrations. We suck.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 16:35:15 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Shot?

Oh, Jesus. Forgot the Mothers. Definitely on my personal "best of" list.

And I should have given them credit for including the Doors and the Allman Bros. And, yes, Grateful Dead is a no brainer in a poll like this.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 16:25:25 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

There are only a few bands on there that were/are even that creative.

Grateful Dead (who I'm not even really a fan of)
Steely Dan
Soundgarden (Their last album was the best of their career, and they made a lot of fun of the entire "scene" surrounding heavy music in the 80s/90s)
CCR
Allmans
Doors (I have to put them here just because of the three musicians in the band)

and.....that is about it.

No Mothers of Invention?

What is up with that?

Some of the other bands on the list are supposed to be tailored for my tastes (I'm a 32 year old guy) but I couldn't care less.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 15:50:05 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Bartender, one more!

Edit to the last post:

Of course, The Band should get consideration, but there's the Canadian factor. They are American (North American), but some might not consider them "American enough".

Others that should get recognized:

Santana---too "World Music"?

Tower of Power--but now we start to meld into R&B

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 15:47:12 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Yes, racism is the only reason I can think of for leaving freakin' Hootie off a list for "Best American Rock Band Ever". LMAO at happy hour.

And you are right, KD. What a crapfest of winners. But I would expect no better, to tell the truth.

I'm not going to play a stupid, totally meaningless Internet voting game. But I'm going to suggest Rock Band probably isn't the category where Steely Dan would fare best. I'm thinking, if the voters weren't completely guitar skewed (wishful thinking for a poll on Guitar World), Little Feat (Lowell George edition) should be a slam dunk.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 11:46:49 ET
Posted by: ,

Yeah, looks like all whities. No Hootie either.

On the Adam Carolla podcast today, with the Zombies, there's a few minute long convo about the Dan, and whether the Zombies sound like them. And how they suck live. A clip of the Fez is played. Near the end.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 11:14:07 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

I don't like America's chances, frankly. Just about every one of those bands suck terribly.

And no Los Lobos, I'm guessing. They don't look like they're from 'Murica, so we can't put 'em in.

Date: Mon, September 14, 2015, 10:53:51 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

Regarding the guitar world contest, there is a bracket at the bottom of the page, which you have to download really to be able to read. Looks like every day (or whenever) they open up voting for a match-up.

SD will be pitted against Credence Clearwater Revival. Does not say when.

Some of the earlier matchups had Aerosmith beating The Doors, Heart over the Eagles, and Nirvana over Steve Miller Band.

Meh, I don't like our chances.

Date: Sun, September 13, 2015, 04:23:59 ET
Posted by: Herman, Seattle

Guitar World wants to crown the Best American Rock Band Ever! They selected 32 American bands and Steely Dan is among them. The voting process is somewhat confusing and they appear to have one band pitted against another band. So go to www.guitarworld.com and help make Steely Dan the Best American Rock Band Ever (which they are, of course).

Date: Sat, September 12, 2015, 20:33:54 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Thanks for the tip, Denise. I rarely use Pandora but did notice SD radio wasn't what I expected. I have had some luck with Van Morrison radio. Next time I'm on it, I'll give Walt a try.

I've had ZERO luck with Pandora's music genome, where it tries to predict what I will like based on what I tell it I like. It's basically always wrong.

Date: Sat, September 12, 2015, 15:20:01 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Noticed while playing a "Steely Dan Radio" on Pandora gives you mostly 70's hits, a lot of Fleetwood mac, very little SD or D&W. If you switch the artist to Walter Becker and save as "Walter Becker Radio," not only do you get a lot of Walter's music, much more SD and solo DF as well. And more recent music, not just 70's.

Date: Sat, September 12, 2015, 11:54:42 ET
Posted by: Neal, The sad truth

Sorry guys....NOBODY will ever make playing the melodica look/sound cool. Not even Donald

Date: Fri, September 11, 2015, 20:29:57 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Bill, I only watched the first show. Colbert still finding his way in the format, I think. But the band KILLED. But hasn't Donald already made the melodica cool?

And Freebase, hasn't every Madonna tour ever been a monstrous waste of money---as well as musical and production talent? I'm just guessing here, as I don't closely follow the tours of Madonna.

Date: Fri, September 11, 2015, 17:56:45 ET
Posted by: Freebase, Long Beach, CA

Watching video clips of Madonna's current overblown tour on YouTube makes me wanna gag. Big waste of money.

Date: Fri, September 11, 2015, 17:34:12 ET
Posted by: BillfromPgh, Pittsburgh

So has anybody seen Jon Batiste and Stay Human, the new house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert? Batiste, a great New Orleans keyboardist, may just be making the melodica cool.

Date: Fri, September 11, 2015, 14:25:44 ET
Posted by: Bailey Runaway, whatevs

Does anyone have any good full stage photos from the Hollywood Bowl show?

All I've seen is this one..

http://cdn.img42.com/47c3db4b807aac72d14c4bc76d23a461.jpeg

Thank you,

Date: Fri, September 11, 2015, 12:57:27 ET
Posted by: Stanley, N

A movie called Time out of Mind starring Richard Gere opens this weekend.

Date: Wed, September 09, 2015, 14:17:34 ET
Posted by: EC, NY

Looks like the October 17th Beacon show is completely sold out and has been for a while. Unlike the 2011 Rarities show where there were tickets available at the door on shownight.

The handful of resale seats on Ticketbastard (total 35 in all) are all well into crazy money territory, and a single seat in the Loge can be had for a low of $464.06 to a very reasonable high of $599.

No resale tix in the cheap seats, balcony upper & lower, I assume because those ones all went to real fans who couldn't afford the face value $250 seats and who aren't interested in selling anyways.

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 20:47:02 ET
Posted by: B, Con

"Josie's", the diner around the corner from the Beacon has closed.
RIP

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 19:59:53 ET
Posted by: D, H

Web Police: you may be right. I have sent a note to Hoops and he can delete if appropriate.

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 19:46:51 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Happytown

Huge thanks to both ccw and Denise!!

Great stuff - I love the formality and the respect implied by the use of "Mr. Fagen" and "Mr. Becker".

And it was all right here on The Bluebook via direct link and then via transcription. As it should be.

Muchas gracias!

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 18:53:50 ET
Posted by: web police, www.allover.com

Pretty sure copy & paste of copyrighted material is illegal fun.

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 18:15:32 ET
Posted by: HouDanFan, Houston

When Aja was released I played Deacon Blues continuously. I didn't really discover the rest of the album till about 2 months later. It was the coolest damn song I'd ever heard in my life....and still is.

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 17:22:39 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Terrific article. Thanks for posting it, ccw.

I see it's even on "the twitter" now. Sorry...

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 16:36:08 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

How Steely Dan Created ‘Deacon Blues’
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan explain the 1977 hit ‘Deacon Blues’

By MARC MYERS
Sept. 8, 2015 11:54 a.m. ET

As midlife-crisis songs go, Steely Dan’s “Deacon Blues” ranks among the most melodic and existential. Recorded for the album “Aja” in 1977, the song details the bored existence of a ground-down suburbanite and his romantic fantasy of life as a jazz saxophonist.

Written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen in 1976, “Deacon Blues” was released in 1977 on Steely Dan’s album “Aja,” which in the fall reached No. 3 on Billboard’s album chart, where it remained for seven consecutive weeks. The song also was a hit single in early 1978.

With Steely Dan appearing in New York at the Beacon Theatre from Oct. 6-17, Mr. Fagen, Mr. Becker, guitarist Larry Carlton and saxophonists Tom Scott and Pete Christlieb recalled the writing, arranging and recording of the cult classic. Edited from interviews:

Donald Fagen: Walter and I wrote “Deacon Blues” in Malibu, Calif., when we lived out there. Walter would come over to my place and we’d sit at the piano. I had an idea for a chorus: If a college football team like the University of Alabama could have a grandiose name like the “Crimson Tide,” the nerds and losers should be entitled to a grandiose name as well.

Walter Becker: Donald had a house that sat on top of a sand dune with a small room with a piano. From the window, you could see the Pacific in between the other houses. “Crimson Tide” didn’t mean anything to us except the exaggerated grandiosity that’s bestowed on winners. “Deacon Blues” was the equivalent for the loser in our song.

Mr. Fagen: When Walter came over, we started on the music, then started filling in more lyrics to fit the story. At that time, there had been a lineman with the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers, Deacon Jones. We weren’t serious football fans, but Deacon Jones’s name was in the news a lot in the 1960s and early ‘70s, and we liked how it sounded. It also had two syllables, which was convenient, like “Crimson.” The name had nothing to do with Wake Forest’s Demon Deacons or any other team with a losing record. The only Deacon I was familiar with in football at the time was Deacon Jones.

Mr. Becker: Unlike a lot of other pop songwriting teams, we worked on both the music and lyrics together. It’s not words and music separately, but a single flow of thought. There’s a lot of riffing back and forth, trying to top each other until we’re both happy with the result. We’ve always had a similar conception and sense of humor.

Mr. Fagen: Also, Walter and I both have jazz backgrounds, so our models are different than many pop songwriters. With “Deacon Blues,” as with many of our other songs, we conceived of the tune as more of a big-band arrangement, with different instrumental sections contributing a specific sound at different points. We developed “Deacon Blues” in layers: first came the rhythm tracks, then vocals and finally horns.

Many people have assumed the song is about a guy in the suburbs who ditches his life to become a musician. In truth, I’m not sure the guy actually achieves his dream. He might not even play the horn. It’s the fantasy life of a suburban guy from a certain subculture. Many of our songs are journalistic. But this one was more autobiographical, about our own dreams when we were growing up in different suburban communities—me in New Jersey and Walter in Westchester County.

Mr. Becker: The protagonist in “Deacon Blues” is a triple-L loser—an L-L-L Loser. It’s not so much about a guy who achieves his dream but about a broken dream of a broken man living a broken life.

Mr. Fagen: The concept of the “expanding man” that opens the song [“This is the day of the expanding man / That shape is my shade there where I used to stand”] may have been inspired by Alfred Bester’s “The Demolished Man.” Walter and I were major sci-fi fans. The guy in the song imagines himself ascending the levels of evolution, “expanding” his mind, his spiritual possibilities and his options in life.

Mr. Becker: His personal history didn’t look like much so we allowed him to explode and provided him with a map for some kind of future.

Mr. Fagen: Say a guy is living at home at his parents’ house in suburbia. One day, when he’s 31, he wakes up and decides he wants to change the way he struts his stuff.

Mr. Becker: Or he’s making a skylight for his room above the garage and when the hole is open he feels the vibes coming in and has an epiphany. Or he’s playing chess games against himself by making moves out of a book and cheating.

A mystical thing takes place and he’s suddenly aware of his surroundings and life, and starts thinking about his options. The “fine line” we use in the song [“So useless to ask me why / Throw a kiss and say goodbye / I’ll make it this time / I’m ready to cross that fine line”] is the dividing line between being a loser and winner, at least according to his own code. He’s obviously tried to cross it before without success.

Mr. Fagen: By the mid-‘70s, we were using session players in the studio. Steely Dan became just Walter and myself. We’d handpick musicians for the sound we were looking for on each song. We tended to go through quite a few musicians looking for the results we wanted.

Sound-wise, we were influenced by the jazz albums of engineer Rudy Van Gelder, the engineer who recorded many of those legendary Prestige and Blue Note albums in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Mr. Becker: The thing about Rudy’s recording technique is how he got each instrument to sound intimate, with musicians playing close to the microphones. The way he recorded, you had the continuity of lines and the fatness of tone that made solos jump out. We wanted all of our recordings to sound that way.

Larry Carlton: When I met with Donald, he gave me demos of him singing and playing “Deacon Blues.” I transcribed the chords and built an arrangement for the rhythm section that was tight but left plenty of space for other layers—like horns and background vocals that I knew they would add later.

The song’s famous opening is my guitar and Victor Feldman’s Fender Rhodes electric piano playing the exact same chords and voicings, plus drummer Bernard Purdie’s cymbal figures. To keep the song’s rythm-section arrangement from sounding stiff, I added guitar ad-libs here and there to create contrast after Donald’s vocal was in place. They were there to frame his voice.

Mr. Fagen: Once the rhythm track and my vocal were set, horns were added to give the song a dreamy, reedy sound. We brought in saxophonist Tom Scott to write the arrangement. We told him we wanted the horns to have a tight, romantic “Duke Ellington cloud” feel.

Tom Scott: When I arrived at the Village Recorder in West Los Angeles, where Donald and Walter were recording, they played me the rhythm track. Donald said he wanted to add four reeds, two trombones and a trumpet—but not a high-note trumpet. I heard right away how I’d arrange the horns—adding 9ths and 11ths and other jazz dissonances that were implied but not there.

I had about a week and a half to write arrangements for all the songs on “Aja” where they wanted horns. For “Deacon Blues,” I used a sound that mirrored Oliver Nelson’s orchestral style. I wrote in these “rubs”—two notes close together in the middle register played by the tenor and baritone saxophones. This produces a really thick, reedy sound.

Mr. Fagen: When everything was recorded—the rhythm section, the horns and the background vocals, Walter and I sat in the studio listening back and decided we needed a sax solo, someone to speak for the main character. We liked the sound of a tenor saxophonist who played in Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show band, a cat who blew like crazy when the show went to a commercial. He had this gutsy sound, but we didn’t know who it was.

Mr. Becker: We had our producer Gary Katz ask around and he found out it was Pete Christlieb. Pete had invented any number of cool harmonic devices that made his playing sound unique. He just sounded like a take-charge soloist, a “gunner.”

Pete Christlieb: I went over to the studio one night after the Tonight Show finished taping at 6:30 p.m. When I listened on headphones to the track Tom had arranged, there was just enough space for me to play a solo.

As I listened, I realized Donald and Walter were using jazz chord changes, not the block chords of rock. This gave me a solid base for improvisation. They just told me to play what I felt. Hey, I’m a jazz musician, that’s what I do. So I listened again and recorded my first solo. We listened back and they said it was great. I recorded a second take and that’s the one they used. I was gone in a half-hour. The next thing I know I’m hearing myself in every airport bathroom in the world.

Mr. Fagen: The song’s fade-out at the end was intentional. We used it to make the end feel like a dream fading off into the night.

Mr. Becker: “Deacon Blues” was special for me. It’s the only time I remember mixing a record all day and, when the mix was done, feeling like I wanted to hear it over and over again. It was the comprehensive sound of the thing: the song itself, its character, the way the instruments sounded and the way Tom Scott’s tight horn arrangement fit in.

Mr. Fagen: One thing we did right on “Deacon Blues” and all of our records: We never tried to accommodate the mass market. We worked for ourselves and still do.

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 15:58:08 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

Would love to read the article but have to be a subscriber, it appears.

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 15:36:24 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

CCW, that's a phenomenal piece. Thanks.

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 15:25:02 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

That article was a nice read, thanks.

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 14:46:54 ET
Posted by: ccw, NY

Nice interview re Deacon Blues in WSJ:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-steely-dan-created-deacon-blues-1441727645

I wasn't expecting them to do any press in advance of their Beacon run, pleasant surprise.

Date: Tues, September 08, 2015, 09:40:25 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, the real me, again...sorry...

Just to clarify, that "I agree" post from late last night (immediately below The Dean's comment) was a good read, but the poster was using the handle "@M/O/D/P" and is very definitely NOT me. I always use the same name here, although I occasionally do spell it out to form my real name - "Emmo Deepea". That was me with the Beacon Cuervo story, not me with the interesting take on crusty codgers and the things that might offend them on the internet.

So, although I generally agree with most of what the poster said, and I certainly always agree with myself, I would never submit a post here congratulating myself for my own unfettered cleverness.

M/O/D/P
ps - "unfettered"
pps - or was that "fetid"??

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 23:12:23 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

I would just like to point out, there is a big difference between recognizing something is offensive, and actually being offended by that thing. I hear/read lots of stuff that is clearly offensive (some of it actually intentionally, most of it not), but rarely am I ever offended.

Some "stranger" popping in to call many on this board "whiny", and doing so without any evidence of any whining, is a bit offensive, IMO. But I wasn't offended. In the rare event I allow myself to actually take offense, it won't be because of some random post, by a complete stranger, on a message board.

And @M/O/D/P, you seem like a relatively intelligent and reasonable sort. Why don't you choose a consistent username, so we get an idea of who we are dealing with? I'm just curious.

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 22:57:21 ET
Posted by: @M/O/D/P,

Agree with M/O/D/P. I will add a few more salient points.

Fifty, Sixty, and Seventy year-old crusty codgers, which make up the preponderance of the Bluebook should be, by now, too old to be intimidated or "offended". The only ones allowed to be offended are post-menopausal women, in general. And teenage girls, in particular.

Boomers have had it too good for too long and have become pussified, and are raising generations of even worse pussies in a majority of the cases. The lessons of The Greatest Generation have long been lost which has resulted in the current sad state of affairs. Sticks and stones might have broken their bones, but names never hurt them. When you are under fire in battle abroad, or you don't know where your next meal is coming from here at home, you don't have much time or preoccupation for being "offended".

There has been a Closing of the American mind. An intelligent person should be able to argue both sides of a topic. No one thinks much anymore, it seems, and most actions taken seem to be arbitrary and no one is ever called to account for, or explain them. Everybody gets a trophy, and most scholastic Debate Teams which fomented rational, detached discourse are a relic of the past, for the most part.


Sometimes, you have to wonder, though, if many of these "offenses" taken by people are feigned, insincere indignation just to get a rise out of the audience?

As senior members of society, your crusty scales should be serving as an armor of sorts as not to be concerned about what others think or say to you. Or conjure up a past when you were perhaps a mellow hippie with a Devil May Care temperament if you are preoccupied that an insult has been thrown your way.

So you should be enjoying Steely Dan and taking in any and all information that comes your way and is of interest to you from whatever source. True, most of what is out there is mindless drivel, but any miner will tell you that you may have to sift through a mountain of dirt to get an ounce of gold. It is one of the cons of the Information Superhighway, for which you will find few if any individuals that will not maintain that overall it has served the greater good of humanity. Filter quickly, read voraciously, or scroll downward, as they say.

And keep in mind that your time is short, with maybe a decade or two remaining of your own lucidity so as not to waste time waiting to be offended as you head toward the black oblivion that awaits all of us.

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 22:22:16 ET
Posted by: Emmo Deepea, Royal Scam on my shiny-noo Rega RP1 turntable right now

Belzoni, There's nothing quite like a good scotch 'n' Aja combo.

Although once I tried to order one scotch and two tequilas - not all for me, of course - at The Beacon right before Royal Scam night got underway a couple of years ago and the bartender informed me of their (strictly enforced) two-drinks-per-customer limit. Feeling the pressure to make a quick decision, and rather than hold up the lineup, I opted for the two Cuervos. Much to my delight, a very nice lady right behind me bought a scotch and, just before I got to the bottom of the stairs headed to the loge, handed it to me and said, "this one's on me".

The point is, scotch whiskey is good, but free scotch whiskey is even better.

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 21:57:43 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

Alright, I'm listening to Aja and I am enjoying a nice Laphroaig 15.

Anyone else here appreciate the beverage mentioned in Deacon Blues?

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 20:42:48 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Gratuitous insults re-cap dept.

Some recent choice quotes, courtesy (not that he actually showed any "courtesy", we understand) of (as far as I can recall) a previously unheard-from poster:

"lowlives"

"even a one year old could do it"

"If most of the people below had a clue"

"so people won't be so challenged"

"whining"

"I'm sure everything in their life is like that"

Interesting how someone pops in and refers to an entire group of posters as "lowlives" simply because they admit choosing not to use "twitter" for reasons explained clearly & respectfully in their posts.

See, "Grateful Steve", during that recent civil discussion, no one insulted any other Bluebook contributor/reader.

You just did, though. Quite a few times.

Was that really necessary?

M/O/D/P
ps - For what it's worth, my lone post on the subject, right after Hoops's large font bit, was just an explanation and an opinion. He asked why we weren't discussing the twitter feeds, and I answered honestly, and I tried to do it with (maybe) a bit of humor. Anyone who was deeply offended by that or the many ensuing anti-twitter responses really shouldn't have been. And shouldn't we all be able to disagree with each other on occasion - sometimes even vehemently - without resorting to throwing around unclever entry-level insults like those in the lengthy list above?

pps - Speaking of lists, the list of really good/entertaining writers who no longer post here (or who rarely post anymore or who haven't posted in a very long time) is a long one. Why is that? For starters, many people just don't enjoy having their efforts (no matter how insignificant) rewarded with arbitrary attacks, personal insults, deliberate misconstruance/careless misunderstanding leading to the preceding, or other stuff that's clearly outside the realm of intelligent discussion. I'm not talking about "the rest of the internet" where Krap is King. I'm talking about here on The Bluebook.

ppps - I for one am VERY grateful to Jim for keeping this place going. That doesn't mean I can't politely disagree with him once in a while, nor does it mean that I feel the need to post repeated sycophantic thank-yous every time I touch the keyboard.

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 15:16:00 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Nobody was complaining about the box being there. Some of us who are on Twitter have already seen the links as tweeted out by the original Twitter users. The feed was also RT'ing old articles that have been available (and already read, and re-read) in several formats for decades, now. Reading about Becker being smarmy about 'The Outback Tattler' isn't as titillating as it was in, say, 1999.

The anecdote about Fagen encouraging Carlton to hit that opening chord has been around for ages, in both print and on Carlton's YouTube channel. The Twitter feed in question also went dormant for months at a time prior to the last tour. It's not exactly a must-follow, if I'm honest. A simple Google News search pulls up those columns (and much more) earlier in the morning than the Twitter feed relays.

I feel weird about asking people that are 20 and 30 years older than me to grow up.

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 14:33:01 ET
Posted by: Dimitri, CA

This is a free and open forum, Grateful Steve. If we don't feel like discussing Larry Carlton, then we shouldn't have to. Some of us use Twitter and some don't. People shouldn't get castigated just because they don't follow the leader.

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 12:27:11 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Steve,

I'm sure we old fuddy duddies appreciate any you posting and/or discussing, anything interesting you find ANYWHERE including the Twitter box.

But let's be clear. None of us who don't use Twitter were whining (in fact, you seem to be the one whining here). I didn't see anyone complain about the Twitter box being there.

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 12:17:30 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Well said Steve.

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 10:55:06 ET
Posted by: Grateful Steve,

Hoops:

Let me be one of the first among what is hopefully everyone else to thank you again for the bluebook. Moreover, thank you for the information you've been posting on the bluebook in the Twitter area up above. It's amazing that some lowlifes can continue to debate and argue why they can't look at that when even a one-year-old could do it. They seem more interested in being right then discussing Steely Dan. I remember when this place started, we were starving for Steely Dan information instead of off-topic chit chat. Now people want personalized delivery on the silver tray.

If most of the people below had a clue, they would discuss the fucking amazing Larry Carlton interview, for example. The SD part it's pretty short compared to the rest of the interview, but it is fucking amazing because I never knew this.

So here goes my part. It was fascinating to read that Don't Take Me Alive originally started with Larry Carlton's loud, searing guitar. And then to find out that it was Donald who suggested that it be preceded with the slow-burn, grating intro that builds into Larry's opening stark raving mad, incredible guitar solo that opens the song. I know it's minutae but it's the kind of stuff we true SD fans love to live for, nuggets that are no trouble to look at the top of the screen for. We have words from the horse's mouth.

I'll do my part in all this. I'll try now and then to copy the tweets from the top of the screen into the middle screen so people won't be so challenged. Still, I don't think it'll stop people from whining. I'm sure everything in their life is like that.

Date: Mon, September 07, 2015, 02:29:08 ET
Posted by: Hane, Athens GA

A restaurant called The Famous Tavern in Sarasota, Florida served a hamburger called the Steely Dan Black Angus Burger. I think they closed down several months ago.

Date: Sun, September 06, 2015, 13:40:13 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

Coffee and a kiss
Maybe later maybe never
Lunch with Gina is forever

Date: Sun, September 06, 2015, 13:38:47 ET
Posted by: BenJammin, Catchin' Indy rays

A Steely inspired spread and drink menu would make a tight Labor Day weekend theme. A salute to all of us worker bees with the day off tomorrow!

Date: Sun, September 06, 2015, 13:21:45 ET
Posted by: Why am I, doing this ?

Extending the insanity to embrace utter failures in food preparation - 'There was nothing on but static, nothing in the fridge'

Date: Sun, September 06, 2015, 12:50:51 ET
Posted by: tact, poise and reason, barbershop in Inglewood

I kinda like fryin' up my sad cuisine

Date: Sun, September 06, 2015, 12:45:14 ET
Posted by: Why, Not?

Spike it with Deludin.

Date: Sun, September 06, 2015, 12:25:27 ET
Posted by: Why am I, doing this ?

Won't you pour me a Cuban Breeze, Gretchen ...

Date: Sun, September 06, 2015, 11:59:11 ET
Posted by: Mikey, NY

She serves the smooth retsina.

Date: Sun, September 06, 2015, 09:01:31 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

You got this one under under Food Prep?

("Steamin' Up") e.g. some live Maine lobstah..

Date: Sat, September 05, 2015, 14:48:29 ET
Posted by: Anus, .

No thanks. I'll wait for Donald's cookbook to come out.

Date: Sat, September 05, 2015, 13:28:00 ET
Posted by: Lyrics Quiz,

Trying to compile a list of all SD & solo material with lyrics about food & drink preparation (not consumption.) I can think of maybe 7, and another open to interpretation. What can y'all come up with? I'll get it started in the spirit of Labor Day weekend.

Grilling burgers.

Date: Sat, September 05, 2015, 00:58:19 ET
Posted by: Snake Mary, UK

This really made me laugh, I think it's rather well put together myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGmmA-UttPM&feature=youtu.be

Date: Fri, September 04, 2015, 08:54:42 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

Jim is probably boycotting his own creation - I probably would be if I were in his shoes. I thank him for leaving it open for posting by the rest of us.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 23:50:24 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, here

The Twitter thing brought more activity to the board in two days than ants to honey.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 20:49:53 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

I am nervously waiting to hear from are fearless leader aka
Hoops. Not goona lie to you, it reminds me of when I fucked up
and am waiting for the old man to get home from work, and boy
is he going to be pissed! If this makes no sense, I am
blaming the Ritalin.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 20:29:25 ET
Posted by: Jason, Nevada

I hate the "Larry the Cable Guy" drunks at a concert. They always wear a baseball cap and yell out loud. They ruin the concert for me. These people belong at football and baseball games.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 19:59:35 ET
Posted by: Bob, Texas

No drinking at a concert, really?

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 18:01:44 ET
Posted by: seewhatimean,

hot link (not like)

we=was

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 17:59:42 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

It's kinda scary to dig yourself...in the Greenbook.


