Steely Dan Hammersmith Apollo

Posted by: Jet Johnson on 08 July 2007

No Doubt Diccus + the other Forumsters Ewemon, DenisA + Gary Shaw will have their views but .....see last night's set list below as I remembered it but not strictly in order (and yes I have forgot some songs!!)

Instrumental intro without B+F and girls
Time Out of Mind
Home at last
Godwhacker
Bad Sneakers
2 against Nature
Hey 19
Haitian Divorce (Vocals by Walter Becker)
Peg
Green Earrings
Dirty Work (re-arranged with the girls taking the vocals)
Josie (Walter Becker introduces's band)
Chain Lightning
Aja

Encores:
FM
My Old School
Instrumental outro sans B+F

Ok minuses The Sound.... a bit "foggy" at first but improved dramatically - Herrington's guitar was non evident for the first 4/5 songs ..and I don't understand why Walter takes so many of the early set lead solos (heresy?) he can obviously play but his lead lines (IMHO) are often jazz-style noodles and never really go anywhere
and (as ewemon will tell you) nothing was played from Pretzel Logic.

Plus points ..Just about everything else! ....Peg, Green Earrings, Kid Charlemagne were absolutely NAILED!! "2 against Nature" was excellent (only that and Godwhacker played off the last 2 albums)

Aja ....wonderful ....
...Jon Herrington (when he was finally lifted in the mix) played some cracking solos...

Drummer Keith Carlock lived up to my pre gig hype by playing his absolute ass off ..everything this current line-up does on stage is driven by him - what a drummer and you can see why he's often descibed as the worlds best.

I could go on but I guess other's will ...but overall this SD was probably the best line -up I've seen ....If you have the dosh ..go see em' in Europe!

And thanks to the other Naimites for a crackin' night - a good bunch of lads
Posted on: 08 July 2007 by GarryM
Well now it's out in the open... it was a fantastic night BUT what was Haitian Divorce all about!! Quite funny I suppose but Jon Herrington's guitar just didn't resemble the original and let's face it, the Haitian Divorce guitar riff IS the song! And WB's vocals??

Also, for me Dirty Work is such a classic with really pure understated vocals; the backing singers version was a bit Whitney Houston/Britney Spears by comparison.

Still , I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Posted on: 08 July 2007 by Jet Johnson
quote:
Originally posted by GarryM:
Well now it's out in the open... it was a fantastic night BUT what was Haitian Divorce all about!! Quite funny I suppose but Jon Herrington's guitar just didn't resemble the original and let's face it, the Haitian Divorce guitar riff IS the song! And WB's vocals??

Also, for me Dirty Work is such a classic with really pure understated vocals; the backing singers version was a bit Whitney Houston/Britney Spears by comparison.

Still , I wouldn't have missed it for the world.



Don't disagree but the original Dirty Work wasn't sung by Fagen and as far as my memory goes "the girls" have always sung Dirty Work live - I guess he's not comfortable with singing it - last night's version was a different arrangement from previous tours (SD often use 3 girl singers rather than last nights 2)
Posted on: 08 July 2007 by Jet Johnson
....And erm' sorry I missed off "Don't take me alive from my previous set list!

.....all together ...."Is there gas in the car"!
Posted on: 08 July 2007 by droodzilla
"is there gas in the car?" - "Kid Charlemagne"
Posted on: 08 July 2007 by Nick Lees
quote:
Originally posted by Jet Johnson:
Ok minuses The Sound.... a bit "foggy" at first but improved dramatically - Herrington's guitar was non evident for the first 4/5 songs ..and I don't understand why Walter takes so many of the early set lead solos (heresy?) he can obviously play but his lead lines (IMHO) are often jazz-style noodles and never really go anywhere and (as ewemon will tell you) nothing was played from Pretzel Logic.

It's odd that you guys had a problem with the sound - it was pretty much spot on from where we were (a few rows back, in the middle).

Though I was surprised at Becker's skill with the guitar I agree with you that Herington should perhaps have taken more. They've used a variety of guitarists with differing styles in the past and Herington showed he could cover more than one - Becker's solos were all pretty samey.

