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Steely Dan  

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Steely Dan is a Jazz fusion band led by founding members Donald Fagan and Walter Becker. They were one of the most prominent music acts of their time and despite the extreme saturation and trending of rock music, Steely Dan’s jazz inspired sound managed to breakthrough into the mainstream.

Though Steely Dan was not fully realized until 1972, the roots of the band trace back to 1968 when the core members, Fagan and Becker, first met at Bard College in New York. Fagan overheard Becker playing the electric guitar in a nearby cafe. Immediately impressed by his performance Fagan introduced himself and asked if he wanted to be in a band. The two shared similar tastes in music and ideas for strong constructions. They formed several bands in college one, which included Chevy Chase as the drummer.

The band played blues and rock cover songs by artists ranging from Willie Dixon to Moby Grape; however, they would focus more on their original compositions with their move to Brooklyn, New York in 1969. Fagan and Becker assumed various roles in the music industry contributing to the soundtrack of the Richard Pryor film “You’ve Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You’ll Loose that Beat” and acting as touring members of the group Jay and the Americans.

Fagan and Becker eventually formed their own band and recruited the help of drummer Jim Hodder, singer David Palmer, and guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. Considering Fagan and Becker were advent enthusiasts of the Beat Generation movement, they named their newly formed group after a reference to William S. Burroughs’ novel “Naked Lunch”.

Steely Dan initially struggled to find their footing in the recording studios, releasing the poorly received single “Dallas”; however that reputation quickly dissipated with the release of their 1972 debut album “Can’t Buy a Thrill”. This album housed the classic rock standards “Reelin’ in the Years”, which reached #11 on the Billboard singles charts and “Do It Again” which peaked at #6. The band followed this release with the critically acclaimed, but commercially unsuccessful, “Countdown to Ecstasy”. This was the band’s first album without Palmer as lead vocalist. In addition to Fagan replacing Palmer as vocalist, Steely Dan also added future Doobie Brothers keyboardist Michael McDonald to the line up. The band put out another critical and commercial success with “Pretzel Logic” and made it to the #4 spot on the Billboard Charts with their hit single “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”.

After the release of “Pretzel Logic” Steely Dan abandoned touring and committed themselves completely to the studios. Fagan and Becker were utter perfectionist in recording sessions and would sometimes make their studio musicians play a total of 40 takes per track. As Fagan and Becker continued hiring incredibly talented studio musicians, the significance of the roles of the other members began to diminish and they would subsequently leave the band. Equipped with a diverse and highly competent set of studio musicians Steely Dan went on to record the most texturally elaborate and polished sounding albums of their career. 1977’s “Aja” was a landmark album for the band and a groundbreaking record for its time. This album raked in a number of accolades including two Grammys for Best Engineered Recording and Non-Classical album. The album was also immensely popular with the general public, reaching #5 on the US Charts and becoming one of the first American albums to be certified platinum. The album showcased the bands craft as innovative and complex songwriters and added validity to their reputation as masterminds in the studio. Aja also featured a long list of jazz aficionados such as saxophonists Wayne Shorter, Pete Christlieb and Tom Scott, guitarists Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour, and bassist Chuck Rainey (to name a few).

Steely Dan released their follow up to “Aja”, “Gaucho” 3 years later. Though the band endured personal, technical, and legal trouble during the album’s production, it ended up being another major success. Steely Dan’s next studio album would not be released until 20 years after “Gaucho”. Their long awaited comeback album, “Two Against Nature” dominated at the Grammy Awards, taking home Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal, and Album of the year. Steely Dan recorded yet another album entitled “Everything Must Go” and supported it with an extensive tour. The band’s “Two Against Nature” tour would be the band’s first time on the road since the ‘70s. Steely Dan continued touring well through out the 2000s and even did a tour in 2013 where they played “Aja” in its entirety.

Live reviews

Steely Dan’s music was definitely a new sound to people when the band started playing in the early seventies and their musical style still holds its defining characteristics that make them so unique. They have the ability to mix the diverse elements of jazz, funk, and rock into one musical style and make it sound cool and smooth.