Twitter and Facebook don't bother me much...am not so compulsive outside the lab, so w/e.

The Great Evil right now is Autocorrect - which has become a constant battler, even after "turning it off" on Preferences. Emails take 3X as long if any scientific terms are involved.


What I would like is the ability to make a link a hot like as Hoops did on his really big font message. Can was have this toy? Sure would help.



Joan's a fab writer. The feed works for me. Scroll or ignore.


Drunks at concerts are more of a bother in providing leverage to limit diversity in the set lists. The acoustics vary from venue to venue. Beacon naturally >>> outdoor shed on Arkansas.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 13:17:14 ET
Posted by: EC, NY

I can't access twitter or fakebook at work (where I spend most of my online time these days) for 2 reasons. First, these social media sites are blocked, and second, if you're caught playing on one of them on your own device it's a serious offence. So I just avoid them altogether, no matter where I am. I really don't feel I'm missing much, and I suspect I'm one of the younger readers here (disliking big social media sites isn't limited to old folks).

Hoops, don't take it so personally that many here just aren't interested in using twitter. And why single out those regular posters who actually contribute to The Blue instead of to twitter or fakebook or wherever else and who regularly help to make this board always worth reading? Doesn't seem right.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 12:01:33 ET
Posted by: Peter Strauss ,

Hoops, your huge list of recycled twitter feeds sure doesn't convince me to leave the Bluebook to read a ton of endless "tweets", but calling out some pretty entertaining contributors because they're having a sidebar discussion or because they aren't into some social irritant like twitter strikes me as downright petulant and mean spirited. It's also a great way of pushing those same posters away from the board, and an even better way of discouraging newer readers or lurkers (like me) from posting. It's bad enough when anonymous trolls post personal attacks and insults, but when the boss starts crapping on the very people who have recently made the conversation so interesting, it's worse. I know that I WOULD take it personally.

But really, why go to all the effort to post Steely Dan stuff all over twitter or facebook where most users likely don't care much about SD, when EVERYBODY reading the Bluebook IS definitely interested in Steely Dan and therefore will read your stuff? Why not put the effort into posting stories or links directly here? I get that the Bluebook audience is smaller, but it's focused. Facebook and twitter are mostly just a mess of worthless garbage and many choose to avoid them both for that reason.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 08:57:55 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

popegreg, for what it's worth, I don't think Jim was singling out you for his wrath, when he made the Van remark. I think he included all of us in the discussion. I almost mentioned it in my last response, but didn't want to fan any flames.

I think Jim either purposefully exaggerated to make his point (a bit of rhetorical hyperbole) or simply scanned the posts (he's usually in a pretty big rush these days) and got the wrong impression. Had he actually taken his time with the posts (the way most of us do, I think) he would have seen that particular aspect was a small, sidebar, on a conversation about drunken fans at SD concerts.

Now I don't want to pretend to know what Jim meant, but that would be my guess---and I wouldn't take it too personally.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 04:02:38 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but my post was actually a reply to The Dean who asked regarding VM shows: "And are we positive that ban is still in place today (and not just some short-lived policy tried at one time)?" and I was giving a (somewhat) more recent perspective.

I appreciate that Hoops does this on his own time and dime, but I fail to understand why I (and my post specifically) got called out on it. It just comes off as mean and condescending. I know PLENTY about VM and his backstory. Not so much when it comes to SD, which is why I have been lurking here and recently do a bit of posting.

Hoops, I truly hope that you were just having a bad day; but if your intention was to scare off a new poster on the board, you have succeeded.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 03:29:41 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE

Wow, I said nothing about Twitter and was only responding to the earlier posts about drinking/behavior at shows. Seems like there is plenty posted here that is somewhat off topic. SHEESH!

And BTW, I see nothing in the upper left hand corner except some text that says "Tweets by @dandomdotcom" because I visit this page when I'm at work and Twitter is blocked. I'm completely aware that I can go to Twitter, FB, Google or Instawhatever to find SD news. I just *thought* this was a friendly place for fellow SD fans to share. Guess I was wrong.

Date: Thurs, September 03, 2015, 00:50:09 ET
Posted by: Jockstrap, New York

Today is Charlie Sheen's birthday. Happy 50th Birthday, Charlie!

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 18:36:50 ET
Posted by: M FOX, Bronx, NY

KD - What's your gig?

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 17:53:22 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Hoops, as always we love and appreciate the 14 years' worth of work you do to keep this site going, and the decades' worth of work over various mediums.

It's no big deal. A lot of us may already follow the people the Dandom account RTs, or the account itself, so some of the stuff listed isn't exactly earth-shattering. On top of that, for those of us dorks, a lot of the stuff from the SD Reader we've read over and over dating back to the fin de siecle.

Again, to all, we appreciate the work, but let's not go a little silly just because some people don't want to be chided for not being on Twitter (which I'm on 24/7, because my gig sort of demands it) or Facebook (which I never joined).

And to those that responded to Hoops' remarks with a bit of "get off my lawn," you missed his point.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 17:53:14 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

The story isn't really that crazy. Some creep was harassing my 15 year old cousin a few years back so I created an account and gave him a taste of his own medicine. Twitter dragged their feet in taking care of him so I took matters into my own hands.

I used words he didn't understand as well.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 17:41:16 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Belzoni, banned from Twitter? I'm not even sure I should ask for the story? I see some pretty bizarre shit in the very limited time I've spent there, so I'm a bit curious on what it takes to get banned.

Hoops, I don't think any of us are complaining it is there (I know I'm not), some of us just aren't particularly inclined to use it. Not sure why you are taking it so personally. I just now see that if I click on the word "Tweets" it opens a tab on the Twitter page itself, which is a bit more usable than scrolling through that tiny box. Still I have to sort through the world's worst interface (I despise the Twitter user experience), seeing headlines mostly of stuff I have already read. Yes, I see there is the occasional tidbit such as the Carlton article on Joni Mitchell's site and the Royal Scam thing on Behind the Groove.

I confess to always clicking on anything by Joan, as I think her stuff is top notch. The only reason I ever started using that Twitter box was to follow Joan's setlist report/observations.

Jim I'm just happy you do what you do here. Even if I don't use all the features, I still appreciate them being there.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 17:22:19 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

Hoops:

Are you having a bad day? Never said I hated Twitter. What I said was I do not use it, attributing that to an age gap for me. I do not use any of the primary social media channels existing today. I have looked at the Twitter feed re-tweets in the upper left corner of the Blue from time to time. They are just not as important to me as they may be to others. My comments were not directed to re-tweets being present here. I certainly do not have an issue with it being on the Blue. If everyone else but me likes it, fantastic. From what I see in reading posts to the Blue there is a diverse age group here. Something for everyone is not a bad thing.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 16:22:28 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

Hey Hoops, I use the twitter feed to read the stories. I appreciate it.

I used to have one, then I got banned.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 15:21:21 ET
Posted by: Taco, Long Beach CA

This is all very confusing. I don't give a shit about twitter feeds.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 14:13:59 ET
Posted by: Rod, N

In the feed I see this

steelydanreader.com/2013/09/29/delivering-the-original-classic-thing/

steelydanreader.com/2009/10/09/donald-fagens-stealth-pop/ …

steelydanreader.com/2011/07/05/quintessential-studio-act-becomes-a-well-honed-touring-machine/ …


I just don't find 2 to 6 year old stories compelling enough to be clicked on.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 13:44:51 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

All of this (and more) appears in the upper left hand corner of this page...but because it looks like twitter it's not hot stuff????

Dr. Rock @SteelyDan_
You were a champion in their eyes: Steely Dan gets funky with The Royal Scam - The Virginian-Pilot (blog): You... http://bit.ly/1KF25K8
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show SummaryReplyRetweetFavorite
30 Aug

Steely Dan Reader @SteelyDanReader
The Unabridged Walter Becker Interview http://steelydanreader.com/1993/05/01/the-unabridged-walter-becker-interview/ …
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
30 Aug

Steely Dan Reader @SteelyDanReader
Delivering ‘The Original Classic Thing’ http://steelydanreader.com/2013/09/29/delivering-the-original-classic-thing/ …
Retweeted by Dandom.com
CollapseReplyRetweetFavorite· 1 RETWEET 1 FAVORITE
30 Aug

Steely Dan Reader @SteelyDanReader
Donald Fagen’s Stealth Pop http://steelydanreader.com/2009/10/09/donald-fagens-stealth-pop/ …
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
11 Aug

Steely Dan Reader @SteelyDanReader
Quintessential Studio Act Becomes a Well-Honed Touring Machine http://steelydanreader.com/2011/07/05/quintessential-studio-act-becomes-a-well-honed-touring-machine/ …
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
31 Aug

Dandom.com @dandomdotcom
@wassilyk https://twitter.com/steelydanreader/status/630998040187437056 …
⌘ Expand
30 Aug

Steely Dan Reader @SteelyDanReader
Cool Steely Dan Jazz-Rock on Hot Night http://steelydanreader.com/2011/07/23/cool-steely-dan-jazz-rock-on-hot-night/ …
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
11 Aug

Steely Dan Reader @SteelyDanReader
‘Gaucho’ Review http://steelydanreader.com/1981/02/05/gaucho-review/ …
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
11 Aug

Steely Dan Reader @SteelyDanReader
Dan Reels in Ears with Slick Jazz-Rock http://steelydanreader.com/2014/08/27/dan-reels-in-ears-with-slick-jazz-rock/ …
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
9 Aug

Friday Dog @FridayDog13
@KeithCarlock Your drumming was exceptional last night. Even better than the usual, if that is possible. #Slamming
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
5 Aug

Jon Herington Band @heringtonband
Attention all guitar players! http://rvrb.fm/1ORhKoO
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
13 Aug

Jon Herington Band @heringtonband
@SenBobCasey Please Support the Fair Play Fair Pay Act! #FairPlayFairPay
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
12 Aug

Dr. Rock @SteelyDan_
Steely Dan | Ravinia | Highland Park, IL | 7/24/15 Review by Joann D. Ball - Grateful Web: Steely Dan | Ravini... http://bit.ly/1TsaRM2
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
13 Aug

Dr. Rock @SteelyDan_
Concert Review: Steely Dan, Elvis Costello Close Out Tour at Perfect Vodka - New Times Broward-Palm Beach: New... http://bit.ly/1gEnkje
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Summary
20 Aug

Dr. Rock @SteelyDan_
Steely Dan tribute band jams with Naperville drummer - Chicago Tribune: Chicago TribuneSteely Dan tribute band... http://bit.ly/1NoxH8w
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
25 Aug

Dr. Rock @SteelyDan_
Steely Dan guitarist sits in with Groove Conspiracy - SFGate: SFGateSteely Dan guitarist sits in with Groove C... http://bit.ly/1V7PQck
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Summary
28 Aug

Dandom.com @dandomdotcom
"Larry Carlton on Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell and solo secrets" @JoniMitchellcom http://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=3027 …
Expand
13 Aug

LeRoy Downs @TheJazzcatnet
@Wayne_Shorter @johnbeasley @herbiehancock @petererskine my beautiful people of the music!!! #TheJazzcat sending love pic.twitter.com/WuOJeAd3GU
Retweeted by Dandom.com
View image on Twitter
Expand
6 Aug

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
@IridiumNYC will be live streaming Denny Dias (of steely dan) shows tonight! 8 and 10
Retweeted by Dandom.com
⌘ Expand
3 Aug

Dr. Rock @SteelyDan_
Reelin' in Steely Dan and Costello - Fayetteville Observer: Reelin' in Steely Dan and CostelloFayetteville Obs... http://bit.ly/1SCViWI
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Summary
1 Aug

Dr. Rock @SteelyDan_
Steely Dan helps local girl honor deceased dad - Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park PressSteely Dan helps local gi... http://bit.ly/1SsqDLD
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Summary
3 Aug

Dandom.com @dandomdotcom
Thanks to @wassilyk for the tweets. SueDave and Joan are also two of three tweetmeisters here--they can tweet on behalf at your request.
Chicago, IL, United States
3 Aug

Steely Dan Reader @SteelyDanReader
Steely Dan: Gaucho http://steelydanreader.com/1981/03/01/steely-dan-gaucho/ …
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
3 Aug

Steely Dan Reader @SteelyDanReader
Fagen On Dukes’ Hot New Tour http://steelydanreader.com/2010/08/24/fagen-on-dukes-hot-new-tour/ …
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
3 Aug

David Detjen @fajita1959
@wassilyk @dandomdotcom thanks for the set list! I am sooooo jealous!
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
3 Aug

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
,smoking hot Green Earrings followed by Dirty Work w. Paulette on lead vox #steelydan @dandomdotcom
Retweeted by Dandom.com
⌘ Expand
3 Aug

Dantrack MobileGuide @SteelyDanTrack
Sat 8/1 at PNC Ctr: @ElvisCostello dedicated "Accidents Will Happen" to people just taking seats halfway into set #brilliant
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
31 Jul

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
"They look great they talk great they smell great they have good table manners" -Walter Becker #SteelyDan #bandIntros
Retweeted by Dandom.com
⌘ Expand
31 Jul

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
It's perfection and grace... pic.twitter.com/xG68vE5L8z
Retweeted by Dandom.com
View image on Twitter
⌘ Expand
31 Jul

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
@dandomdotcom Joke ;)
Retweeted by Dandom.com
⌘ Expand
31 Jul

Dandom.com @dandomdotcom
@wassilyk that probably will freak DF out. Would most anyone.
Chicago, IL, United States
31 Jul

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
There's a guy who came to Boston #ComicCon2015 dressed as Donald Fagen #steelydan pic.twitter.com/FEewHFJ4k7
Retweeted by Dandom.com
View image on Twitter
⌘ Expand
31 Jul

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
#elviscostello #boston https://instagram.com/p/50Zl7Qn9DY/
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
31 Jul

Dr. Rock @SteelyDan_
Last Best Show: Steely Dan and Elvis Costello at the Pavilion - Boston Herald: Boston HeraldLast Best Show: St... http://bit.ly/1SnnGfg
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Show Summary
30 Jul

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
# that's Roger Rosenberg on sax just like Lisa simpson" -donald Fagen #steelydan
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
30 Jul

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
Bodhistattva a.k.a. song Jon herington *OWNS*
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Expand
30 Jul

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
@DrWarrenKruger see next tweet
Retweeted by Dandom.com
⌘ Expand
30 Jul

Joan K. Smith @wassilyk
Elvis Fucking Costello! @ElvisCostello pic.twitter.com/hmtBkEBNdl
Retweeted by Dandom.com
View image on Twitter
⌘ Expand
29 Jul

Dr. Rock @SteelyDan_
Steely Dan and Elvis Costello Deliver Double Dose of Classic Hits - Cleveland Scene Weekly: Cleveland Scene We... http://bit.ly/1fHBWhp
Retweeted by Dandom.com
Steely Dan and Elvis Costello Deliver Double Dose of Classic Hits
Steely Dan’s Walter Becker and Donald Fagen aren’t the most animated performers. But with a stellar backing band anchored by hard-hitting drummer Keith Carlock, they...

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 13:30:33 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

So Dean, Rod, Bookkeepers Son, popegreg, M/O/D/P, anyone else:

I'm not asking anyone to sign up for Twitter and become a Twitter'ophile. No sir! I'm not even suggesting that you go to twitter.com and sort through the self-absorption.

Rather, what I'm saying is that myself, along with the likes of SueDave, Security Joan and others, collectively and carefully curate and offer up 95% leanest-beef Steely Dan-related headlines and links in the upper left hand corner of this very window. It's basically a replacement for a an RSS feed that so happens to be via twitter. It's on this page. All about Steely Dan or artists who are one step away. And rather than click on that box and read the latest Steely Dan news and even what SD is playing at the moment concert, you'd rather ignore that because it looks like twitter and instead discuss Van Morrison's drinking habits. (If you know much about Van Morrison and some news stories about him, you know he likely has a drinking problem and he has to do whatever it takes to stay on the wagon lest he screw up his performance--end of story, not much SD to discuss.)

So the responses I expected was along the line, "Oh, I didn't realize you could click up there and scroll down and see the real-time set lists we've been asking about. I'll keep that in mind instead of asking over and over" or "How cool is that about the opening of 'Don't Take Me Alive' and how Larry Carlton, Donald and Walter had that came about. Let's discuss..."

Instead I hear a collective response:

"Almost 100% Steely Dan headlines served right on this page? No way will I look at that because I hate twitter."

Really!??????

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 13:04:35 ET
Posted by: Rod, N

If a user posts a link in discussion, I, too, am more likely to check it out vs. a Tweeted link. Like two days ago, there was a barrage of retweets from @steelydanreader. Maybe @dandomdotcom felt each was worthy of checking out, but as a reader I just think they got a little trigger happy and skip it.

I will say that it's cool tweeting a famous person and getting a retweet or a reply.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 12:08:30 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

I also agree with M/O/D/P and the Dean. The Blue is well suited to me, much more so than current social media formats. I do not use FaceBook (a/k/a FakeBook), Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram etc.. No burning desire to be in the moment with every detail of people's lives. A little while back I was talking about social media with my cousin's 18 year old son. He said people his age have, for the most part left FakeBook and mainly use Twitter as it is more immediate. To quote him, "FaceBook is mostly old people now". If that is the case, the Blue most be the bastion of "really old" people? Or at least people who feel no need to migrate to the newest and the latest form of communication. Different strokes for different folks.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 11:04:24 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

I have agree with, Mr. Deepa. I tend to avoid anything associated with Twitter or Facebook---or really any social media other than the occasional forum/message board. In fact, for the longest time I had a social media blocker (along with my adblocker) on my browser. I didn't even see the Twitter box on this forum, as the plugin for it was blocked. But I did a bit of re-configuration and now I see it there. I used it once, or twice, for a setlist. But honestly, why would I wait for a song by song update, when I can find out the entire set once the show is over?

As far as I can tell, the vast majority of tweets are for marketing/advertising purposes---and I have no use for those. The next largest percentage seems to be for people who just like to post any thought they might have, as though it is important to the rest of the world. A very Very VERY small percentage is from people who are actually important/interesting enough to follow and whose real time thoughts are useful while also capable of being widdled down to 140 character tidbits. And honestly, for those I care enough about, I read their blogs and/or have link to their RSS feed.

I remember a time when Web Searcher (I think that was his handle) used to post anything on the Interwebs relating to Steely Dan. For me (and let me stress this is just a personal thing) I much prefer that to the Twitter box.

Finally, I'd expect most anything of sufficient interest found in the Twitter box above to be discussed on The Blue---and I suppose that's what Hoops is getting at. So I encourage anyone who actually reads those Tweets to share, with an actual link, anything worth discussing here. Then we old fuddy duddies can play along. And we would be very appreciative of your help, I'm sure.

Date: Wed, September 02, 2015, 05:33:16 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE

I've heard that Van Morrison has done shows in the last 5-6 years where no alcohol was available. However the last 2 times I saw him (September 2009 at The Chicago Theater and 2011 at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas) they stopped alcohol sales just before he went on. Apparently, Mr. Morrison is now a teetotaler and he hates people getting up and down from their seats during the show. I suspect that he has to negotiate something with the venue for a limited or no booze show. I'm sure the venue counts on and considers drink revenue to be a good chunk of their business, and I bet it contributes to the higher ticket prices. Since he never plays more than 90-95 minutes, it's never been that big a deal for me. Though at that Chicago show I slammed a couple beforehand knowing that they were going to shut down concessions. My bladder did not cooperate and I missed a great song that was not of the "pee break" variety.

That said I hope SD never does this; freedom of choice, amurica eff yeah and all!!

HouDanFan is either full of sh!t or lucky, and I sincerely hope it's the latter. Though I suspect he's just a bit more tolerant than most.

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 23:47:26 ET
Posted by: Emmo Deepea - M/O/D/P in disguise, Like I said - in "disguise"

QUOTE - AND IT'S A DAMNED GOOD ONE - "But then I stop--because it's that old school Internet quality (Internet with a cap "I"), that serves to make the BlueBook a collective voice with a special culture that the latest social media can't duplicate. For all the attention given to Facebook and Google+, the content here on the Blue is often much more in-depth and spontaneous, albeit uneven." ENDQUOTE

Jim, I think you nailed it.

Speaking only for myself, I avoid both "face-book" and "twitter" like the f***king plague. These things are, for me anyways, the realm of other people. The people who watch "reality TV", and the ones who are obsessed with sharing the minutiae of their lives with EVERYONE on the planet. The ones who tweet and twat and twitter throughout their days without regard to the consequences. I have nothing in common with those people. Nothing. And I choose not to connect with them in any way.

So when a "face-book" or "twitter" thingy comes up here or anywhere else, I avoid it like I'd sidestep a bubonic plague spreader circa 1556. Sure, I guess that I probably miss out on some potentially interesting stuff, but I figure in the end it's worth it. Some folks would gladly dive headlong into a vat of feculence in order to - possibly - secure a .5 carat diamond. That's OK, but it ain't OK for me. Just me, we understand.

So that's why I personally haven't commented on any "face-book" or "twitter" stuff connected here. I just don't read that stuff.

I think what we (collectively) have here (The Blue) is cool & organic, and as such it should supersede all other veb-sytes. No??

For the record, I also hate it when my local TV newscast opens up with..."On twitter, some jackass just said..." or "Our top story tonight, some chick on face-book says this-or-that".

I admit it. I'm "old".

M/O/D/P
ps - "elderly"
pps - "Out of touch"
ppps - Or just grounded - you decide!

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 23:30:33 ET
Posted by: Steve,

Looking forward to the NYC show, the night of whatever.

Larry Carlton story is excellent!

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 20:46:54 ET
Posted by: hoops, Bronzeville

Hey gang!

Yes! This is in extra big print because people are ignoring or overlooking some really great information.

As I was compiling the latest Dandom Digest (for July 23-August 31, 2015) I was surprised at how many people were posting here complaining about the set list not being posted for a given show. For several shows throughout the tour--including for some that people were specifically asking for set lists--the set lists have been tweeted direct to this page in the ipper left hand corner where we have tweets. Yep! More than a couple setlists here in real time direct from Dan fans.

Moreover, have you checked what's posted above in the Twitter feed? For just one example, last Friday, August 28th, there was a great link posted to an interview with Larry Carlton. The Steely Dan part in Carlton's interview (reposted at JoniMitchell.com) is relatively short but oh so juicy! He explains exactly how his guitar solos on KId C and Don't Take Me Alive came about! I've never heard Carlton talk about that. It's The Shit! And Children we have it right here at the upper left side of this page, to the left of the "Post" button. Click once in the black box (above, not the three sample images of tweets below) and scroll down through dozens of amazing posts and information and real time tweets from shows.

HOW COME NO RESPONSES!??

Check the Twitter feed above. Great stuff! Live setlists! Juicy links retweeted.

Best regards,

Jim
aka hoops

P.S. I am the first to admit, with my head shaking and my eyes rolling, that the BlueBook is dated in format and technology. But then I stop--because it's that old school Internet quality (Internet with a cap "I"), that serves to make the BlueBook a collective voice with a special culture that the latest social media can't duplicate. For all the attention give to Facebook and Google+, the content here on the Blue is often much more in-depth and spontaneous, albeit uneven.

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 19:47:33 ET
Posted by: Bob, Texas

Thanks for all the feedback on having Donald open for SD. It's brilliant and solves so many issues and grants so many wishes.

The Dean has a great idea of having Don do a couple of Fagen tunes, then Walter comes out to do a couple, allowing Don to rest his voice. Then SD goes.

Simply brilliant. I think we should promote and demand this for the upcoming Beacon shows. Are you with me?

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 17:40:57 ET
Posted by: Wink, San Antonio, TX

The British EDM band is Rudimental. I like their song "Rumour Mill". Donald Fagen recorded a spoken-word verse for their upcoming album.

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 16:07:04 ET
Posted by: Unkle Fahkwad, Swamp of Indeterminate Non-Region/Liminality

A while back I remember reading/hearing that Donald was working with some British electronic/EDM-type artist. What ever became of that? Does anyone know? Or do I just need to "do a search asshole?" ..

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 14:36:08 ET
Posted by: Wink, San Antonio, TX

The no alcohol ban was strictly enforced when I saw Van Morrison play at the Cynthia Woods Pavilion back in 2010. The venue did not sell any alcohol. Van hates people moving around and causing disruptive behavior at his concerts.

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 13:47:28 ET
Posted by: EC, NY - making too much noise apparently

I doubt if s total ban on alcohol would ever be workable circa 2015. Most of these venues derive a significant portion of overall revenue from booze sales. The music is now a secondary consideration in many arenas and sheds.

So I'm at work (in a big room full of quiet cubicles) and every time I read an MODP post lately I get told that I'm "disrupting others" with my outburst of laughter. That McCartney story is hilarious, but "vomit and partial nudity belong in the bedroom" did me in. You trying to get me fired, dude?

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 11:08:02 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

I have been to many Van Morrison concerts, and don't recall they were non-drinking. But then again, it has been awhile since my last Van concert (2005, maybe?). It probably didn't make that big of impression on me, since he was in smaller venues and sometimes they don't let people bring drinks of any kind into the theatre. Never bothered me that much, I guess. Now, I have seen Van far too trashed to perform, but that was back in the 70's.

But I agree it probably isn't a workable (or advisable) policy for most shows. Especially at outdoor amphitheaters or sheds.

Come to think of it, that last concert I saw Van was at Mountain Winery. There was definately drinking inside the grounds before the show. Perhaps there was a ban on bringing booze into the concert area, but I don't think so. I guess Van's new policy came more recently. And are we positive that ban is still in place today (and not just some short-lived policy tried at one time)?

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 09:39:15 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Yeah, banning booze at shows is a bridge too far for me. We just need a fan-only show.

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 09:13:27 ET
Posted by: Dylynfan, Harrisburg, Pa

I am with KD on this one, prohibition never works, and there is
nothing wrong with enjoying a "beverage" at a concert. Just behave
while doing so. End of story.

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 07:17:28 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

The no-alcohol thing isn't going to fly, and it might not even help because people (like me) are just going to pre-game themselves into wooziness either in the parking lot or the nearest pub.

The issue is that I can hold my liquor, even when I'm past the legal limit. Just get a ride home and enjoy the show. Why can't everyone's dad do the same?

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 02:44:01 ET
Posted by: Aristophanes,

There is a definite rise over the years in the amount of assholes carrying on and acting up at live events across the board. Also, as I get older I am finding the less I can stand crowds of people invading my personal space. The summer concerts are the worst with the humidity and dope smoke mixed with swamp ass and armpit odor haze in the air. Nowadays if the venue is not sold out, I will leave my assigned seat near the front and move toward the back where I might be the only person in the entire row of seats. Sometimes I won't even go to my seat and will just loiter about the venue to avoid the riff raff.

