| Author | Message | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1744 Registered: 9-2003 |
For Dan Fans: Caught the maiden voyage (i.e., opening night of the tour) of the Donald Fagen Band at the State Theatre in lovely downtown New Brumphus, er, um, New Brunswick, NJ, LOL! He's out plugging his third release entitled "Morph the Cat" due out in the next couple of weeks. The performance was stellar! No surprises here: this is essentially the same band that's performed as Steely Dan for the past two tours. Substitute studio giant Wayne Krantz for Walter Becker and Freddie Washington for Tom Barney and there you have it. I snagged one of those "Five Star VIP Packages" which entitled me to attend the soundcheck (lasted over an hour and was great!), a private reception with wine/beers/hors d'oeuvres, some goodies AND FRONT ROW CENTER SEATS!!! It was awesome: no one in front of me and directly in front of DF's Fender/Rhodes EP! Freddie was an excellent "in the pocket" player...too bad he doesn't play Alembic: A Fender Jazz and a Smith 5-str. He sounded good through his SWR rack-mount pre/power amp separates and Goliath 6X10 cab. Wayne and Jon Herrington were excellent...Wayne's a sight-reading monster and his chops were incredible. The highlight for me was their dual lead rendition of Larry Carlton's minimalist but sublime solo(s) during "Third World Man" (last track off of Steely Dan's "Gaucho"). Jon played his usual Gibson Custom Shop 336 thru his Guytron head and 2X12 cab (a modded Tele and Hamer LP-style guitar were the back-ups). Wayne played a Tyler Strat-style (S/S/H) exclusively thru his Bogner head and 2x12" cab. Keith Carlock was, as is usual, a monster "power" Jazz drummer. The twin horns of Walt Weiskopf and Michael Leonhart were great as always. As an added bonus, my seat afforded me the opportunity to discover first-hand that (Michael's sister) Carolyn Leonhart is as gorgeous physically as she is vocally! Highlights: "Here At The Western World" (outtake from the "Royal Scam" sessions)- totally re-worked and used as the opener...I would have been blown away with surprise had it not been for the version I caught during the soundcheck. "IGY"/"Greenflower Street"/"New Frontier" (from "The Nightfly) - simply awesome! "Snowbound"/"Teahouse On The Tracks" (from "Kamakiriad") - made you wanna dance! 'Nuff said. Catch 'em at a venue near you and you won't regret it! Enjoy! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3359 Registered: 5-2002 |
Nice review Kevin!! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 646 Registered: 9-2002 |
KMH Don't the tracks from Kamakiriad always strike you as a little strange . . DF's usually so cynical, on Kamakiriad he sounds almost mellow, love songs? Always sounds like Letterman right after his heart surgery. Looking forward to Morph the Cat, as The NightFly is ALWAYS in my personal rotation, the best sounding CD I own. Not to mention Anthony Jackson and Abraham Laboriel and Will Lee! Ditto, nice review. And I get to see James Tylers here in Nashville from time to time. Though he's not making basses at this time, they were the ULTIMATE Fender clone, MILES ahead of Sadowskys, Lulls, et al. J o e y | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1745 Registered: 9-2003 |
Thanks, guys! Crowd response to the band was awesome...a packed house for sure...loud cheers for each soloist...I could see Wayne Krantz smiling to himself each time he solo'd and got a raucous cheer from the crowd. You could tell they were having fun up there. Yeah, I thought "Kamakiriad" was a bit weird myself when I got it in '91-'92. It has grown on me over the years. Not an immediately likeable disc, other than "Snowbound" and "Teahouse on the tracks" which I liked the first time around. "Nightfly" is one of my all-time favorites (They also did the title track and "The Good-bye Look" as well). "Maxine" is one of those tunes I use for hi-fi component auditioning as well as a demo to show-off my system to visitors. FWIW, I didn't care for the way the Tyler looked (crazy crooked chunky headstock with tyler written 20 times and a weird looking pickguard), but in the hands of Krantz, it SOUNDED awesome! After hearing the new CD at the party, plus the couple of tunes from "Morph The Cat" they played live, this one promises to be better than what the Dan has turned out in their last two tries. They're on the East coast for a while, so ck the site and get your tix. You won't be dissapointed! I would go to see 'em again in a heartbeat! http://www.iloveallaccess.com/# Cheers, Kevin (Message edited by kmh364 on March 02, 2006) | ||
| jazzyvee
Advanced Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 369 Registered: 6-2002 |