When performing live Steely Dan does an excellent job presenting their signature style of laid-back music that allows the audience to sit back, relax, and take in the smooth breeze of their music. Donald Fagen is highly responsible for delivering the chilled vibe that we all love so much about Steely Dan’s music. Fagen is the driving force behind the catchy chord progressions ,which he smoothly plays on the Fender Rhodes Electric Piano and the Wurlitzer Electric Piano. Fagen also has a polished, pristine voice that he delivers with much clarity over the jazz-funk rhythms of the music. Walter Becker also adds much of the edge to the sound with the jazz like scales he plays on his guitar. Steely Dan’s sound has a loose feel to it and while at one of their concerts you can see them present this style in a free-form kind of way. Steely Dan is also able to get a full sound by having a backing band consisting of saxophone players that add to the smooth jazz element of the music, as well as having background vocalists that harmonize with each other to create a great depth to the performance. Steely Dan always looks cool and suave when they are on stage. The members wear sport jackets and ties, and sport dapper sunglasses. Their sound has garnered them much praise for their innovated style having already been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and having sold over 40 million albums.

You will always be thrown for a surprise when you see Steely Dan. Their rhythmic and melodic shifts are always changing in ways that captivate the audience and keep their toes tapping to the floor.

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What a show! Steely Dan, known most for their studio albums was in rare form last night. I closed my eyes a couple of times (on purpose) and could not tell if I was listening to a CD or a live show. They were in top form, and the young ladies they chose to accompany them on stage could not have been better. They went through most of their most popular songs, but, intentionally or not, did none of their songs that had to do with Las Vegas. I tend to believe it was the former not the latter. But that's okay, considering the massive catalog they had to choose from. Now, on to the audience. What a bunch of dead heads! and I don't mean a Grateful Dead reference here. The show was not sold out, which surprised the hell out of me. There was rarely (if at all) a standing ovation given to a band that clearly deserved a few. But, all in all, I had a great night and would go to see them again in a heartbeat!By the way, I'm 64 and grew up listening to them. Just a point of reference for you all.

Occasionally I am quite proud that I am not so young anymore as it means I can say I have seen some bands that others might regard as legends. Steely Dan fits the bill here. It is difficult to remember a lot about the concert as I saw them back in the 1970s at Leeds University (a great place for gigs in those days and probably still is). I also saw the Doobie Brothers in the same year. I tend to group Steely Dan, Doobies and Eagles together (Eagles I didn't see until many years later). What I remember is a great gig, all the hits like "Do it Again," "Reeling in the Years," "Haitian Divorce."

Sorry I cn't recall much more, but what I do suggest is you check out their music as it is far from old-fashioned.

I am unsure if they are still around, but I am certain there is at least one tribute band! They are American rock with a jazz feel and in my opinion one of the best of that genre.

Okay, this review comes in two parts - a review of the band and a review of the SSE Wembley Arena.

The band. Brilliant musicians and they played magnificently. They go on a bit, though! And any Steely Dan set that omits Do It Again, Haitian Divorce, and Rikki Don't Lose that Number, is below par. Perhaps if they'd spent less time showing off (a drum solo for Chrissakes - who cares?!), they might have squeezed in another tune or two.

The Arena. I haven't been to Wembley Arena for many a year and was surprised to see how little has changed. I spent £95 each for two 'good' seats on the floor of the arena - easily the most expensive non-festival tickets I've ever bought - and they were dreadful. Almost impossible to see the whole stage with someone sitting in front. I would not return to Wembley unless it was a reincarnated David Bowie, supported by XTC and Kate Bush!

This concert began with fine, vintage music from the DOOBIE BROTHERS singing all of their hits from the '70s & '80s ... naturally, this stirred up good memories for those of us at JIFFY LUBE LIVE who are in our 50's & 60's! After the intermission, STEELY DAN (Donald Fagen and company) arrived on stage and began playing what I considered to be contemporary jazz tunes that did not cross over to the pop charts/American Top 40 ... . It is quite clear that Donald Fagen has not lost his supreme talent for music and for the selection of excellent, new band members; however, he seems to have forgotten his "old" fans in that he did not perform his top hits-"PEG" and "DO IT AGAIN" ... this sadden Me. Maybe, his band member, "Lord" Harrington, should tell him how many of Us love these vintage tunes ... .;)

I loved the Steely Dan concert I saw last Thursday! Donald Fagin was in fine form. he seemed looser than the last concert I saw him in at the Sony Centre in Toronto in 2015. He really seemed to be enjoying himself. The Rama Theatre Centre looked to be sold out and everyone there was adoring, especially me. His music resonates somewhere deep in my chest. Is that my soul?