I wish that they would make a pay per view choice for concerts, paid podcast etc. like they do with WWE or UFC. They could also issue a DVD of every show and release them after the tours are over. This way, you could rewind and catch things you missed and see things from the best vantage points. Even a good recording would be good enough. The concert is mostly an audio experience, not like a movie or a play. Ninety percent of the audience at most concerts can't even see what is going on on stage.

With sky high prices, assholes, traffic, parking I have begun to question why even go to these events. If there was a pay per view or some other means would you still go to concerts? Why do you go?

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 01:50:11 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

The no alcohol rule sounds great.

When I was in high school I went to see the Foo Fighters/RHCP with a few friends on their Californication tour. They didn't allow any alcohol to be served and the audience was great.

Date: Tues, September 01, 2015, 00:28:58 ET
Posted by: Hippy Dave, Lancaster, PA

I hate general admission open floor rock concerts the most. Everybody is packed in like sardines and you can't sit. I get hot and sweaty and it feels like suffocating.

Date: Mon, August 31, 2015, 14:59:52 ET
Posted by: Brewster, SoCal

That's why Van Morrison is my favorite artist to see. Yes, his tickets are expensive but Van has a No Alcohol Drinking Ban at his concerts. Van doesn't want a bunch of rowdy assholes drinking beer while he performs and neither do I.

Date: Mon, August 31, 2015, 14:15:37 ET
Posted by: HouDan, Houston

Like I said, guess I'm lucky. The last SD show I attended there was a drunk guy in front of me jumping up and down screaming during Reelin in the Years with a beer in his hand. Perhaps the group in front of him didn't care for it. I found it somewhat amusing. When someone in here mentioned that most think they are entitled to do what they want if they pay $100's of dollars for a ticket, well that can work both ways. Others might think that since they paid hundreds for a ticket then everyone around them should sit quietly and enjoy the show without disrupting his/her space. I will say that Houston CWP is very professionally operated with security within every 10 rows that I can tell. They are usually pretty on top of things, in a good way. And contrary to your comment Dean, I don't cause disruptions or act an idiot at concerts as you insinuated.

Date: Mon, August 31, 2015, 01:12:46 ET
Posted by: Long, Buffalo NY

So who's going to be the opening act for Steely Dan at the upcoming shows at the Beacon Theatre in October?

Date: Mon, August 31, 2015, 00:09:53 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

I'm just more offended by his misuse of the word "ironic" when "coincidental" would have been more appropriate, but that's just the a-hole Steely Dan fan in me.

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 23:10:42 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Also puked on at "Zappa Plays Zappa" - what a coincidence!

I'm really curious - How could some drunken jackass barfing on Belzoni or some other drooling idiot undressing next to my wife at a rock concert possibly be considered "ironic" in any context?

That's not a trick question, just a good one.

The answer, of course, is - "it isn't".

And why is it that all of that (and so much more) routinely happens and gets excused or overlooked by venue staff all over North America? Is it those crazy Eagles-inspired ticket prices? ("They paid a lot of money to sit there, they can do what they like, sir!"). Is it the get-'em-in/get-'em-out-cattle-car attitude that venues commonly have towards pop/rock audiences?

All I know is, you try any of that disruptive crap at The Philharmonic - or even at some gawdawful Andrew Lloyd Webster (yes, I know) play and you will find yourself silenced immediately. Or worse.

I have been regularly attending "rock shows" since (as a little under-aged kid) I first saw Pink Floyd at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario in 1975. It still bugs me that I have to go to the goddanmed Symphony in order to sit with people who understand that vomit and partial nudity belong in the bedroom, not the concert hall.

M/O/D/P

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 22:58:37 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Good point, Chris. I don't think Steely Dan shows are the worst for fan behavior, by any means. But if HouDanFan has never been the victim of an obnoxious fan at ANY show, he is lucky indeed.

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 22:37:40 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

HouDanFan: you're lucky, man. At a Steely Dan show, a guy punched my then-girlfriend. At a different show, a guy tried to fight my buddy because he thought he was being made fun of (he wasn't). And at several shows, folks behind me talked loudly though the music.

To be fair, it's not exclusive to Steely Dan shows. There's plenty of shitty behavior at all concerts, large and small. If you see a band at a sold out 500 capacity standing room club, your personal space will be invaded and beer will be spilled on you. But that tends to come from a place of enthusiasm. Classic rock shows bring out the entitled pricks.

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 22:28:43 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Stop, I agree this is so unlikely to happen it can be safely dismissed as an idea. But as I despise posters who refuse to use a consistent username, and even more those who think they can/should have the right to dictate what gets discussed on The Blue---I think we should discuss the idea a bit more. (Only Hoops tells us what to do!)

Don starts off playing a couple solo tunes. Then rests his voice a bit while Walt plays 2-3 of his solo tunes before the whole SD orchestra comes on stage.

As for Tori, she plays all her songs with legs wide open, for those who don't know. But at least she isn't stoking her thighs while she plays this. I dunno, I didn't totally hate it.

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 22:14:02 ET
Posted by: Stop!, I mean it

Neither Walter nor Donald is ever going to open for their own show. I don't want to hear another word about it.

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 21:26:42 ET
Posted by: HouDanFan, Houston

I've witnessed a few unruly fans over the years but have never been directly involved with another person acting like an idiot at a concert, Guess I'm lucky, To have had several incidents as some of you have just seems ironic,

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 20:34:12 ET
Posted by: There ain't, nothin' "sexual" about that video

Somebody clearly doesn't get the whole "dark(er)" lyrics vs. "bright" music thing. It's a dichotomy, don'tcha know!

Sure, there's an audience for this type of material. There's an "audience" for a whole huge world of other unsanitary stuff too. Doesn't make it OK.

SO - "Do it Again" performed as a dirge? No thanks.

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 19:16:50 ET
Posted by: Curly, Los Angeles

Does anyone have any opinions on Tori Amos performing a pianosexual version of "Do It Again"?. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYUGy4Tbgb0. She performs the song with her legs spread wide open between two keyboards.

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 18:57:35 ET
Posted by: Luke, CT

I'd rather see Walter open for Steely Dan.

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 17:59:31 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, here

Bring back the intermissions and do 10 songs each set with one solo tune from each in both sets!

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 17:00:32 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's a Reggae Sunday Happy Hour!

Bob, while I love the idea of Don opening for Steely Dan, do you think his voice can handle that much singing for any extended time? Maybe if they did no back-to-back nights? But that makes it unrealistic for Steely Dan.

Maybe Don and Walt could do a mini-set (3-4 songs) each, as an opener for Steely Dan. I know it is completely unlikely, but it would be fun. And they wouldn't need to hire another band.


And HouDanFan, you've never sat close to an obnoxious fan? A stumbling drunk who spills his/her drink on the people sitting close by? One that wants to sing, loudly and off key, with the artist you paid to see? Or one that talks, loudly and incessantly, during the show? I think you are extremely lucky if you have never had that sort of experience at any concert. Or perhaps that behavior simply doesn't bother you.

They say every group has an asshole. Look around. If you don't an asshole, that could mean it's you! Just kidding. But seriously, if you have been to many concerts and have NEVER been bothered by the behavior of anyone, you are either very lucky or very tolerant (and/or perhaps the one engaging in the objectionable behavior).

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 16:20:30 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, here

Yes, Hou, sitting down at Paul McCartney, and tapping my foot sure started up some trouble!

Also, I guess sitting down during Aja while Drunky Mcdrunkerson did his thing behind me was my fault as well.

I REALLY need to look at my behavior. Maybe I need to start taking my shirt and shoes off while consuming copious amounts of $8 beer!

Date: Sun, August 30, 2015, 14:38:04 ET
Posted by: HouDanFan, Houston

Some of you in here complaining about all the bad episodes at concerts about being thrown up on, beer spilled, pushed over, pushed down, etc is amazing. I've been to hundreds of concerts in the last 25 yrs and have never experienced anything close to that. Maybe you complainers are the problem.

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 23:25:13 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

@ Steve, New Frontier would be a great opener. I did that list as a way to represent all of his albums, I would also love to hear he Countermoon/Teahouse jam live.

He did Third World Man on his last tour, so I put it in as well.

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 20:05:23 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

I agree with Belzoni, I think "New Frontier" would make a DF 2016 set list, for sure.
I'm like some of you in hoping for a new SD or new Fagen album. At the very least, I think it would be fun if they revisited some of their unreleased material. Record "The Second Arrangement" as it was meant to be recorded and CAPTURED in 1979. Revisit "Wet Side Story" and I'm sure they have a few other decent tunes that could get the full "Steely Dan" band studio treatment.
I was thinking another Fagen solo tour as I wasn't sure Walt wanted to be on tour for another Summer in a row, although this year's tour wasn't really that taxing with the brief spring sojourn followed by a slightly longer Summer roadshow.
From everyone's reports here on the site, it seemed like Don, Walt & Company had a fun time this Summer...why would they stop now...

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 20:01:09 ET
Posted by: Bob, Texas

There is hope for the songs you love.

Next tour instead of Organ Trio or Elvis, Donald could open for SD. Think of the possibilities.

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 19:00:54 ET
Posted by: Sig, F

Everyone knows there's no chance of any surprises in an SD show, so you're all looking to a DF solo show for it.

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 16:01:52 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

New Frontier
IGY
Nightfly
Pretzel Logic
Third World Man
Brite Nightgown
What I Do
Don't Take Me Alive
Not the Same Without You
New Breed
Weather in My Head
Tomorrow's Girls
Countermoon
Teahouse on the Tracks

------------------------
My Old School

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 15:17:16 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

While I would love to be proven wrong, it seems that solo tours and SD playing outside of the US are things of the past.

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 13:42:55 ET
Posted by: lol, k

"Why would Donald do a solo tour when he can make more money with Steely Dan"?


Maybe he's sick of playing Peg and Josie?

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 12:37:48 ET
Posted by: Babylon Cow, NJ

I remember I bought a VIP package for the Donald Fagen Band Morph the Cat solo tour back in 2006. I got to see the soundcheck and received a seat in the front row for the concert.

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 12:04:35 ET
Posted by: Alvin, Rochester NY

Why would Donald do a solo tour when he can make more money with Steely Dan? He didn't even do a solo tour to promote his Sunken Condos CD.

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 09:15:15 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

Steve I gennareli agree with your post's, but this seems like
wishful thinking on your part, though I hope u r right. Plus,
I love the set list game, will be back with mine later.

Date: Sat, August 29, 2015, 08:08:45 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

This is just a guess on my part, but I think Mr.
Donald Fagen will go on a solo tour in 2016. So without
further adieu, here is the set list.

Here at The Western World
IGY
The Nightfly
I'm Not the Same Without You
Chain Lightning
Florida Room
Weather in My Head
*Intermission*
Tomorrow's Girls
Miss Marlene
H Gang
Cover of a Marvin Gaye song
Everything Must Go

Encore:
Do it Again
Pretzel Logic

Date: Fri, August 28, 2015, 22:39:57 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Fantastic, Cecil

I think this is a video on good parenting.

Date: Fri, August 28, 2015, 21:29:00 ET
Posted by: Cecil, etc.

SD cover of the day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR_O0MIgxeo

Date: Fri, August 28, 2015, 16:18:22 ET
Posted by: Unkle Fahkwad, Center of the Empire

I think Chet is trying to be steely smartass, in a good natured kind of way.

Date: Fri, August 28, 2015, 08:37:33 ET
Posted by: Jeffy, N

My new car came with a free trial for XM and this morning they played a song called Life is a Rock which names a bunch of artists including Steely Dan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCUJ6MgULZU

Apologies to those of you who have been aware of it for the past 41 years!

Date: Fri, August 28, 2015, 02:36:11 ET
Posted by: Earwax, .

Donald Trump/Charlie Sheen 2016

Date: Thurs, August 27, 2015, 14:34:01 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Mole: They're jokes.

Anon Coward: You tell 'em, slugger.

Date: Thurs, August 27, 2015, 12:32:15 ET
Posted by: Anon, again

KD - It's 2015. You can say the word "marijuana". By the way, it's completely legal in 3 states. Not sure if you knew or not.

Date: Thurs, August 27, 2015, 02:53:04 ET
Posted by: Mole, .underground

Chet, what planet are you from?

Date: Thurs, August 27, 2015, 02:14:15 ET
Posted by: Chet, B

I hate how Steely Dan never plays any of their best known hits in concert. Particularly I'd Really Like to see you Tonight and Stuck in the Middle with you. Also, Henley should throw in a few of his solo hits like Boys of Summer.

And Peter Gabriel was in Chicago, not Genesis. You're thinking of Pete Townshend.

Date: Thurs, August 27, 2015, 00:22:39 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, here

Here is a good analogy.

2002, I am in Denver to see Peter Gabriel on his Growing Up tour and I'm talking to some people outside.

One of them asks

"Is he going to play Hotel California tonight?"

"He wasn't in the Eagles...he was in Genesis."

He turns to his wife and says

"We got ripped off, he wasn't in The Eagles!"

He then goes on and on about how they are in their fifties and saw their first concert ever in 1994-The Eagles on their hell Freezes Over tour.

We get inside and it turns out I am 3 rows behind them on the floor. They talk incessantly through the opener (The Blind Boys of Alabama).

Time for PG- he comes out an opens the show solo, by himself playing piano and singing. They keep talking.

By the time we reach the second song (from his new album) the SPL has increased and they are jolted out of their conversation by the opening notes of the song. They spill their beers, get pissed and leave, never to return.

I moved up and took one of their seats.

These are the ones who go and scream for "Ride Captain Ride" at SD shows.

Date: Thurs, August 27, 2015, 00:04:44 ET
Posted by: Marty, Los Angeles

Brian Auger would make a really good opening act for Steely Dan. Brian plays a mean funky Hammond B-3 organ and he's still going strong after all these years.

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 23:07:59 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Good call, I'd never thought of that before.

Like, my father is a pro and doesn't have a problem, but he'll have a whole hell of a lot of vodka sodas at a Dan show, and he'll smoke a ton of you know what on the way there (and, if possible, while there). And yet, while he's a boisterous Irish dude, he has a good and loud time while still being respectful and not, pardon the phrase, acting as if he just had his first beer.

It's probably because he was dodging firecrackers at some Humble Pie show in 1973, passing one around discreetly at a Little Feat show in 1976, or ducking flying bottles at a Graham Parker show in 1979. Unlike the "Stones in 1994"-types.

He turns 64 in a few months and still rocks out. I look at some of the people his age and dressed in the same uniform he wears to these shows -- polo shirt, khaki shorts -- acting a fool at Dan gigs and I just KNOW that they have no idea who Brian Auger is.

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 20:32:05 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P,

Belzoni - Thanks for sharing my pain retroactively. That McCartney show was one expensive disaster. Thanks also for your 2003 soundcheck story from a while back. Great stuff.

I think that another part of the problem is that many of the 50-somethings or early-60-somethings who are attending live "old guy" rock shows these days are the types who never went to concerts when they were '70s kids, i.e. when the band in question might have been in its prime. Maybe they just weren't cool enough. Maybe they just weren't particularly aware of music beyond fluffy AM top 40 at the time. Or, more humorously, they simply weren't allowed to go to "rock concerts" back then. Don't laugh - I meet these people at nearly every show I see these days. "Oh, yeah, my first concert was The Stones in '94 - it was amazing!". Imagine that coming from a guy in his mid fifties. It's hard to keep a straight face in a situation like that, I can tell you.

One of the components of the live music experience that can make it so special is an audience that makes lots of noise - the enthusiasm really enhances the vibe - but that also collectively knows when to shut the hell up. So why all the loud drunken conversation that attempts to drown out the sound system? Well, if you never went to shows when you were a kid, and you've reached middle age fully believing that your every whim must be pure gold, the results in later years should be fairly predictable. Sadly, many of these developmentally stunted people just never learned how to be part of an audience, and it's too late to teach them now.

Speaking of the egregious Mike Love (and the observation about the Mike Love audience vs. the Brian Wilson audience is bang-on), an older guy who lives down the street from me just mentioned in passing how excited he was that "The Beach Boys" would be playing nearby Casino Rama later this Fall. When I said I wouldn't be going because it will be just a shadow of the real thing, his honest reply was telling. "Oh, I never really cared too much about who's playing in any band, I just like to have a few beers and hear the old tunes again". Nothing wrong with that, I guess, but that line of thinking probably defines the difference between us rabid Steely Dan fans and three-quarters-shitfaced Chuck 'n' Stacy and their precious Lexus.

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 19:46:50 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, HERE

@ M/O/D/P

Oh man, your McCartney experience echoes mine! I went to see him with my mom in 2002 and (as I said in the previous post) I was pushed over by a drunken moron who was arrested for public intoxication and assault. We missed 5 songs.

The audience?

My mom put it best "I think these people all watched Ed Sullivan and stopped listening when the band dropped acid."

They ate up the early Beatles stuff.

They were so ambivalent to the psychedelic/Wings/solo stuff.

I kind of felt as if I was watching a museum installation of some sort. The lines he used, he uses in every city apparently...

I took her to see The Who back in May. She and my dad had seen them in the 70s and I have seen them 5 times since 2002 and the audience was great. Half of the fun was hearing Townshend and Daltrey engage back and forth and having Daltrey tell us

"We're gonna do this next song, if you don't know it...too fucking bad. You should."

After which they played "A Quick One...While He's Away."

Then again, the audience at The Who was probably half 50+ and half 50 and below.

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 19:35:57 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, here

I've seen Primus (in GA, on the floor) 20+ times with a bunch of weirdos (like me) and have never had a bad experience.

I saw Soundgarden twice in 2013 in general admission and didn't have a problem.

I was dragged by a friend to see Slayer about 10 years ago and people were crazy but I didn't see any fights and everyone was cool.

On the other hand...

I have been knocked over by a drunk at a Paul McCartney concert in 2002.

Had another drunk throw up on me at a Zappa Plays Zappa show in 2007.

I had beer spilled on me and was thrown up on at a SD show in 2008 in the fifth row. To the band's benefit, one of their road crew saw it and personally helped remove the guy and brought me an Aja shirt to change into.

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 17:16:27 ET
Posted by: Matten, Boomer in Arms

Don Patrol et al - I feel better reading your posts on the state of some concert goers at SD concerts these days. I thought it was just me in my grumpy old age getting pissed off. Unfortunately it seems to be getting worse, in my experience anyway, after 12 years and 15 SD concerts all over North America. And I totally agree that the culprits more often than not are of the boomer generation, which is disappointing given I am one of them. I love happy enthusiasm, and even more so the misfits and goofballs that this music seems to attract in abundance, including me. But I have noticed a marked deterioration in behavior in the last few years that I have thought lots about. It is almost as though folks who behave this way have convinced themselves that they are entitled to behave whatever way they want no matter how it impacts the experience of the others around them. You can get a beer any time so why the incessant need to constantly get up and down as though dying the thirst. And the constant babble of a drunken conversation while raising the level of voices to overcome the sound system? Really? I find I have to be brutally rude back just to get to hear the music I have looked forward to for many months. Where has thoughtfulness gone?

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 15:52:31 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Steely Dan straddles a line that has made them millions. Your aunt and uncle know 'Rikki' and they know 'Peg' and "oh, I didn't know they did this one, I love this song!" when 'Dirty Work' pops up, but the audience is going to also be half full of rock snobs like (let's be honest) us.

It's the difference between those who will go see Mike Love's Beach Boys Extravaganza (or whatever he's calling it now) and Brian Wilson (who I saw do 'Smile' in 2005, great show, great crowd).

You're not going to get the annoying fans at an Elvis Costello show or a reformed Big Star show or a Todd Rundgren show (who I passed on seeing earlier this month ... $50 bucks and it was just him and two singers!), but Steely Dan's crossover appeal means an important client and his wife can join Chuck from the firm and his wife Stacy in preparing to drive their Lexus home while plastered via the company dime.

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 15:24:53 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Miserable AND old at the same time

Don Patrol - No-one loves those deadbeats, losers, and social outcasts more than yours truly. They aren't the ones wrecking the proceedings at the SD shows I've been to, though. It's the pushy, noisy, affluent-appearing oldsters every time. I'd happily sit in a crowd of nothing but awkward dorks, social misfits, semi-harmless weirdos, and earnest music fans, but give me another load of obnoxious, over-served Boomers and I'm headed for the exit. I also never thought I'd miss all the air-polluting potheads from my '70s concert-going days, but I do. I'd take those lovable losers over any drunk, any time.

KD - That "group-think" mentality you refer to was very definitely in evidence at the Brian Wilson show, and in the most positive way possible. It was a mostly-older crowd (85% over 50?), and that was the surprising part for me. In my experience over the last ten years or so, these folks simply aren't capable of showing that kind of respect/self-control for an entire rock show (especially those by bands with the dreaded "Classic Rock" designation), unlike the late-teens or twenty-somethings in attendance who are usually pretty attentive, even interested, and who sometimes even appear embarrassed at the obnoxious behavior of some of those around them (read: "Mom &/or Dad").

But the whole group-think thing isn't even remotely positive when the majority of any given audience are responsible for the worst kind of connectivity - the kind where way too many of the folks in the room all decide to treat the concert hall like it's their own backyard BBQ, or the local bar, or their rec room. Or worse. Think: "Everything revolves around my wants & needs & whims". Sometimes, it's enough to make ya lose yer faith in humanity...

A handful of years ago, at a McCartney show (in a huge hockey/basketball barn), the guy sitting beside us decided, a couple of songs into the set, that it was far too warm for shirt-wearing. Not to be outdone, he soon removed his shoes and then, as he settled in for the duration, his socks. You heard me - his goddamned socks. Yes, we were sitting near the top of the arena at the opposite-from-the-stage end, and yes, most of us probably felt like we were watching an audience who were watching an act on a huge TV screen that was in another time zone (talk about being disconnected from the performance), but this jackass wasn't in his basement den, he was at the beach. I was tempted to say something to him, but I figured I'd stay quiet unless the 46-inch-waist khaki shorts came off.

They didn't. Thankfully.

Anyways, the already-awful show was made even more unbearable by all the disrespectful people surrounding us. In addition to the usual constant parade of beer/bathroom breaks, and the loud drunken shouting, and the mindless let's-catch-up-on-the-week's-events chatter all around us, the middle-aged woman directly in front of us kept making loud phone calls a few seconds into almost every song. "OH MY GOD!! NOW HE'S PLAYING 'YESTERDAAAAAAAAAY'!!", she shrieked with delight as the guy nearly a quarter of a mile away played his acoustic guitar. Imagine that - Paul playing "Yesterday" live in concert. Hard to believe, isn't it sweetie? Better call another friend to let her know about this.

I highly doubt if I'd ever go to see Sir Paul live again. Nothing against the man himself. It's his audience I can't stand.

M/O/D/P

ps - To be fair, I've never had anyone sitting near me at a Steely Dan show take his socks off. These days, though, given the average age of the average SD concert attendee, missing socks might just be the least of my worries. I won't get any more graphic than that.

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 14:13:26 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

The last show at Port Charles was the most drunken crowd I have experienced.
Loud during performance then face-planting out front after. The guy Donald called
out for "annoying the people around you" was at the hotel where we staying, and
before the show told us he was a big fan, so maybe he was just a little over enthusiastic, but to his credit he did tone it down. But my general observation is
similar to KD (same goes for real life, in a lot of ways) and I guess each show experience is unique, and it's up to me to make that experience positive. But I
guess if you like Danmusic, so many losers,deadbeats and social outcasts(myself included)are central characters, that's what makes the shows such fun.

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 13:34:23 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

And I'm not saying I sit still and ruminate the entire time. I drink, I yell, I applaud the solos in-song, I get up for one last drink every time they play 'Peg' (that's how I got to meet Warren Haynes once, doing the same thing at one of the Royal Scam shows).

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 13:02:27 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Never had an issue with people my age or younger at SD shows. They are always fans taking in the music. Can't say the same for the boomers.

Doesn't apply to all types of shows, of course - there's plenty of obnoxious behavior from 20 somethings or teens at certain types of shows where people go to party. Steely Dan, though, I'll take a highschooler over an AARP member any day.

(No offense to any posters here - we're all The Good Ones)

Date: Wed, August 26, 2015, 10:18:34 ET
Posted by: Freddie, A

SD alumnus in the (local NJ) news.

http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/jazzman-bill-charlap-takes-over-as-director-of-jazz-studies-at-william-paterson-video-1.1398288

Date: Tues, August 25, 2015, 23:12:58 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Well put.

I'm not the most physically imposing guy out there, but I've had great success at Steely Dan shows and older act shows (Paul Weller a few months ago) at shouting these people down. A good "HEY!" and glare at them has always worked. For me, at least, your results might vary. Sometimes, you can't argue with someone on their third $11.95 margarita.

I know 20-somethings are (rightfully) oft-mocked for wanting to document everything on their stupid phones, but I go to tons of smaller shows for way rowdier acts with people a decade younger than me (I'm 35), and the PBR-swilling kids are WAY more respectful than a goodly chunk of the party types at Steely Dan shows.

There's a sense of group-think, would be my guess, that you don't get at Steely Dan shows with groups of people that all have different expectations about what they want out of their night.

(The same goes for real life, in a lot of ways. Think of the last time you were cut off or were surprised by someone in an SUV that didn't use their turn signal. It's not usually the kids, it's their Aunt Linda trying to get one more text in.)

Date: Tues, August 25, 2015, 21:47:02 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Glass half empty, again...

So, anyways, I went to see Brian Wilson earlier this summer. The show itself was worth every penny - $99.50 CDN per ticket (roughly $74.00 in real money) for great seats in a smaller hall. Brian appeared more fully engaged than he's been in the past few years, and the band exhibited a high level of empathy for the star himself, as well as for the songs, all while maintaining an equally high level of professionalism throughout. There were even a few genuine surprises in the set. It was definitely an evening very well spent.

The best part for me, though, wasn't the band or the set list or even the intimate (1145 seat) venue. It was the audience. No one - no one - talked loudly through songs they didn't recognize - and there were surely a few that some didn't recognize. I didn't see a single person obsessing over an electronic device during the concert (before, yes - during, no). Even more impressive, nobody got up 'n' down & up 'n' down & up 'n' down in some desperate never-ending cycle of beer breaks and potty breaks. There were standing ovations a-plenty, but the room was pin-drop quiet when it was supposed to be. Imagine that for a minute. A chance to see a genuine living legend - one who's clearly old enough to see end of the road by now - and virtually everyone in the building knew exactly why he/she was there.

Not for the "party", not for the workplace weekly get-together, not for the Big Gulp cup-holders attached to every seat, and not for the chance to sit down and spend a couple of hours re-reviewing all those fascinating selfies or updating the asinine & creepy Facebook in "real time".

Everybody just seemed to know what the point of the evening really was. Imagine that for more than a minute...if you can...

