Steely Dan Tickets
All Concerts
Dublin, Ireland
Aarhus C, Denmark
Overall Rating
4.4
By SteelyDanTshirt
My first Steely show
OK, I'm 58. I was in high school 1974-1978. At the end of HS and in college I was part of the crowd that ate up the sophisticated, complex, fun and eclectic mix that was Steely Dan. But they hardly ever toured so I never found myself at a show. I'll just say that it was great to finally be there and hear some of the classics. But now, Becker is gone, and in real terms, half "the band" is gone. Donald and Walter always drew from an amazingly large stable of musicians so it's par for the course that they got some high caliber musicians suited up for the gig. But honestly... I literally had a tear in my eye. I love their music so much to this day; there's so much there that bears up to scrutiny; that still offers depths to explore in the mix, in the lyrics and the rich harmonic changes and instrumentation. It really goes beyond "standing the test of time". It's top-shelf stuff that just keeps aging and getting better like a rare single malt. That's the music itself, the product of Walter and Donald's intertwined genius across the years. The tear however comes from seeing and hearing Fagan. I feel like I love they guy from all the listening for so many decades...and it was painful to see someone so incredibly talented who has such a unique fluid voice hardly able to sing some of his own material. Many times he just backed off the mic and the two backup singers carried the vocal lines. I cannot imagine the pain of knowing that you were completely on top of the world as a composer and performer and being humbled in that fashion. I still love Fagan and Steely of course, but the passing of Becker and the pain of Fagan left me just about crying. Herrington is an excellent guitarist and carried the band, vocalizing the classic steely licks from Baxter, Becker and Carlton over the years...and adding his own style. The band is completely proficient as we would expect. And while I was happy to hear materiaal from Aja covered, I would have liked to hear more of the stuff that they held near and dear rather than the stuff that managed to churn thru all our FM radios.for decades. I'd happily buy the rights to Rikki just to never hear it again. (well, OK, there is the beautiful opening piano bass lines from Fagan as a tribute to Horace Silver's Song for My Father...but then...well... it's no tribute to H Silver after that) But I digress. The Doobie Brothers...well...let's just say that they are feeling all the pain that Fagan is, but their music is simpler and easier to pull off with 70-year old vocal chords...and they have the added advantage of carrying the "completely-stoned singing and dancing and having a good time" vibe. Still worth it to see them if you haven't in 40 years, but be prepared. All the classics pulled off reasonably well with a lot of gray hair. Dammit...it sucks getting old in a culture that honors youth. Donald, if you're reading this. You are one of the greats...the stuff that you've created over your career is incomparable and we love you. I'm sorry for your loss. Peace.
By BigMouthLawyer
Never a disappointment
No intermission. Great show. Band was tight. The improvs were outstanding.
By Chuckc29
STEELY DAN WAS AWESOME
The were absolutely spectacular. Music was great. They really connected with the Hometown audience. great performance
By dlissmd
steely dan was awesome!
wow! from start to finish what a night!! and what an amazing drummer---keith carlock!!! wow!! is all i can say.
By Chuckc29
This was the Greatest Concert Ever!!!!
This was the best. I have seen a lot of shows before and I've seen Steely Dan 4 times since they started touring and this was without a doubt the Best performance they have ever given.
Bio
STEELY DAN IN CONCERT:
Steely Dan is responsible for some of the most complex, finely crafted classic rock of the 20th century, and they continue to deliver on tour more than 40 years after their debut. Core members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are legendary for their musicianship, and they only surround themselves with the finest players, making for studio-perfect live renditions of their virtuosic compositions. Whether fans are out to wax nostalgic with "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" or sway in the breeze of "Hey Nineteen," Steely Dan never fails to deliver amaze, with another hit-filled tour planed for summer 2014.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen met in the late '60s at Bard College in Upstate New York, writing songs together for several years before officially forming Steely Dan and releasing their first single "Dallas" in 1972. While the single sold poorly, their debut album Can't Buy a Thrill was released later that year to considerable critical and commercial success, landing the band their first hits with "Do It Again" and "Reelin' in the Years." They continued to climb the charts throughout the decade, reaching their peak position in 1977 with Aja, a No. 3 hit widely regarded as a seminal album of the classic rock era. Amid rumors of a return to the studio, the band will hit the road in 2014 for an extensive summer tour.
FANS WHO BOUGHT TICKETS SAY:
"Steely Dan has been around so long they can play an entire concert of familiar songs and not run out. I personally like a band that can recreate the studio sound on stage well. SD does this better than anyone else."
” I cannot think of a time that I was ever disappointed by a Steely Dan show, and this concert was no different. From the minute they took the stage right on up until they left it (almost two hours later) we were presented with excellent music performed to perfection with some stories thrown in for good measure."
"Always a MUST SEE when Steely Dan comes to town! Each song was performed superbly by top-notch musicians. Every member of the band was featured. It was hit after hit, classic after classic."