Prior to 2000’s Grammy-winning “Two Against Nature”, few would have thought Steely Dan would reform, let alone embark on a number of tours in the intervening years between then and now, but get together they did, and tonight found the Dan at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, in the midst of a smallish-venue Casinos’n’Clubs tour entitled “High Rollers”.
Opening with “Time Out Of Mind” from Gaucho, the band (Donald, Walter and the “Steely Dan Orchestra!”) kicked off in fine form, and didn’t let up for the next 90-odd minutes. Full setlist is posted below, but highlights included “Hey Nineteen” with a witty interlude from Fagen that segued nicely into “the Cuervo Gold, the fine Colombian...”, a fiery Kid Charlemagne” to close out the main set, and a driving “Aja” with stunning drumwork.
Both Fagen and Becker seemed to enjoy the vocal and lively crowd - the indoor Hard Rock Live facilitating this vs. an amphitheatre or stadium - and the band didn’t sound so well-rehearsed that spontaneity was abandoned, and the rawness with passion was lapped up.
The encore was 10 minutes of solid early-Dan with “My Old School” and “Bodhisattva” from Countdown to Ecstasy, both featuring blistering fretwork from Walter Becker.
Time Out of Mind Bad Sneakers Two Against Nature Janie Runaway Hey Nineteen Gaslighting Abbie Peg Caves of Altamira Monkey in Your Soul Josie Dirty Work Aja Kid Charlemagne
My Old School Bodhisattva
My Trusted MOGs
"Gaslighting Abbie"? "Janie Runaway"?? "Bad Sneakers"? "Caves of Altamira"?? Aww maaaan....
I should be following these guys around the country. Twice I saw 'em in the last year and they didn't do none of those amazing songs. The second time, they actually played a truncated version of the first time with I believe only "Babylon Sisters" to make up for it (maybe one more too)...
I ain't complainin'. But I really wish they'd done some of Two Against Nature, I really do. (except "Cousin Dupree"... overplayed!)