I needed another stamp on my OGMC* membership card, so I tagged along with Alex G. and Steve D. to the Nokia last night to catch none other than Steely Dan. To make a long solo short, they took their sweet time getting to the “hits,” and boy do they have a few weak and brittle skeletons in the old closet mixed in with the treasures. Parts of the show were hard to get through, but eventually they got to “Hey Nineteen,” eventually they got to “Josie,” eventually they got to “Peg,” eventually they even got to “Kid Charlemagne” — sadly, no surprise Kanye appearance, though. Finished up strong. Pretty strong, with a big “except” however: After the first and only encore wrapped with the classic “FM“, it quickly became apparent that Fagen and Becker were not going to do “Deacon Blues.” (”Blue” it off?) They were not going to do “Do It Again.” (As in, not going to?) They were not going to do “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” (I guess she lost it, after all?) They were not even going to do “Reelin’ In The Years.” (The one that got away?)
We were stunned. Everyone around us was stunned.
I don’t think this is forgivable honestly.
I wonder how much of this is just lingering bitterness from their bloody feud with the Eagles from back in the day. Here’s the real story of how The Eagles came to do guest vocals on “FM.”
* Old Guy Music Club
2 responses so far ↓
1 Thomas // Jun 7, 2009 at 2:20 am
Apparently you are not familiar with SD’s pretty extensive song lineup. There are a lot of songs of theirs that - while not making it in the “hit” list - are pretty damn good.
“Glamour Profession,” “The Royal Scam,” “Show Biz Kids,” etc. are what I go to see, as well as some of the hits you mentioned. So quit listening to your “Greatest Hits” CDs and go find some actual albums.
I saw the Dan in Boston not long before you did last year, and it was absolutely excellent.
Fagen/Becker still have it down pat, and they put on a hell of a show. I’ll pay good $$$ to see it again when I get the chance.
V/R Thomas
2 MickO // Jun 7, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Cool, V/R Thomas:you’re in the minority of not liking the hits. That’s very exclusive of you. If they do accidentally play “Deacon Blues” when you see them, I hope you boo lustily the shameless selling out.
The hits are a hits for a reason. To play a gig and refuse to play songs the audience wants to hear is a prick move, no matter the talent level. How dare you insult someone for liking Steely Dan’s hits.
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