I hope they come to the UK. I've never seen Steely Dan Live. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1746 Registered: 9-2003 |
Jazzy (Delano): I hope you get 'em too. I don't see any mention on the site of a European leg, but keep ck'ing: http://www.donaldfagen.com/ http://www.steelydan.com/ It's worth the time, expense and the trip to catch this tour...it's that good, IMHO. I've seen the Dan on every tour since Walter and Donald "reformed" the act. They always tour with stellar musicians. This new tour is an awesome opportunity to hear Donald's solo stuff as well as some Dan chestnuts thrown in for good measure. As you might have already guessed, I'm a HUGE Dan Fan...have been since my teenage days. As mentioned previously, I'm a hi-fi nut as well and for the past 25-plus years have I refused to buy any hi-fi component that I haven't succesfully auditioned with Dan/Fagen source music (especially "Aja" and "Nightfly"). My girlfriend, who usually listens to dance music and is largely ignorant of Jazz, Jazz-Rock Fusion, "Classic" Rock, et al, was totally overwhelmed by the band. I'm trying to educate her, escpecially Jazz-wise, by exposing her to my music. Because she hadn't heard virtually anything by the Dan previously, it was all new to her. She loved the show, but I think she actually enjoyed the soundcheck more. The rythymn section practiced without the horns, singers and Donald for all but 3-4 numbers, and she was totally infatuated with the raw sound of the band (i.e., Messrs. Krantz, Herrington, Carlock, Washington), especially Keith Carlock's incredible drumming. I had taken her to see Phil Lesh and Friends last fall (which she loved), but she dug the "core" Dan/Fagen band even more. FWIW, while I love most everything they've done, "Third World Man" is one of my all-time fave SD tracks. Larry Carlton's (one of my favorite players and one of the most gifted improvisers ever, IMHO) arrangement and understated guitar work in that cut speaks to me more than any 64th note solo he's ever done. While I'm sure he'd rather be remembered for fiery solo's he's done like "Kid Charlemagne" and "Josie", I'll take his work on "Third World Man" any day. I'm betting that it was a completely off-the-cuff improv that he completely forgot doing, but it is hauntingly beautiful to me. I imagine the beauty of Larry's work wasn't lost on Messrs. Fagen, Krantz and Herrington as well. They did a note-for-note tribute to Larry and the doubled guitars sounded like I died and went to Heaven. If the Dan does that tune, the guitarist du jour usually does his own thing with only a slight flavor of LC thrown in for interest. Cheers, Kevin | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1747 Registered: 9-2003 |
I forgot to say my patented cliche': "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!" LOL! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1757 Registered: 9-2003 |
Anybody here going to see Donald at the Beacon Theatre in NYC tomorrow (3/7) or the Borgata in AC Friday (3/10)? I'm thinking about going to AC to catch that show. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1758 Registered: 9-2003 |
FYI, Here's the remaining tour itinerary: 3/6 Washington, DC Warner Theatre 3/7 New York, NY Beacon Theatre 3/9 Boston, MA Opera House 3/10 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata 3/12 Ottawa, ON NAC 3/13 Toronto, ON Massey Hall 3/15 Cleveland, OH Palace Theatre 3/16 Detroit, MI Opera House 3/18 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre 3/19 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre 3/21 Denver, CO Paramount Theatre 3/24 Las Vegas, NV The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino 3/25 Temecula, CA Pechanga Theatre 3/27 Los Angeles, CA The Witem LG 3/28 Oakland, CA Paramount Theatre 3/30 San Diego, CA Viejas Concerts in the Park 3/31 Santa Barbara, CA Arlington Theatre | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1759 Registered: 9-2003 |
Soundcheck, 4:30pm, 3/1/06 State Theatre NB, NJ. Bad pic, but it's all I got. Enjoy!  That's my shiny buzz-cut head...I'm wearing a Atlantic County (AC) Harley shirt...the girlfriend is to my right. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1760 Registered: 9-2003 |
OK, one more bad one:  No, that's not my bald head, LOL! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1762 Registered: 9-2003 |
For all you gluttons for punishment, here a streamed interview (w/transcript) of DF, done the day after the show I saw: http://www.mp3.com/donald-fagen/artists/3582/summary.html | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1767 Registered: 9-2003 |
