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[EaglesBabe18]

Steely Dan - Do It Again

5th July 2007


'6:05 outside the arena' on this cold, drizzly evening, failed to 'dampen' the pre concert spirit of the first of a few thousand fans who turned up early at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena (NIA). It's Steely Dan's opening night of a sold out 3 day UK tour. (Liverpool Aintree Pavilion and London's Hammersmith Apollo follow on the 6th, and 7th respectively)

The opening act, Sam Yahel's organ trio, entertained with a few instrumental numbers, varying between originals and covers, to half an audience, but where were the other half? As more people wandered in one by one, some with supersize cups of beer that made me wonder whether they were aware of/or about to regret consuming those with a 2-hour, no-interval set coming up! Merchandise sales also proved popular, with some fans getting to their seats and expressing disappointment that all the t shirts had sold out fast. (Get your shirts as early as you can, folks!)

At 8.30pm, a full house appeared at the blink of an eye with some 4,500 'Show Biz Kids' (er, fans!) seated in an intimate academy style arrangement in the main arena, as Steely Dan's renowned 10 piece 'Heavy Rollers band' - Keith Carlock (drums), Jon Herington (guitar), Michael Leonhart (trumpet), Jim Pugh (trombone), Roger Rosenburg (baritone sax), Freddie Washington (bass), Walt Weiskopf (sax) and Jeff Young (keyboards/vocals) took up the opening jazz instrumental, before 'The Dan' - Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were welcomed on stage to an anticipatory atmosphere. This is their first UK visit since 2000.

Best known as the '2007 Heavy Rollers Tour' inspired by the song lyric in Gaucho - "...we got heavy rollers, I think you should know..." the evening rolled off with Donald Fagen, who took centre stage wearing his leather jacket and his trademark shades, then performed an impressive Time Out Of Mind featuring his distinctive vocals. Next, a cool spotlight 'show' consisting of green and purple colours (sort of reminiscent of a kaleidoscope) provided the backdrop for Godwhacker, a funky number from the most recent Dan album - Everything Must Go. Donald greeted the crowd with 'Hey Kids!' before launching into the first of some classic Steely Dan favourites, with Bad Sneakers featuring Walter Becker playing some nice guitar, to ecstatic applause.

Two Against Nature, complete with more spotlights of a colourful 'nature' theme, as the two female backing vocalists Carolyn Leonhart (Michael's sister) and Cindy Mizelle, provided strong vocals. "Great to be here in Birmingham on this 'beautiful' summer evening" (or not - weatherwise!) Donald told us before a rocking, Hey Nineteen. Halfway through, Walter steered the song to a whole other level by performing an interesting rap about the nostalgic 'younger days' of girls and dating! Haitian Divorce sung by Walter, and introduced by Donald as his 'partner' of 40 years (yes, since 1967!), had a more upbeat arrangement, supported again by Carolyn and Cindy.

Back to Donald, taking lead vocal on Peg, then a change of pace for a crowd-pleasing, soulful rendition of Babylon Sisters, before speeding things up again and heading straight into Green Earrings with an added instrumental accompaniment. A surprise arrangement followed, with Carolyn and Cindy delivering a powerful Dirty Work, with the lead vocals shared between the two.

Then, a funkier Josie arrangement attracted rapturous applause from the crowd. Extra riffs were added as Walter introduced the band members one by one, bringing this number to a close. Alternating Michael's trumpet and Jim's trombone solos proved a creative addition to Chain Lightning, then up next the classic Aja, possibly one of the strongest numbers of the night, and a favourite with the audience. Another rocker, Bodhisattva, came close to bringing everyone to their feet as the set came to a close. Was it over already?

Walter and Donald led the Heavy Rollers stage left but nobody in the audience moved (except the rhythm of stamping feet into the floor), then a few minutes later the band returned to an almighty roar to play on for the first encore, FM, and one of my personal Dan favourites. Changing the pace again, "We've got time for one more," Donald announced, before performing Kid Charlemagne, to finish the night.

At the end, he and Walter took stage left for the last time, and left the Heavy Rollers playing a closing jazz instrumental to the appreciative crowd. An excellent show, and The Dan have 'done it again!'

After the UK dates, Steely Dan and the Heavy Rollers band will be heading to Europe and the Far East over the coming months. Feeling lucky? Catch them if you can!


Set List

Time Out Of Mind
Godwhacker
Bad Sneakers
Two Against Nature
Hey Nineteen
Haitian Divorce
Peg
Babylon Sisters
Green Earrings
Dirty Work
Josie
Chain Lightning
Aja
Bodhisattva

Encore

FM
Kid Charlemagne
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[mewsical]

Very nice Tan! Sounds like a good evening with The Dan at top form as usual. I've put the review on the blog as well.

[EaglesBabe18]

Thanks! Here's the other photo I took during Godwhacker - that's Walter playing guitar in front of the drums



The ticket stub. Tix are now scanned at NIA with hand held scanners, rather than tearing away at the corner


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[EaglesBabe18]

And here's Kid Charlemagne from Birmingham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9HAiWkzDgQ
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[winslowboy]

I see from Youtube that someone didn't like the warmup band very much

Looks like Steely Dan had plenty of oompfy sound to fill the arena despite the fact that it was only partially filled with people
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Taking one day at a time means not having to worry about all of next week!

[EaglesBabe18]

I don't think he was the only person who thought the 'warm up' band did go on a little long.

As for the sound - blew everyone away! The 'academy' was set up at the back of the arena - 4,500 capacity apparently for academy concerts, and the only seats I saw empty were a couple in the first two rows in front of me. Could have moved to those, but my view seemed better where I was in the 5th row, so didn't bother.


Here's another full clip - Home At Last from Liverpool (not played in Birmingham) as the set list varies per night.

Someone is singing a bit ahead!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcPLTYXwSeA
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[mewsical]

I liked the sound myself - good bottom end (Oomphy) Whoever it was didn't quite get the board mix, but it was very acceptable for internet purposes.

[EaglesBabe18]

Pity these are not full clips - otherwise nice close up's and the sound is quite good too.

Here's Peg from London -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwLE60XewpM&mode=related&search=

Josie (London)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2G3vv2GkSI&mode=related&search=

Kid Charlemagne (London)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5sj6FESwnQ&mode=user&search=

Home At Last (London)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5sj6FESwnQ&mode=user&search=
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[Henley_Fan]

Wonderful review, Tania! :D
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I'll have a cafe, mocha, vodka, valium latte to go please.

I'm so busy, I don't know whether I found a rope, or lost my horse.

I have CDO. It's like OCD, but the letters are in order like they should be.

The voices in my head may be imaginary, but they've got some really great ideas.

[eaglemom]

Great review Tan! And thanks for the youtube links. I see where Sir Paul attended the London show!

[EaglesBabe18]

Thanks, and you're welcome! Yes, and David Gilmour was there too. I was originally going to go to the London show myself!
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[EaglesBabe18]

Here's a review from The Guardian, of The Dan at London's Hammersmith Apollo -

http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/livereviews/story/0,,2122871,00.html
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Be young, be foolish, be happy.