I hadn't expected to find the concert so flawless considering half of the original team was missing with Walter Becker's death, but John Harrington proved to be a master guitarist!I did miss Walter Becker's vocals though. And didn't there used to be four Danettes?

I'm thrilled that Donald Fagan is still touring and I'll sign up to see the next one.

Gratefully I remain,

GailKendall

I should start by saying I have weird obsession with Steely Dan. They're the greatest band ever. "America greatest maybe rock non-band" in their own words. I really enjoyed the concert at the overture center in Madison. Their band for the Jamalot Ever After tour is really solid, and the sound quality was great. I've seen them a few times, and they're really starting to get over themselves and play what the people want to hear: the hits! There was a time when they wouldn't play Reelin in the Years live. They played it! They played almost all of my favorite songs. I would've liked it if they got into their deep cuts more, but you can't say no to one great tune after another.

First...I have never missed a Steely Dan concert!!

I was fortunate enough to win a trip to meet and see them in concert in London,England back in September 2000.

When I met Walter Becker and Donald Fagan at the Apollo Hammersmith in London back in 2000..It was a dream come true..meeting my all time favorite band. Talking with Walter..he was a cordial .great guy to talk to...like he was your next door neighbor..in fact If you had asked Walter to come over and mow your lawn..he was THAT nice and would probably do that. That trip of a lifetime I will ALWAYS remember..and meeting the two who formed Steely Dan! RIP Walter....

Saw Steely Dan with Doobie Brothers in Charlotte PNC pavilion. Had a good sized crowd there of people 4O to 80. The musicianship was excellent. I would have preferred some deep cuts from Steely Dan such as Doctor Woo, Pearl of the Quarter, or Razor Boy, but you can't have it all. I got in and out of the show in about 15 minutes. Beer is around 15 dollars, so I saw the show completely sober. I particularly liked the dance groove Green Flower Street and Natural Thing.

Oddly, the first time I knowingly heard Steely Dan (Reeling In The Years) I didn't like them. It wasn't until a few years later that I heard "Deacon Blues" on the radio and asked who that band was. When I learned it was Steely Dan I did an about face and began listening to their earlier works. After that I was hooked and they are now the only group that I have in their entirety on my iPhone songlist. By the way, I still don't like "Reeling In The Years".

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Steely Dan Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

Earth after hours tour, steely dan at united center, chicago, il, usa.

• Phantom Raiders
• Hey Nineteen
• Kid Charlemagne
• Bodhisattva
• Time Out of Mind
• My Old School
• Reelin' in the Years
• A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry
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• Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Steely Dan at Kia Center, Orlando, FL, USA

Steely dan at hard rock live, hollywood, fl, usa.

• Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan at Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

Steely dan at toyota center, houston, tx, usa, steely dan at bok center, tulsa, ok, usa, steely dan at chi health center omaha, omaha, ne, usa, steely dan at enterprise center, st. louis, mo, usa.

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• Peg ( 784 )
• Hey Nineteen ( 774 )
• Kid Charlemagne ( 756 )
• My Old School ( 731 )
• Josie ( 701 )

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“3” 2manydjs 8TRACK BAND The Aaron Randall Band aja vu Stu Allen & Mars Hotel Tori Amos Animal Liberation Orchestra Aqueous August Hotel Augustifamiljen Band of Horses Banff Jeff “Skunk” Baxter Jeff Beam The Best Big Something The Big Wu Bird Dog Jubilee Clint Black The Bliss Jockeys Blue Beat The Bluechips Boat House Row Bonnaroo Superjam Booty Vortex Brian Wright & The SneakUps Edie Brickell & New Bohemians Jon Brion The Brook & The Bluff Brooklyn Charmers Zac Brown Band Brock Butler Larry Carlton Larry Carlton Quartet Cats Will Play Band CBDB Dolph Chaney Chris Dave / Pino Palladino / Isaiah Sharkey Trio Colorblind Dilemma Vinnie Corbo Elvis Costello Countdown to Ecstasy CPR Jason Crosby Christopher Cross Crowded House Simply Dan Evan Dando The Low Darts

