Posted in: Jazz by Sean Langley on August 20th, 2007 | 0 Comments
The story of how a band and their music captured my heart, and delivered a night to remember.
When at their peak, back in the late seventies, the Dan had become more of a “concept” than a band, rarely touring and using select musicians, such as Michael McDonald, to interpret their ideas in the studio. Becker and Fagan became like directors, writing the songs and controlling their transformation onto vinyl; these were the days pre-CD.
July 5th 2007 saw a long-time dream materialize. As part of their Heavy Rollers World Tour, forty years after its constituent members first met at college, Steely Dan were to play at the National Indoor Arena, in Birmingham, England. As soon as I discovered this fact, I hurriedly purchased my tickets and eagerly anticipated the gig. I wasn’t disappointed!
From the opening bars of “Time Out of Mind” through to the rousing finale of “Kid Charlemagne” two hours later, it was brilliant; it was masterful; it was sensational.
I was entertained, entranced and enchanted.
The set sampled tracks from virtually every studio album in their career, spanning four decades, including most of the recognizable favorites. There were too many highlights to be too selective but, “Haitian Divorce” was memorable for the fact that Becker took the lead vocal, and I found “Peg” particularly stirring. The backing musician’s were of the highest quality – as you would expect from one of the most meticulous bands in rock history – and Messrs. Becker and Fagan were on top form; even taking time out to mock the British weather during “Hey Nineteen”.
I guess they will have different jokes for when they play in Australia!
It was a glorious night but, perhaps, the best measure of just how good it was can be gauged from my girlfriend’s reaction to it all. She is not a Dan fan – not even familiar with their music. She is not a concert-lover, either. Yet, she thoroughly enjoyed it, was impressed with the professionalism of the musicians – they were “tight” I believe is the parlance – and was glad she went.
“Turn that jungle music down, Just until we’re out of town;This is no one night stand, It’s a real occasion;Close your eyes and you’ll be there, It’s everything they say;The end of a perfect day”.
Believe it, Babylon Sisters and Brothers… believe it !
