Fifty Years Later, Steely Dan Is Still “Reelin’ In The Years”
The Earth After Hours Tour Makes a Stop at Ovens Auditorium
Way back in 1967, two young musicians would meet at Bard College and forever change the face of rock and pop music. I’m talking about Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, the founding members of Steely Dan. Together they successfully blurred the lines between rock and jazz using unique chord sequences and harmonies along with a horn section and soul-influenced backing vocals. Their 1972 debut album Can’t Buy a Thrill would put them on the map with songs “Do I Again” and the now-classic “Reelin’ In The Years.” Steely Dan’s success would continue through the 70s with 1974’s Pretzel Logic and the iconic 1977 platinum album Aja.
Fagen and Becker took a different route than most bands did, discontinuing live performances and focusing on studio work where they worked with a variety of session players over the years. The band would disband in 1981 but reunite again in 1993. With over 40 million albums sold and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Steely Dan has stood the test of time. Sadly, Walter Becker would pass on in 2017 but Donald Fagen continues to carry on the Steely Dan tradition, bringing their soulful, genre-defying music to the masses.
Fagen has surrounded himself with a band full of talented, world-class musicians and has taken Steely Dan out on the road for the Earth After Hours tour. Luckily for Charlotte-area fans, the band made a recent stop in the Queen City, performing to a sold-out crowd at Ovens Auditorium.
The venue parking lots were packed full of “Danfans,” as fans of the band are affectionately called, and the crowd was eager to see the show. The vibe of the evening was definitely laid-back with most people remaining seated and the no cell phone policy made for a distraction-free show. The band members made their way out on stage taking their spots behind their respective instruments, but all eyes were on center-stage as we awaited for Donald Fagen to take his spot behind his keyboards. Once he made his way to the stage, Fagen gave the crowd a quick wave and got things going with the Stanley Wilson cover “Phantom Raiders.” It was clear from the very first notes that we were all in for a wonderful evening. The band sounded phenomenal and Fagen’s vocals have never sounded better. If you closed your eyes, it was as if you could time travel back to the seventies and experience your first time seeing Steely Dan all over again.
But, this was definitely a show where you didn’t want to close your eyes, not even for a second because the lighting and visuals were absolutely stunning. The band was lit up in beams of lights that changed color throughout the performance and the rear of the stage would be lit up with various visual displays that changed according to the setlist. The first real reaction from the crowd came early in the set during “Hey Nineteen” which produced a lot of smiles and oohs and aahs before we were treated to the eight-minute opus “Aja” which is a pure combination of simplicity and intricacy. Donald Fagen was legendary on the keys as well as vocally not to mention the melodica which was brought out for a select few songs. Yet, this really was a full band effort as each member got their moment in the spotlight, both figuratively and literally as the night went on.
The setlist gave us a little bit of everything from classic Steely Dan songs to “Green Flower Street” off of Donald Fagen’s solo outing The Nightfly with a few cover tunes thrown in for good measure. It was the type of concert that allowed one to simply sit back and enjoy, letting the smooth music envelop you and satisfy your soul. Stunning both musically and visually, Steely Dan was more than just a concert, it was a sensory experience for the ages.
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Current touring members:
Donald Fagen – lead vocals, keyboards, melodica
Jon Herington – electric guitar, electric sitar
Adam Rogers – electric guitar
Freddie Washington – electric bass
Keith Carlock – drums
Jim Beard – keyboards
Roger Rosenberg – baritone saxophone
Walt Weiskopf – tenor saxophone
Michael Leonhart – trumpet
Jim Pugh – trombone
Catherine Russell – vocals
Carolyn Leonhart – vocals
La Tanya Hall – vocals
