After a delay because of the Pandemic (I think I paid for my ticket in pounds, shillings and pence) the excellent Nearly Dan finally took to the stage in Sage Two to the delight of an expectant and fervent crowd robbed of live music for so long. The spirit and sound of Steely Dan, always on the jazz side of modern music, is alive and well, even though Donald Fagen remains the only touring member of the original band after the sad loss of Walter Becker - has it really been 5 years? frightening - in the capable hands of Nearly Dan.
Whilst I went with
the thought that I would have to make allowances for perhaps a rusty
performance nothing could be further from the truth even though singer and
guitarist Steve Hayes has spent his enforced timeout from music and touring
working on a building site and as he was all too keen to point out that was not
the most astute idea even though he, like so many musicians, had little choice
if they were to survive.
Every facet of the
band exudes accomplished musicianship both guitarists replicated the complex
chords and riffs created by Becker/Baxter/Carlton and others with ease, Steve
Hayes vocals are a perfect compliment to the band ably assisted by the other
members particularly Kate Robertson and Sarah Miller on backing vocals who gel
and harmonise perfectly with Steve. I have to give a shout out for the brass
section of Tim France and Phil Nicholas the first bars they played brought the
Steely Dan “sound to life” and their solos were so accomplished.
I won’t bother you with a set list but needless to say all the classic tracks were there Reelin in the Years, Do it again, Doctor Wu, Black Cow, Peg plus Donald Fagen’s New Frontier all perfectly purveyed but perhaps Kid Charlemagne was the best of a great bunch . Steve Hayes said the first time he heard The Royal Scam he was absolutely blown away with that track and couldn’t get over the complexity of the arrangement, thankfully he and the band, especially Tim France with a brilliant sax solo, breezed through it. The crowd were ecstatic, driven by the music, but mostly by being afforded a return to their collective passion of seeing live music in the flesh. Neil C
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