It's The Beacon!

"The Most Unforgettable Night of Whatever - Featuring Spectacular Musical Guests, Glorious Tunes and Riffage, and Whatever the Party Calls for! Parking Validated for First Dozen Diehard Fans"

Yes, this is what came into my in-box yesterday. A week of Beacon Theater dates (8 of them, actually) culminating it this last date. The Most Unforgettable Night of Whatever.

You just know that this date is the one that is driving us mega fans wild. What could it be? Will Denny Dias appear after all these years? He is actually going to be playing Steely Dan songs earlier in the summer, so that is not impossible. I have seen Michael McDonald, Larry Carlton, Dean Parks, Chuck Rainey and, Bernard Purdie to name a few, so that doesn't sway me.

What other song could they bring back, from those long ago days, that they haven't already brought back?

No matter what, it will be an interesting night and I am going to take a pass on it, because I will have spent a week in New York. There is only so much money in the angel vacation fund and I have blown it all on July.

Ah well, I was there for Second Arrangement, so I can rest on my laurels.

You know that my heart will be there that night and maybe (with luck) someone will Tweet the setlist to us.

Here is the link to the Beacon Dates. Actually all the dates, so far.

Steely Dan At The Santa Barbara Bowl: April 15, 2015

Set List:

Cubano Chant (Ray Bryant Cover)(Band Only)

Black Cow

Aja

Hey 19

Black Friday

Babylon Sisters

Show Biz Kids

Time Out of Mind

Godwhacker

Razor Boy (The Danettes Sing)

Bodhisattva

Daddy Don't Live in that NYC No More (Walter Becker sings)

Green Earrings

I Wanna Do Everything For You/band intros (Joe Tex Cover)

Peg

My Old School

Reelin' in the Years

Encore:

Kid Charlemagne

Untouchables (Nelson Riddle Cover) (Band Only)

I had really thought I would sit this mini tour out. Coachella was pricy as all heck, but Santa Barbara (which I went to in 2013) was a very nice venue and the tickets were not totally overpriced. So I talked it over with my Husband and we decided to get a room in Ventura and attend the concert.

Last time we were just a few rows back and we had nothing but trouble, so we went for the upper areas. Not as high up as we ended up in the Forum, so we had a nice view, for the inexpensive price we paid.

Things that were different this time around.

I finally got to hear Razor Boy! I was so excited last year, when they added it to their repertoire, but when they finally got to the Forum, it was gone from the setlist. I am so glad they brought it back this year. The back up singers sang the vocals and there was a lovely trumpet interlude in the middle. Similar to how they handle Dirty Work in concert. A piano piece began the song and it was truly beautiful. Great job of remaking an oldie but goodie.

Green Earrings is always a major thrill for this "angel" and it went as one would expect. I have been in love with this tune since I saw it on the PBS special back in 2000.

Godwacker always makes me happy when I hear the Trusty Angel Girl line and this time was no exception.

Bodhisattva brought the crowd alive! I hear they opened the first weekend of Coachella with this song and what a song it is. Always makes me happy to hear it. This time Keith Carlock added a longer drum solo in it and that just upped the wonderfulness, even more. :-)

A great concert that made me glad I went to the effort of attending. The major downer was that there was serious pot smoking going on around me and my Husband and to say the least, I was getting a contact high at one point. I think things are getting more relaxed in this regard and that is not all for the good.

Oh well...the headache eventually went away.

Donald Fagen Riffs On The Coachella Roadtrip (Part 1)

I don't know how many there will be, but similar in style to his book, Eminent Hipsters, Donald Fagen gives us a bird's eye view of the upcoming mini-tour.

More to come.

You can read it: HERE.

UPDATE:

Part 2 turned up and you can read it, HERE.

Steely Dan Plays Germany 2007

A rare concert video just posted up on Youtube. A really well done video of a concert that Steely Dan did back in 2007. Live from Germany, no less. You can view it HERE.

I have no idea how long it is going to stay up, so if you want to watch it, do it soon.

Tracks include:

Bad Sneakers

Godwacker

Two Against Nature

Hey 19

Peg

Green Earrings...and more.

Making me excited to see them in 2 weeks.

2015 Touring Dates On The Way

We knew the boys were coming over to the Left Coast to play 2 dates at the Coachella event, in April. What has happened before, is that when they have a date, they book a few shows around it, to make it worth bringing out the band and all their gear.

So we waited and we waited and yes, the other day they announced several dates around the Southern California area. The two that interest me are Santa Barbara Bowl (unfortunately on a weeknight) and San Diego (on the weekend).

My Husband and I talked about it and we both would prefer to shoot for the Santa Barbara Bowl date. I am a little worried, because it is an outdoor venue and it is still April, but Humphreys By The Bay is also outdoors and also in April. So we will do what we can afford and try to make it work for us.

We both enjoyed the concert we saw there back in 2011. You can check out that review HERE. As my Husband said to me, we do not get the end of a row this time. When you read the review, you will see why.

Wish us luck on Saturday getting some inexpensive tickets.

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The photo is a very cool drawing by Dan Meth and you can see his work on danmeth dot com.

Happy Birthday Donald Fagen!

Donald Jay Fagen, was born in Passaic New Jersey, 67 years ago today.