For those that care: The new Fagen album, er, um, CD, aka "Morph The Cat" is awesome! It's due to be officially released next week, but I've had a chance to listen extensively to an "unofficial" copy. Personally, I think it's stronger than the previous two SD efforts, namely "Two Against Nature" (2000) and "Everything Must Go" (2003). Highlights are: "Morph The Cat" - great groove and vocal harmonies; "H Gang" - snappy rythmn and choruses; "What I Do" - Donald consulting with the ghost of Ray Charles; "Mary Shut The Garden Door" - a modern take on the Love Unlimited Orchestra with vocals, LOL! Some really nice bass lines and upbeat lyrics make you wanna shake a leg and, generally, make you feel good! Nothing against Walter Becker, but I really don't miss his playing and I especially don't miss his singing. While singing is NOT his forte', and his playing (guitar and bass) is fine, I prefer to hear some of the studio giants that Donald usually recruits instead. I imagine that's one of the main reasons why I enjoyed the DF band's performance so much...it's Walter-free, LOL!. I really could do without Walt's monotone voice and fairly predictable single-note lines, thank you very much. Having said that, I luv ya anyway Walter! Highly Recommended! Enjoy! Kevin | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1774 Registered: 9-2003 |
NO takers for the DF show in AC at the Borgata Casino/Hotel? If all that won't get you out to see the show, how's about this:  See, I told you Carolyn Leonhart (Jazz great bassist Jay Leonhart's daughter) was a honey! She sings as good as she looks (maybe even better than that)! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| the_mule
Senior Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 581 Registered: 1-2004 |
I'm waiting to find the special edition of 'Morph The Cat' with the DVD-Audio bonus disc. I haven't heard it yet, but for me personally it'll be hard for it to beat SD's 'Two Against Nature', one of my favourite albums of all time. Wilfred | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1775 Registered: 9-2003 |
Both CD and DVD-A/CD are shipping this week (3/14, I think). They have been available for pre-order for sometime here in the States. Not sure about Europe, though. While both "2vN" and "EMG" are very respectable albums, I've just never really warmed-up to them. Maybe it's because I've heard a bunch of those songs live one too many times...don't know what it is. "Morph" got to me on first listen, unlike "Kamakiriad" which took me a long time to appreciate. Maybe the last two Dan albums just need more time on the iPod in order for me to appreciate 'em. I haven't a clue why, LOL! Just my $0.02. (Message edited by kmh364 on March 12, 2006) | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1782 Registered: 9-2003 |
OK, having just been "completed", I can now die...Rolling Stone gave the new DF album three-and-a-half stars in the latest issue!!! They also named "What I Do" as one of the stand-out tracks of all the reviews done that particular issue! Whoopee! Now Donald can die also...having just been "justified" by RS, LOL! In a nut shell, they claim Donald's re-discovered "the hook" that's apparently been missing from SD stuff for a long time, at least since DF and WB got "back together in the '90's". Supposedly, "What I Do" is a stand-out cut because DF has apparently realized that his "pop" sensibilities have remained dormant for far too long, at least since "Rikki Don't Lose That Number". He put the "pop back into his jazz", Ladies and Gents! Wow! Grandpa was right! You really do learn something new each and every day! LOL! (Message edited by kmh364 on March 14, 2006) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3463 Registered: 5-2002 |
I haven't seen a Rolling Stone in a very long time. I'm guessing it's not the same magazine it was in the '70s. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1108 Registered: 7-2004 |
Dave: I'm guessing you and I aren't the same as we were in the 70's either. LOL Bill, tgo | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1786 Registered: 9-2003 |
Dave and Bill: Right on both counts, LOL! Me too, I must confess. I got the RS subscription as a gift...can't remember what for...maybe because I dumped a load at the Dead's or Garcia's store...can't be positive. No, it's not your father's RS. It used to be a great mag back in the day. I wouldn't voluntarily pay for it, discount or not. They review everything that is commercially released. The DF and new Gilmour CD's will probably be the only new music releases I'll buy this year. DF faired better than DG...he needs someone to force him from his formulaic complacency, or similar words to that effect according to RS, at least. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1109 Registered: 7-2004 |
