This years Steely Dan tour is called Think Fast and I didn't have to think too much, to take them up on the offer of an evening of great music. We decided to park in North Hollywood and take public transportation over to the new Nokia Theatre. Nokia is right across the street from Staples Center, in Downtown LA. The complex is still under construction, but the theatre is finished and it's fabulous. We ended up getting $49 tickets up in the Mezzanine Section, dead center. No one in front of us, so our site lines were perfect! We sat down early and then waiters came around with gourmet chocolate with the Lexus symbol on them and flutes of champagne.
I have never been treated to such luxury at a concert before! It was wild and it only seemed to be going on up in the Mezzanine. Wow!
A family of 4 turned up next to us and I ended up with a young male sitting next to me who was definitely savvy to the ways of Steely Dan, but had never seen them in concert. You should have seen his eyes shine when the concert finished and we discussed such things as Keith Carlock. Andrew, if you ever see this, thanks for sharing your concert experience with me.
Set List
Everyone's Gone to the Movies/The Fez/Keith solo/Royal Scam Intro
Donald and Walter arrive and go into The Royal Scam
I've Got The News
Showbiz Kids
Everything You Did
Two Against Nature
Hey 19
Godwacker
Glamour Profession
New Frontier
Gaucho (Walter On Vocals)
Babylon Sisters
Parker's Band (Steely Women)
Third World Man
Josie
Aja
Love Is Like An Itchin' In My Heart (Band Intros)
Peg
Kid Charlemagne
Encores
Don't Take Me Alive
FM
Wow, what to say. I have been to 7 Steely Dan Concerts since 2003 and yes, I can definitely tell there is a difference this year. Confidence, total confidence in what they do and how they execute the performance for the audience. Everything has little tweaks of rearrangements, sometimes Walter is taking a more active part in the guitar, or a new open, perhaps. Donald was even more in command of his voice and he exudes total confidence that he will not screw up. There have been some times where screw ups on Glamour Profession lyrics were the norm...not this tour, he nailed it! As a matter of fact, I only heard one missed lyric the whole night. No startled deer in the headlights looks, just cool as all get out and so Ray Charles in his look, as his head bounces around. It's a beautiful thing.
Someone said that Walter owns Gaucho and I want to state for the record that HE DOES!!!! I screamed "GO Walter!", at one point. No mass exodus to the rest room in this crowd, I was totally surprised and glad to see him get the respect he deserves!
I hope someday to see something else performed by him...Dr. Wu, perhaps? :-)
All too soon, it was over and we headed home. Unfortunately, the mass transportation system was having a bad day and delays on two lines caused us to make it back home at almost 1:30AM. Great time anyway and I can't wait until Honda Center, to get to see this again and take better notes.
It was unforgettable...oh and Catherine Russell performed for us in the babe choir. A nice treat.
Just wanted to say "Thanks for the review." Sounds like you had quite a show, but then we ARE talking about Steely Dan here. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI was kind of hoping for "Glamour Profession" at Borgata, but had no complaints with what I did get. And I would gladly "settle" for a Walter Wu. Any Wu is good Wu.
have a good holiday, angel. i'll repost your review for Mizar5 :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Gina: Feel free to do so.
ReplyDelete