STEELY DAN – VECTOR ARENA, AUCKLAND – FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2011

There’s something a little schizophrenic about Steely Dan’s live shows compared with the studio perfectionism of their formative years. In fact, there’s something of a full-on split personality thing going on. While the burgeoning ‘Dan gave up touring as a lifestyle choice early on to concentrate on the aforementioned über-serious studio-wizardry (or because of Donald Fagen’s stage fright, depending on who you listen to) the live show of the latter-day (one doesn’t like to use the term ‘twilight’) Steely Dan is an energetic, stylish, foot-stomping fun-fest.

The homegrown pop-smoothies of Anika Moa more than ably opened the show, but make no mistake, this was an evening of the kind of music your dad listens to (and then shows you up by doing it better than you). Steve Winwood’s voice still has the power of a man half his age, and while classics like Higher Love haven’t lost any of their power, newer hits like Dirty City have enough fire and brimstone to tip the balance between old guys genuinely making you feel like their music matters and old guys playing in the pub.

Leather waistcoats, silver ponytails and 1974 tour T-shirts in abundance, then, as Messrs Becker and Fagen took to the stage for a set lasting nearly two and a half hours. Old favourites like My Old School, Reelin’ In The Years, Black Friday and Kid Charlemagne rocked the house, but even those tracks that, in the studio, landed just the right side of muzak, were given a new lease of life live – Babylon Sisters, Josie and Hey Nineteen sounded fresh and sparky. None of your po-faced muso-academic chin-stroking between songs either – banter, anecdotes and jokes were delivered with panache (“Make sure you load up on T-shirts.” “Our drummer got the next song wrong. He’s just had a stroke.” “This is from our second album, released during the Jurassic era.”) Maybe ‘twilight’ wasn’t so unkind after all.

The showboating continued for a monster encore which saw them joining forces with Mr Winwood for a teeth-gnashing delivery of Pretzel Logic and a dance hall fave to round off with.

So their lyrical, razor-sharp wit has not dulled with either the passage of time or the rebirth of their live show, and we can surely forgive Donald’s 63 year-old voice for not quite going the full fifteen rounds (surely the only reason Do It Again was left off the set list). You have to wonder what took them so long to stop taking themselves so seriously, and one can only hope they don’t give up the touring just yet, even if it is hell on the knees.

(Mother-in-law had the kids to secure this reviewer’s attendance, and all were furnished with pre-made lasagne to expedite dinner plans. On return from the gig enquired of M-I-L what the lasagne was like – she said “Crusty, but not unpleasant.”)

Not unlike Steely Dan, then.

- Adam Hays

Here is Steely Dan in a recent concert in New York.

NZ Herald Review – Russel Baillie FIVE STARS – “It’s a terrific end to a set that’s not only Hellriegel’s best album yet but one of the year’s best local releases”.

Jan Hellriegel’s online mini CD sampler of her new record. HIGHLY recommended – we gave Jan’s new album five stars – and so have the critics. This sampler reveals a rare artist – one who has thought carefully about every aspect of production whilst maintaining artistic integrity. The album ‘All Grown Up’ is excellent, and entered the top 40 albums at #38 this week. The Collectors Item may still be available (and is worth every penny!) (click the link above)

Check out http://karenhunter.com for a wonderful recording of Long Hot Summer – the musicians include Ron Samsom and Aaron Coddel. Just press PLAY and let it stream, (much more clarity than the free download MP3 version).

Not official. But from a personal perspective, what I am listening to ….

Jan Hellriegel performed her new album All Grown Up on October 22.

More …

7 Worlds Collide release -preview

Neil Finn of Crowded House is back again with another 7 Worlds Collide project.

The name 7 Worlds Collide comes from Crowded House’s 1993 single “Distant Sun” (”seven worlds will collide/whenever I am by your side”). The original 7 Worlds Collide group formed in 2001, with Finn teaming up with Eddie Vedder, Johnny Marr (of the Smiths), Ed O’Brien and Phis Selway (of Radiohead), Tim Finn (Neil’s older brother), Sebastian Steinberg, Lisa Germano and Betchadupa (which features Neil’s son Liam) for a musical collaboration truly deserving of the word “supergroup. The group played five shows that later became the album 7 Worlds Collide: Neil Finn & Friends Live at the St. James.

Now Finn and friends (which include the returing Marr, Selway and O’Brien) are giving us the sequel, the double-disc album The Sun Came Out. Joining the group this time around are KT Tunstall and members of Wilco: bandleader Jeff Tweedy, bassist John Stirratt, drummer Glenn Kotche, and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone. Tweedy’s teenage son Spencer also pitches in.

The album, due September 29 via Sony Music, is truly a collaborative effort, with band members trading off songwriting duties on each track. Selway even sings lead vocals and plays guitar on “The Ties That Bind Us,” a rare vocal turn from the drummer.

Ed Cake’s NEW RELEASE CD review

The new album from Pie Warmer a 4 piece band produced by New Zealand’s resident musical genius, Ed Cake.

Pie Warmer
The Fearsome Feeling
Release date 29th July 2009
Released by Lil’ Chief Records

Reviewed by AucklandMusic here