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Cannonball Adderley The Angels Gato Barbieri Walter Becker James Brown Ray Bryant Donald Byrd & Booker Little Sam Cooke Crosby, Stills & Nash The Crusaders Bo Diddley Lee Dorsey The Drifters Duke Ellington & Coleman Hawkins Duke Ellington and His Orchestra Donald Fagen Maynard Ferguson Thomas Jefferson Kaye Stan Kenton and His Orchestra Henry Mancini Gerry Mulligan Oliver Nelson John Newton Don Raye & Gene de Paul Nelson Riddle The Standells The Supremes Joe Tex Joe Williams Stanley Wilson

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4,791 people have seen Steely Dan live.

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Steely Dan - The Earth After Hours Tour

With special guest the david stryker trio.

• Date August 13 , 2022 / Saturday
• Doors Open 6:30 PM
• Start 8:00 PM
• Ticket Prices $99.50 - $199.50
• Venue The Capitol Theatre Port Chester, NY
• On Sale On Sale Now
• Please Note 18+ unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Children under 8 years of age are not permitted. Proof of vaccination and/or a negative COVID-19 test is NOT required for this event. Thank you for your continued patience and support.

Event Details

All COVID-19 protocols have been removed. Thank you for your continued patience and support.

Steely Dan plays The Capitol Theatre with the Dave Stryker Trio on August 10,12 + 13!

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Steely Dan - Earth After Hours Tour

with Special Guest Snarky Puppy

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Pit Price:  $399.50, $349.50, $299.50, $249.50 Reserved Prices:  $149.50, $99.50, $79.50, $59.50, $39.50 Lawn Price:  $29.50 A limited number of lawn 4 Packs will be sold for $90 plus service fees. Premium seats (Aisle seats) increase prices by $20-$50.

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Published: 2022/06/07 by Larson Sutton

Steely Dan at the Hollywood Bowl  

Photo credit: Randall Michelson/Hewitt Silva-Live Nation

Steely Dan captain Donald Fagen carries an endearingly crumpled look; one that suggests how unimpressed with his own stature he appears to be, even 50 years into a growing legacy as one of the most revered musical artists.  At Steely Dan’s sold out appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, Fagen sported a humble, zippered black hoodie and trademark styled-by-the-pillow hair.  “What a night,” he (kind of) exclaimed early on, as though surprised by the ecstatic response, then questioned his audience full of glamorous stars whether or not glamor was still a thing.

Over the two-hour, nearly flawless recital of many a Steely Dan classic, he offered an oddly charming, “Wowee!” after several songs’ conclusion, or trailed off during his intro to “Green Flower Street,” as if thinking he was spending too much time talking.  Glamor, or self-aggrandizement, have never been much associated with Fagen and his Steely Dan story.  Elegance is another matter.

That’s perhaps the hallmark of this evening on the Earth After Hours tour; the elegance that thoughtfully populates the ideas and imagery Fagen and his late collaborator Walter Becker consistently and palpably injected into Steely Dan’s cocktail of jazz, soul, rock, and pop; as well, recruiting the best players available to help animate their shifting, sauntering grooves for a complete and lasting effect.  His 12-piece backing ensemble today is just as loaded as Steely Dan’s albums were; a dozen ultra-talented performers, anchored by the timekeeping wonder of drummer Keith Carlock, the elastic movements of bassist Freddie Washington, and the superlative twin-guitar grandeur of Jon Herington and Adam Rogers.

It was a jukebox of memories for the full house, beginning with a run of “Night by Night,” “Hey Nineteen,” and “Black Friday,” with only a breath of a pause after the latter’s roadhouse blues.  There was a gorgeously paced “Aja” and the immortal bop of “Kid Charlemagne” that held mostly tightly to their original arrangements.  Then, the Dan’s baker’s dozen stretched, extending “Home At Last” into improvisational bliss.

