In 1980 Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen used 42 studio musicians and 11 different engineers to record the album "Gaucho. It took them a full year, even though the album has only seven songs on it.
They are known for their obsessive perfectionism.
Last night I saw them play this entire album in sequence from beginning to end.
I was astounded!
In a word, the entire show was Impressive.
The sound was perfect. I've never heard a better live mix. Crystal clear vocals and all instruments perfectly balanced. It was good and loud, like a rock concert should be, but never painfully loud like some shows
I've seen.
The lighting was mood inspiring and well synched to the music. At times the lighting was dramatic and beautiful.
As for the band:
Every musician on that stage was impressive as hell, but none more than Kieth Carlock on drums.
Kieth, who was voted #2 in Modern Drummer's reader's poll, is a true monster drummer.
Visually exciting to witness, this guy has the chops and the good taste to know how to use them.
Jon Herington shined last night in the intimidating role of lead guitar.
Playing guitar for Steely Dan is no easy job. This is complex music and it takes skill. Jon replicated the solos of the great Larry Carlton and others capturing the tones they achieved perfectly.
Walter Becker played a blue Stratocaster mostly in the out of phase position, clean and bluesy with some tasty jazz licks and the rhythms were spot on. He also sang Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More, later in the evening. I didn't expect that one, and it was a pleasant surprise.
Donald Fagen was of course the star of the show, a truly gifted songwriter and keyboard player, he gave it everything he had.
Now I admit that he did flub up a few lyrics here and there, but it was amazing to me that anyone could record an album and remember all the words to it 30 years later, especially when you consider that they have never played that album in it's entirety until last night. So he gets a free pass.
The female singers were fantastic, especially during Babylon Sisters, and Hey Nineteen.
The entire crowd sang along to,"The Cuervo Gold, the fine columbian," and the mention of "sweet things from Boston, so young and willing."
I felt a true chill during the song Third World Man. This song was surprisingly powerful played live. The horns were extremely powerful, and the drumming kicked ass. It was visually stunning with the lights so perfectly matched to the music.
When they finished the entire album from start to finish, there was a stunning response from the crowd. I knew I'd seen something very special.
I would have been very satisfied with just that but the night had just begun.
They launched into so many great memorable songs, I can't remember all of them, but I can give you a list of the high points:
Highlights Of The Setlist:
My Old School - Amazing! Horns were killer in this song, and he mentioned Berkeley School Of Music.
Parker's Band- Who would have expected this one? And who would have expected the girls to sing it instead of Fagen?
Peg- Flawless. Sounded just like a record on a phonograph.
Reelin' In The Years - The original version, not the jazz version. Great harmony guitar work.
Don't Take Me Alive- Ouch!
Deacon Blues- My favorite Steely Dan song put a lump in my throat because it brings back memories.
Home At Last - Horns again rose to the occasion, and that shuffle groove from the drums, so nice!
they ended the night with "Dirty Water."
Of course the Boston fans ate that one up and sang along.
Not only was this amazing band able to deliver the goods by replicating their former records, they also improvised brilliantly. I loved it!
One funny tid-bit: In a restaurant, before the show, the waiter asked if we were going to see Steely Dan. We said "yes."
He told us "He's great. I never realized how many great songs he sang."
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