As people who read this blog know, he is the frontman to super group, Steely Dan. He has also toured with Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs, as a piece of the Dukes of September Rhythm Revue. He is now also a published author, with Eminent Hipsters.

He is an all around talented performer and he has made it to another Birthday.

We, his fans, are happy he did so and hope he continues to make music, far into the future.

Happy Birthday Donald!

Photo from the Dukes of September Tour (back in November of 2012).

Things I Miss The Most (Steely Dan At The Fabulous Forum)

As usual, it takes me forever to write up my concert experience. Sorry about the almost 2 week delay.

It was my anniversary and IMHO there was nothing better than a night out to see Steely Dan.

We got the cheapest tickets they had, which meant that we ended up all the way at the top of the Fabulous Forum. It was dark up there (which was an issue with my Husband trying to get to his seat). As you can see, they did add some cool lighting up at the top of the venue. Maybe that was why they kept the lights off. About five minutes before the opening act began, they finally turned on some house lights and our evening began in earnest.

The opening band was The Bobby Broom Organi-Sation. They opened with a wonderful extended version of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition", which I enjoyed. I did not know the other 2 songs, but the band did a good job and didn't overstay their welcome.

A 15 minute reset and the band (minus Donald and Walter and the Danettes) came out and broke into a wonderful song that they used back in 2003, "Cubano Chant". I had enjoyed it the last time and was super excited to hear it once more.

The remainder of the band came out and away we went.

SetList at The Fabulous Forum - July 12, 2014

Cubano Chant (Band Only)
Black Cow
Aja
Hey Nineteen
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Black Friday
Show Biz Kids
Time Out of Mind
Things I Miss the Most
Green Earrings
Dirty Work
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More
Babylon Sisters
I Want To (Do Everything for You) (Joe Tex cover)
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' in the Years
Encore: Kid Charlemagne
Untouchables Theme (Nelson Riddle cover)(Band Only)

The personal highlight of my evening, was when they played a song from their final album, Everything Must Go. The song is "Things I Miss The Most", which is about a divorced man lamenting the loss of things in his life, after his partner leaves. I had not heard them play this song since the Everything Must Go tour in 2003, so it was so good to bring that back to the set list.

You can listen to my horrible version of "Things I Miss The Most", HERE. There are now much better versions, out of You Tube, if you feel like exploring.

All in all, minus Things, and "Green Earrings", the setlist was basically the same as last year. I was sorry I did not get to hear "Deacon Blues", this time around...and of course, "Don't Take Me Alive".

You get what you get, with a Steely Dan Concert, but in spite of my disappointments it was a wonderful evening of wonderful songs.

Thanks once again, guys and see you next time.

The Setlist from Oregon

A setlist was posted by Eric Burris on the Steely Dan Fans Worldwide Board on Facebook and the Bluebook at Dandom dot com.

Portland, OR setlist - July 2, 2014

Cubano Chant
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Bad Sneakers
Black Friday
Everyone's Gone To The Movies (a very cool arrangement)
Godwhacker
Showbiz Kids
Time Out Of Mind
Dirty Work (Carolyn)
Bodhisattva
Babylon Sisters
Daddy Don't Live In That NYC (Walter singing)
Joe Tex song and band intros (I forgot the name of the song but it was played a couple of years ago.)
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years
Kid Charlemagne
Untouchables Theme (Outro)

Back to me speaking. I personally am sorry to hear that they did not do "Don't Take Me Alive". Oregon's claim to Steely Dan fame. :-)

The pre-concert photo was found by someone on Instagram.

Steely Dan Tour Begins Today!

It's finally here. Steely Dan begins their tour today!

Named Jamalot Ever After, the two that make up Steely Dan have given us a hint of what the tour merchandise will be. Click the photo or go to Steely Dan's Webpage HERE, to check it out.

I happen to think that the shirts and promo stuff look really good.

Can't wait til July 12th, when I will be attending.

I Have My Steely Dan Tickets

I have got to admit that I have seen Steely Dan at many venues, but most, not more than once. I did see 4 days of different albums at Universal (Gibson) Amphitheater and I had seen them there before, so that is the exception, but definitely NOT the rule.

Well, let's add another to this long list of venues...The Inglewood Forum!

I have been there many times over the years. Billy Joel, Genesis, Neil Diamond & The Moody Blues, are the ones I remember the most. For the Moodies, we were on the covered ice (from the days when the LA Kings played.) It was COLD on that floor!

Then Staple's Center opened in Downtown LA and the Forum was sold to a church. A big disappointment to us concert fans. Lot's of history lost and LA has so little history around, that you mourn the loss of any of it.

Well that changed just a few short months ago, when the Forum was sold and once again brought back to its former glory (or even better, from what we hear.)

Steely Dan decided to try it out and so on my 34th Wedding Anniversary, a Saturday night no less, we will be celebrating with the one the only "Mister Steely Dan".

It may be drummer Keith Carlock's last tour with Steely Dan, since he took the main drum position with the band, Toto. I wish him well in his new position, but will miss his take on drumming these timeless Steely Dan hits. But that is for the future, since he will be drumming this last tour.

My tickets are up in the top area, way in the back, but I am happy just to be there and experience Steely Dan one more time.