With a smile, Fagen made a cryptic, passing reference to a “jamband list,” and worked pleasingly through deeper album cuts, “Babylon Sisters” and “Green Earrings,” before another blast of heyday on “FM (No Static at All),” “Dirty Work,” with its lead vocal handled by the Danettes trio of backup singers, and the sprinting “Bodhisattva.”  Fagen ducked off stage, leaving the group to its own introductions during “Keep That Same Old Feeling,” then returned for a closing “Peg” and “My Old School,” the latter once again showcasing Herington and Rogers’ impeccably fluid efforts.

The encore, though an inevitable choice, was met with a roar; the timeless opening riff of “Reelin’ In The Years” raising 18,000 to their feet.  Carlock got a last word, shuddering the Bowl and concluding the classic with a flourish.  Then, the ensemble played Fagen off with Joe Williams’ “A Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry,” closing an evening of musical elegance and five decades of Steely Dan. 

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San Francisco Show & Tell: Steely Dan Serenades The Bay With Snarky Puppy [Review]

Dating back to their 1972 debut album Can’t Buy A Thrill , Steely Dan has experienced numerous twists and turns in their peculiar career. The brainchild of a partnership between guitarist Walter Becker and keyboardist/vocalist Donald Fagen , Steely Dan rarely performed live in their heyday, opting for meticulous studio recordings that remain some of the finest jazz-rock albums ever laid down.

Becker and Fagen employed a murderer’s row of session musicians to bring their multi-hued creations to fruition, sparing no expense to deliver a product that rose above the vapid cock-rock and coked-out disco of the day. As such, the Becker/Fagen duo didn’t really find their onstage mojo until decades down the road.

A one-off mid-’90s live album facilitated the formation of a backing band, which eventually gave way to a couple of late career LPs including 2000’s Grammy-winning Album of the Year, Two Against Nature . Eventually the pair cultivated a robust touring ensemble, helmed by searing guitarist and longtime Musical Director Jon Herington , and driven by the determined drumming of one Keith Carlock .

Wednesday, May 25th, Fagen was flanked by both esteemed gentlemen at the Concord Pavilion , as the current-day iteration of Steely Dan rolled into northern California on their Earth After Hours Tour 2022 . The engagement was rescheduled from a previous date, originally billed with Steve Winwood opening. But a year later, things done changed. When the band finally did hit the road for the West Coast, they strolled into this East Bay outpost with Snarky Puppy in tow as direct support. Talk about a dream billing.

Snarky Puppy is riding high in 2022, on the heels of another live album recording session (for the forthcoming Empire Central ) in Dallas a couple months back. That was followed by their own popular Ground Up Music Festival in Florida, with a stop in New Orleans at Daze Between . Opening for heroes and jazz-rock pioneers was clearly an honor for these celebrated Texas wunderkinds.

The sun was still up and bright at 7:30 p.m. when Snarky Puppy took the stage right after ticket time, and the Concord Pavilion may not have been prepared for the onslaught of so many people trying to enter the amphitheater quite so early. The long lines and bottlenecking were extremely frustrating, and we were forced to creep along in a very slow queue for the beginning of Snarky’s brief, 5-song set.

The Pups regularly headline their own big rooms around the world, yet the inter-generational lineage and proverbial torch-passing was evident. Bassist and bandleader Michael League humbly addressed the crowd a couple of times when introducing newer compositions or band members, and the whole team’s collective pride was on display.

In the cavernous shed, the sprawling Snarky Puppy ensemble sounded very low volume on this particular evening. Unfortunately, those fans who were lucky enough to be inside for Snarky’s performance chose to talk over the music for the duration. Since the band was quiet and the crowd was chatty, there was an audible buzz of conversation that drowned out the music. By the time we got to our seats in the pavilion, they were starting up “Lingus”, from 2014’s We Like it Here , delivering a super-solid rendition before leaving the stage much too soon.