I recently started receiving a subscription to RS that I didn't order. The label is addressed to me, then "The Fillmore", then my address. I assume it was some perk for buying Fillmore tickets. Sounds like RS may be scrambling these days. It sure has changed. I basically stopped reading RS years ago when they officially declared The Clash as the World's Greatest R&R Band. As for the issues I started receiving a couple of months ago, there is so little in there I'm interested in that I can read the whole mag in less than 10 minutes. It ain't your father's RS! Bill, tgo | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1787 Registered: 9-2003 |
Ed Zachary, er, um, exactly! You may be right...I may have gotten it for buying concert tix as I am wont to do quite often these days. I got a Relix subscription for buying something Dead related. I'd put Relix ahead of RS, but in the same category as "not your Father's...". It also was better back in the day. You're right about the content of RS...so little is of interest to me. Today's "music" has little, if anything at all, to say to me. My music purchases this year have amounted to a bunch of Dick' Picks, DF's & DG's new solo stuff, and essential Jazz (1958's "Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane" being the most recent). I must be getting old! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| olieoliver
Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 77 Registered: 2-2006 |
"The Clash"... WORLDS GREATEST R & R band huh? Well "WHO" do they tink their kiddin'. "ROLLING STONE(s)" mag. declared this huh? My buddy that works as an "AEROSMITH" at Volkswagon designing aerodynamic cars like the "BEATLES" will be greatly dissapointed in this declaration. I can hear him now (he stutters a bit), "'C..C..R'... you sure they said that....". Well now I've heard everything from A to "ZZ TOP"... (Message edited by olieoliver on March 14, 2006) | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1788 Registered: 9-2003 |
D*mn! Look at these two lucky stiffs! Songstresses Carolyn Leonhart and Cindy Mizelle from SD/DF made an appearance at the 5-Star pre-show party for Fagen show at the Beacon Theatre in NYC! I KNEW I shoulda gone to that show! LOL! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1791 Registered: 9-2003 |
FWIW, I just got the DVD entitled "Two Against Nature Steely Dan's Plush TV Jazz-Rock Party In Sensuous Surround Sound" from 2000. I had avoided buying it in the past because of mixed-reviews and the $20 price tag. If you love SD, it's worth the price. The Pro's: It's SD! Great musicianship with a good mix of tunes. Of course, based on the title, you can't avoid the inclusion of five "2vN" songs (i.e., "Cousin Dupree", "Janie Runaway", "Gaslighting Abbie", "Jack Of Speed" & "What A Shame About Me"). You do also get great SD tracks from the past (i.e., "green Earings", "Bad Sneakers", Joisie", "FM", "Black Friday", "Babylon Sisters", "Kid Charlemagne", "Peg" & "Pretzel Logic"); Good sound quality and mostly decent pic quality (see below) make this one a keeper; Wacko interviews with DF and WB along with some of the band....it's a faux "ALL-ACCESS" cable TV show format...this can be a con if you have no patience for the Dan's dry "humor". The Con's: The editing and jostling camera work is MADDENING. Weird camera angles, cameras on the non-soloing player during solo's, shaking/darting/blurry cameras, etc. You get the picture; Annoying NYC crowd street interviews in B&W or "Night Vision", LOL! The Couple with the woman who states the "SD" tune "Year OF The Cat" (Al Stewart) was the one that did it for her only to get corrected by her sig. other was comical, LOL!; Price is a bit high for about an hours worth of vid; TOO many solo's by Walter Becker. Donald had stated in the past that Walter had gotten his confidence up about his playing after the reunion, so they forgoed the second studio guitarist in favor of WB. The result is that he went from being the background partner and sometimes bass player to a front man who doesn't take a break. He plays constantly...whether there's a "space" in the music for a solo or not. It gets annoying because he has one tone, albeit a decent one with his custom Sadowsky "Super-Strat" and Bogner head/cab, and his style doesn't vary. IMHO, they should have let Jon Herrington play more...he's a MUCH better player. He realizes that you don't have to play 3mins. worth of solo's in a 5min. tune, LOL! The Bottom Line: Overall, it's a good vid and is therefore recommended, if you're a Dan Fan. I don't know if this is the one to do it if you're trying to convert the non-faithful. Unfortunately, there's little to no SD vid available ("The Making Of AJA" is the only other I'm aware of), so this one may have to do. We need some SD concert vid badly. I can't understand why they're not documenting the SD (and now DF) tours...they would definitely sell if they did. Who knows how much longer these guys will be around now that they're hovering around 60 and Donald is morbidly writing about mortality and death,. They could very well decide to do the hiatus thing again at any time, this time probably for good. Cheers, Kevin | ||
