This was the third time I have managed to see a concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl. The town is known for its money and for the residents and their laid back lifestyle. It is a picture perfect town, worthy of a stay over. That is exactly what we did, this time around.
We booked a night in a beautiful hotel on State Street, in Downtown and managed a quick dinner at Carlitos Café y Cantina mexican restaurant. It was just 2 blocks from the hotel, so we could walk safely and not have to move the car. Parking is an issue in this town. We decided to split an order of fajitas and for a very reasonable price, we were on our way to the Bowl.
The bowl is situated at the bottom of a mountain (no surprise there) and has very little parking. So we ended up parking at a local school ($15) and walked in. The vibe was the usual laid back couples of a certain age and we joined the group, going up the mountain to the performance area.
The band showed up about a half hour after the ticket said they would and without further ado, we were off. A New opening piece was played, which was nice and showed off each of the players. Donald, Walter and the girls walked on, to thunderous applause, and they began the concert in earnest.
Intro (Not sure what it was)
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19 (Walter does his thing)
Black Friday
Showbiz Kids
Kid Charlemagne
Godwhacker
Razor Boy
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don’t Live in that NYC No More
Do it Again
Joe Tex (Band Intros)
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin’ In The Years
Encore: Pretzel Logic
Outro (not sure what it was)
The show ran just under 2 hours. I think that since it is a residential neighborhood they want to get the people out of the area by 10PM or so. It didn’t totally work out that way, but it was close.
Not to give a blow by blow on each song, but to say that this band was hot, is an understatement. They were really on fire. I don’t know if knowing that there will not be a tour this summer made a difference (Donald Fagen and the Nightflyers are going out this summer with 4 under 25 year old band members) but it seemed a bit bittersweet for this 13 piece band. Even their two massive dates in July, at Citi Field and Dodger Stadium, will be minus Jon Herington, their lead guitar player.
A few thoughts. Aja never fails as the main tune at the top end of the show. Massive kudos to Keith Carlock and his fabulous drum work.
Since most of this tour took place in Las Vegas you had a definite “Vegas” vibe to the set list. Black Friday, Showbiz Kids, Do it Again. All mentioning winners and losers and handles in your hands.
They put Kid Charlemagne in the middle of the setlist, since they closed with Pretzel Logic. I was personally happy with this song as the encore, but I felt it was a bit of a letdown for fans who only know the hits.
At one point (I think it was after they played Bodhisattva) Donald Fagen mentioned that he went off the set list of the evening and basically apologized to the band (using a unprintable word, which made me laugh).
Herington was on fire for the final song of the evening, Reelin' In The Years! OMG, best guitar work I have ever heard on this song. I kept thanking Elliott Randall for teaching it to Jon.
A review of the concert is never complete without a comment on Walter Becker's ramble during Hey 19. He mentioned being rode hard and finished wet, which I had heard before, but I am not sure if I heard it in context of the concert, or a comment by a fan. He also went on about different places in the Santa Barbara area, like Carpeteria a flooring and carpet place (instead of Carpenteria, the city). I think he also said Monticello instead of Montecito, the town. He also mentioned that he no longer drinks and this was the first time I heard that comment.
A work colleague saw my Walter Becker tee shirt a few weeks ago and mentioned that she and her husband were going to see them in Santa Barbara and that they took 2 days off from work. Totally independent of my Husband and my plans. Who ends up just 2 seats from my Husband and I...my work colleague. I should have bought a lottery ticket.
