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Concert Review - July 2014
Steely Dan
July 18, 2014
WinStar World Casino Global Event Center
Thackerville, OK
By Dave Gray
Photos by Dave Gray
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Steely Dan Delivers Hi Fidelity Experience To The Masses
Steely Dan co-founders Donald Fagen and
Walter Becker brought eleven of their
closest musician friends to perform at the
sold-out Winstar World Casino Friday night
in support of their "Jamalot Ever After" tour.
The audience must have known what to
expect from the band as this show had been
sold out months ago. I, however, had no idea,
as I had never had the chance to see Steely
Dan perform live before. One word: brilliant!
And that's not just because I was in a great
mood from having won a few dollars in the
casino beforehand. I have seen many a rock
concert, but I am not sure I have witnessed
such a collaboration of audio perfection on
stage at one time in all my days. This band
has been notorious in years past for tedious
perfection in the recording studio, but to bring a thirteen piece band on the road and perform most of their
greatest hits in a live setting was a feast for the ears.
The set opened with "Black Cow" a relatively deep cut from the "Aja" record, but then the band took off on a
greatest hits musical marathon. "Aja" and "Hey Nineteen" followed and the party was on. And all of Steely Dan's
friends showed up for this party tonight. "Josie," "Peg," and "Rikki (Don't Lose That Number)" were among
tonight's greatest hits set list selections. Thankfully, the crowd eased back into their chairs and watched the
band perform hit after hit of jazz/rock/funk musical wizardry, and I don't recall anyone leaving their seat during
the nearly two hour performance.
Founder and lead vocalist Fagen stayed mostly at the keyboard tonight, but he also got up and sang a few
numbers while playing his trusty Melodica, a breath-powered keyboard. The Three "Danettes" (female backing
vocalists) provided audio bliss all night, especially during "Dirty Work," while Becker took over lead vocals and a
Gibson Flying V on "Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More." Lead guitarist Jon Herrington is
phenomenal. He has been with the band since the year 2000 with his Gibson SG, nailing every tone and lick
from all the hits from previous years. On a local level, the driving force behind the band is drummer Keith
Carlock. He is a University of North Texas lab
band graduate, and an up-and-coming great
in the world of jazz/rock drumming.
The four-piece horn section showed their
skills during "Bodhisattva" and "Time Out of
Mind," and "Black Friday" and "Reelin' in the
Years" were presented with amazing stunning
audio clarity. Two thumbs up to the sound
man for providing a 19.1 surround sound
fidelity experience this evening. I am quite
sure that this casino event center was not
designed to be a concert hall, yet tonight's
production was possibly the best sounding
live concert event that I have ever been a
part of. This was an easy listen and my ears
thank you, Mr. Soundman.
"My Old School" warranted a standing ovation
(OK, I lied earlier), and "Kid Charlemagne" rounded out the set, which was over before I knew it as Becker and
Fagen drifted off stage left, hopefully to return to the metroplex again soon. Until then, I can only hope to
witness and hear true greatness again. Horns Up!
Steely Dan - Reelin in the Years ('73)
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