| lowlife
Advanced Member Username: lowlife Post Number: 218 Registered: 12-2003 |
I bought the same DVD and yes, it was a bit expensive, but IMHO well worth it for the hour or so of entertainment, which I've probably viewed at least 20 times already. Kevin, you're so right about the "Dan's" dry humor, like the way DF introduces Cousin Dupree... "A little country narative..." (LOL) And I second your thought about there not being enough SD concert footage. Ellery (Lowlife) | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 701 Registered: 9-2002 |
I've always wondered what current SD would be like IF DF/WB would submit to an outside producer. They evidently severed the relationship with Gary Katz, and would certainly seem to NOT need one . . but it would be interesting. I remember Rolling Stone back in the quarterfold days with Ralph Gleason, etc., and Mark-Almond LPs as a subscription reward. Those were the days . . . I vividly remember the Nixon/McGovern coverage. When I got the issues with "Fear and Loathing" and read Thompson's prose, I wondered if I had stumbled into something I could not get out of. People who did not live through the 60s just have no idea how the world flipped upside-down and ran backwards at times. J o e y | ||
| bassdr
Member Username: bassdr Post Number: 64 Registered: 10-2004 |
Ah-ha, I thought so- Joey I graduated from High school in 1969 and Ann Arbor is the home of SDS and the Weather Underground. Those who don't know what I'm talking about may need to review 60's and early 70's history. The times they were "a-changin". Or, so we thought. Local bands were MC5, UP, The Stooges, Brownsville Station, The Rationals and of course the Elastic Band (starring me on bass)  It was a great place to be and play music until the hated disco craze hit and live music was passe- another story, another time. Michael | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1792 Registered: 9-2003 |
Yeah, Walt and Don weren't too content to march to the beat of anyone else's drum, so now they have the luxury of being able to co-produce one another. It was a different time, a different world and a different Rolling Stone. The sad part is that I don't think any of the above has changed for the better. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 707 Registered: 9-2002 |
BassDr AnnArbor/60s . . . good golly Miss Molly, did you EVER get to see Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels in that/their heyday? If you did, was it the steamroller I'd always imagined? J o e y | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1815 Registered: 9-2003 |
Finally! Donald's website is up and running and has a way more than just a listing of the current tour dates. Ck it out! http://www.donaldfagen.com/ BTW, only two dates left on the tour, and they're in Cali...be there or be square! LOL! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1816 Registered: 9-2003 |
Don't know why the above pic disappeared (too big?), but here it is again.  What can I say? I just can't get enough Carolyn Leonhart! LOL! | ||
| bassdr
Member Username: bassdr Post Number: 70 Registered: 10-2004 |
Joey, I saw Mitch Rider on several occasions and venues in the late '60s and 70's and they ROCKED! I hope to see Donald et al with or without Walter one of these tours. Michael | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1828 Registered: 9-2003 |
FWIW, While the tour is now over, there's a quick one-page Q&A-type interview with Donald in the current Rolling Stone. It's the one with cover featuring the "American Idol" judges in bed together mugging-it-up for the increased publicity/revenue, LOL! | ||
| foth
Member Username: foth Post Number: 88 Registered: 12-2004 |
There's a one page profile of DFB bassist Freddie Washington in the April Bass PLayer magazine. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1851 Registered: 9-2003 |
FWIW, Carolyn Leonhart has a gig this eve in NYC: The Carolyn Leonhart Group At THE JAZZ STANDARD Jazz Standard Sets at 7:30 & 9:30 pm 116 E 27th St., NYC Resv. 212.576.2232 for Jazz (or 212.447.7744 for Barbecue) With Wayne Escoffery, Tenor & Soprano Saxophones Orrin Evans, Piano Hans Glawischnig, Bass Donald Edwards, Drums |