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The Steely Dan songbook is its own old-timey universe full of shady characters, loose women, gangsters, hustlers, gamblers, lovers, and the underground. These seedy scenes and sardonic stories are set against smart jazz funk grooves rich in obtuse musicality, employing peculiar chordal voicings, invoking everything from swing, to hard bop, R&B, big band, rock n’roll, and occasionally something of a proto-hip-hop sound.

Rap artists from Kanye West  and  Ice Cube  to  De La Soul and the late MF DOOM have been mining Steely Dan samples for decades. Mos Def has long expressed reverence for their “thug lyrics about drug dealers and prostitutes,” and a recent revival has seen them referenced by the likes of Thundercat and Mac DeMarco .

It’s a shame that Walter Becker died just as The Dan began experiencing another resurgence in relevance via new generations of music fans getting hip to their game.

On this night, the crowd leaned heavily retiree and was particularly subdued, though not necessarily disengaged. Yet there was very little electricity or vibe in the atmosphere, and I feel that the experience somewhat suffered for it.

Even though fans talked over Snarky Puppy as they filed into the venue, when the headliner took the stage, the entire audience sat still in total silence. While Steely Dan dug into their superb catalog for near-perfect readings, there was absolutely no talking, and almost no dancing.

Venue staff had repeated that the band requested we not take photos or video during the performance. Even though people occasionally pulled out their cell for a quickie snap, there was no sea of phone lights for the majority of the concert.

Minus Becker, who passed away in 2017, Steely Dan unveiled a brief but brilliant set that showcased more of the well-known pop-rock stylings than the expert ménage of jazz, funk, and R&B that helped inform their work in the ‘70s and early ‘80s. Donald Fagen’s Fender Rhodes rig was again adorned with a giant tapestry bearing a vintage photo of Duke Ellington and his band. A microphone and music stand stood in the dearly departed Walt’s former onstage spot, a memorial which has been the norm since his passing.

After “Phantom Raiders”, their customary instrumental jazz joint to set the table, Fagen and his super-tight band started things off with the discreetly sinister groove of “Night By Night”. The swollen assembly was locked in from the get-go; they immediately chased it with the midtempo funk of “Hey Nineteen”, from 1980’s Gaucho . The latter, a salacious cut complete with cheeky nods to Aretha Franklin , tequila, and cocaine, wields an undeniable dance groove and voluminous pocket.

“No, we can’t dance together / No, we can’t talk at all.”

Apparently, the denizens of Concord, California took my man quite seriously because nary a soul got up out of their seats to move to the music. This sort of listless crowd energy, or lack thereof, seemed to set the tone for the evening. Fagen shied away from some of the funkiest throwdowns in the SD rotation like “Black Cow’, ”Josie”, “Green Earrings”, each guaranteed to inspire a blissed-out dance party. Instead he would insert a pair of his own solo numbers in “Green Flower Street” and “The Goodbye Look”, much to the chagrin of us Dan die-hards that dotted the pavilion and lawn.

The ever-majestic title track to Aja boasted scorching sax from longtime Steely sideman Walt Weiskopf  and scintillating backing vocals from the trifecta of “Danettes” stage-left on the wing. “Aja” also saw Fagen do a little dime-dancin’ on melodica, boppin’ around the stage and nearly taking a spill. The mind-bending “Aja” drum section originally laid down by the great Steve Gadd was equal parts re-created and re-imagined by Keith Carlock, who’s been steadily holding down the mighty Dan’s drum seat for over a quarter century precisely for such reasons.

“Kid Charlemagne”, a treasured tale of Bay Area acid king Owsley “Bear” Stanley , unspooled into frenetic jazz-rock splendor. On this slightly-east-of-San-Francisco night, Jon Herington was the best in town. The longtime SD MD took on the celebrated Larry Carlton guitar solo and made it his own, swag-surfin’ his Gibson hollowbody axe with confidence and aplomb. Second guitarist Adam Rogers , recently added for this tour, was no slouch himself, proving a great foil for Herington.

The buoyant and purposeful bounce of Gaucho ‘s “Time Out of Mind” featured more spirited melodica from Fagen, like a shaman channeling a mystical stone. It was this jam that finally forced us to depart from our choice seats and vantage point, outward bound in search of fellow dancers. We simply could not sit to Steely any longer.