As a veteran of way too many Steely Dan concerts where noisy, selfish arseholes (like the ones sitting behind Bookkeeper's Son at the Tampa show) have ruined entire songs, I still dream of the chance to take in a Dan show in the presence of an audience that collectively actually knows why they are there, as Brian Wilson's Summer 2015 Toronto audience so obviously did. Here's hoping that all the noisy Classic-Rock-Totally-Rocks-Dude dudes, and the peanut-bladder $15-beer guzzlers, and the greying/balding/pony-tailing/toxically self-involved yappy Baby-Boomer brigade all decide to take a pass on October's Beacon run. Or at least a pass on the final two shows. Both of which I'd really, really like to enjoy pain-free. Please.

M/O/D/P

ps - The October 17th show might - or just as easily might not, I know - be the final SD (as we know it) show ever. At this point, nobody really knows what's coming. Regardless, anyone who attends really should pay attention when the people on stage are making sounds. It's only two hours of self control, folks. It shouldn't be that hard to give this band a bit of well-earned respect...

pps - "Rarities Night II"

ppps - "ppps"

Date: Sun, August 23, 2015, 22:40:41 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol , Mtl

@Mel I got one.

Date: Sun, August 23, 2015, 20:14:06 ET
Posted by: Skip Bittman, Up North

Rick Moranis wanted to be a rock star when he was young and played the guitar.

Date: Sun, August 23, 2015, 20:05:37 ET
Posted by: Skip Bittman, Up North

Rick Moranis and Geddy Lee of Rush are both childhood friends. They went to the same grade school together.

Date: Sun, August 23, 2015, 15:35:15 ET
Posted by: It's the, guessing game

"Yes, Donald and Rick Moranis are very close friends"

lol...that's a bit of a stretch

Date: Sun, August 23, 2015, 09:46:37 ET
Posted by: Mel, R

Tackiest SD swag ever. Did anyone buy it?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WHI2rSW1LFo/Sp3bcdhIjOI/AAAAAAAACMY/uYR-ZQS4-yA/s1600/DSCN2196.JPG

Date: Sun, August 23, 2015, 00:57:40 ET
Posted by: Skip Bittman, Up North

Yes, Donald and Rick Moranis are very close friends. It was Donald who encouraged Moranis to record his "Agoraphobic Cowboy" album.

Date: Sat, August 22, 2015, 22:00:56 ET
Posted by: Marcus, NY

Rick Moranis must be good friends with Donald Fagen. Rick always mentions in interviews that he's known Donald for years and years.

Date: Sat, August 22, 2015, 18:01:57 ET
Posted by: Chet, B

Moranis is interviewed on the Kamakiriad promo video. It is included on the DVD-A and most likely the boxed set MVI disc.

Date: Sat, August 22, 2015, 10:32:05 ET
Posted by: blackwell poppens, The World

Rick Moranis also helped to bring us this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmNmt46b-0Y

Date: Sat, August 22, 2015, 01:54:38 ET
Posted by: Metron, Seattle

I love Tomorrow's Girls. It's my favorite track from Donald's solo output. The music video stars comedic actor Rick Moranis who is a huge fan of Steely Dan.

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 19:27:42 ET
Posted by: Abu, On the bridge

Thanks, FNTT, for the musical theory confirmation on DF's Tomorrow's Girls. Yes, my little girl has quite the gift. I am constantly amazed at her ability. One can hit any note, or combination of notes on the piano, for instance (with her back turned) and from hearing only she can correctly play back the exact note(s), or tell you exactly what notes you just played. Interestingly, if anyone out there in Dandom can do this, likely you have absolute pitch. I venture to say there are some individuals walking around that might not even know they have it. They say, though, only about 1 in 10,000 has the ability.


Abu

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 19:27:29 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

I asked him how much of EMG they would be playing- he said something along the lines of "We were playing more but people..." and trailed off.

The Royal Scam came up because I knew they would most likely be playing Caves and Altamira. I jokingly asked if they could play Everything You Did- "I want to reconstruct parts of that one."

I wasn't shocked when they turned it into a reggae shuffle in '08 after hearing that.

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 16:31:19 ET
Posted by: gs,

great story Belzoni! Wow! I wonder how many others have had that experienced. Do you remember the details of the convos around EMG and TRS?

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 15:02:01 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, Here

Hey Chris,

DF in person wasn't too dissimilar from what you see in the Classic Albums AJA episode. Just more animated and less reserved. At one point when we were talking about W. he listed off reasons he disliked him followed by a loud "FUCK!"

Hahaha.

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 11:55:29 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Belzoni, that's a great story. Thanks for sharing.

Haven't been able to meet DF or WB myself. Not sure I ever want to. What do you say to your musical heroes? Sounds like you handled yourself better than I would.

FWIW, I've never heard of them ever being rude to a well meaning fan. They may fuck with a rock journalist here and there, but journalists can handle it. (I think that was more of a 70s thing anyway).

A friend of a friend used to work for Warner and met them a few times. He told me they were some of the nicest, most down to earth artists he dealt with. Surprised me a bit, to be honest.

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 11:16:12 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, The World

I kinda came across this site by accident while looking for new interviews with Don and Walt. Anyway, you guys might be interested in this story.

Summer 2003- 20 year old me has arrived at the Starplex in Dallas for the BIG SHOW, in fact, my first ever Steely Dan show. I checked into the hotel but still managed to get to the venue extra early (415 or so).

I was early enough to listen to soundcheck (which was great). Soundcheck ends and I decide to take a walk around the outside of the venue to kill some time. Hardly anyone else was there waiting, I had the place pretty much to myself.

I approach the side of the venue where the freight/artists enter and exit, I think nothing of it until I get closer and I see a couple of guys standing outside talking.

"Some members of the road crew" I think to myself.

I continue my walk and get closer (within about 50 feet) and I realize one of them is Donald.

I decide to make a wide arch around them, I didn't want to bother them.

This worked until Donald and his friend gave me a wave.

"What the hell do I have to lose, I'll go talk to them" I think.

I had heard the horror stories- Don and Walt are jerks/grumpy/hate being bothered.

Holy shit! It isn't true!

I wind up talking to Donald and who I can only assume was a member of the road crew for about 20 minutes about everything from our mutual disdain of GW Bush to Everything Must Go and The Royal Scam.

They have to go,Donald tells me to be safe and have a good time. His accomplice asks me for my name and writes it down, he tells me to go to the box office after 5.

I go, my seat, which had been about 60 rows back, was now replaced with one in the fifth row, center.

I'm not sure where the horror stories come from, maybe people catch them on a bad day? I didn't pester him (or even ask) for an autograph.

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 10:47:50 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Hi the Dean , I bought the cd and it's a fine one, nice arrangements, solid piece of work, reminds me of Matthew E White a bit

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 10:13:51 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Very nice, Phil. Thanks

I listed to a bit more of Marker Starling, and I'm not sure I can take his voice for long. But his compositions are pretty sweet.

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 08:05:58 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Attention, this product may contain traces of Steely Dan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yaGYLp4brw

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 05:02:12 ET
Posted by: FriendlyNeighborhoodTheoryTeacher,

...and I agree with you about the bridge of "T'sGs". Amazing stuff!

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 05:00:35 ET
Posted by: FriendlyNeighborhoodTheoryTeacher,

the intro is a circles around Fmin a bit. Verses are in Bbmin (or DbMaj as you pointed out). Choruses are in EbMaj (with DF's usual harmonic twists thrown in halfway through). Bridge does indeed modulate to GMaj.

Sounds like you have a remarkably talented young prodigy in your midst! Congratz!

Date: Fri, August 21, 2015, 01:38:27 ET
Posted by: Abu, Not your mother, significant other

Hey, is there anyone out there who knows all about keys, that is Major and Minor keys, and can tell me what key DF's Tomorrow's Girls is written in? Also, in the bridge Donald makes a very nice key change. What key does he change to there? It seems my little six year old daughter has absolute pitch, and can usually in just hearing a few notes, name the key. However, she does much better with classical music, especially piano (which she plays). I have seen some sheet music for this tune, which seems to indicate the music starts with 5 flats, which would be D flat major, I believe. There also appears to be a key change for the chorus, which goes to 3 flats (E flat major, or C minor) Then, the bridge appears to change to one sharp, which would be G Major, or E minor. See the sheet music below:

http://www.onlinesheetmusic.com/tomorrows-girl-p390660.aspx


Not sure why all the sheet music leaves the 's' off of Girls. Anyway, this tune has always greatly intrigued me. To me, the bridge in this song is impressive in so many ways, not the least the great background vocal when the girls sing "The warm night breezes start rolling in off the sea".. Arguably one of the best bridges in all modern music, IMHO.


Abu

Date: Thurs, August 20, 2015, 23:59:29 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Sorry, hit post too fast.

Meant to add:

With apologies to Sigmund Freud.

Date: Thurs, August 20, 2015, 23:57:51 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

"Boston Rag: Les Paul copy, tribute to Skunk?"

"No. It's a tribute to Les."

Sometimes a guitar is just a guitar.

Date: Thurs, August 20, 2015, 22:31:03 ET
Posted by: ASDF, kd

:: ""Boston Rag: Les Paul copy, tribute to Skunk?"" ::

No. It's a tribute to Les.

Date: Thurs, August 20, 2015, 16:04:51 ET
Posted by: Barnacles, Chicago

Flush that article down the toilet.

Date: Thurs, August 20, 2015, 14:37:07 ET
Posted by: Belzoni, US

An article on the 1970s music scene and no overt mentions of Steely Dan, Zappa or Genesis?

Unacceptable.

Date: Thurs, August 20, 2015, 12:27:58 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Anyone notice something in Walter's guitar selections for certain songs on this tour?

Reelin' in the Years: Telecaster, tribute to Denny?

Time Out of Mind: Red Strat copy, tribute to Knopfler?

Boston Rag: Les Paul copy, tribute to Skunk?

Bless this man.

Date: Thurs, August 20, 2015, 10:16:57 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

M/O/D/P -- I'm just asking a guy not to be an anonymous prat, and not choose the "why didn't you go spend a ton of money in every single possible year to see Steely Dan, you idiot?" to be the anonymous and sad hill he (because you know it's a "he") chooses to die on.

Date: Thurs, August 20, 2015, 07:29:04 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Hey there, what about a bit of Donald music you've never heard before ?

http://radiodupree.blogspot.fr/2015/08/filmmaker-and-illustrator-jane-aaron.html

Date: Wed, August 19, 2015, 23:24:18 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Georgian Bay, in a kevlar canoe

Whenever I've tried, in my own clumsy way, to attend a "Danfest" at The Amsterdam Café in NYC, I've actually had a pretty darn good time. The place isn't "amazing" but it is decent (there's always an over-hopped IPA on the draft list) and it's close and there are usually lots of SD fans hangin' around. But each time when I've raised the spectre of "The Bluebook" in conversation, I've gotten the worst reaction imaginable. The few people who knew about our tiny little corner of the internet immediately distanced themselves from it - "Oh - that - ugh - it's just a bunch of idiots who like to argue. I hardly ever look at it". And so on.

Just read the past handful of posts here and then dare to wonder why this perception might exist amongst some folks...

Anyways, each time this happened, and it happened a few times I can assure you, I toyed with the idea of telling these wimpy BlueBook rejecters that I was "KD/asdf" or "New York Bill" or "Young Wu". I didn't, though...but only because my gentle, loving wife was with me and as a result I didn't feel like it was OK for me to start a bar brawl over someone else's hilarious/clever/idiotic/internet-fight-startin'/genuinely asinine comments. I sure as hell wasn't gonna claim to be "M/O/D/P" or, even worse, "The Dean" - no f***ing way!

Date: Wed, August 19, 2015, 16:32:42 ET
Posted by: KD, asd

Aww, anonymous Steely Dan Fan gonna Steely Dan Fan all over this piece

Date: Wed, August 19, 2015, 12:29:41 ET
Posted by: Oh, really?

I'll tell you what, KD. You stick to being KD on Hoops and I'll stick to insulting SD fans that make stupid excuses for not attending a particular SD tour.

Date: Wed, August 19, 2015, 12:17:27 ET
Posted by: To be, fair

I've seen that comment made before, maybe even by Hoops (please correct me if I'm wrong). They DID mostly hit up different markets and had mostly the same band.

Overall, though, it's an odd thing to get one's dander up about.

Date: Wed, August 19, 2015, 11:09:32 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

It was a different tour and I agree it was a weird comment to make in the first place, but "Uh" didn't have to be an anonymous dick about it.

Date: Tues, August 18, 2015, 23:05:39 ET
Posted by: Oh, is correct

Big Fan: Hence with a new guitar player, drummer and a different set list. It wasn't the same tour or even a continuation of it. They actually played a bunch of the same place as they did in 1993. They played 2 shows at the Gorge in both in '93 and '94.

Peter Erskin -> Dennis Chambers-> Drew Zingg -> Gorge Wadinus = Not the same tour

Date: Tues, August 18, 2015, 19:33:01 ET
Posted by: Big Fan, at home

Uh - nice handle - so if you look at the dates they only took about 6 months off from the 1993 tours and then went to Japan and came back and hit cities in they mostly didn't do 1993 - hence my term of a continuation tour. Unlike the two year hiatus to 1996 when things really changed. This was pre internet for most and advertising for that leg of the two year tour was very limited. As far as I could tell I didn't make anything up - but I get the sense your comprehension skills are limited by your poor grammar and sentence structure.

Date: Mon, August 17, 2015, 23:53:21 ET
Posted by: Occasional..Hmm, Earth

Yeah, Jon is busy making a nickel or dime with himself or the others. But he's making
a buck with SD.

Date: Mon, August 17, 2015, 17:27:21 ET
Posted by: Dennis, Milwaukee, WI

This Jon Herington fella must be a real workaholic. He's constantly on the road whether it's with Steely Dan, his own band or with another artist.

Date: Mon, August 17, 2015, 16:29:20 ET
Posted by: Hanson, Michigan

No, Mick. Just look at Jon Herington's website. He has gigs lined up through the end of November.

Date: Mon, August 17, 2015, 13:15:03 ET
Posted by: Mick, R

Is there still time for them to books a few shows before or after the Beacon Run? Maybe AC or Foxwoods?

Date: Mon, August 17, 2015, 11:22:34 ET
Posted by: FYI, Bee Con

There is ONE single seat remaining for "The Most Unforgettable Night of Whatever" on the ticketmaster page.

Date: Mon, August 17, 2015, 10:32:56 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

No Steely Dan horns with Elvis Costello in Tampa.

Date: Sat, August 15, 2015, 23:47:36 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

I saw the Dead many times, in Europe and the US. There were transcendent nights, and there were what we called "Beat Nights." Those were nights when Jerry couldn't find the fret board if you nailed his hand to it. The state of Jerry's head was always the main issue. I love The Grateful Dead, but there is no comparison to the consistency and professionalism of Steely Dan. None.

Date: Sat, August 15, 2015, 22:16:26 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Nice review, Ray. First I've heard/read about the SD horns joining EC. But maybe I just missed earlier mentions of it.

BOC and the Vanilla Fugde? Please give us a quick review on that one.

Date: Sat, August 15, 2015, 17:01:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Fritz - Donald's Sunken Condos IMO is the best Dan/solo album since The Nightly. He's still got Juice. Much of Circus $ is darn good. Whether Walt's resurgence this year leads to a SD album is still improbable, but 5 albums overall in the last 15 years isn't that bad.

Joe Jackson also has 5 albums in 15 years, including Night and Day II and the unreleased album due this fall.

Date: Sat, August 15, 2015, 16:34:56 ET
Posted by: UH?, what?

Big Fan - 1994 was a "continuation tour"? Maybe in your head it was. Just because they didn't play the NYC area didn't mean it was the same tour. It was a different set list, with a different lead guitar player and a different drummer! Now stop with he excuses for not going and stop making shit up!

Date: Sat, August 15, 2015, 14:19:58 ET
Posted by: Big Fan, Home at Last

For the first time since they started touring again in 1993 I really thought I wasn’t going to make a show this tour. (I don’t count 1994 because that was a continuation tour). There were no Connecticut dates this tour – also a first since 93 (none in 94) – partly because the Oakdale Theater where they have played many times was closed due to a noise ordinance ban that although recently lifted must have been too late to schedule a show. I had other plans the weekend of the two Boston shows. So that left the Beacon Theater shows. We’ve been fortunate to attend several shows there including the infamous rarities show and we always stay at a hotel a few blocks north within easy walking distance to the theater. I even met Walter in the bodega around the corner after that show. My wife and I are traveling to Munich and Paris returning on October 6th. I had looked at the weekend shows of the 10th or the 16th but that is a really busy time for me. I just didn’t see how I was going to fit it in until this morning when I had an enlightening moment. Since we are flying into Newark on the 6th arriving at 12:30 PM EDT I suggest to the wife that we only drive the 15 miles to Manhattan, get a room and go to the Aja show that night and then drive back the next day – we were taking vacation Wednesday anyway. Turns out there were still plenty of face value orchestra seats available (it is a work night) and rooms available mid-week. I’ve never been to one of the album specific shows and Aja ranks right up there with my favorite albums – so we did it. I will love to tell people in NYC –“We just got in from Paris and are going to the show” LOL.

Date: Sat, August 15, 2015, 14:05:11 ET
Posted by: kzkzk, wutevah

Denny Dias set one at Iridium-
http://original.livestream.com/iridiumlive/video?clipId=pla_e84b3286-e866-410d-a086-de434ab07ec3&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

Set Two-
http://original.livestream.com/iridiumlive/video?clipId=pla_c2cee2d1-5cc2-4864-ac90-8d1f920a19cf&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

Date: Sat, August 15, 2015, 13:15:36 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Off To Pompano Beach

Still working off the Morton’s marathon mignon madness Thursday night. National filet mignon day is now forever on my radar. $1 filet mignon sandwiches. What a country. Anyhoo, I finally have some free time and thought I would file a report from the last show of Leg II of the Rockabye Gollie Angel 2015 Tour. Thanks to everyone that took the time to file reports, tweet set lists and hip us not so fortunate this summer.

Struck me as funny that by time they rolled into Palm Beach Wednesday night the name of the venue had changed since the tour dates were first announced. Very cool tailgating scene before the show and no cost parking. And unlike many other horror stories of venue Nazi security this summer you pretty much could do whatever you wanted inside and out of this venue.

Rode hard and put away wet………literally. Not as hot as Soboba, which was a “dry heat”, it easily was the “wettest” Steely Dan show I have ever been to. Not because of rain, but weather you could wear. We were allowed to stand up dance all night long and nobody complained. But then again you had to get up and dance, it was the only way to feel the delicious breeze that occasionally blew through our damp clothing.

Really enjoyed Elvis Costello’s set and I do not know if they did this this other nights of the tour but The Steely Dan Horns joined the Imposters during “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love & Understanding for a rousing finale. Dark clouds rolled in right after Elvis’ set and the “voice” came over the loud speakers ala Woodstock and warned the lawn to, “come down from the hill”. But the gods shined on us and shortly the radar confirmed that we had dodged a bullet. I hate smart phones. Especially at concerts, theaters and plays but it was fun to watch the storm just miss us on various weather apps as we waited. Soon we were given the all clear and they went back up on the hill and dime danced for the rest of the night. We were treated to fantastic lightning light show off in the distance as the palm trees swayed for the rest of the night.

Fantastic sound from the get go which can be hit or miss in these big sheds. I always love going to the final night of a Steely Dan tour leg. They always seem to reach deep and come up with just a little bit extra in the performances which everyone in this hurricane of a traveling show did Wednesday night. Jim Beard just floored me all night especially during his Razor Boy intro. So happy we got to hear it. Easily my favorite version I have heard so far. Oddly enough I have been fortunate enough to hear Rikki live numerous times but Donald’s take on this night was one for the ages. Something lit a fire under him, maybe it was the threat of heat stroke, but he played with the phrasing in such a unique jazzy staccato way it just floored me. It will be very hard to top that version of Rikki we witnessed in Palm Beach in 2015.

Walter was in great form and really spread the love to all of the crew who helped bring us this road show this summer and the Steely Dan faithful out in the crowd. Asking several times throughout the evening, “What is the name of those big slow mammals that people like to run over with power boats?” They opened with a full throttle version of Black Cow which maybe explains Walter’s infatuation with sea cows all night? And about 2 hours after it all started we were all “out of here” and you better of had gas in the car because it was a very slow trickle getting out of the fair grounds. Five Guys locks the doors at midnight and we pulled in at 11:50. Hamburgers, hand cut fries and peanuts. It was the end of a very memorable hot August night.

Next up this evening, Blue Oyster Cult with Robby Krieger and Vanilla Fudge. Just couldn’t resist especially on a summer Saturday night. We’ll see if the rain holds off it just seems to “keep hanging on”. Looking forward to NYC in October and catching up with those of my kind. So great to hear that you have been blessed with a benefactor Dean. I’ll be doing the “Double Double” and hitting the last four nights. Can’t wait!

On a final note I see some posts about bands selling recordings after their shows. The Who has been doing this for years and my recent purchase of their recording of the Miami show I was at this year is just f#cking jaw dropping. The sound is phenomenal and I play it all time. Killer performance, stories and set list that night. “Eminence Front” is worth the price alone.

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/concert-review-steely-dan-elvis-costello-close-out-tour-at-perfect-vodka-7180668

Date: Sat, August 15, 2015, 07:19:56 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa

The Tom Hanks produced documentary series "The Seventies"
airing on CNN just had an episode focusing on the music of the 70's.
I thought it was pretty slick and covered most of the major players.
Near the end of the show as it was wrapping up they mentioned some top bands that put out great quality music. "Steely Dan" was seen briefly for like 2 seconds. Elvis Costello also had a slightly longer mention earlier in the show.
Overall, a fun show. CNN reruns these periodically, but I'm sure you could access it from their website too.

Date: Fri, August 14, 2015, 22:46:06 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Knitting a sweater, Doc?

Date: Fri, August 14, 2015, 19:52:01 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Well, since you asked, I did a thorough cleaning of lint from my belly button.

Date: Fri, August 14, 2015, 12:33:24 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

oh, right, it's Friday.

Well, if anyone wants to tell me what they did last night, go for it

Date: Fri, August 14, 2015, 12:29:22 ET
Posted by: Scuttlebutt, .

I don't think Steely Dan played a gig last night. I thought the last show of the tour with Elvis Costello was on Wednesday in Florida.

Date: Fri, August 14, 2015, 08:43:42 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Any reports from last night?

Date: Fri, August 14, 2015, 07:42:29 ET
Posted by: Pete Evans, Manchester UK

I see Walt and Don came 71st on the Rolling Stone list of all time greatest songwriters ! They should have been in the top ten of course and bizarre to think Stevie Nicks and Madonna amongst others were rated higher !!

Date: Fri, August 14, 2015, 04:07:10 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

I agree, Steely Dan has little in common with jam bands like the Dead, Phish etc. They are obviously studio perfectionists, so my guess is that while they enjoy playing live gigs, they would drive themselves nuts listening to hours and hours of tapes of live gigs trying to pick out versions they are happy with and not be tempted to "fix". Doing a live album would mean recording multiple gigs live, not just one gig.

On the other hand, they see themselves as more of a touring jazz band ala Ellington or Basie, and the jazz artists they grew up admiring put out a lot of live stuff, warts and all (ie Davis, Coltrane etc). I'd like to think they are recording and compiling all the best versions of most of their tunes for some future mega box set release of live material for the true Dan completist, complete with pithy, acerbic and wry comments and notes from Don and Walt, but somehow I don't think that will happen. So being at the live gigs takes on all that more meaning.

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 20:12:01 ET
Posted by: Skipper, Boston MA

Jam bands like The Grateful Dead, Phish and The Dave Matthews Band let concertgoers bring in their own recording devices so they can tape the show themselves. The Dave Matthews Band are now the best live rock band on the planet.

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 19:47:28 ET
Posted by: Lurkorama, "Chicago," "On location," "Ooo-La-La!", "How's my little girl?", etc.

I agree with The Dean that the Dead and other jam bands differ from the Dan in terms of quality standards... not that they're not good bands, but Don and Walt keep the quality control high. The Good Ol' Grateful Dead had their share of stellar musical moments and also their share of clams, flubs, miscues, etc., but they were okay with that. No musician is immune from equipment gremlins, feedback howls, and other live performance pitfalls/pratfalls. I can't fault Don and Walt for not wanting a B-grade performance or sound mix forever immortalized.

They can't do a whole lot about sneaky audience members with recorders, though.

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 18:58:13 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Bartender, one more!

A quick aside on the last post. Several years ago I went to a small studio near Orlando to see a live performance by Les Dudek (who I think is a brilliant and very underrated guitarist). It was to shoot a live DVD. Two shows, that would be used to create one live DVD. Many of us pre-purchased the DVD at a small discount, immediately after the show.

Several years later, and still no product. I ran into Les at a show last year and asked him about what happened. Les said wouldn't approve the final product, that's all. Didn't like the way it sounded, I suppose. This was verified by the studio, who would only tell me disk was finalized and they were still waiting for Les' approval for the it to be released.

As much as I would love to have a recording of that performance, I respect Les for not releasing something he wasn't proud of. I believe he took a bit of a financial bath on that one, but that is sometimes the price of integrity.

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 18:49:59 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Shark, you make some good points. Obviously we'd love to get that souvenir from the concert and would always welcome hearing more, and different, stuff from the boys.

But I'm not sure The Dead is a great comparison here. I saw the Dead on several occasions, and while a couple shows were very good, there were also some that were among the worst concerts I have ever attended. The Dead were a wildly uneven live band, IMO. Also the complexity of SD arrangements, the tightness and exactitude of the performance as well as the size of the band, well--- it a bit different than what The Dead, and most jam-bands do. But then again, you know that. Unlike The Dead (and other artists) SD has stayed strongly against the release of anything they don't get final say over.

I was working in a casino where the Jefferson Airplane performed, and they sold/gave away CDs of the show. A friend gave me one, and the sound was simply horrific (the show was a mess, too). I can't believe JA isn't embarrassed to have those recordings in public. Now, I'm not saying there isn't a better way to record live shows to make sure the recordings are a bit better, you don't really have control of the final project.

As much as I'd like to hear more/different stuff from the boys, I'm thrilled they have kept their exacting standards. That isn't to say selling live CDs, in and of itself, equates selling out. But the road to selling out starts with changing your standards, who you are and what you do. Selling live CDs is nothing more than marketing and/or fan service (it certainly has nothing to do with the quality of the music or performance). Something, fortunately, Walt and Don have never been all that interested in.

I guess I'm just one of those fans who, when they hear many of the same songs as the last concert, say, "Thank you, sirs. May I have another."

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 18:46:42 ET
Posted by: Fritz, Queens, NY

I don't think they will release anymore new material or live albums. Steely Dan is now just a relic of the past for aging baby boomers. Maybe Donald might record a new solo album, but for now I strongly suggest going to see the Joe Jackson tour this Fall. Joe still believes in creating new music and he will be promoting his new album.

