Summer Pops 2007 - Steely Dan Live Review @ Aintree Racecourse Pavilion (Liverpool) - 06 Jul 2007
Steely Dan:link
Live Review
Sensational Steely Dan brought their unique Jazz Funk stylings to Summer Pops 2007. As part of their Heavy Rollers 2007 Tour the Grammy winning duo of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen thrilled the capacity 4,500 fans for almost one hour and forty five minutes. Rolling back the years, Walt and Don, backed by the Steely Dan orchestra plundered their 35 year back catalogue in a dazzling display of musicianship. Having waited since 1975's Can't Buy A Thrill to see them, they consolidated their credentials as one of the top bands in the world today. Known for their immaculate studio perfection, the pair showed they can be equally impressive live. The band kicked -off with instrumental Jeri, waiting for Walt and Don to emerge. When they did, they were given a standing hero's welcome. It was many years ago since they played Liverpool, and they were clearly relishing their long overdue return. Powerhouse Two Against Nature from 2000's Grammy winner of the same name saw the band, and in particular bassist Freddie Washington and sticksman Keith Carlock, letting rip while Fagen, who's 60 next year, showed he hasn't lost any his vocal dexterity.
Midway, we were given their brilliant 1976 global hit Haitian Divorce which brought one of the biggest sing-alongs and cheers of the night.
Later Fagen announced,
We're gonna go back to the Royal Scam album - Green Earrings.,as he sat at his keyboard. The funk fuelled belter was more familiar than the previous songs, much to the crowds delight. Then Fagen said, "What night. This is Dirty Work from our third album [ Can't Buy A Thrill ] We'd like to feature our choir ," he joked about the two backup singers Cindy Mizelle and Carolyn Leonhart - Escoffey, who as it happens were on fine form all night. This memorable and extra special version of the album track brought back floods of memories from the time I bought the album as an art student in the early 70s. A virtually unrecognizable, but equally impressive Chain Lightning saw the pair tackle this album classic with great finesse, giving it a more bluesy touch. Aja's title track got people singing once again, with some brilliant solos by Becker and Jon Herington and a scintillating drum close by Carlock. Kid Charlemagne, opening track from The Royal Scam was a classy ending to the main set, as once again, the Steely Dan orchestra pulled out all the stops. For a brief encore they really turned on the style for the 1978 slow jazz-funk of FM (No Static At All), again sending the crowd into raptures. Finally, it was back even further as My Old School lifted the atmosphere even further as the crowd dance away.
32 years, and the waiting was over.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
You may be interested in
- Sun 23rd Nov 2008
- Thu 27th Nov 2008
- Sat 29th Nov 2008
- Sun 07th Dec 2008
- Fri 23rd Jan 2009 and Sat 24th Jan 2009
- Sat 24th Jan 2009
- Fri 06th Feb 2009 and Sat 7th Feb 2009
- Nearly DanThe Boardwalk (Sheffield)Under £10!
- Nearly DanThe Boardwalk (Sheffield)
- Sun 08th Feb 2009
- Wed 11th Feb 2009
- Thu 12th Feb 2009
- Fri 13th Feb 2009
- Sat 14th Feb 2009
- Sun 15th Feb 2009
- Mon 16th Feb 2009
- Tue 17th Feb 2009
- Wed 18th Feb 2009