BTW, I've never been to a concert where there was so much toing and froing. People were continually getting up to get drinks and then again to relieve themselves. Perhaps it was a sign of the generally older age-range and weak bladders, but it was most distracting!
Posted on: 08 July 2007 by Jet Johnson
quote:
Originally posted by droodzilla:
"is there gas in the car?" - "Kid Charlemagne"


er' just testing! ...full marks! Red Face
Posted on: 08 July 2007 by BigH47
quote:
People were continually getting up to get drinks and then again to relieve themselves.


Why should you be able to do this at "rock" concert try it at some playhouses or orchestral concerts, drinks at half time only. The Who concert last week and Tori Amos was a continual flow of moving people. Distracting and un-necessary. IMHO.
Posted on: 09 July 2007 by Simon Matthews
I thought they were sublime but I do admit that I border on religous fervour for this band.

Anyone spot Gilmore chatting to McCartney pre gig?

My only complaint was that they missed off about sixty or so tunes that would have been wonderful to hear!
Posted on: 09 July 2007 by Simon Matthews
"Why should you be able to do this at "rock" concert try it at some playhouses or orchestral concerts, drinks at half time only. The Who concert last week and Tori Amos was a continual flow of moving people. Distracting and un-necessary. IMHO."

Its all relative. I was right up at the front for the Who at Glastonbury two weeks ago and a few desperate souls were pissing into their beer cups to save losing their hard earned spots. Now thats rock and roll!!1
Posted on: 09 July 2007 by BigH47
quote:
I was right up at the front for the Who at Glastonbury two weeks ago and a few desperate souls were pissing into their beer cups to save losing their hard earned spots. Now thats rock and roll!!1


I fully understand that. Mind you if they hadn't drunk all that beer they might not have needed the loo.
Posted on: 09 July 2007 by Nick Lees
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
My only complaint was that they missed off about sixty or so tunes that would have been wonderful to hear!

This is a true thing. It's at concerts like this that you realise what stupendous repertoire some of these old bands have. Donovan* last year was a case in point - he barely scratched the surface.

I kept crossing my fingers for various songs...and if they hadn't done My Old School I'd have rioted. Or at least got the wife to...


*with Rat Scabies on drums!
Posted on: 09 July 2007 by Malky
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
I thought they were sublime but I do admit that I border on religous fervour for this band.

Anyone spot Gilmore chatting to McCartney pre gig?

My only complaint was that they missed off about sixty or so tunes that would have been wonderful to hear!


Me too
Yep, he was a few rows in front. Can't believe I was in the presence of a Beatle.
No Reelin', Bad Friday, Show Biz Kids, Do It Again, Bodhisattva or Don't Take Me Alive but who cares. One helluva show.
Posted on: 09 July 2007 by Diccus62
quote:
BTW, I've never been to a concert where there was so much toing and froing. People were continually getting up to get drinks and then again to relieve themselves. Perhaps it was a sign of the generally older age-range and weak bladders, but it was most distracting!



There was no too ing and froing from the 'real' Dan Fans at the front Big Grin
Posted on: 09 July 2007 by ewemon
quote:
Originally posted by Diccus62:
quote:
BTW, I've never been to a concert where there was so much toing and froing. People were continually getting up to get drinks and then again to relieve themselves. Perhaps it was a sign of the generally older age-range and weak bladders, but it was most distracting!



There was no too ing and froing from the 'real' Dan Fans at the front Big Grin


Yep the incontinence pants worked a treat.

Mind you since they didn't play my fav track Preztel it means I have now got to go and see them again.

It was great to meet up with some of the "lads" from the forum and thanks again Diccus for getting me the ticket and bringing me out of my premature gig retirement.
Posted on: 09 July 2007 by Jet Johnson
quote:
Originally posted by Malky:
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
I thought they were sublime but I do admit that I border on religous fervour for this band.

Anyone spot Gilmore chatting to McCartney pre gig?

My only complaint was that they missed off about sixty or so tunes that would have been wonderful to hear!


Me too
Yep, he was a few rows in front. Can't believe I was in the presence of a Beatle.
No Reelin', Bad Friday, Show Biz Kids, Do It Again, Bodhisattva or Don't Take Me Alive but who cares. One helluva show.