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 13:14:04 ET
Posted by: SharkDeVille, re. live recordings

it's a good question. one might argue that they don't want any of the minor imperfections from any given night to be released, or a final mix they may not entirely approve of. they probably do alright with ticket sales and merchandise, so money is not a big consideration... and it probably wouldn't pull in that much extra dough anyway.

still... I wish Don & Walt would go the route of the jam band and many other live acts by making every show they play available, AND by mixing up the setlist on a nightly basis to keep things interesting and encourage their fans to catch more shows per tour.

The Grateful Dead are the obvious comparison. they played a different setlist every night, almost never repeating a song from the past couple of shows. it lent a certain excitement and unpredictability to the proceedings, which was a major reason they became such a huge concert draw.

the Steely Dan catalog is just as vast, and I believe the hardcore fanbase is just as rabid. I can honestly say I would be catching several more shows this tour if they mixed up the setlist a bit more.

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 12:55:49 ET
Posted by: wondering,

unless don and walt are really put off by live recordings. I don't see why they have not released any official live concerts.Does it really cost that much to release them?.
p.s i know about aia,but that was ok at best

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 01:38:54 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

New music from Destroyer, aka "Steely Dan" Bejar & band, whose Kaputt (2011) & more recent projects exhibit close familiarity, at least to my ears, with the things we know & love--

https://soundcloud.com/destroyerband/times-square

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 01:30:48 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Hey, if people are giving away/selling/trying to get rid of extras NYC Beacon Rarities show tix at a reasonable price, count me in as interested!

Date: Thurs, August 13, 2015, 00:01:25 ET
Posted by: The Dean, The happiest guy in St Augustine Beach

Don, I look forward to meeting you, as well. I've been told my ticket is in the lodge, center, 8th row. Sounds like a great seat. We'll have to setup some sort of pre/post show meetup. It goes without saying I will have to buy my benefactor many cocktails---at least.

I really hope this will include some sort of rarities, rarely played songs, etc. But even if it does not, it is a Steely Dan show in NYC, at the Beacon. I am more than slightly excited about it. A buddy of mine at lunch today noticed my exceptionally fine mood and said "It looks like you got away with something today". I laughed because it was true.

Now, if my friends in NYC would only get back to me about their availability for that weekend, I'll know where I'm staying. I offer free computer repair service with my stay, so that helps.

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to meet many of you, that weekend.

Nice report from West Palm, Dave.

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 22:37:37 ET
Posted by: Dave, acquisitions

encore is kid c. Don messed up words badly.

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 22:36:21 ET
Posted by: Dave, acquisitions

absolutely incredible show in WPB tonight

I'm a guy who has complained the last few years about the setlist...no surprises but the sound was unreal. So good I'd say it's easily the best of 9 shows I've been to.

Still waiting on the encore, which I assume is Kid C:

Cubano chant
Black cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Time out of Mind
Show biz kids
Rikki
Razor boy (danettes)
Bodhissatva
Daddy don't live (WB)
Babylon sisters
Joe tex song
Josie
Peg
Old school
Reelin

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 22:33:47 ET
Posted by: Dave, acquisitions

absolutely incredible show in WPB tonight

I'm a guy who has complained the last few years about the setlist...no surprises but the sound was unreal. So good I'd say it's easily the best of 9 shows I've been to.

Still waiting on the encore, which I assume is Kid C:

Cubano chant
Black cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Time out of Mind
Show biz kids
Rikki
Razor boy (danettes)
Bodhissatva
Daddy don't live (WB)
Babylon sisters
Joe tex song
Josie
Peg
Old school
Reelin

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 20:41:38 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

@Dean, that's great! Hope to have a chance to meet you,
Have always enjoyed your posts. It's always nice to be able
to put a face to a name.

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 14:03:50 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

BKS,

I did feel that some of Jon's work was lower volume than ideal, but not on the solos. I felt that I heard him very clearly on those.

The sound board people seemed adept at voluming up his (and other's solos) at the right time. Of course, that could have been a function of 1) my knowing for the most part what was coming and when, and 2) the lighting up of the soloist playing tricks on my mind and making me just focus on them a bit more.

Having said that, I agree with you that Becker's volume often seemed to overcome Herington. But like you, I was fine with that given that Becker seemed on top of his game.

The two almost 70 year-olds jamming against each other as it were on TOOM was pretty entertaining, including Becker kicking the stool out of the way. I wonder if that was staged. Don't recall anyone on the forum here mentioning that at other shows. Would be nice to think it was as impromptu as it appeared, at least the intensity of it.

They have never been the type of fellows to do much off the cuff, I feel like as a function of their perfection with the music. I do recall some years back at Ruth Eckerd Hall there seemed some genuine spontaneity between the two during some between-song conversation.

Getting a little off script makes the fans, particularly us die hards, feel like we're getting something new and special. Adds to the intimacy of it, and makes us feel like our reaction to them is feeding the performance. Makes it personal, in my opinion.

Sorry to stray off your original point, but it was an important part of the experience for me.

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 13:57:13 ET
Posted by: Yankee, N

When playing the southern states, does Walter begin his Hey 19 rap with "Y'all ain't gonna believe this shit!"?

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 12:37:47 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

Sorry about some of my misspelled words in my last post. It was late when I wrote it.

Casual Fan:

Were you able to hear all of Herington's solo's clearly last night? For me it also may have had something to do with the loud drunk talkers behind me who chose to talk, really yell to each other, during large portions of several songs. That being said Walter's solos were easily heard all night.

Next to me were two first timers at the SD Show last night. They were out of their mind excited about the show.

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 04:38:56 ET
Posted by: NYB, Carfax Abbey

Here's a new song from some friends out of St. Louis, Missouri. It's about the speed of the modern world and how before you know it you're someone else headed towards someplace else... I guess it applies to everyone these days. Great song. Great band. New album "South Broadway Athletic Club" scheduled for release October 2nd.




https://soundcloud.com/bshq/monday-everytime-i-turn-around-by-the-bottle-rockets

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 01:36:59 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

Set list below appears correct. No surprises or rarities. Solid performance and Becker was really so much more engaged than years past. They did seem to enjoy themselves, despite the heat and humidity.

Standouts to me:

Fagen'sFagen's voice was strong and on key. Best I can recall.

Jim Pugh was featured a lot this time, more than I recall, and he delivered. I'm no expert on trombone, but as just a fan I was wowed by his taking so many tough spots and making it work with the rest of the arrangements.

Becker, as noted, handling more solos and spot on, at that.

Herrington was on fire. As others remarked about other shows, a bit truer to the album versions, less inventiveness. I'm good either way.

Date: Wed, August 12, 2015, 00:06:45 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

Tampa August 11

Set List (may have a few out of order)

Cubano Chant
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19 (more concise focused ramble/ rap.)
Black Friday
Time Out of Mind
Bodhisattva
Show Biz Kids ( super funky... Great rearrangement)
Rikki
Dirty Work ( amazing lead vocal by Paulette McWilliams)
Babylon Sisters
Joe Tex Band Intros
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin In The Years
Kid charlemene (encore)
Untouchables

Observations:
Walter was engaged all night. His leads were solid...best in several tours. And when he was not soloing, he was involved instead of barely participating as in the recent past. Even smiled . Was very into trading riffs with Donald om Melodica I'm TOOM. Other than changing guitars between songs, Walter did not appear to be having any technical difficulties with his rig or sound.

Carlock was his usual monster player. Freddie Washington solid. Herington was stellar, although several times his solos were buried in the mix . At least where I sat 11th row center.

Before the encore Donald referred to the venue as The Heatstroke Amphtheater. Accurate statement.

Great show. Kudos to the band.

Elvis started out slow, playing an hour. People were up and grooving about three quarters into the set.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 23:58:18 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Good stuff, Wu. If Sweet is right (and we know a lot of his stuff isn't) then it might be a tiny stretch to call Dias a "founding member" but I still think that is mostly semantics. Any guy in the original band has a right to call him/herself an "original member" and possibly a "founding member". Of course, for resume/publicity purposes, all bets are off. I wouldn't get too worked up about it, as I doubt Don and Walt do. Now, if I hear differently then i will have to rethink it.

Casual, I get your dilemma and you are probably doing the right thing. From my research there really doesn't seem to be THAT much difference between the venues. Might as well stay local and get to turn a few friends on to the genius that is The Dan.

And, TaDa, a very generous Blue member offered me a free ticket to the 10/17 show in NYC. Jet Blue had a great sale for direct flights to NYC and I am booked! I am very pumped about this. My first SD show in NYC.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 21:58:25 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

From Reelin in the Years by Sweet:

"Baxter, Becker and Fagen became good buddies and made a pact to call each other if either party succeeded in obtaining a recording contract and forming a band. " p 41

"Becker and Fagen gave notice that they were quitting [Jay and Americans]. At the same time Denny Dias and Keith Thomas' band Demian dissolved into a situation where rehearsals grew fewer and fewer until they ceased completely." p 41
There was consolation for Denny Dias in that he was still included in Fagen and Becker's future plans.... p 42

F and B move to LA

"Vance wasn't the only one to lose contact with Becker and Fagen. Their contact with Denny Dias had dwindled and even he was unaware they had left for California." p 44

"Becker later admitted the whole staff writer period was one big dodge. "We had the idea in mind that we would organize a band as quickly as possible when we came out here...so we had this notion in the back of our minds and we started to bring people out even while we were supposed to be staff writers at ABC. We announced that we were forming a band shortly after we signed our contracts."

Becker and Fagen were there under false pretenses, and the sooner they could form their own band and get their teeth into recording their own compositions the better. p 46

Six months passed and none of their songs was recorded successfully. It was time for Becker and Fagen to abandon their staff writer pretense and assemble their own group. They needed no encouragement to call their cohorts back east, and as Baxter, Hodder and Dias assembled in LA one by one, Becker and Fagen took them upstairs and introduced them [to the ABC staff]. B and F would say: "We just found this fantastic guy and you've got to sign him for our band. After awhile they stopped asking 'what band?'"

"First to get the call was Denny Dias, their old pal from Hicksville, who they had promised would be first on their list. Dias had been waiting all this time for precisely for such a call and in the meantime he'd been taking any job--including washing cars--to support himself. Dias' gamble of quitting school proved to be worthwhile after all--his immense faith in Becker and Fagen and their songs looked like it was being rewarded, although his resolve had wilted many times since the duo left for the Golden State. He was very close to giving up on the notion when their call came." p 47

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 18:52:11 ET
Posted by: Raul, N

https://youtu.be/9QA9ydTb_bM?t=35m6s

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 18:30:51 ET
Posted by: Raul, N

Was it in the Making of Aja video where they describe their relationship with Dias? Something to the effect that they answered his ad and then sort of took over the band.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 17:11:55 ET
Posted by: Stevie Dan, Philadelphia, PA

to kzkzkz:

Thanks for the Iridium show video! Very cool to see and hear.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 16:39:07 ET
Posted by: Stevie Dan, Philadelphia, PA

to Joe M.:

Thanks for the nice review and remarks from the Iridium show.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 15:28:03 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

I stand corrected.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 15:08:08 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

Petition to add edit button to the board. That last paragraph. Yikes!

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 15:05:39 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

Dean,

It was a close call for me. The WPB show I would have preferred, it being the last before the hiatus. But Tampa is close enough, and a couple of friends who are newbies volunteered to suffer through the Tampa Amphitheater and so I went that route. Forecast is not terrible. Should be low 80s and no rain. Knock on formica. That's the last I saw, anyway.

They have had a day off. I'm really wondering if they will fit in something fairly new to the set list. I'm fine either way, and I know they know the drill, and so even if there's one, maybe two that folks don't recognize, the rest of the tunes will appeal to my friends.

I always enjoy going with the uninitiated. In my experience, they are always blown away by the precision, the musicianship. Its nice to go to a show where its not all pyrotechnics and gimmicks. The last show these folks saw was The Rolling Stones here in Orlando, and they raved about it. I take nothing away form that, but tonight is about sitting back and enjoying quality musicianship, no preening, no octogenerian gyrating.

My good friend from school likes, counts, coincidentally, My Old School" as amongst his favorite tunes of all time. And his wife, to her credit, is a fan of Black Cow, not a hit. Hopefully they will both get to here their fav's. Seems like it, from what I read.

I'll report in tomorrow, maybe on the drive back if I'm not worn out from the humidity. Its going to be a long evening...

CF

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 14:43:25 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Well again, not to nitpick, but Fagen and Becker did not join a band that Dias was in that later became Steely Dan in NYC. They jammed with him a bit, maybe played a few gigs. Becker and Fagen then went to LA. Dias did not come with them with the idea of forming a band. They worked for awhile as LA songwriters. They became frustrated, started writing songs with the idea of performing their own songs, Katz entered the picture and they FOUNDED the idea that would then become the band SD. They then set out to add musicians to their band that would carry out their vision. So they asked Dias to come to LA and record with them. The NYC thing was before and seperate from the LA thing. The band wasn't founded when they were jamming in NYC with Dias. Dias was an integral part of the story but he and Skunk did not "found" the band. Neither did Hodder and Palmer. It's even all laid out on SD own website.

I fully understand why Dias and Baxter would want to market on their website that they were "founding members of SD". I get it. But it's simply not true.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 13:33:22 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

To chime in here, I think Denny can legitimately be considered a "founding member", and I imagine Don and Walt would agree. If you asked the question in 1973, for example, would there even be a controversy? It was Denny's band Don and Walt initially joined, not the other way around. I know, 40 years down the road, the perspective changes. The band is really now, Don and Walt, and probably always was, conceptually. But I think if you are there in the beginning, and part of the formation, you are a founding member. Perhaps a "minor founding member"?

The others, I would agree, are "original members". But honestly, this is mostly a lot of semantics here. No?

Decided not to go to a "local" show. Not local enough, venues not particular interesting, and not convenient (time or money) right now.

Casual Fan---looking forward to your review.

Sights on NYC, baby! Not looking that good, but also not ruled out.

M/O/P/D, check your email.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 12:45:02 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Example of the difference between founding and original. Robert Fripp founded (formed, created) King Crimson. His idea, his concept, his groundwork. He then added, recruited, enlisted Lake, McDonald, Giles etc to join him in forming the band. They were original members not founding members.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 12:21:23 ET
Posted by: Yep, true

Let make no mistake about it. Donald and Walter ARE Steely Dan. Though, those guys mentioned in the Skunk bio are indeed founding members along with them. Especially Dias!

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 12:19:57 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Meant Skunk Baxter, not Hodder below.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 12:17:53 ET
Posted by: tact, poise and reason, day gig

Hutch- Your info is accurate. My point is, the decision to form a band at that juncture was made by D and W. No one else was involved in that decision except them. That makes them the founding members. They asked Dias to join.

Read it- This is simply a case of the author being loose with, or confusing, the words "founding" and "original". There is a clear difference.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 12:11:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

I agree with tact, poise reasons account. Steely Dans own website tells us how the band was formed. The band wasn't formed in NY when Fagen, Becker and Dias played a few gigs together. The band was formed and founded by Fagen and Becker in LA after being frustrated by writing songs for others. They then "enlisted" (recruited) Dias to join THEM in this new band THEY had formed. Same thing with Hodder. The band was founded (formed, created) by Fagen and Becker and they completed the creation of their new band (the core idea being writing and performing their own songs) by enlisting, adding Dias, then Hodder, Baxter and Palmer.

If you consider Dias a founding member then you'd have to say Palmer is a founding member. That's silly. There are only 2 founding members. Nothing wrong with saying the other guys are original members.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 10:53:49 ET
Posted by: Hutch, with no hangups

Tact, poise and reason - By their own account they answered an ad that Dias had posted in Variety. He had a band and they needed a bassist and keyboard player. They answered the ad, jammed with them and then they kicked out the weaker players but kept Denny and took the project to California not long after that.
So while it's true they called Dias, it just wasn't out of the blue.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 10:52:46 ET
Posted by: Read It, and weep

From Jeff Skunk Baxter's Bio:

After the breakup of Ultimate Spinach, Baxter relocated to Los Angeles, California, finding work as a session guitarist. In 1972 he became a FOUNDING MEMBER of the band Steely Dan, along with guitarist-bassist Walter Becker, keyboardist Donald Fagen, guitarist Denny Dias, drummer Jim Hodder and vocalist David Palmer.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 10:23:45 ET
Posted by: tact, poise and reason, Louie Dakine's backroom

Denny Dias is absolutely not a founding member of SD. DF and WB were in LA pursuing their songwriting career when they became frustrated and decided to form their own band to record their songs. They then phoned Dias in NY to ask if he'd like to join them. He is an original member, not a founding member.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 04:50:16 ET
Posted by: Tug on your, member

Interesting talk about the founding member thing. Was Pete Best a 'founding member' of the Beatles? A lot of little things have to flow and interconnect to bring a creative project to the highest level over time. They are all absolutely essential elements, it's just a question of how you describe them I guess.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 03:38:15 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Maybe it's a matter of semantics, but I would regard Fagen and Becker as the founding members of Steely Dan. Dias is an original member, but I think it's stretching it a bit to say he's a founding member.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 02:18:20 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Denny Dias is a founding member of the band Steely Dan.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 00:35:02 ET
Posted by: Lionel, Back to the future

Sorry, that's "Dias"

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 00:34:01 ET
Posted by: Lionel, Not TX

kzkzkz, Diaz sat in with SD at the Greek in LA in 1993. If not for Denny's ad in The Village Voice, Steely Dan may never have happened. So, yeah....founding member is correct.

Date: Tues, August 11, 2015, 00:26:50 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, NYCNY

From the Iridium youtube site-

DENNY DIAS FOUNDING MEMBER- STEELY DAN'S "DO IT AGAIN"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la08WiawMsw

I just don't know how comfortable I am with this title. He hasn't had anything to do with the band in 40 years. Especially the last 20 or so years of their re-emergence. Whatever.

Date: Mon, August 10, 2015, 16:34:04 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Can't help but wonder if DD is gonna be the, or one of the, mysterious special guests on The Last Great Night of 2015. Hope so, based on those Iridium YouTube posts. Great guitar tone, instantly recognizable. & the DD band's vocalist does a pretty good job.

Date: Mon, August 10, 2015, 16:27:21 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

I guess it's a little late for this, but I'd love to hear if Dias knows about Fagen's reaction to his YGT II guitar solo from the classic bootleg. (around 2:30) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7nSd6rNwgQ

Date: Mon, August 10, 2015, 14:33:40 ET
Posted by: Joe M, CT

Was fortunate enough to catch the 8PM Denny Dias show at The Iridium this past Friday night.

Denny sounded great. His tone and style are just so unique and instantly recognizable and such an integral part of that classic Steely Dan sound. The horn section included a few Motown sessions alumni.

Good crowd. Denny graced us with a few Dan tales of yore between tunes including the one with Fagen tossing the keyboard down the stairwell in disgust after a recording session and the old "Jazz chops required, no assholes need apply" chestnut. The crowd was pleased - it was nothing but diehards front to back.

The setlist...

•Do It Again
•Green Earrings
•Angelique (Dias original)
•Your Gold Teeth
•My Old School
•Casper, (Dias, Instrumental)
•I Ain't Lyin' (Dias original)
•The Boston Rag
•Bodhisattva

Denny worked the crowd after the show and was gracious with photo's and old war stories. I was honored to be able to thank him personally for all the incredible and inspiring guitar work over the years including the jaw-dropping "Your Gold Teeth II" masterpiece - my personal favorite.

Couple this great show with the excellent Dan shows I was fortunate enough to attend in both Boston and Holmdell, NJ a few weeks back and this charts as one of the great Steely Dan summers of all time. The band is just beyond description and Don and Walt seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves. Can't believe we still get to hear these guys play this incredible music live together after all these years. Looking forward to The Beacon run in October!

Date: Mon, August 10, 2015, 13:31:43 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

Well, went ahead and paid the Ticketbastard extortion fees for tomorrow night. Wonder what they will work in as they lurch towards the Beacon shows? I wouldn't mind The Fez, Sign in Stranger, or King of the World.

Toodles,

CF

Date: Mon, August 10, 2015, 09:17:39 ET
Posted by: Truth, Be

Hey Todd! Did you ever hear Elvis's version of Show Biz Kids? If you have, you will know why he'll never join SD onstage!

Date: Mon, August 10, 2015, 00:55:19 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

How great is it that, in 2015, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are singing and playing as great as they ever have?

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 23:47:05 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Man, figures that the 2 shows closest to me that I didn't go to they played Pearl (Chicago, Nashville). Pearl is a real rarity treat, but I did miss not hearing that pedal steel when I got Pearl at the 11 Rarities show. That always set that tune apart.

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 22:32:17 ET
Posted by: Toad, Albany NY

Does this mean SD has played every song from Countdown to Ecstasy on this tour except for King of the World? By the way, Countdown is Elvis Costello's favorite Steely Dan album. It's a shame Elvis and Steely Dan decided not perform a song together for this tour.

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 21:01:25 ET
Posted by: NJ fan, NJ

Good review Jive. One thing to note is that of that 17,500 capacity, only 7,500 are actual seats. The rest is the lawn area.

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 19:35:01 ET
Posted by: Jive Miguel, In from Bogotá

Attended the 8/1/15 show at PNC Arts Center in Holmdel NJ.
Terrific venue to SEE a show, with stadium style seating. We sat 12th row, right center, directly in front of Donald with a clear, unobstructed view. Perfect.
Elvis Costello played for an hour. He's terrific, as expected, and really knows how to work the crowd. For whatever reason, the acoustics could best be described as "blurry", or worse.
SD took the stage with Teenie's Blues, then swung right into the swanky Black Cow.
Some observations and highlights:
- Don's voice is strong and confident, as he challenged notes, successfully, all night that he's backed off of in recent years.
- Cindy Mizelle is back with a vengeance, and she makes a huge difference. Her lead on Dirty Work was simply one for the ages. As solid a "Danettes" team they've had.
- The band is just cooking with swagger and energy. This was night 3 of a 3 show stretch, and there was no let-up in intensity all night.
- Godwhacker allowed Rosenberg, Weiskopf, Michael Leonhart and Jim Pugh to demonstrate their formidable chops, and this year I think they were even stretching into the avant garde.
- The other variable in the set list was Your Gold Teeth, one of my absolute favorite live SD tunes, with Jon channeling one of his guitar idols, George Benson, and how he sounded on some of the Creed Taylor CTI sessions.
- Jon is a true master, Keith is an absolute indispensable, monster talent, Freddie makes all the right moves, and the stoic Jim Beard is a perfect fit. The gorgeous, talented, ageless Carolyn made it a point to flirt a little with Jim to get a smile.

This band loves their work, and it shows. The venue seats 17,500, and everyone was absorbed in the music. This was my 14th show, and that is not always the case.

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 17:16:00 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

That was a great review of last night's show !

Thank you !!! Just knowing that "Pearl" & "Rikki" are being
played gives me hope and incentive to try and get tix for
the show here in Tampa Tuesday night.

My ticket person appears to have konked out on me, so
I'm hoping for a last second miracle.

For all my moping, this is a pretty solid "set list"..
So kudos to the Band !

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 15:38:17 ET
Posted by: hackensack , 65026

Great review Deaconblues16. Thank you very much

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 13:52:55 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, SE USA

The Ascend video screens worked last weekend at EWF/Chicago. They sustained weather related damage around Aug. 5th (lightning related voltage surge maybe?). I will be less likely to attend the Australian Floyd show if they are not repaired. (even at the bargain ticket price)

I was near the bottom/middle of the hill and the audio last night was outstanding. The performance was outstanding. Keith Carlock was above and beyond outstanding.

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 12:43:52 ET
Posted by: Nashville Cat (I guess), Nashville, Tennisshoe

"Pearl Of The Quarter" was performed last night and it was beautiful. Having heard the studio version with Skunk's pedal steel a zillion times, it worked just as well without that element in the mix. Soloists were Jon H, then WB, both of whom knocked it out of the park.

WB is much, much better on guitar this year than last year. Not that he was any slouch last year, but he's most definitely back on point.

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 12:06:59 ET
Posted by: DeaconBlues16,

Make that 08/08/2015

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 11:25:17 ET
Posted by: DeaconBlues16,

Nashville 08/07/2015

Pearl of the Quarter was most definitely played; haven't looked at setlist fm, so not sure if mine matches. I also had to retroactively write down the setlist, so there might be some inaccuracies, but Pearl of the Quarter was definitely played.


1. Cubano Chant (Intro) 8:24
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 (backing vocalists)
10. Bodhisattva
11. Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More (Becker vocals)
12. Pearl of the Quarter
13. I Want To (Do Everything For You)/Band Intros
14. Josie
15. Peg
16. My Old School
17. Reelin' in the Years
18. Kid Charlemagne (Encore)
19. Untouchables Theme (Outro) (not sure time; probably about 10:15ish)

Notes:

Overall venue was pretty nice. It's very new, like two weeks old or so. Videos weren't set up yet. Sound quality wasn't as good as the show I went to in last year in Birmingham, AL (which is an indoor venue, and I had much better seats), but it was pretty good from my vantage point. Sometimes, it got a little muddied during solos I thought.

Elvis Costello went on from a little before 7 until a little after 8. I'm one of those folks on here not very familiar with Elvis Costello, so I was pretty curious. To me, from the show, I thought he was straight-ahead rock for all intents and purposes. I know in reality, it's more nuanced than that, but that's how I felt about it last night. I was pretty indifferent to his show on the whole. He certainly has a great singing voice, and I know he's a talented songwriter, and he was better on guitar in terms of what I'm expecting. But his show really didn't do anything for me, and the sound was just okay, if that. The few people near me seemed to enjoy him pretty well. He didn't do much talking or explaining during his set, which I liked. It was one song after the next, with barely any time to breathe.

After a brief intermission, (including a bathroom break, where the beer-sellers were calling it the "release and reload" station) SD band came on the stage at about 8:24, and began with Cubano Chant. I was hoping for Teenie's Blues, but they were as good as always. From there:

Black Cow, Aja, Hey Nineteen - I know some folks on here could do without Hey Nineteen or just want SD to change up their setlist more in general - and seeing the Boston Rag certainly would've been cool - but it's just hard to beat this trio of songs to open up the show with. Black Cow is always welcome in my book and it's so cool as an opener (it's been the opener for my last 3 shows - Atlanta in '13 at Aja night, Birmingham last year, and Nashville last night). Only problem is, when they open with it, you don't have it to look forward to later in the set. Aja, as someone I think mentioned on here, is such a great showcase for the band and is certainly a quintessential SD song. Really let's the audience know how spectacular the band is right away. And say what you will about the over-play of Hey Nineteen and Becker's speech etc, but it's still an awesome song, and I love the trombone solo at the end as well as the last little notes the background vocalists sing. So in the first 3 songs, you feature solos from both saxophone players, both guitarists, the drummer, the trombonist, and the keyboard player - pretty impressive way to start a show.

