Steely Dan Confirms First Tour In Three Years (With a new album due summer 2003)

billboard ^ | 4/8/2003 | Jonathan Cohen

[TLBSHOW]

Steely Dan Confirms First Tour In Three Years

Steely Dan has unveiled details for its first tour since the summer of 2000, kicking off July 23 in Costa Mesa, Calif., and wrapping Aug. 31 in Syracuse, N.Y. The veteran jazz/rock outfit will be touring in support of its upcoming Reprise album, "Everything Must Go," which has been bumped to June 10 from its original May 6 release date. As the band explained in its online newsletter, "the reason, we understand, has to do with something called 'a schedule' for some entity called 'the record company.'"

"Everything Must Go" finds group leaders Donald Fagen and Walter Becker backed by drummer Keith Carlock, keyboardists Ted Baker and Bill Charlap, and guitarists Jon Herrington and Hugh McCracken. Beyond his usual bass and guitar duties, Becker takes the mic on one as-yet-unnamed tune, marking his first lead vocal in Steely Dan's history.

The album is the follow-up to 2000's "Two Against Nature," which was the group's first album since 1980's "Gaucho" and went on to win the Grammy for album of the year.

Here are Steely Dan's tour dates:

July 23: Costa Mesa, Calif. (Orange County Fair) July 24: Paso Robles, Calif. (Mid-State Fair) July 26: Kelseyville, Calif. (Konocti Harbor) July 27: Tahoe, Nev. (Harvey's Outdoors) Aug. 1: Portland, Ore. (Coliseum) Aug. 2: George, Wash. (Gorge Amphitheatre) Aug. 4: Denver (Fiddler's Green) Aug. 7: St. Paul, Minn. (X-Cel Energy Center) Aug. 8: Chicago (United Center) Aug. 9: Columbus, Ohio (Schottenstein Center) Aug. 11: Clarkston, Mich. (Pine Knob) Aug. 12: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (Blossom Music Center) Aug. 14: Toronto (Molson Ampitheatre) Aug. 16: Mansfield, Mass. (Tweeter Center) Aug. 17: Holmdel, N.J. (PNC Bank Arts Center) Aug. 19: Manchester, N.H. (Verizon Wireless Arena) Aug. 20: Hershey, Pa. (Hershey Park) Aug. 22: Wantagh, N.Y. (Jones Beach) Aug. 23: Camden, N.J. (Tweeter Center) Aug. 25: Uncasville, Conn. (Mohegan Sun) Aug. 27: Bristow, Va. (Nissan Pavilion) Aug. 29: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Saratoga PAC) Aug. 30: Atlantic City, N.J. (Etess Arena at the Taj Mahal) Aug. 31: Syracuse, N.Y. (New York State Fair)

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"Last Visible Dog"

Are you with a record label in Nebraska? I have some music on the "Last Visible Dog" label.

[kidd]

The last concert I went to was Steely Dan in Hartford.

I like their music, but they are not good in concert. Boring stage performance and almost no improvisation. Save your money for the album - its exactly what you'll hear in concert.

[Chunga]

I think Two Against Nature is the best album Steely Dan has ever made. "Gaslighting Abby" is monstrously creative funk, the twisted, Zappa-esque sonorities conjured by the winds in the title track, Vinnie Colaiuta's astonishing drumming on "Negative Girl"...I never grow tired of this one.

I eagerly await this new release.

[activationproducts]

A sex toy metioned in the Naked Lunch.

[activationproducts]

What then do you consider to be a good band?

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"It's a great set, though it makes me feel like an old fogie when I listen to it."

No guilt here. I'm 28 and listen to the box set you speak of nearly every day. "Aja", "Don't Take Me Alive", "Josie", "Dirty Work", etc. -- all the good stuff is there.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"Trivia question: Does anyone know what a 'Steely Dan' is?"

Does anyone know what Donovan's song "Mellow Yellow" was about?

[1Old Pro]

Great, I'll see them in Saratoga Springs, NY. As far as their politics, I could care less as long as they keep their politics out of their concerts.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Yes, but do you have either the Expanded Gold album or the "Heavy Metal" soundtrack? The only two places to get a copy of Fagan's "True Companion". That, I think, is some of Fagan's best stuff ever.

[TLBSHOW]

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter

is on the new yardbirds cd the yardbirds first since 1967

Legendary British rock outfit the Yardbirds return this week with "Birdland," their first new studio album since 1967. The set is being released by guitarist Steve Vai's Favored Nations label. The Yardbirds, which once boasted Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton among its members, now feature original members Chris Dreja (guitar) and Jim McCarty (drums) in tandem with lead guitarist Gypie Mayo, bassist John Idan, and harmonica player Alan Glen.

The bulk of the album was recorded at Vai's Mothership studio in Los Angeles. Vai also appears on the disc as a guest on a newly recorded version of the Yardbirds' favorite "Shapes of Things." Other guitar heroes who leant a hand in the studio include former Yardbirds principal Jeff Beck, Queen's Brian May, former Guns N' Roses axeman Slash, Joe Satriani, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik and Toto's Steve Lukather also appear.

Beyond "Shapes of Things," the new album sports renditions of previously released Yardbirds tunes "I'm Not Talking," "The Nazz Are Blue," "For Your Love," "Train Kept a Rolling," "Over, Under, Sideways, Down," "Mr. You're A Better Man Than I," and "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago." Eight new songs, including "My Blind Life," "The Mystery of Being," and "An Original Man (A Song for Keith)" round out the track list.

http://www.billboard.com/bb/hotprod/index.jsp

[jimbo123]

Streaming Link to New Steely Dan Album

[TLBSHOW]

thanks

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I went to the Gorge show. Did you make it?

[BADROTOFINGER]

Unfortunately, no. And my comp blew up too...:-(...JFK

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Would pictures help, or would they just make it worse? (Got some.)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Don't worry man, you didn't miss much in all honesty, just THE BEST FREAKIN SHOW OF THE YEAR! ;0)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I always thought you had a mean streak. ; )

[Chad Fairbanks]

Not me. I am gentle, kind, caring, helpful and courteous... scout's honor...

[kidd]

I saw them in concert. I like Steely Dan, but they are strictly a studio band. They do not put on a good concert. Little to no improv - you might as well spend the money on the album. Little audience interaction and no stage show, just a bunch of balding guys standing around playing instuments.

[Chad Fairbanks]

THey had a great band backing them this time around - they did a great group of songs, there was LOTS of crowd participation etc... a lot of improv. Now, if they could just keep Walter BEcker from singing the opccasional song, it would have been perfect ;0)