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On a raised platform with an obstructed view, we soon found some kindred souls to boogie with. Everywhere else in the packed pavilion, fans remained seated in silence for the entire concert. This made for a very attentive audience, as listeners picked up on the idiosyncrasies woven into Steely Dan’s confounding compositions, but created a bit of a sleepy, anticlimactic setting.

The evening’s sterling centerpiece was a celestial rendition of “Home At Last”, also found on Aja . Nothing short of an epic, the song was inspired by The Odyssey , as protagonist Ulysses attempts to make his way homeward bound in the tailwind of the Trojan War. This deep, patient groove was originally powered by Bernard Purdie ’s patented “Purdie Shuffle”, and that intoxicating rhythm is juxtaposed with some heart-tugs from Fagen’s poetic storytelling. Wednesday’s “Home at Last” was punctuated by an adventurous (for Steely Dan standards) jam section in the middle of the emotive reading, making it both the most ambitious and the most poignant peak of the performance.

Fagen did treat the throngs to a selection of iconic chestnuts, teasing a little “San Francisco show n’ tell” to the delight of the Bay Area boomers in attendance. The divine “Babylon Sisters” showcased the iridescent vocals of the Danettes, as Fagen conducted the full band by gesturing his head, shoulders, and making various facial expressions from behind his trademark spectacles. The once-swaggering “Don’t Take Me Alive” may have lost a smidgen of its drug-fueled mid-’70s gusto, but the song still packed an enveloping punch.

Don took a break towards the final turn while Herington and the Danettes led the group through a lush if abbreviated take on The Crusaders ‘ “Keep That Same Old Feeling”, a nod to the band’s influence and inspiration. Late in the gig, Fagen reached back for some of Steely’s most nascent numbers, including the free-wheelin’ ’70s guitar rock of “Bodhisattva”, and stirring early ballad “Dirty Work”, the latter’s vulnerable lead sung by the Danettes’ La Tanya Hall .

Culled from 1973’s Countdown to Ecstacy , “My Old School” finally broke the Concord’s collective hush, as the remaining lubed-up seniors started to sing along. Same for “Peg”, Aja ‘s high-frequency yacht-rock banger, uncorked late in the set to an audible chorus of cheers and a smattering of dancers. If only folks had responded in such spirited fashion from the jump, we may have had a more jubilant experience.

Fagen briefly left the stage then returned for a single encore. First he took an opportunity to thank his departed partner in Steely Dan, the late great Walter Becker. It was the only time Walt was verbally mentioned, but Don made it count, and Becker loomed large throughout the concert. The anthemic “Reelin’ in the Years”, with its wailing guitar harmonies and driving rock n’ roll attitude, is quite possibly the band’s biggest hit. An appropriate coda, “Reelin'” reached back into yesteryear, one more time with feeling, as Don and company drove us home into the night.

Maybe our everlasting summer won’t be fading quite so fast after all.

words: B.Getz

Setlist [via Setlist.fm] : Steely Dan |  Concord Pavilion | Concord, CA | 5/25/22

Set: Phantom Raiders (Stanley Wilson), Night by Night, Hey Nineteen, Black Friday, Aja, Kid Charlemagne, Home at Last, Green Flower Street (Donald Fagen), Time Out of Mind, Babylon Sisters, The Goodbye Look (Donald Fagen), Don’t Take Me Alive, Dirty Work, Bodhisattva, Keep That Same Old, Feeling (The Crusaders) [1], Peg, My Old School

Encore: Reelin’ in the Years [2], A Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry (Joe Williams)

[1] With band intros [2] Dedication to Walter Becker

Touring Ensemble Lineup — Earth After Hours 2022

Donald Fagen – keys/vox/co-founder of Steely Dan Jon Herington – lead guitar/musical director Keith Carlock – drums “Ready” Freddie Washington – bass Adam Rogers – guitar Jim Beard – keyboards Walt Weiskopf & Roger Rosenberg – saxophones Michael Leonhart – trumpet Jim Pugh – trombone The Danettes: Carolyn Leonhart, Jamie Leonart, La Tanya Hall – backing vocals.