Member Blackheart writes:That was Aja, what do you want to do now?” joked Steely Dan singer-keyboardist Donald Fagen.
Fagen and guitarist Walter Becker had just performed the ‘70s New York jazz-rock duo’s most commercially successful album, 1977’s Aja, in its entirety with the help of a big-and-crisp-sounding 11-piece band, and was feeling particularly jovial.
“Sit back, relax, and we’ll take care of the rest,” added Fagen.
The audience did just that and got one dynamic night of music given Fagen and Becker’s notoriously high standard of musicianship, Aja hits like Deacon Blues, Home At Last, Peg, I Got The News, and Josie, and tons of stuff from their impressive back catalogue.
It helped that their 11-piece band, including a four-man horn section and three female background singers, provided a vibrant backdrop for the duo, who have always been great musicians, if not consistently exciting live performers.
Fagen, in sunglasses, energetically rocked back and forth while on his piano stool a la Ray Charles (even though that was Duke Ellington painted on the front of his keyboards), and even got up and roamed the stage withmelodica in hand.
While seated, he often raised one arm in the air to emphasize a note or when a song was coming to its conclusion, he’d get up and stand in front of drummer KeithCarlock with both arms raised over his head and his point his fingers wildly.
His passion was evident.
“What a night!” Fagen exclaimed to me when when he returned backstage after the encore.
All night long, Becker, who gave up lead guitar billing to Jon Herington, also the musical director, was content to maintain a pretty static position during his solo turns and took over on lead vocals for, thankfully, only one song during Daddy Don’t Live In That New York City No More.
Fans, meanwhile, stayed seated for the most part, although some of the more enthusiastic ones attempted to stand up and dance briefly, even that one woman who danced backwards up the aisle while being herded by an usher.
By the end though, practically everyone was standing up and cheering for the encore barnburner, Reelin’ In The Years, with Herington doing justice to the classic song’s signature guitar solo.
SET LIST
Black Cow
Aja
Deacon Blues
Peg
Home at Last
I Got the News
Josie
Bodhisattva
Hey Nineteen
Daddy Don’t Live In That New York City No More
Godwhacker
Babylon Sisters
Green Earrings
Black Friday
Dirty Work
Love Bug (Supremes cover)
Don’t Take Me Alive
My Old School
Kid Charlemagne
ENCORE
Reelin’ In The Years
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