When Hey 19 ended, Donald Fagen did his usual "how's everyone doing out there tonight etc." He mentioned Elvis Costello, and said something like, "his aim... was true." He also did the "we think you'll know most of these songs, but if you don't pretend you do." When he said this, lady to my left said "we know them."

Black Friday - as good as always.

Rikki - as one of the two alternating songs on the set list, I was kind of hoping for something else, but the band played great, and I'm glad a lot of the crowd got to see this somewhat rarity live.

Show Biz Kids/Time Out of Mind - these are the two songs I wish they would alternate out of the setlist more. I think they keep them in here because they really like funky arrangement of Show Biz Kids (I'd definitely say it's their funkiest song live) and it's a huge showcase for Walt Weiskopf. Normally, I always go to the show thinking I wish they wouldn't play Show Biz Kids, but I'm always so blown away by the arrangement that those thoughts quickly dissipate. I still felt the same way yesterday, but to a lesser extent - I just wasn't quite as into it. Time Out of Mind - my hypothesis as for why they always leave in the set list is because Donald Fagen would rather be playing melodica, and this is one of the only songs where he feels he can really stretch out on that instrument. Of course, it was still great, but I certainly would have rather heard something different. (Also, another speculative reason why they leave these in the set lists is because they're not necessarily huge hits, but they're not necessarily deep cuts either - I'd say both are moderately well-known, so it's kind of the best of both worlds).

Dirty Work - definitely one of the better versions of this song I've heard live. I think it was Cindy Mizelle on lead vocals (she also did the Michael McDonald part on Time Out of Mind), and she did an incredible job.

Bodhisattva - too great to not play live, really gets the crowd going, love the drumming near the end of the first guitar solo.

Daddy - huge bathroom break for a lot of people, which is a shame for Mr. Becker. They should reposition this to earlier in the set list I think, so people are less inclined to go the restroom - or at least I think that would be the case. I'd love to see a different Becker song, but the baritone sax in this arrangement is always a treat.

Pearl of the Quarter - a real treat for folks like me and the other hardcores - this was my first time seeing it live, and it was the only song they played I hadn't seen live in person before. Donald introduced it as "here's a song we don't play live that often, and it's from an album Countdown to Ecstasy." When he said that, I was like 99% sure that's what we were getting.

Band Intros - nothing too out of the ordinary, except when Walter Becker finished his guitar solo, he said something like: "Yeah I know other players around here could run circles around me. I'm not too proud. Just a few more lessons." And I think he referenced Brad Paisley as one of the guitarists who could run circles around him??

Josie/Peg/My Old School - got the crowd dancing as always. Seemed to be a new horn arrangement during the chorus of Peg. Background vocalists playing patty cakes during My Old School (just in general, background vocalists are super-fun to watch for multiple reasons).

Reelin' in the Years - I'm pretty sure I mentioned this last year, but while the guitar gets all of the hype - and rightfully so - Keith Carlock's drum solo to end the song is just frankly incredible and a perfect way to end the main set. Really let's you know you've witnessed something spectacular.

Kid Charlemagne - great as usual.

Random notes: after Reelin' in the Years ended, lady to my left (first timer) said something like - "Do they normally come back?" And I say "Yeah" And she says something like "Good because this is the best concert I've ever seen and we just saw Dave Matthews."

As I was leaving, an attendee noticed my coffee mug, and said "I love coffee but I'd never think to bring one to a concert." And then I explained, that it was actually an SD coffee mug that I bought from the merchandise stands. I told her I most definitely did not need coffee to keep me awake for Steely Dan; they're good enough to do that on their own.

Date: Sun, August 09, 2015, 01:50:04 ET
Posted by: Poe, FL

So how was the show in Nashville last night? Someone posted the setlist at Setlist.fm with Pearl of The Quarter on it , but I think it's fake.

Date: Sat, August 08, 2015, 11:14:39 ET
Posted by: henrod, NY

Drew - I honestly don't remember. I do remember looking at my friend sitting next to me and saying 'what the fuck'?? I suspect that was everyone's reaction as well.

Date: Sat, August 08, 2015, 09:01:29 ET
Posted by: Earthbound Keith, Laughalot, IN

Alright, alright, folks, here it is...impromptu pre-show partay before tonight's Ascend show in Nashville! WHERE: Acme Feed & Seed, a couple blocks from the venue. They gots food and bevs and an outdoor, upper deck that provides kickass views. You know what to do...look for the SD T-shirts, y'all!!
Be there, aloha.

Date: Sat, August 08, 2015, 02:57:06 ET
Posted by: Drew, Atlanta GA

How did the audience react when Joe Jackson stopped playing in the middle of a song and went to pick up his sheet music/lyrics? Don't they have stagehands to assist the performers for those types of situations? How embarrassing for Joe Jackson.

Date: Fri, August 07, 2015, 23:29:49 ET
Posted by: BenJammin, Indy

Jedi Keith and I will be rolling down I-65 Saturday afternoon en route to the Nashville show. I like how SD hits a variety of venues within cities. Last year's Ryman show I caught was great, but this new amphitheater needs to get funked up proper, and we know what band will do it. If anyone's planning a pre and/or post DanHang, wing ding, or just passing a jug of moonshine around tomorrow night, shout it out! A recent post mentioned WB's intro of DF, and I recall a few years back when his list of accomplishments included a mention of Don being a certified patty diver. I can only imagine what that may refer to, but Urban Dictionary didn't provide a result, so who knows?
Props to peeps sharing clips on Youtube - especially the links to entire shows. Happy Weekend to y'all!

Date: Fri, August 07, 2015, 23:03:21 ET
Posted by: henrod, NY

Huge Joe Jackson fan here. I've seen him a dozen times, including Central Park with Todd Rundgren. The string quartet with Todd was Ethel, and my friend Todd Reynolds was the fiddle player. Hugely disappointed with JJ at that show - the sheet music (or lyrics?) blew off the piano several times and he actually stopped playing to go pick them up, during his own songs! Couldn't believe what I was seeing. TR was incredible - it was the first and only time I've seen him live.

I have my tickets for JJ at Town Hall this fall. Really looking forward to the new album and show.

Date: Fri, August 07, 2015, 16:17:45 ET
Posted by: search, k

I searched youtube on Denny Dias, filtered to only include the past week, and got it.

Date: Fri, August 07, 2015, 16:11:37 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Guys,

if you don't put a dot before the @ in a Twitter handle, nobody can see the artist/club/website you're referring to when you lead off the tweet with their handle, because your followers likely don't follow them.

And if you don't provide a YouTube link in message board post, nobody can see what clip you're talking about without having to do endless searching.

Date: Fri, August 07, 2015, 15:03:54 ET
Posted by: Herb, NY

I'm going to the Denny Dias & Friends show tonight. I'm gonna bring my copy of Countdown to Ecstasy for Denny to autograph.

Date: Fri, August 07, 2015, 14:11:57 ET
Posted by: Shark DeVille, NYC No More

my Steely Dan weekend for the year just ended... roadtripped to NYC from Asheville and caught the boys in the DC area en route. a killer show as always, but felt a little phoned-in at times. I couldn't help but recall the '96 show at the same venue and how much more exciting the setlist and arrangements were. what a night! nevertheless, I'm grateful that Don & Walt are still out there doin' it. I'll see them anytime I'm able.

we caught both of Denny's shows last night at the Iridium which for me was the real highlight of the trip. his sound is so distinctive from the first note he plays and he makes it look so effortless and easy. the 8pm show was pretty packed, but the 10pm show was definitely not. I'm amazed these shows didn't sell out... I hope he fares a bit better tonight.

in addition to several SD tunes (Do It Again, Green Earrings, Boston Rag, My Old School, Bodhisattva, Your Gold Teeth) he also played a few of his own tunes. I was unaware that he wrote songs, and really wish he had an album or two to offer.

spoke with him after the 2nd show, and he said it was mainly a matter of finances. he said these two nights are a way of testing the waters to see how well he is received. the man is a musical genius and belongs on stage with a guitar in his hands. i'm overjoyed that he's doing these shows and that my sweetie and I could attend... sure hope he continues.

Date: Fri, August 07, 2015, 13:11:36 ET
Posted by: TechnicolorMotorhome, SE USA

Who else is psyched for the Ascend show tomorrow night?

EWF/Chicago was rockin' there last weekend and Dan will be unreal!!

What a great new venue Nashville got. An embarrassment of riches for Music City

Date: Fri, August 07, 2015, 12:52:48 ET
Posted by: Toby, sipping a mocha

There's a video clip of them playing Do It Again last night on YouTube. I notice Denny Dias looks a little like Walter Becker.

Date: Fri, August 07, 2015, 08:39:12 ET
Posted by: M FOX, Back to the future

Sorry to interrupt the Steely Dan tour 2015.

Denny Dias was fantastic last night in NYC! His playing was crisp and clean and he hasn't lost a thing! Sounded just like the(SD)records!!

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 23:53:52 ET
Posted by: Tim Chedle,

WB's bass playing on this is perfect. I can't detect any note, phrasing or rhythmic flaws.

I can't imagine Anthony Jackson nailing it any better.

Also, I think this bass part was completely written out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5uZx-H9DlE&list=PLCEA72bqhrb4vIHz0lW3ok8NotfeCFUXj&index=9

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 23:42:46 ET
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Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 23:27:37 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

I take that back now that I think about it--I think Joe J did Any Major Dude on the 2000 tour. I don't think I knew back then that he was a huge SD fan.

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 23:24:38 ET
Posted by: URL, W

Beast,

Here is some of of JJs tempered criticism.

http://joejackson.com/blog_index&postid=1540535

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 22:56:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

I saw Jackson on his 2000, 2003 and 2005 (with Rundgren) tours. Fav album--Big World. I need to see him again. I don't think he did any SD covers in the shows I saw, wish I had.

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 22:38:45 ET
Posted by: Albert, Tacoma WA

I mainly like the "experimental" side of Joe Jackson. Like when he toured with Todd Rundgren several years ago backed only by a string quartet. I only went because I'm a Todd Rundgren fan. Todd is real genius.

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 20:10:11 ET
Posted by: Beast w/o A Name, NJ

Nice words about Joe Jackson. I remember seeing him in the small crowd at on of the Walking Distance dates in Jan 2000. More recently, I saw a great live cover he did of Any Major Dude. He played Reelin in the Years in Dec 2000 at the Beacon in NYC.

Much can be said of the variety of JJ's musical output as an artist. The first time I saw him was in LA. It was the Heaven and Hell tour in 1997. He was accompanied by only 2 other musicians, both women, who played violin and keyboards. All the other music was sequenced. I wondered what to make of that show as it happened, as I was used to seeing a full live band with every other act I'd ever seen. I walked out of that show believing I had seen a great artist, a true iconoclast who marches to the beat of his own drummer. It takes some balls to put on a show like that. Heaven and Hell was also a very strange album, not for everyone. It has limited appeal to those with lesser ears or imagination.

Haters can hate, but Joe Jackson scores big points for his own courage to step away from his comfort zone and release music that bravely avoids his own popular beginnings. He has gracefully performed covers from many of his influences from Duke Ellington to Steely Dan as well as other contemporaries such as David Bowie and Neil Finn.

The Blue is a fine place to salute Joe Jackson and his music.

I am curious Hoops. In what way has Joe Jackson criticized SD or say out loud what he believes they should do differently ?

I'll just bet he was at Rarities Night 4 years ago. I would bet he'll be at the Beacon again on Oct 17th, unless he has a gig....

Beast

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 18:18:44 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago, on the quick

Thanks for the "catch" Huh?

That should have read "Some Steely Dan fans don't like JJ (Joe Jackson).

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 18:16:27 ET
Posted by: tact, poise and reason, riding the crest of a wave

Another outstanding Dan show in Virginia last night. Estimated attendance of 8500, pretty much the same as 2 years ago at this venue when Bobby Broom opened. I'm a fan of Elvis C but not the biggest fan. Elvis and his band took the stage at 7pm and played until 8. They kicked ass. Excellent set, high energy, on top of their game big time. Clubland was a highlight for me but the entire second half of the set rocked. Quite enjoyable.

There was a bit of a strange dynamic in the crowd. The front orchestra section seemed to all be Elvis fans, standing and cheering wildly after many songs. Much less enthusiastic during the SD set. Probably at least 1500 there mainly to see Elvis.

The Dan came on about 8:25, played till 10:25. Fantastic as always. We've heard Black Cow a thousand times but it is a great opener. They rock that thing pretty good. I hadn't noticed previously how much Jim Beard is killin' it during Aja. I'm usually mesmerized by Carlock. I really love that arrangement of Show Biz Kids. Speaking of Jim Beard, he had an extensive solo on Green Earrings also. The chicks actually walked over to get a closer look as Jim was just freakin destroying it. Really good jam. Before Dirty Work, DF said " This next song was kind of a hit but I didn't sing it. Some dude named David Palmer did." Everyone kind of chuckled. Carolyn sang the lead and it was beyond outstanding.

Wally sounded really good. Extensive soloing leading up to the Hey 19 rap, leading up to band intros, on Josie and on Daddy as well. Since there was no threat of curfew, he took his time on band intros. Freddie played a tasty little 20 seconds of funk after his intro. WB went all-out on DF's intro; singer, songwriter, composer, producer, author, man-about-town, cultural critic............... By the time he finished it was a full house standing O for Donald. He was lovin' it.

Donald sounded great all night, lots of energy. Best band on the planet. 13 all-stars. Plenty to see and hear in every song.

Setlist:
Intro whoever whatever
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Rikki
Show Biz
Green Earrings
Dirty Work
Bodi
Daddy
Time out of mind
Joe Tex Intros
Josie
Peg
School
Reelin'
Kid C

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 11:11:20 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Joe Jackson is the only act, besides Steely Dan and various stand up comics, that I've paid to see twice in the same tour. He's brilliant.

This is no new news, but it is a new forum - if you follow David Crosby on Twitter, he'll usually remind you 15 times a week that 'Aja' is the greatest thing since putting meat between two slices of bread.

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 10:34:53 ET
Posted by: Huh?, F

-there also was a sizable number of responses as to why some Dan fans don't like SD

Huh?

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 10:10:32 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

P.S. The $500 is for a limited number of private balconies that seat four at the Chicago venue, Thalia Hall. 90% of the tickets are in the $22 range with general admission.

Jim

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 10:08:25 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

I've expoused many times how Joe Jackson would be a great pairing with Steely Dan.

JJ (along with Joni Mitchell and Rickie Lee Jones) is someone who more than then gets Steely Dan. He actually is a ravenous fan of SD like us. When he covers SD, he picks some obscure stuff and clearly he "idolizes" them, as he has said on more than a few occasions. Among his covers, King of the World, Rose Darlin' and Junkie Girl. Of course, more than a few cover bands say they love and are inspired by SD, but Joe is also an expert musicologist (jazz and otherwise) especially with regards to the Ellingtonian tradition which is an underpinning of Steely Dan. That said, JJ has also pulled no punches a couple times in saying SD could do some things differently. But they way he disagrees demonstrates that he's one of the top SD fans in the world.

But of course, one does not need to be a JJ fan to be a Steely Dan fan--there also was a sizable number of responses as to why some Dan fans don't like SD. More than a few think of him simply as the guy who did "Is She Really Going Out With HIm" and "Night and Day" when there is so much more breadth and depth to what he does. And his voice and playing is in really fine shape despite the years. Finally, love his ticket prices for his upcoming shows. In most areas including Chicago tickets range from $22 to $500 in a Roseland Ballroom-like venue.

For those who can't stand JJ, I'm done now.

Jim

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 09:58:32 ET
Posted by: Lester, DE

Anyone in attendance not familiar with SD much beyond their hits will miss Do it Again.

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 03:57:36 ET
Posted by: Reggie, NJ

I'm glad they are keeping Do It Again off the setlist this Summer. Even though it was a hit, nobody else seems to miss hearing it either.

Date: Thurs, August 06, 2015, 03:28:32 ET
Posted by: Crowd pleaser man, Sat underneath a laptop

Costa Mesa concert 2003 - https://youtu.be/v9Xy83ivsLs Have fun with it.

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 17:14:47 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

SD and The Eagles??????
NOOOOOOOO!!!!

Seen the Eagles a few times since they "reformed" and had to take a second mortgage out to do it. Been there, done that, no desire to pay 200-250 to see the Eagles play the same songs. And we all know there is no way the Eagles would open for SD. So you really want to see SD play a 45 min to 1 hour opening gig for the Lords of the Dollar?
No way.

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 15:24:52 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

Little Feat might work well as opener for SD.

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 13:34:27 ET
Posted by: Lenny, US

Actually, Don Felder was fired.

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 12:21:50 ET
Posted by: Ice, Norwalk CT

Gregg Allman would be a good pick to open for Steely Dan. Gregg is going to open for The Doobie Brothers for a late Summer tour. Donald Fagen performed with The Allman Brothers on one of the shows during The Allman Brothers 13-night run at The Beacon Theatre in 2011. There's various clips of it on YouTube. Donald sung Shakedown Street and Down Along the Cove with them.

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 12:20:39 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

They could call it The Double Dons Tour.

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 12:05:58 ET
Posted by: HouDanFan, Houston

How about Steely Dan and the Eagles. Both are represented by Irving Azoff. They woulod have to do the big basketball arenas or football stadiums. Both do 15 to 17 songs each. Tickets $1,500 per pop. :)

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 11:56:41 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Toronto, Hip Hop Shootings Central

The Dean - If you're still considering an October trip to The Beacon (specifically including the October 17th show), drop me an email if you get a chance (address included above).

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 10:26:04 ET
Posted by: Dave (from acquisitions), Philadelphia

Saw Steve winwood open for Tom petty last year that was a great bill but I have to echo some suggestions here with the idea for joe Jackson. I've been a huge fan of his and the dan influence is strong in him. Read his autobiography last year where he talks about don and Walts influence at length during his formative years in the early 70s. I think he would be a great opening act for them. Again Elvis was cool but I agree the sound was a little muddy (stark contrast to the dan who had zero technical problems all night not even the slightest feedback squeal, no wb guitar issues, no flubbed lyrics even.) and his band just didn't seem as into it as him. He also did go on very early as someone pointed out. I got there around 7:10 because the traffic in Camden before a show is embarrassing and he was already well into his set which took us by surprise. The break in between was extremely short as far as those things go. The whole night concluded very early which was a nice treat for someone feeling the effects of the old 9-5.

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 09:48:53 ET
Posted by: Kenny, T

To give you an idea of what it may take to hire SD for a private gig.


http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/05/entertainment/robert-downey-jr-highest-paid/index.html

Date: Wed, August 05, 2015, 07:07:16 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

They toured with Steve Winwood a few years back outside of the US.
I think he may be a perfect choice. I would think his catalog of songs would appeal to any Steely Dan fan.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 23:37:55 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Oddest recent concert pairing--Kool and the Gang opening for Van Halen. I really wanted to see Kool and their funky huge band more than VH, and was one of the few there for the start of their set, maybe about 1/4 of the venue filled. Strange.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 23:24:30 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Oh forgot---the one band that really would be a cool pairing with Steely Dan (but only in a theater show, not an outdoor shed), would be Return to Forever, who I saw live finally twice in the last 7 years on 2 different tours. That would be a sweet show right in the wheelhouse.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 23:17:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

I have a very wide range of taste in music and more albums and CDs than I can listen to realistically, but Elvis Costello has never really grabbed me. Never got into him when he first burst onto the scene as the Buddy Holly reborn guy and I've seen him both solo and with band and other than a few signature tunes, I can take him or leave him. I was there for his whole set a few weeks ago, liked the energy (Pump it Up), but the sound was subpar. From that era/genre, give me Joe Jackson as mentioned and a band like Graham Parker and the Rumour any time over Elvis. A Jackson pairing with SD would have been a natural over the years--too bad that never happened.

My selfish preference when it comes to SD shows is to see them as the sole featured band, ala An Evening with Steely Dan, with the opening act the more unknown jazz/blues bands that opened on those theater tours. Give them a nice 45 time slot for a tasty warm up for the main event. The problem with the outdoor shed shows is those venues want to pair up 2 bands that are both well known but that means a tighter setlist time slot for SD and possibly a shorter show with less time for stretching out. There are certain bands that deserve to have that stage to themselves--Genesis, and solo Gabriel , Springsteen were always artists who didnt do support once they hit a certain level, which I always thought was pretty cool, and SD should be in that category too.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 22:40:37 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Also, if the guys tour next summer, praying for no opener probably isn't worth our time. They're just not going to go back to the pre-2006 sized set lists, which is unfortunate but understandable (especially if they keep playing these swampy outdoor places in July and August).

Going out with McDonald (whom I adore) in 2006 was a fun novelty, and a nice (literal, in two shows early in the tour) tip of the hat to the Yacht Rock/Channel 101 guys, but I do hope that the McDonald pairing was as close as they ever veer to, y'know, "the station at work that everyone can agree on."

Maybe it's because of my age and what I grew up listening to, but I wouldn't want to see the guys hit the stage with Hall & Oates or anyone like that. I like Hall & Oates, but I walked out of a show they did with Mike McD once (I got free tickets) because it was just too damn slick.

I don't go see many classic rock shows, but these pairings are odd and pretty cool sometimes. I saw the Pretenders open up for ZZ Top on a whim a few years ago, who would have see that pairing coming? Killer show, as you'd expect, from both bands. It feels like a throwback to the late 70s, when promoters didn't know what to do with these newfangled bands and they'd just throw them on any tour. Like when Rockpile opened up for Bad Company.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 22:26:35 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

I'm not going to pretend that I don't have a preference here, I own a ton of Elvis albums (which is saying something, because his output rivals Zappa at this point in terms of basically one release per year) and he's a top five artist for me. I also own every Doobies LP from the first run, but that's mainly because you can buy them on the cheap from any used record store. That's not a shot at the band, just the truth (the same went for Steely Dan before the millennials discovered how great they were and snapped them all up).

What I'm saying is that the current Doobies lineup -- and more specifically their fans -- would be better off paired with Lynyrd Skynyrd than they would Steely Dan. They're back to the biker boogie stuff, which is fine, and don't really share the same sort of stylistic elements. Whereas a Costello deep cut like "Clubland," despite the Anglo-influence, certainly does and that's why it's been a staple this summer.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 22:05:52 ET
Posted by: Updraught, Philly Area

Dave (from acquisitions) has it right, could really hear Keith Carlock's drums driving each song. The sound in Camden for Steely Dan was surprisingly good. Keith does this every show, but we in the audience cannot always hear this as clearly as on Monday night.

That said, the sound for Elvis Costello's set was very muddled. I was told, though, that his sound has been worse in other venues on this tour. Very disappointing, as a number of people attending were there primarily to see Elvis.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 22:03:23 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.

KD, just one fan's opinion, but I'd much prefer the Doobies to Elvis. Not that I'm anti-Elvis, but in their prime, The Doobie Brothers were far more to my taste. Another "better than Elvis" choice for me, would be Joe Jackson. But honestly, I prefer any unknown jazz artist to a rock artist. That would also likely mean a smaller venue. A win-win for me, but I realize I'm in a small minority.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 21:20:53 ET
Posted by: Stevie Dan, Philadelphia, PA

Completely agree w/ Denise. Most people knew it was special that Elvis was opener and made the effort to be in their seats - not everyone, but definitely a respectable amount. Elvis started 3 minutes early at 6:57 and played 65 minutes. He was definitely not just going through the motions - he really put on a nice show - and rocked out. BUT, he didn't play Allison! During one song (Clubland?), he rattles off what must have been 50 plus names of respected Philly musicians from the the last 70 or so years (Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Gamble and Huff, The Roots, Charlie Gracie, Mario Lanza, etc.) it was very cool! I'm assuming he's doing that in other cities as well?
Elvis set list:
I Hope You're Happy Now, High, Radio Radio, Watching the Detectives, Accidents Will Happen, Flutter & Wow, Monkey to Man, Clubland, Condemned Man, Everyday I Write the Book, (I Don't Want to Go To) Chelsea, Pump It, (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding. No encore.

The boy and girls set was awesome as we always come to expect. It was my 16th show since they started touring in '93 and it's always a great evening, even if the set list over the past few yrs has remained relativly the same mix of songs. Yea I could go on a "change up the setlist" rant - but I won't, because the glass is always half full after seeing the band live. I just have to remind myself, how lucky we are that the boys have been playing live shows for 22 yrs or so now. Back in the 80's and early 90's I thought they'd never go on the road and that I'd actually have the chance to see them live in my lifetime. Last year was the first tour I didn't get to at least one show, so I was ripe to see/hear them.

Jim Beard is such a great pianist - love his solos. He had a great organ solo-can't remember which song though. I thought Walt played great - with Herrington there I sometimes forget how good a guitarist Walt is, but had some great jamming solos when they were tossed to him. Also still loving his wackjob Hey 19 rant - it get's better and crazier every tour. Definitely miss Catherine, but the new Dannet, Paulette McWilliamshas a killer voice too! As for Donald and the rest, I won't try and restate what others have said so well about the rest of the band. It's funny when Walt's doing the band into's, he says this is the best group of musicians they've ever toured with - except that 90% of the band has been in the band for 10 to 15 yrs.

Next stop: NYC for The Most Unforgettable Night of Whatever Rock on!

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 18:52:36 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Hi Bookkeepers Son, the seats were filled much more than before. Lots of people, myself included, made an effort to be there on time to see Elvis. Seats seemed almost full by the middle of his set. He was wort it. Enjoy!

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 16:29:23 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida

For those who have been to shows where Elvis is opening, how full are the seats during his set? In the past few tours, when either Sam Yahel or Deep Blue Organ Trio opened, there were very few people inside watching. Unfortunate for them, they missed something worth seeing.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 15:52:36 ET
Posted by: Dee Dee La Bange, Philly

Last night's set list


Teenies Blues (Intro)
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Rikki I Want That You Shouldn't Lose That Number
Show Biz Kids
Green Earrings
Dirty Work (Dannettes)
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live in That NYC No Mo'
Time Out of Mind (TOOM)
Joe Tex song with band intros
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years (1972 version, of course)
Kid Charlemagne
Untouchables Outro

I think most of this was mentioned above last night in the Twitter . That's where I got it.

