By CARY DARLING
Star-Telegram Pop Culture Critic
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Back in the ’70s, keyboardist Donald Fagen and guitarist Walter Becker — aka Steely Dan — were notorious recluses. Touring and granting interviews were rare in their universe.
Instead, they locked themselves in the studio, pouring their passion into crafting a pristine, note-perfect style of sophisticated, smart, jazz-inflected rock. More than anything, they seemed bent on pleasing themselves.
But times change, as was evident at Steely Dan’s nearly sold-out show Wednesday night at the Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie. Since getting back together 13 years ago, they’ve put touring back on their agenda, and these days they don’t mind pleasing the crowd. The nearly-two-hour set was mostly a greatest-hits sweep that surprisingly veered away from Steely Dan’s post-regroup material and Fagen’s and Becker’s solo albums. Guess that’s what getting older and more practical does for you.
That was too bad, because they left out a lot of good material; Fagen’s latest disc, Morph the Cat, is a sublime little treat. But what Fagen and Becker lacked in unpredictable song selection, they made up for in performance. Working with a phenomenal 10-piece backing band, including light-fingered guitarist Jon Herington and deft drummer Keith Carlock (who’s from North Texas), they ripped through all parts of their pre-breakup career including a swinging Green Earrings, a funky My Old School and a soulful Dirty Work with a sweet little Becker guitar solo.
In a nice touch, Becker recognized Fort Worth’s Chuck Rainey, a former Steely Dan bassist who was in the audience.
Having Michael McDonald, best-known as the voice of the latter-day Doobie Brothers, on the bill was a nod to old-line Dan fans. He played and sang on many of their tracks so, in addition to his own solid 70-minute opening slot, McDonald joined Fagen and Becker for part of their set. It was almost as if the past 30 years hadn’t happened.
From Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 14, 2006
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