Steely Dan At The Gorge Amphitheater, 2 August 2003 - Page 4

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• 1 - RW

  Aug 08, 2003 at 6:44 pm

  The Dan gig at the Gorge was the best I've seen in all my years of concert going. This was a band that I never imagined seeing live, and it could have easily not lived up to the hype and anticipation.
  
  They actually blew away my expectations and I was buzzing from the experience for days. Many of the arragenments and performances exceded the orginal recorded versions. Although no one will ever top the Skunk's work on "My Old School"
  
  Overall the performances were much more soulful and tasty than those on the "Live in America" recordings, which tended to be a little busy for my tastes.
  
  Carlock was on fire, Becker and Herington played off each other nicely, Fagan seemed to be truly enjoying himself and sang well, the girls were fantastic, the horn section were spot on and Tom Barney was as solid as a rock.
  
  The musicianship, the sound and setting could not have been more perfect.
  
  This was in no way an oldies act, but rather a complete musical experience that included inspired arrangements and some wonderful energetic improvisations from every player. Everything was completely fresh.
  
  Some of the nostagia acts that are humping around the world these days could learn a thing or two from Fagan and Becker.
  
  Highlights for me were - "Home at Last", "Don't Take me Alive", "Aja", "Hey 19", "Things I Miss the Most", "My Old School", "Babaylon Sisters"...Hell the whole set list was of highlight status and I could have listened to the band vamp on FM at the end of the show for hours....but, sadly, all good things come to an end...
  
  Not sure what's going to top this experience. It will probably be the next time the Dan return to the Gorge.
  
  They are in a league of their own.

• 2 - Citizen Keith

  Aug 11, 2003 at 10:23 am

  Nothing from Katy Lied??? An outrage....
  
  Still, it sounds like a great show!

• 3 - Ray

  Oct 06, 2003 at 4:29 pm

  My buddy and I went to see that at Jones Beach, NY and were especially lucky that they invited Bill Charlap to sit in on piano for Godwhacker. It was terrific. We also went to see them in Manhattan at Roseland and they played Lunch with Gina instead of Things I miss the most. Both concerts were truly great but at Jones Beach they had Bill Charlap to really spark the band in Godwhacker and overall the band seemd to be more motivated in this outdoors band shell.
  
  Love those guys!

• 4 - h.w. sierra

  Nov 18, 2003 at 11:15 pm

  greetings dan afficionados ...
  
  i saw steely dan's EMG tour stops in detroit and atlanta this summer ... i have reviews and more at:
  
  http://damon.typepad.com/wu/
  
  i welcome your comments and blog linking. i've also met carolyn leonhart in new york and connected with the swiss percussion group lyn leon she sings with ... included a review of their glass lounge cd and links to their site ...
  
  thx!

• 5 - jack of speed

  Nov 25, 2003 at 1:23 pm

  The song list for that show rules: they pulled out da klassixx:
  
  Home at Last being one of the greatest tune ever...as well as CAves of Altamira and the Royal Scam stuff (i can hear the solo at the end right now)
  
  Carlock does rock but I am not totally convinced that 2AN and EMG are THAT great...there are moments...Lunch with Gina is a major groove, Godwhacker, Last Mall are good, but compared to say Caves of Altamira and Home at Last???
  
  
  Green Room I dig but it is weird --spooky ...Pixeleen sort of cool and buzzy but a bit sweet....though I enjoy the cyber-punk vibe
  
  EMG--8--8.5 out of 10
  

• 6 - randy

  Nov 27, 2003 at 11:02 pm

  I agree about Green Room - spooky is a good word to describe it. Another tune with lyrics that confuse and confound, but with great musical hooks. Also agree about Pixeleen - the cyberpunk vibe is there in spades, brilliant lyrics.