Dee Dee

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 15:52:30 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton

Jon Herington uses ear monitors exclusively. He has a little mixing board on a stand to the side that he adjusts the mix with. He told me it significantly cuts down on stage noise and he can adjust the mix on the fly.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 10:28:54 ET
Posted by: Jellybean, Ohio

Donald looks best in shades. I hate it when he takes them off. He even wrote a song called Shades that was recorded by The Yellowjackets. Another favorite artist of mine that always wears shades is Van Morrison.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 10:07:07 ET
Posted by: Bookeeper's Son, Florida

Casual Fan:

I agree whole heartedly with you. Outdoor Tampa shows in August can be very uncomfortable. The only other time I have ever gone to the Tampa Amphitheater was for SD (tour with Michael McDonald opening). Looking forward to the Tampa SD show, but definitely not looking forward to being outside for 3 plus hours. Hoping there is a nice breeze blowing Tuesday.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 09:49:58 ET
Posted by: search, k

The bookkeeper's son was a couple days late

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/crime/jersey-mayhem/2015/08/04/reports-shooting-pnc-arts-center-concert/31091799/

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 09:31:24 ET
Posted by: Mr. Belzoni, Funway west

Dave from Acquisitions... do you have a setlist for us Philadelphians who cold not make the show??

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 09:06:15 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Thanks Dave.

I wonder why they don't use in-ears anymore? They used them back in the 90s when the tech was pretty new. Now it's common place for touring acts and they've switched to monitors. I believe even other members of the band use them!

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 08:36:43 ET
Posted by: Dave (from acquisitions), Philadelphia

Went to the show in Camden last night. Decided on seats but my whole fam and friends were in the lawn. We all agreed on a few things. Elvis was great he's always cool, his band was just ok they weren't into it at all. Donald looks and sounds as good as I can ever remember. He was energetic, he looked thin, and his voice was super strong (I think the sound guy could have turned his vox up a bit). My buddy couldn't understand why he was wearing sunglasses the whole time I said he's the master of cool that's his uniform. Band was in fine shape no surprise. Horn section was on point. Herrington was playing more true to the solos from the record than his own interpretations which was a nice change. His tone was unreal all night. The sound was near perfect with carlocks drums pushing the entire thing. There was very little banter between songs I'd venture to say the least I've ever seen. Fagen didn't say much at all. Becker had his usual hey 19 rant. Speaking of mr Walt. I'm always a Becker defender. I love his playing especially some of the key bass tracks and I'm always defending him in conversations with people who slag off his contributions. That said he was off last night. His tone was completely wrong and I think I know why. I would bet his hearing is going and he pumps up the high end on his rig as far as it can go just to be able to hear himself. This would also explain the move from his beloved sadowskys to strats lately. Every time the sound guy fixed his tone he would crank the treble back up and it just became brittle. We lose our top end frequencies the older we get so this makes sense but of course just my opinion. And can we drop daddy don't live in that NYC! Becker sings a steely dan song! I don't know why they don't pull that out? They played nothing from tan or emg so it would be nice to hear on two fronts. Even midnite cruiser was better to give don a break. He was barely going through the motions while the lovely backup singers did the heavy lifting. All in all it was definitely in the top 3 times I've seen them given how good fagens voice was and how quick and tight the entire night was.

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 02:38:19 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Simply Red's (Mich Hucknall) Steely Dan moment? from the now overlooked Stay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnR9HxFKyYo&list=PLmfVq283ZGDvRnuHpthICKgWeBYHAu9wn&index=9

Date: Tues, August 04, 2015, 00:02:46 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

Dean - agreed. I wish I had known and I would have been there too and have a beer with you.
They play around town quite a bit and hopefully will get a lot of exposure. The newer horn arrangements are more bass heavy too.
It's just great to see this labor of love and it also highlights how deep these compositions are.
Enjoy whatever show you go to next week!

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 22:23:50 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

They toured with M McDonald of course in 2006, which was great because he did not only his good Doobie tunes, but his solo stuff and best of all sat in with SD for a few tunes and that signature harmony voice. I don't think the latest present incarnation of the Doobies has much commonality in musical connections anymore with Don and Walt, but I agree such a pairing would bring in fans seeking that 70s nostalgia fix. Now if we could resurrect Cornelius and Skunk Baxter......

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 22:09:13 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

Fans you would want to share a lawn with:

Elvis Costello fans, or Doobie Brothers fans?

Yeah, good choice this summer Don and Walt. No fu manchu mustaches in this room.

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 20:43:37 ET
Posted by: Ed, Santa Barbara CA

These outdoor shed shows sell more tickets and make more money for Donald & Walt especially with Elvis Costello on the bill. If they do this again next year then I hope they try and get a more compatible act like The Doobie Brothers to open for them. Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers share some past history together and the crowd turnout should be very heavy.

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 19:33:04 ET
Posted by: Josie, Joisey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JabjtrJ5VPU
Uploader (Larry Rulz) has most of the NJ show uploaded.

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 19:02:08 ET
Posted by: HouDan Fan, Houston

Doc...like you i prefer the smaller indoor venues. But the Houston show, which was an outdoor shed, looked close to sold out and I hear the venue holds close to 16,000. I'm guessing it was 80% full and I was shocked there were that many people there because in the past it was never close to that crowd-wise. And quite honestly it was one of the most vocal crowds I've ever experienced for SD. Which made it feel more like a rock show of the 70's but nonetheless it was amazing to hear the crowd going crazy for my favorite band.

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 18:54:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

After the success of the mostly indoor smaller theater venues on the 2011/2013 tours, I'm kind of surprised that SD went back to the outdoor shed route. The StL show I went to was about a third empty in the seats and the lawn was very sparse. One of the problems is that TicketBasturd and/or JiveNation charge very inflated prices for these outside shed shows, and that will keep away a lot of casual fans. These greedy ticket companies are too stupid to understand that if they simply lowered the ticket prices 20-30 bucks, they could sell thousands more tickets, thus making more money overall.

The smaller theater shows on those earlier tours were great because the venues were nice restored theaters usually in the middle of the cities, right near bar districts and restaurants. I went to 6 shows in the Midwest in 2013. Great classy venues with great acoustics that are the perfect size for SD shows. And you can justify charging a bit more for these nice theater venues that are smaller and classier than these generic outdoor sheds, yet just the opposite is true in many cases. I'm really surprised Becker and Fagen want to bother with these shed tours, and if the ticket sales are down in many places, maybe we won't see them go that route again.

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 18:51:52 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

After the success of the mostly indoor smaller theater venues on the 2011/2013 tours, I'm kind of surprised that SD went back to the outdoor shed route. The StL show I went to was about a third empty in the seats and the lawn was very sparse. One of the problems is that TicketBastard and/or JiveNation charge very inflated prices for these outside shed shows, and that will keep away a lot of casual fans. These greedy ticket companies are too stupid to understand that if they simply lowered the ticket prices 20-30 bucks, they could sell thousands more tickets, thus making more money overall.

The smaller theater shows on those earlier tours were great because the venues were nice restored theaters usually in the middle of the cities, right near bar districts and restaurants. I went to 6 shows in the Midwest in 2013. Great classy venues with great acoustics that are the perfect size for SD shows. And you can justify charging a bit more for these nice theater venues that are smaller and classier than these generic outdoor sheds, yet just the opposite is true in many cases. I'm really surprised Becker and Fagen want to bother with these shed tours, and if the ticket sales are down in many places, maybe we won't see them go that route again.

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 11:27:51 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

Well, SD coming to Tampa next week, Tuesday to be precise, and then they are in West Palm the following night to wrap up the summer part of the tour. I'm holding out on tickets, and will probably go the stubhub route. I can tell you, there are what look to be thousands of tickets still on Live Nation for both shows. I'd say at this point the Tampa show is significantly less than half sold, and the show is 8 days away.

This is my only gripe -- and has been true for the half dozen times I've seen them -- these outdoor venues in Florida in freaking August ... just really not very comfortable. When SD has come to the Tampa or Orlando areas and performed indoors, they sell out easily. Ruth Eckerd Hall, in particular, is a preferred locale, I think for just about everyone.

If they make it back around in a year or two, I really think for summer scheduling if they come to Florida its just brutal to go to one of their shows where its likely to be 85-90 degrees and 90 % humidity to start the evening.

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 11:26:44 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.

Lutz, I wish I would have known about the Tommy Igoe Groove Conspiracy before my trip to SF this past April. Never heard of them.

Here they are at Yoshi's doing several Dan songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouTP44bIwKU

They sound great. And no vocals, which consider a plus in most cases.

Date: Mon, August 03, 2015, 02:10:09 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

Went to SF Jazz Fest and saw Tommy Igoe Groove Conspiracy - a 13 piece band - perform SD songs tonight.
What a treat, we were a little skeptical how a big body of music would go about these nuanced compositions.
Quite stunning, 3 sax, 3 trumpets and 3 trombones plus great rhythm section incl. Drew Zingg. Had not seen him play live since Le Bar Bat in the early 90's, he was smoking.
Think Pretzel Logic, Everything Must Go, Green Earrings, Home At Last with a fat brass section and Drew all over it.
Including Jeanne Geiger on Trombone who wrote several of the arrangements and could solo beautifully.
Walter surely would have a joke for a 3 piece trombone section which includes a hot blonde that might be better off left unpublished...
Drummer Tommy great himself, both at being the mastermind and doing the shuffle.
Have fun everyone at the upcoming shows!

Date: Sun, August 02, 2015, 23:03:20 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Wow, a Dan reference on ESPN sports center. John Buccigrass on Mets back to back homers: "the Mets go back...jack....do it again!"

SD remains culturally relevant baby.

Date: Sun, August 02, 2015, 12:08:22 ET
Posted by: back2bass6, NY

Walter is burned out. And his tone stinks. He rambles on incessantly during HEY NINETEEN. 90 minute show, half wasted on the usual "greatest hits". Donald animated, really soulful-seemed into it. Band is GREAT, as usual. Some really wonderful chordal movements where you'd least expect them. Elvis killed it, superb show. That's it.

Date: Sun, August 02, 2015, 12:03:22 ET
Posted by: Joisey, PNC

1. Teenie's Blues
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Godwhacker
9. Dirty Work
10. Bodhisattva
11. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
12. Your Gold Teeth
13. I Want To (Do Everything for You)(Band Intros)
14. Josie
15. Peg
16. My Old School
17. Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
18. Kid Charlemagne
19. The Untouchables

Date: Sun, August 02, 2015, 10:37:13 ET
Posted by: ticket guy, Not TX

Beacon Blues- Stubhub is your best bet. If you have money, the possibilities are endless

Date: Sun, August 02, 2015, 08:43:46 ET
Posted by: Brian K Miller, Guildford

Hi,does anyone have any info if Steely Dan will tour outside of the USA this or next year? I'm considering coming to New York for a Beacon show which would be amazing and expensive.I thought I'd put it out there to the Danheads? Please help! Brian

Date: Sun, August 02, 2015, 08:38:24 ET
Posted by: Beacon Blues?,

For those who have taken the plunge and gone to Beacon runs in the past, are there tickets usually available day-of or day-before the shows in case you decide to add a show last minute? If so, are they generally going for around face value?

Date: Sun, August 02, 2015, 02:32:01 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

According to setlist FM, they played Rikki and YGT again in Jersey.

Date: Sun, August 02, 2015, 01:35:49 ET
Posted by: Riz, Nj

Set list for NJ? Anybody?

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 17:01:52 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Dean, the Pavillon has some of the most overzealous security of any venue I've ever been to. They're notorious around here for doing everything they can to ruin one's concert experience.

Sounds like some great fucking shows, though.

Also, NYC will almost certainly be worth it. They absolutely delivered in '11.

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 16:18:10 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

Thanks to all who posted/tweeted the Boston show reports, etc.

Denise, please e-mail me at your convenience.

Dean, based on our past experience, an SD-related NYC trip is well worth it. We are booked for the last three shows of the Beacon run. Hope to see you there.

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 13:13:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Your Gold Teeth was played at every single show on both the 2011 and 2013 tours I believe. You Bostonians are feeling a little entitled to expect more encores beyond KC aren't you? I would have loved to hear Boston Rag and YGT again at my show instead of Babylon Sisters etc

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 12:06:34 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Somebody's Saturday Night

Joan, Denise, Ole and others, great stuff. Thanks so much for keeping me vicariously involved.

Now comes the big decision whether to just go to one of the Fla shows or hold out for October. I'm thinking a Dan show in NYC is something I have never experienced---so I'm leaning toward that.

Got a report from my best friend since kindergarten (and wife) about last night's show and it pretty much matches what was posted here. He was particularly happy with all the content from Countdown. But his wife's purse was searched and the very small amount of pot she had was confiscated. WTF? They go through your purse at these shows? I can see looking inside to see if you are carrying a gun, or a bottle. But they rifled through it, according to my friend. Strange shit.

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 11:48:10 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Soggy SoBe

Thanks For the report Denise!

Sounds like another great evening in Bean Town.

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 11:43:57 ET
Posted by: D, NJ

Re: The Asbury Park Press story. It's probably something those who could tell Don & Walt about it will choose not to.

My first SD concert was at that venue in 1996, and they played Rikki.

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 09:42:03 ET
Posted by: TheFez, Boston

Denise - They opened with like a 10-12 minute stretched out version of YGT a couple of tours ago. I think we caught them at the Wang that year, might have been the Beacon. It was great but I did like the more faithful rendition they did last night a lot. To me it was the highlight of the night!

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 04:56:58 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf

I know it's not Donald's favorite, but sure as hell should make a point to play "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" on Saturday night:

http://www.app.com/story/life/family/2015/07/31/freehold-girl-see-steely-dan-honor-deceased-father/30881775/

Getting a little dusty in here.

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 03:08:10 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Thanks so much, Olé, Denise, & everyone else who reported.

Wish I coulda been there!

Jim

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 03:07:39 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Thanks so much, Olé & everyone else who reported.

Wish I coulda been there!

Jim

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 02:30:23 ET
Posted by: Denise, BOS

Blue Hills Pavillion is usually a pleasant venue, but it was oppressively hot today and there was no breeze or relief to be found in the tent tonight. I think it took its toll on the crowd who were not as energetic as in years past. Some observations:

Lots of Elvis Costello fans here. He opened strong and kept up the momentum for the first 3 songs. The 4th was Watching the Detectives, (love the bass on that)and I always enjoy his turn of phrase. He has that in common with SD. Then onto Accidents Can Happen, Beyond Belief, Clubland, Every Day I Write the Book, and Allison. I wonder if Allison is his Rikki? – the early big hit everyone wants to hear. Pump It Up, then Peace, Love, & Understanding. The crowd loved this: all are standing and they exit to great applause.

SD band enters onstage for the intro. Each member solos for a bit, which I enjoy. It’s great to hear all the different components that make up the band. Don & Walt and the ladies walk on stage in blue light and begin Black Cow. Most of the people in the front section were standing to take photos on their phones. I know we all do at one time or another during the show, but it seemed so disrespectful somehow to all ignore the music and stand en mass until personal mementos were taken. Maybe it’s just me.

Aja began, and the crowd seemed to settle into it more. Same lights as last year, purple with a herringbone pattern on the curtains going in and out of focus. Magenta spot on the Duke photo in front of Don. I noticed a rack of about half a dozen guitars beside Jon. Walter switched guitars on almost every song. As others have mentioned, he did take the lead a lot more this time around and was a treat to hear.

Don walks to center stage with his melodica and starts Hey Nineteen . As always, Bostonians cheer at the “sweet things from Boston” line and sing along with, “where the hell am I?” Walt starts his speech. Here’s some of what I heard, the sound was unclear at times. “These are my favorite people in the whole wide world…best band we ever had…best night of the summer…best night of 2015 and I ain’t drunk and I ain’t crazy. It’s like a love fest…you go back to your house in the country, your trailer, or even your station wagon…mellow out and [save?] the vibe…look on the shelf…hmm, from Mexico, made out of space pumpkin…from Pluto. Open it up, slice up lemons and limes…Remember we used to live like this all the time? Why can’t it be like that again? Why can’t it be like that every night? So I swallow my pride and ask, what’s that name? Space pumpkin?” …and the ladies are perfect in their response. Jim Pugh a front and center for solo to the end.

Don: “How you doing out there? How about that Elvis Costello? We’ll be doing some tunes, you probably know them. If not, pretend you do.”

Black Friday: red lights as the rumble builds Walt & Jon sounding great, Keith & Freddie just perfect.

Boston Rag:, Walt & Jon go back and forth. Ladies dancing in perfect sync.

Show Biz kids starts with Walt W. front & center. Freddie is sounding great on this and Walter has yet another guitar. Some funky crowd dancing to this song, let me tell you.

Time Out of Mind: Don on melodica center stage. Looks like he’s having fun. Walt has an all blue guitar on this one. Cindy sings “perfection & grace” to the delight of everyone.

Don: “From Countdown to Ecstasy”

Jim Bears begins with a wonderful solo, then into Razor Boy sung by the Danettes. Michael has a solo: very different but wonderful.

Bodhi: half the crowd gets to their feet. It’s so hot, a lot of people just don’t seem to have any energy. Jon is great throughout. Big cheer at the end: I guess they finally woke up.

Daddy: Walt on vocals. Everyone very into it in my area.

Your Gold Teeth: I don’t recall hearing this one live before and it was a real treat. Smooth and understated. Roger was great on his solo, as was Jim Beard. Don made that Lisa Simpson comment tonight, too.

Intros: Everyone gets a moment to solo.

Josie: Walt happy on the V guitar now. People love this and lots of head bopping.

Peg: half the crowd gets to their feet and sings along. Walt has a moment where there’s a bit of distortion on his sound and points to the guitar tech. Problem resolved after a moment. Crowd clearly loves this song: big applause.

My Old School: people are up, clapping along, singing Guadalajara won’t do…

Reelin: Jon - magnificent. Keith solo to many cheers. Big finish. Tremendous applause.

Walt smiling, Don says, “Thank you, we appreciate it. The band appreciates it.” He seems happy, though it’s hard to tell.

Encore: Kid C. Everyone up for this. It’s a great encore. Audience clapping. Everyone on stage seems pleased as well; waving.

Thanks to Walt, Don, band, and crew for a wonderful performance. Also to Elvis Costello and his band. 'Til next time, folks…

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 01:06:21 ET
Posted by: oleander, Post Boston

Teenie's Blues
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Boston Rag
Show Biz Kids
Time Out of Mind
Razor Boy
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
Your Gold Teeth
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years
Kid Charlemagne (encore)
Untouchables Theme (sans bongos)

Date: Sat, August 01, 2015, 00:16:22 ET
Posted by: TheFez, Boston

Wow. I thought it was just me and my crappy hearing. Was actually looking forward to hearing Elvis open but the sound sucked. As for the Dan, highlight was Your Gold Teeth but disappointed with only Kid Charlemagne for the encore.

Date: Fri, July 31, 2015, 20:15:18 ET
Posted by: Denise, Bos

Elvis was very good but yes kind of muddy sound, I agree. Setting up for SD now. Just checked Walt's blue strat and now checking out Jon's guitar. I am clueless as to the type. Will post later tonight.

Date: Fri, July 31, 2015, 20:08:09 ET
Posted by: oleander, boston

Anybody here? Sound muddy for Elvis. Still a treat.

Date: Fri, July 31, 2015, 08:46:29 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Thanks to Joan for tweeting the setlist! I got excited about Boston Rag and went to bed.

Date: Thurs, July 30, 2015, 22:33:23 ET
Posted by: hoops, on a smartphone

Thanks, Chris!

(Frank: Joan's tweets were forwarded a bit after Chris. )

Date: Thurs, July 30, 2015, 22:20:58 ET
Posted by: Frank ,

Joan's set list tweets appear above-- no need to repost, but thanks Chris.

Date: Thurs, July 30, 2015, 21:57:03 ET
Posted by: Hugh, Oakland, CA

That's good. I was worried they might snub Boston and not play The Boston Rag.

Date: Thurs, July 30, 2015, 21:08:43 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Well....it sure sounds like Sherry and Janet are the ones to seek out and buy drinks for. Some Cuervo gold.......

Date: Thurs, July 30, 2015, 21:01:01 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Reposting from Security Joan's twitter ... sadly, from my house, and not the Blue Hills Bank Pavillion ...

Setlist so far:
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Boston Rag

Date: Thurs, July 30, 2015, 17:16:47 ET
Posted by: tommytomato, Columbus OH

Center Section Row A seat 1 (on aisle and directly in front of Donald) was my location for Blossom show...good stuff.

Shout out and very special thanks to Sherry and Janet.
My daughter and I were acquainting ourselves with the Sheraton Suites prior to the show and finished exploration in the lounge...2 nice ladies were chatting at the bar and they struck up conversation with us upon seeing my daughter's "Steely Dan T-Shirt". Had a wonderful time speaking with them and sharing concert stories etc...later at the show...Sherry and Janet are sitting front row as well and several seats down...and the end of the show the ladies graciously gave us each a "Steely Dan After Show Pass" BIG FUN! We got to hang with Roger Rosenberg and Michael Leonhart for about 20 minutes...way cool. Spoke and took pictures with Roger (very kind and generous to spend a few minutes with fans)...Thank you Roger and Michael for your time! Thanks again to Sherry and Janet for making it happen. Next stop 10/16 and 10/17 at the Beacon!

Date: Thurs, July 30, 2015, 13:15:09 ET
Posted by: Big Trev, Barcelona

I'm normally just a humble lurker here but I thought I should chip in for Steve G and others to say that there is concert footage of 2000 from Pine Knob. 25-6-2000 to be exact. I won't start by breaking the house rules but if I just say 'TUBE' maybe that will get you started.

Date: Thurs, July 30, 2015, 10:15:10 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Most of the good videos out there come from in-house video feeds. A lot of the 09 and 11 shows were theaters so I'm not sure if anything will ever see the light of day.

I'm holding out hope that someday we'll see a soundboard of the Rarities show. As far as I know there is only one incomplete audience recording with fairly poor quality.

Date: Wed, July 29, 2015, 23:43:50 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Someone mentioned trying to find good footage of the 2000 tour beyond the Plush TV official release, and count me in as interested also. I saw that tour in Chicago at the AllState Arena right up front in the first few rows. What a setlist. In addition to the TvN tunes, opened with Boston Rag, got Night by Night, Bad Sneakers, Royal Scam, Dont Take Me Alive, and a closing FM that kicked ass. Probably the best overall SD setlist I have ever seen aside from Rarities Night, and it's close.

I have live video from 1996 (Pineknob MI and Manassas Va); 2003 (Pine Knob MI and Camden NJ); and 2006 (NC). Would love to know of good stuff from the 2009 album shows and the 2011 Rarities show.

Date: Wed, July 29, 2015, 14:43:34 ET
Posted by: ravinia, chicago

Was at Ravinia show Saturday when they played Dirty Work. Donald mentioned something about Palmer and then said they parted ways and said basically its none of your business. I think he sued them recently. Anyway, great show. Agreed Becker was better than years past.

Date: Wed, July 29, 2015, 12:36:19 ET
Posted by: Satch, MA

There's still bad blood between David Palmer and Donald & Walter.

Date: Wed, July 29, 2015, 12:10:09 ET
Posted by: Freddie, US

There's a guy named Walter Palmer in the news. That's probably what is tripping up Donald up as to who sang what.

Date: Wed, July 29, 2015, 11:08:44 ET
Posted by: Scott P. "Steely Dann", Suburban, Cleveland, OH

Really enjoyed the show at Blossom last night.

SteelyDon summed up the venue well. Once you got in there, though, it is a great place.

The band seems to get better with age. Walter seemed much more into it than the tour 2 years ago, where it felt like he was "mailing it in" on the songs he didn't play lead on.

From what I can tell, there are three "swap out" songs from the set. I like the ones we got last night: Rikki, Babylon Sisters, and Razor Boy. Although I wouldn't mind hearing something from the last two albums, I understand why they need to stick with the original seven.

Black Friday was a highlight for me, I think I only heard it live once before--This was my 7th Dan show + a DF and Dukes of September show. I really like the Show Biz Kids arrangement. The other songs, except maybe Razor Boy, were fairly true to the original arrangement. I also really like they overall order of the set list. Luring me in with Black Cow and Aja and intensifying with harder rocking songs as the night went on.

I think I posted it accurately on setlist.fm - not sure about the opening instrumental title.

I really wish there was someone out there making new music like this today.

Date: Wed, July 29, 2015, 10:32:49 ET
Posted by: SteelyDon, Pittsburgh

What a great show at the Blossom last night. I haven't seen the boys live since 2008 and they just sound as tight as ever. DF sounded great and I think he only had one minor flub of lyrics in Josie. His voice is strong and they really look like they are having fun touring. What can I say about the rest of the band, truly professionals in every sense. It was a great crowd to at the Blossom. Everyone was really into it. I am only 30 years old and I didn't really feel like I stuck out in the crowd. It was a good mix of ages and backgrounds. I had awesome seats, 4 rows back in the center. I really enjoyed the show. I was hoping for Deacon or TVN but when you look at the setlist you can't complain. I've never seen Rikki live so that was a bonus. I forgot how great they were live. After waffling a bit I decided to go last week. I am so glad that I did. After the show I was able to get the set list from their lighting engineer.

One funny observation, when DF was getting ready to introduce the girls he said that they were going to be singing a song that was originally sung by David Palmer - then they went into the open chords of Razor Boy and DF had a big smirk - I guess its the Fog of the touring as they have probably been going back and forth with Dirty Work and Razor Boy.

I will never go to that Venue again however if I can help it. The walk to the parking lot was literally like a half mile. I can do without that.

I'm hoping to get to the Beacon too!

Date: Wed, July 29, 2015, 09:16:36 ET
Posted by: Dylynfan, Harrisburg, Pa

Steve there are a couple of "souvenirs" out there, and they are of
piss-poor quality. That said I have still watched them due to the
amazing set list, the best one being from your Sunshine State. Bottom
line: it would be great if there was a very good done out there, I
just haven't seen one. done rambling

Date: Wed, July 29, 2015, 07:06:38 ET
Posted by: Chiprdr, Cuyahoga Falls

I agree another great show at Blossom. I had wanted to hear Boston Rag which they played earlier on tour but then again heard Rikki Walters rant during Hey 19 not as long this time. I must say , Elvis Costello is a bona fide rocker. Hope you all enjoy the future shows as much as I did last night!

Peace

Date: Wed, July 29, 2015, 01:33:00 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Cleveland

Just back from Blossom, another hot one!
Same setlist but swap Razor Boy in for Dirty
Work, and Deacon out, Babylon Sisters in.
After back to backs, a few observations,
Walter IS playing a lot more this tour.Don's
voice is much stronger than in the past.
And the band is just killing it this year!
So I'm really optimistic for the later part of
the tour. Taking some time off now, so all you
Danfans get ready to enjoy some other great
nights for me!


Peace

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 21:41:45 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

With the recent posting here of the 2008 Cincinnati show and
the 1996 Pine Knob concert from Michigan, has anyone ever seen a video from any of the 2000 tour shows.
I know the commercial "Two Against Nature" DVD..but did
anyone shoot footage of the 2000 tour.
I'm asking as I think that was probably their best tour and
the best example of "Steely Dan" at its best.