Having seen Steely on all their last 3 English tours (I missed em' in 74' as DF had a throat infection just prior to playing Newcastle!)
it's true that an awful lot of faves get missed out ....whilst some apparently more obscure tracks are nearly always in their various sets.

See below the set list for their gig in Hollywood May 8th this year as a comparison to their English gigs (if you think this is all too sad just let me know!) note no Bodhisvatta or Do It Again played in London ..

Other faves are re-arranged quite dramatically e.g...Reeling in the years has never been played as "on the album" since the original Skunk Baxter/Denny Dias touring band ceased in 1974
..subsequent "Reelin'" arrangements have always been horn based.

Anyhoos the USA set mentioned ....


.......Intro Music: "Jeri"
Two Against Nature
Bad Sneakers
Time Out of Mind
Jamie Runaway
Hey Nineteen
Monkey in Your Soul (Walter)
Peg
Black Cow
Green Earrings
Dirty Work ("The Girls")
Josie and band intros by Walter
Do it Again (w/ nice drum solo)
Kid Charlemagne
(Encore)
My Old School
Bodhisattva
Outro Music: "Carolyn" (composed by Lee Morgan and performed by him
as a sideman/featured performer on "No Room For Squares" by Hank
Mobley on Blue Note, recorded and released circa 1963; reissued 2000

(Set list courtesy of The Dandom Digest)
Posted on: 09 July 2007 by DenisA
From my seat back in Row 'N' Donald was in front of me. I experienced the same effect as Jet, in that Jon Herrington's guitar was way low in the mix in the early songs. It took a few songs to get into the groove, partly due to just making the start after my only pit stop upstairs. Heard someone say Mr Gilmour was in the house and thought he would be near Jet & the boys. The only strange song for me was Haitian Divorce (Walter can't sing & Jon's Wah Wah was
Woh Woh weird). I sang all night and imagined I sounded like Donald, but no contracts are coming my way. I'm sure everyone dancing for FM and My Old School would have kept going for another hour. A brilliant night with great company and seeing your favourite songwriters is what makes concert going such buzz.

Maybe a Nearly Dan gig might be worth planning if anyone's interested.

Denis
Posted on: 10 July 2007 by GarryM
quote:
Originally posted by Jet Johnson:
See below the set list for their gig in Hollywood May 8th this year as a comparison to their English gigs (if you think this is all too sad just let me know!) note no Bodhisvatta or Do It Again played in London ..


They played Bodhisattva at the NIA Smile
Posted on: 10 July 2007 by Jet Johnson
Re Nearly Dan

I think DenisA might have a good idea re Nearly Dan ....in the absence of the real deal they are a really tight band (myself and Diccus seen em' in Durham about 3 years back) they do tour regularly and I see they are appearing in Newcastle in August on a Saturday. (footy season beckons though!) Anyways it would be another excuse to drink ale + chew the fat re BSR and Rega Planet turntables (I'll explain later young Diccus!)

And talking about SD tribute bands .

.....The Danny Steele Orchestra sadly disbanded about 5 years ago ..again myself and Diccus caught them in South Shields a few years back and they were crackin' (slightly the better of the two bands I think)
...anyone seen Steelin' Dan + Don? who I gather only play in London?...a long way for the likes of ewemon (who apparently lives 3 miles south of the north pole) to go!! Cool
Posted on: 11 July 2007 by GraemeH
Iv'e seen Kieth Carlock in concert twice - amazing drummer.

Graeme
Posted on: 11 July 2007 by Simon Matthews
Jet

From the review above I recognise you as a contributer to the Dandom Digest. Small world and all that..


Regards Nearly Dan, I have seen them three times (SD 4 times) and they get a little better each time IMO. The lead guitarist produces very credible imitations of the principle solo's and the drummer is top draw also. The lead singer is a little cabaret and lacks Fagens nasal tones but after a few ales and with the eyes closed it can make for a surprisingly fun evening. At the end of the day, hearing a nine piece band playing renditions of some of my favourite ever songs ever can't be such a bad idea.