chuckography

They loved "Steely" and they loved "Dan"...

At the Performing Art Center (PAC) last night, it was a rewarding romp through the 70s with Steely Dan.

And 11 others in the band on stage.

A sold out house - as expected - and most of this audience knew all the words to the songs.

I knew quite a few myself...but I DON'T sing.

This blog started out in 2006 as my memories of the 50s and 60s.

The high point decade for this band is very familiar to me.

By the time the 2 1/2 hour show ended, these people were on their feet shouting "One more song!"

Donald Fagen, keyboard and vocals, also popped up from behind his keys to break out his Melodica.

Yes, I had to look it up. Hit the link.

I had seen one several times before but wasn't clear on what it is named.

The other half of the team who founded this group is Walter Becker on guitar.

He also is the teller of droll stories from the good old days, back before Colorado and other states legalized medical and not-so-medical marijuana.

The history of Steely Dan involves these two as a constant while 40-50 other musicians have joined, played, partied and moved on.

Stability through numbers (two).

"Rikki, Don't Lose That Number."

People have questioned the origin of the band's name and it finally was marked TRUE by Snopes.com.


The name came from a William S. Burroughs book called Naked Lunch.

The complete name - in the book - was Steely Dan III from Yokohama.

(Another band that has played in Charleston is Toad The Wet Sprocket whose name came from a Monty Python routine.)

I almost sang along with Reelin' In The Years from the Can't Buy A Thrill album, but held back.

Instead I concentrated on taking some pictures.


A friendly security guard right down front said it was OK to take pictures - without flash of course.

And short 10 second or so videos would be all right.

A young lady sitting in the front row was pretty obvious as she shot long, long, footage of the band.

The security fellow talked to her several times and finally she got the message.

Front row is not the best place to flaunt the rules.

After a lively and energetic encore, Charleston was saluted and thanked by Donald Fagen.


Hey, we're known as a singin' polite city.

(Click on the photos for more details.)

Driving home from the PAC at a few minutes after 11, I realized that the previous two nights I was at venues where the band didn't even start until that time.

Yikes.

Where do these musicians get all that energy?

Labels: Donald Fagen, Melodica, Naked Lunch, Reelin' In The Years, Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Steely Dan Jazz/Rock Band, Walter Becker

posted by chuckography @ 10:14 PM