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 21:12:09 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

I have seen SD several times at the Ravinia, and here is why you probably don't see a lot of "hardcore" fans commenting or setlist postings about those shows. For those unfamiliar, Ravinia is a nice swanky upscale outdoor theater in the heart of the posh suburbs of the near North Side of Chicago. They host the summer shows of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the large majority of their seats are held by season ticket subscriptions. At the shows I have gone to, I would say the average age is 65. One year I went and snagged a last minute ticket, everyone else in my row were blue haired ladies who didn't have the slightest clue who SD was, or where the name came from.

The place is incredibly hard to get to and frustrating. Parking is a hassle. The seating area is surrounded by a large park like grassy area that slopes DOWN from the seats--meaning the people on the lawn can't see anything. This is where the wine and cheese socialite crowd congregates. I don't think I would be exaggerating to estimate the average yearly income of a Ravinia crowd at the mid 6 figures. Nothing wrong with that, it's just that this is NOT your typical summer outdoor shed crowd. These are the beautiful people. Quite frankly, these are the people that Becker and Fagen like to poke fun at (Black Friday).

The few shows I have been at were nice musically, but I got the impression that very few people around me were diehard Dan fans. It was like most of them were there to be seen and chat and socialize over their fancy wine and cheese baskets. They would applaud politely over the few hits they knew--Josie, Reelin, Peg and maybe Hey 19 (without really knowing the underlying perverted meaning). These were shows that the wives organized to go to for a fun couples night out. 95% of them wouldn't care or recognize of the Dan played Boston Rag or Pearl of the Quarter.

Thus, that may be why the Ravinia feedback/setlists are so slow in coming. Just one fan's opinion who has been there, done that.

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 19:41:12 ET
Posted by: Lenny, X

That's the problem: There haven't been set lists reported to the blue.

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 17:21:34 ET
Posted by: Norton, New Jersey

Somebody out there is posting bogus Steely Dan setlists on Setlist.fm. Just rely on this BlueBook page for the accurate setlist.

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 17:03:12 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Bob, re intro, they played Teenies Blues in StL. Why they don't open with East StLouis Toodle O when in town is frustrating. I loved the 93/94 instrumental opening of SD tunes, but that also meant you wouldn't hear those full tunes in the show.

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 14:49:17 ET
Posted by: confused,

regarding ravinia setlist one poster called raving n1 posted a setlist for ravinia after some random post about pearl of quarter was offered.

raving post mentions no pearl. i don't even believe the most recent poster about pearl.

the deepest cut they are reported to play so far and we get 3 fucking different stories.

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 14:43:45 ET
Posted by: Bob,

BTW: I think they are playing something other than Cubano Chant on at least some nights. What is it?

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 14:42:47 ET
Posted by: Bob,

Mr. Lazio, If you scroll the Twitter above, you will see the set list from Ravinia on Saturday night.

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 08:51:08 ET
Posted by: FM (no setlist at all),

Setlist FM has been pretty inaccurate so far. The Ravinia #1 set list there is wrong - listing Razor Boy and Baylon, neither of which were played. I think everything else is correct for that show. I believe Ravinia #2 had Gaucho and Janie Runaway instead of POQ and Godwhacker, otherwise same.

Ravinia #1 was great - thought the band sounded great, as did both D&W. Hearing POQ was definitely awesome - such a great song live. Bodhi shredded, as did Reelin and Godwhacker, which is a better song live than in the studio.

As far as setlist complaints - it's hard to really complain. They need to play popular songs to keep people engaged. Regardless, everyone has their own songs they like to hear (for me, Black Cow, TOOM, Aja, e.g.) no matter how many times they play them live and others (Show Biz, Black Friday, Hey 19 for me) less so. My motto is, lucky to see them each and every time, because it could be the last!

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 04:59:41 ET
Posted by: Lazlo, NYC

So, what was the setlist from Ravinia night 2? And have they really been playing both Dirty Work and Razor Boy?

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 00:22:49 ET
Posted by: Slinky, Boston

Somebody posted a different setlist for the Michigan show on Setlist.fm.

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 00:17:59 ET
Posted by: Slinky, Boston

Good setlist for the show in Michigan tonight. Rikki, Godwhacker, Razor Boy and Pearl of the Quarter were played.

Date: Tues, July 28, 2015, 00:12:01 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Auburn Hills

Just back from Pine Knob. Great as always, beautiful
night,real hot down low, cool up on the hill. No surprises.
Cubano
Black cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black fri
Rikki
Show biz
Time Outta
Dirty wrk
Bhodi
Daddy don't live
Deacon
Joe tx
Josie
Peg
My ol sk
Reeling
Kid C and outro

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 23:19:21 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

Walter explains much of it it here:
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/walter-becker

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 20:46:52 ET
Posted by: L Karaz,

Thanks Hutch. Do you think LK had anything to do w/ the actual/basic melodies/harmonies of the songs?

If he did, I dunno why, but that doesn't sit right w/ me. I know WB wrote those lyrics to all the songs, but, if he needed help w/ the compositional components of the songs, I mean, why?

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 19:05:33 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

L Karaz - My guess/opinion is that perhaps WB felt he needed a bit more direction and groove for his second album. Walter is a producer/bassist and Larry Klein is a producer/bassist. It's apparent Walter wanted a Dub Reggae feel to it so maybe Larry was able to take Walter's demos and come up with some ideas that were rhythmically appealing. There was a lot of speculation about pitch correction used on the vocal. That doesn't bother me at all. I love that album.

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 18:48:32 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Thanks for the review KD. Sorry to hear you got a "dud" in terms of the tunes they've been sprinkling in this year.

The Hey 19 spiel is a funny thing. Once every so often, it's absolutely inspired. The last few times I've been in the audience, it's been fairly dull... but then they go and play Coachella and get a ton of press quoting it. Not to mention it's more or less humorist (vs. musician) WB's only creative output these days.

It's looking like I may be hitting up Boston on Thursday ... will do my best to snag a setlist, and will report back regardless.

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 18:32:02 ET
Posted by: L Karaz,

I know it's off the touring topic but, I've been listening to/liking WB's "Circus Money".

Can anyone tell me why he needed to collaborate w/ Larry Klein in the compositional process? He didn't need a collaborator for 11TOW.

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 17:08:24 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

Btw, I sat next to a guy at the StL show that went to college at North Texas with Keith Carlock and knows him well. Surprisingly this was his first Dan show, due to his own music career, and of course he was blown away.

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 16:47:34 ET
Posted by: Napoleon, U.K

Thanks guys

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 15:48:01 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, El Segundo, CA

Napoleon,

The 2010 film "All Good Things" features three SD songs. I don't think I have seen the entire film, but IIRC, Don't Take Me Alive was played in its entirety during the closing credits.

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 15:42:44 ET
Posted by: Doc Wu, Up on the hill

I was at the StLouis show, and yes, Becker did not sing Black Friday. His version of Daddy/NYC was the sloppiest I have seen him do. After seeing SD 11 times in the last 4 years, I'm kind of done with the Becker 19 spiel. At times it's been funny and witty, but now it's simply too long, too samey, and the novelty has worn off. So for a "hardcore" fan I can do without it.

The band was great as usual and sounded good. My nit picks are that Bodhisattva was strangely played at breakneck speed, faster than I've ever heard. And yes, as a "hardcore guy", disappointed not to get Boston Rag, Gaucho or FM like they had sprinkled into other shows. We got pretty much the standard setlist they have been playing the last few tours with no nuggets or surprises. I'll never tire of Black Cow or Aja of course. TOOM, Babylon Sisters I can do without for awhile. Rather hear some cuts from Two Against Nature.

Amused that review claimed that the setlist was one full of deep cuts to satisfy hardcore fans. Obviously whoever wrote it is not familiar with their recent touring history. It amuses me that even a casual SD fan who grew up in the 70s/early 80s would not be pretty familiar with cuts like Show Biz Kids, Bod, Black Friday, Babylon Sisters. The only real deep cuts that a very shallow fan might not know were Godwhacker, Razor Boy, Daddy. I mean everybody who was in their teens and 20s in 1977 surely has bought the Aja album at least 3 different times right?

Glad I went, thought about driving to Chicago, did not and of course they pull out Pearl of the Quarter for ChiTown, dammit. Can someone PLEASE post the 2nd Ravinia setlist? What's wrong with you Chitowners?

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 15:41:33 ET
Posted by: Chris , Nh

American Hustle features Dirty Work in the sublime opening sequence.

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 14:47:43 ET
Posted by: Sammy, N

Here's the WKRP episode that features SD music according to imdb.com

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

I haven't found exactly where they are.

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 14:46:17 ET
Posted by: Alkali, NYC

“You’ve got to walk it like you talk it or you’ll lose that beat”
Honorable mention: “Laurel Canyon” (which btw includes a yummy Kate Beckinsale)

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 14:02:00 ET
Posted by: films,

here are your answers

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1598912/?ref_=ttsnd_snd_26

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 13:12:58 ET
Posted by: Napoleon, U.K

I haven't encountered many scenarios where I've heard an original SD recording in a film then, low and behold, I watched Zodiac the other night (Jake Gigglypuff or someone) and Deacon Blues features for about 10 seconds. Rather strange but it worked.

Does anyone know any other film appearances for SD's tunes (not counting me, myself and Irene)?

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 13:00:19 ET
Posted by: Alkali, NYC via Guadalajara

The flub with Gaucho wasn’t the lyric but the plagiarism.

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 08:36:58 ET
Posted by: Gargoyle, San Francisco

They suck. Don't buy 'em. Donald & Walter's faces aren't on the shirts.

Date: Mon, July 27, 2015, 07:04:34 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

How are the "Steely Dan" t shirts for the Summer Leg of the tour ?

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 20:16:04 ET
Posted by: Mel, US

Anyone give their home WiFi network an SD related name? Mine is laughingpines

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 15:49:35 ET
Posted by: lyrics,

when donald flubs on gaucho... no he cant sleep in the car instead of on the floor it ruins the song. the flow of gaucho is awesome but not when don messes up.

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 15:19:05 ET
Posted by: Crowd pleaser man, 51st State

Concert from 21-July 1996. Manasass, VA. Hopefully playlisting will work for you - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVmEsP3_y44&list=PLocnSTv-SOpNs9pqW1Pvsj6WdZ6sB5eXK -

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 15:04:31 ET
Posted by: Lonnie THE Kingpin, Del Mar

KEN -- What you say is likely true. I know this as one of the most hardcore fans out there; however, they do play other "bathroom break" songs that the casual fans (60-70% of the crowd) also do not know. By way of example, your casual fan does not know "Razor Boy" (especially as sung by the ladies), many do not know 'Gaucho" (though they know the album), "Green Earrings", "I got the news" etc. It seems to me that if 80% of the show are the core hits (which they are not doing each time out) and the other 20% or so are "pearl of the quarter," "the royal scam," "west of hollywood,"Jack of Speed" and on and on then all will be fine. The last show I was at, they all went to the bathroom during WBs 10 minute band intros. Seems to me band intros could be 2-3 minutes and then you get one to two more tunes in the set list. And, of course, the untouchables theme should be replaced with FM as an outtro or how about some medley of Dan tunes not played in the set. This was done in 1993-94, but as the intro before the first song with WB and DF. I am glad to see them rolling out POQ. Great song that fans should hear -- whether they know it or not. Just my .02.

LTK

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 14:51:50 ET
Posted by: Dancast, USA

Nice Walter solo on Janie.

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 13:07:06 ET
Posted by: Homer, Grand Rapids MI

There's some videos up on YouTube from last night's second show at Ravinia. They played Janie Runaway and Gaucho.

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 12:18:35 ET
Posted by: Kevin, St. Louis

I think that the best set list would be to have them play THEIR favorite songs instead of "somebody else's favorite songs".

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 12:17:55 ET
Posted by: ken, The sad truth

Lonnie -The reason they don't play anything from 2VN or EMG is because everybody (but the people on the Bluebook) would head to the bathroom. D&W know it...so they don't play anything from it!

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 01:39:01 ET
Posted by: Ravinia, Highland park

Who is that gaucho amigo?

Date: Sun, July 26, 2015, 00:09:34 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.

Another big thanks for posting the Cincy show. Made my day.

I wont too much on the totally ill/uninformed review of the St Louis show. Well, at least he/she enjoyed the show--I think. But it does point out how hard it is for the boys to make a setlist. Hard core fans sometimes leave unsatisfied with the mainstream selections, while many fans (and reviewers) complain about too many "deep cuts".

Oy

Date: Sat, July 25, 2015, 20:08:37 ET
Posted by: Kevin, St. Louis

Ports: I was at the STL show and Walter did not sing Black Friday, though I did enjoy the "Deep cuts jam sessions"!!!

Date: Sat, July 25, 2015, 16:03:42 ET
Posted by: Chiprdr, Cuyahoga Falls

Thank You for posting the '08 Cincinnati show was there and enjoyed it very much now I'm really excited for the 28th at Blossom!

Date: Sat, July 25, 2015, 15:42:01 ET
Posted by: Ports, Mpls

Very nice review from the St Louis night. However it has a few odd comments:

"With a setlist that read more like a deep cuts jam session than a greatest hits set, the evening was obviously geared to the serious fan."

This reviewer must not read the Bluebook since everyone here knows they never play deep cuts or a jam session. Ha Ha

"However, other than Becker’s rambling (and his attempt at vocals on “Black Friday” and “Daddy Don’t Live in That New York City No More”) the performance was technically near perfect."

Now I didn't attend the show but I am pretty sure Walt didn't sing on Black Friday.

Just thought that was funny, it is a very glowing review however.

Ports


http://www.examiner.com/review/steely-dan-played-it-cool-saint-louis-wednesday

Date: Sat, July 25, 2015, 13:57:15 ET
Posted by: Lonnie THE Kingpin, Del Mar

I do not have an article about Walt saying this. I know this because I talked to him about it directly and asked him the question. I can also say with a very high degree of confidence that this band is like a Ferrari. Its performance capabilities far exceed the use to which they are being put. Unfortunately, at least for now, this Ferrari is not being shifted out of fourth gear into overdrive. The catalogue of the Dan is vast. DF and WB should be proud of this. Let the band play!!! Lead the band. Enjoy the ride. I am thrilled that they are out there performing, but also cut it loose. Some shows there is nothing from Pretzel Logic -- let alone the amazing title cut. Nothing from 2vN -- it only won album of the year at the Grammys. Nothing from EMG. Makes no sense. I am quite certain that if the band made up the set list, the show would kill for the audience and there would be only a small minority of people complaining about the set list (as there always will be -- but at least that shows passion). Just my .02 worth.

LTK (of '65)

Date: Sat, July 25, 2015, 12:19:40 ET
Posted by: ken, PA

Lonnie THE Kingpin - Very interesting. Do you have the article/interview where Walt Weiskopf talks about loving to play Deacon Blues?

Date: Sat, July 25, 2015, 11:51:24 ET
Posted by: Raving, N1

*Intro
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Green Earrings
Show Biz Kids
Time Out Of Mind
Dirty Work
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live...
FM
I Want To Do...Band Intros
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years
Kid C
*Outro

Date: Sat, July 25, 2015, 11:13:51 ET
Posted by: Lonnie THE Kingpin, Del Mar

Like many others, I am puzzled as to why the band -- or more aptly DF and WB - are not playing Deacon Blues. Not only is it one of their most important "core" songs, it is also an amazing song. Walt Weiskopf loves to play it. No one can deliver the soul that Mr. Bumpus had with this tune, but Walt sure does one helluva job. Deacon Blues is actually an uplifting song and should be played at every show along with the other 12-14 core songs. Sprinkle in 4-5 "deep cuts" for us hardcore fans and we have a great show that no one should complain about. If you yearn for a specialty show, there is always the Beacon in October.

LTK (of '65)

Date: Sat, July 25, 2015, 04:13:00 ET
Posted by: Scappino, Akron, Ohio

Who has the setlist for last night's show at Ravinia?

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 22:21:52 ET
Posted by: Wow!., Ravinia

PEARL OF THE .25!!!!!!

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 18:04:55 ET
Posted by: Dancast, USA

I love that Cincinatti show. A pro-shot Everything You Did? Amazing.

Abacab-I wish they would just make another album utilizing Chester Thompson's drumming (since Phil can't play the way he wants). I got to see them in 2007 and it was great.

Gary Katz etc.- For some reason, The Royal Scam is their most timeless of the original 7 albums (to me), production wise.

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 17:28:08 ET
Posted by: jim c57, chicago nw burbs

I have 4 extra lawn seat tkts to the SD show in chicago/ravinia for tmrw, july 25th. face value price. email me asap if you want them. I will be at the show. jimc. email = jim.cheatle57@gmail.com .

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 17:26:27 ET
Posted by: jim c57, chicago nw burbs

I have 4 extra lawn seat tkts to the SD show in chicago/ravinia for tmrw, july 25th. face value price. email me asap if you want them. I will be at the show. jimc.

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 14:50:22 ET
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KY

Hutch,

I was at that Cincy '08 show. It's definitely way up there on my list of favorite concerts. The set list was amazing and the band was on fire. After the sax/drum break in Aja, the woman sitting directly behind me just said "Jesus fucking Christ..." in pure amazement.

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 13:40:38 ET
Posted by: Len, C

Was this DF's inspiration for doing everything funky?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqHZG_8Xg3g

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 12:26:29 ET
Posted by: ann, chicago

Could somebody please film WB when he leaves the stage at the Untouchables? The Houston YouTube looks like he sort of bops off and I saw hint of it too on another clip. We must have a record!

Hoping for the best for Ravinia tonight. Lawn seats. At least I'll be there ,,
May give review later but there should be 25,000 others there

annbeguity

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 09:22:08 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

Cincinnati show from 2008. The whole thing in glorious pro video and soundboard audio.
That opening medley is amazing. Beautiful arrangement.
Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=573&v=HeniR2wP6kg

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 08:42:18 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Interesting point about WENDELL. The funny thing is, WENDELL sounds sooo much better than drum machines that would become common in the 80s.

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 01:25:11 ET
Posted by: Abacab, .

By the way, just thank Gary Katz for his excellent production on those Steely Dan albums. I'm sure Donald and Walt learned a lot from him.

Date: Fri, July 24, 2015, 01:06:19 ET
Posted by: Abacab, listening to Genesis

I sure wish Phil Collins would come out of retirement and reform Genesis. I really miss that band a lot.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 23:31:20 ET
Posted by: Dancast, USA

I was listening through Steely Dan and some other favorite artists today while doing some work around the house and began to contemplate how some records sound dated, while others don't.

I'm not necessarily referring to the content, more-so the production.

For example, I had a track from Genesis pop-up (Domino from 1986). You can instantly tell the era it was produced in.

Then, Don't Take Me Alive came on. It made me realize, that at least in my own way of looking at things, the only two albums that I can pin down to a time frame are Countdown to Ecstasy (the audio factors remind me of some of the Zappa albums from the time such as the Grand Wazoo) and Gaucho (WENDELL is the giveaway).

Does anyone else notice these things? Or is it just my over-caffeinated brain?

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 21:57:52 ET
Posted by: hoops, south side of chicago

The latest edition of the Dandom Digest went out in the past few minutes and covers July 9-23 ,2015. The previous edition covered July 1-8, 2015.

The following are the subjects/headlines of the items in the latest newsletter:

-   Forbes on 7 Things at SD Concerts
 - Amy Helm's new Album
-  DF's Rhodes Spunky Threesome
 - Jon Herington on TrueFire
 - I Wait All Night For Cellos Like These

  SPOILERS
  SPOILERS
  SPOILERS

 - Good Primer on Elvis Costello for SD Fans
 - Admit it:  They're great!
 - SPOILER: Seattle Reflections
 - SPOILER: Reflective Seattle Reflections
 - SPOILER: The View From Mountain View
 - SPIOILER: SD at the Hollywood Bowl
 - SPOILER: Gliding Austin
 - SPOILER: Austin Setlist
 - SPOILER: Reflecting Hot Houston
 - SPOILER:  SD & EC: Rock's Distingusihed Gentlemen
 - SPOILER: SD &  Dallas (the city, not their song)
 - SPOILER: STL STLST
 - SPOILER:  Hollywood in St. Louis
-  St. Louis "definitely satisfied"


If you are a subscriber, you should see the latest edition in your email box within the next hour. 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. Heck, if you want, email me privately that you DID get it. WIth email filters and spam what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a naughty word.

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.

---

One thing I wish to point out: the Dandom Digest is received by about 2,200 fans, of which it seems 1,700-1,800 actually read it. At least, this is as best as can be determine through a response survey from not too long ago. Perhaps accessing a certain audience of Danfans of this size will expose your ideas, performances, great music, etc. to the wider audience that you seek. Or maybe not.

---

Thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom.

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

Fly about as low, be so cool,

Jim

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 20:40:29 ET
Posted by: Holmes, Seattle

There's other BlueBookers that we haven't heard from lately....like Jazzassin and Lurker Ray.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 20:16:45 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

Let's call it like it is: The set list thus far have been
amazing. There is a reason we haven't heard from the likes
of Young Wu (no offense bro, I am a fan of your post)
Done sermonizing

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 16:52:07 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Perhaps some of the TOOM lyrics came from first hand experience.

For some reason the allusions to Christianity hit me somewhat recently (water changing to wine, The Light In My Eyes, Perfection And Grace, not to mention the somewhat twisted Gospel feel with McMike's decidedly soulful interjections)

Not only is it a cheerful, upbeat song about heroin, but the narrator feels its his personal Jesus and just has to spread the word. One of the darker, funnier things they ever did.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 16:35:18 ET
Posted by: Kevin, St. Louis

The Dan took STL by storm last night with show that can only be described as NEVER BETTER! My wife, a (Dan virgin), was thoroughly impressed: "These guys are great! That drummer is unbelievable! How can they play like this for so long?"
Everyone was ON last night! Tight, Tight horns, Carlock? never better! Walter? High energy all night. Good to see him taking the leads more. (55% to JH 45%) More Melodica, new arrangements on older songs, not to mention DF in fine voice.
With all apoligies to Steve Gadd, KC has set the new standard for Steely Dan drumming.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 16:10:41 ET
Posted by: D. Poria,

Sorry, NOT an autobio, but rather it alluded to WB's proclivities at the time.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 16:02:46 ET
Posted by: D. Poria,

Speaking of TOOM, is that song sort of an autobio of WB?

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 15:09:41 ET
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KY

They slipped Bad Sneakers into the set list a few years ago in Louisville, and it was the only time all tour they played it. That was a very nice treat. It's a great song to begin with, but it really works well live in my opinion.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 14:51:51 ET
Posted by: Napoleon, U.K

We could sit here listing songs we wish SD would dust off live. For what it's worth, Bad Sneakers is a nice sister song to Deacon Blues and would be a good replacement. Many years ago in Birmingham, U.K, they played it, catching me off guard with how gooey it made me feel. Perhaps I was just struck with how beautiful it sounded up close.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 13:28:50 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando

I must respectfully disagree with those saying BF wasn't a radio hit or isn't a familiar fan favorite. Its probably amongst the most recognized by the casual fan, along with My Old School, Kid C, Peg.

Aja is almost always the tune I think about the most after having left one of their concerts. So rich and full, highlights so many band members.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 13:02:31 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

Agree with Chris and KD, was hoping Daddy would be replaced by Monkey sometimes - as in earlier tours.
Walter's vocals sounded really good on that and it seemed to suit him.
Pretty sure Deacon Blues was played in April this year, at one of the 2 days in Santa Rosa.
Walt Weisskopf's solos were highlights.
Cornelius Bumpus absolutely owned that one as well, digging in deep with his soulful old self. Hard to believe he's been gone for over 10 years.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 12:20:55 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

KD, agreed wholeheartedly with your post.

They dedicate a good 1/4 of the show to songs most audience members are not intimately familiar with. I'd like to see more variety in that 1/4. To be fair, they have been swapping tunes in and out of a few spots.

Although they're all great songs, I don't need to hear Show Biz Kids, Daddy, TOOM, Black Cow and Black Friday every year and I'd bet most of the crowd doesn't either. And this current band has played just about everything. Am I crazy to think the audience would react about the same to Night by Night, KOTW, Boston Rag, and Glamour Profession? These are all songs the current lineup can do.

And while we're at it, as long as Walter's gonna sing something, why does it have to be a little-known Steely Dan song instead of one of his own tunes? If the audience is gonna be largely indifferent anyway, who cares?

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 11:59:11 ET
Posted by: Little Wild One, H-ton

It is really great to see some of the usual suspects here and I'm digging the intelligent conversation about the set lists, as opposed to the usual bullshit whining. Agree with y'all, KD, Lutz and M/O/D/P. For me, the EMG tour will always be my fav because of the prospect of getting something new. Fer instance, you show up one night in Camden and get "Pixeleen" out of the blue. And then, of course, there was Roseland......

"Deacon Blues" was played a bit in 2006 and I have a personal anecdote which is etched in my memory when it was played as part of those shows. First when they played it in Bristow, VA, I inexplicably sobbed my way through the rendition (which was somewhat of a distraction to both my seat mate and to my enjoyment of the song.) Then, a few nights later, at Jones Beach, Ann, who had traveled from Borneo to join our little road show group, had the same exact reaction when it was played.

Glad that everyone is digging the Houston show clips. It was a fantastic show and has me all the more pumped for the Beacon shows. Hope to see some of our loyal Bluebookers there!

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 06:57:12 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa

Really looking forward to going to
the show in Tampa. Don't have the tix yet but
supposedly they're on the way to me.
For all my complaining, the boys are mixing
the set lists up quite a bit now.
Just wish "Rikki" would come back and that
some of the songs the Beacon folks will hear would
be integrated into the rest of the tour.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 03:33:53 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR

If the Grateful Dead can manage to webcast (pay per view) their final concerts from Chicago, I imagine Don & Walt could do likewise with any of the Beacon shows. And the rarities night might draw the biggest purchasing crowd of die-hard Dan fans.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 02:04:33 ET
Posted by: Jalapeno, Ann Arbor, MI

I'm glad they played Razor Boy instead of Dirty Work.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 01:47:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Good sound quality. What a night!

Agreed, KD that's a decent set lis from the Woodlands. Great to see Gaucho and TvN make appearances.

Date: Thurs, July 23, 2015, 00:51:32 ET
Posted by: Moe, Suri

1. Teenie's Blues

2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Black Friday
6. Time Out of Mind
7. Show Biz Kids
8. Godwhacker
9. Razor Boy (Sung by The Danettes)
10. Bodhisattva
11. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
12. Babylon Sisters
13. I Want To (Do Everything for You) Band Intros
14. Josie
15. Peg
16. My Old School
17. Reelin' in the Years
Encore:
18. Kid Charlemagne

19. The Untouchables