‘I gotta live with it’ remarked Fagen, after an empty onstage microphone was positioned as a poignant reminder of the recent passing of his songwriting partner Walter Becker.
Lauded for their songs that have a cinematic narrative about misfits, failure and loneliness, it was life-affirming to hear the rapturous applause as Fagen sauntered onstage.
Loose of tie and hunched over his keyboard, similar in pose to his idol Ray Charles, Fagen led his crack band of top players through a back catalogue of sophisticated jazz and blues-tinged songs. And with a drummer of Keith Carlock’s calibre snapping a fast, muscular snare beat on opening track Bodhisattva, the musical ante was upped from the start.
Tonight’s setlist was largely built around the Aja and Gaucho albums and it was a flawless Black Cow, from the Aja release, that set the cool tone for tonight’s proceedings with its breezy nonchalance.
Indeed, the superb four-man horn section traded discursive solos between themselves with casual ease as the all-female backing singers, known as The Danettes, glided in with their smooth vocals over it’s flowing melody.
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In a classy, steely style the band raced through a superb run of songs playing top-notch scurrying solos as they went along.
Guitarist Jon Herington nailed all the keynote guitar solos, that the cream of studio players conjured up on record, with aplomb.
The timeless patina on fan favourite songs Hey Nineteen, Peg and Josie were polished to perfection with finely played arrangements as the sassy backing vocals on Babylon Sisters brought a roar of appreciation from the sold-out arena.
Only allowed to play a 90 minute set by the venue, there was no time for shucking around as the band swung into real deal groove versions of Black Friday and Kid Charlemagne led again by Fagen’s nifty electric piano work.
A barrage of brassy notes from the horn section heralded biographical encore song My Old School and prompted super honed soliong from the stage, as the fans got up to applaud this triumphant and bravura performance.
As Fagen recently announced on Walter’s passing: “I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band.”
A statement that he and the band took to heart with tonight’s euphoric performance.
Major props also go to a magnificent opening slot by the Doobie Brothers. Now with Little Feat’s Bill Payne on keyboards, the uplifting harmonies by Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons are as sweet as they ever were.
Stellar takes on Long Train Runnin’, China Grove, Takin’ It To The Streets and the spirit raising Listen To The Music was about as good an opening to a show that I have witnessed.