Steely Dan -Durham Perfroming Arts Center 6-9-09

The ever elusive ingenious twosome that is Steely Dan graced the Triangle with their presence last week at the impressive Durham Performing Arts Center - or the DPAC if you’re into the whole brevity thing. Most of you know that Steely Dan isn’t a guy you can talk to or ask for an autograph. It’s actually an ever-changing cadre of incredible musicians handpicked (or should I say cherry picked ) by Walter Becker and Donald Fagan, the founders and wizards behind the curtain of the whole operation. I assume everyone knows that, but someone the other day did ask me “what does he look like?”



I was undoubtedly one of the youngest Steely fans in the room, proving that “all those day glow freaks who used to paint their face have joined the human race.” The entire venue was packed with couples from their mid- forties through to their sixties who left behind their Blackberries and thoughts of the suffering economy to hear The Dan perform hits such as “Reeling in the Years,” “Peg,” and “Hey Nineteen.”



Fortunately, everyone in attendance got plenty more than they thought for their dollar. Throughout the show Becker and Fagan drew from a well stirred cocktail of songs dusted off from late 70’s albums “Aja”, and “Katie Lied” with a few others from 1981’s “Gaucho” (not to mention a fan favorite “Kid Charlemagne” from 1976’s “The Royal Scam.”) The romantic and sinister “Babylon Sisters” was a crowd pleaser, to say the very least. Fagan handed over the mic to Becker to handle vocals for a rousing rendition of “Daddy Don’t Live in that New York City No More.”



Each tune was plain perfect and only made incredibly more vibrant by the five-piece horn section, John Herrington covering rhythm and some scorching lead guitar work. The siren like back up singers swung their arms in harmony just like their soul-sister vocals. Donald Fagan hunched over his keyboard, standing occasionally to rock the not often seen or heard instrument--the Meldodica--while Walter Becker ripped through each song on guitar with quicksilver perfection, joking with the crowd about the landscape of our great state, verifying that these real deals had a sense of humor and humanity.



In a live setting Steely Dan is a dispensary of jazz, rock, funk and some things in between. Within the lyrics of all Steely albums Becker and Fagan create an alternate universe of late nights, beautiful women, classy affairs and shady activities. It may not be for everyone, but if you look beyond the accusations that Steely Dan is nothing but elevator music, you will find a forbidden city of musical gold and literary brilliance matched by no one else in the world of music. Who else put out albums throughout the 1970’s, steadily winning Grammy awards and other accolades, and then abruptly stopping in 1980 with a multi-Grammy winning record (Gaucho) - only to return some twenty odd years later with a new album (Two Against Nature) which sweeps the Grammy Awards? Steely Dan.



To try and sum up what Steely is all about I’ll take a line from Gaucho’s “Time out of Mind” (which they played early in the show): “It’s perfection and grace. It’s the smile on your face.”



-Dan Reeves

Friday Night

Sharp tongued fast talkers Lonnie Walker are bringing their special brand of folky punk- rock to the Local 506 friday night with I was Totally Destroying it and Animal. Widespread Panic producer and friend Sam Holt's Outformation will be performing at The Lincoln Theatre as well. Local boys Waylandsphere will open.

Knopfler in Charlotte

This is a little late, but I have been a little preoccupied lately. Knopfler in Charlotte was just about as amazing as I could have ever imagined. The guy simply touches the guitar and glass starts to break, people combust spontaneously, women give birth. It is insane. I really have a hard time trying to describe how good this show was. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience for me. I have been an obsessive lover of all things Dire Straits / Mark Knopfler for some time now, so it was quite special. Also, I'm pretty sure Mark doesn't roll through the Queen City that often, especially since the Hornets moved.

A Day in the Life

I felt like I needed to share this gem with the kind folks who check out Metro and this little blog.

She and Him ?

Don't get me wrong, I really think M. Ward is truly one of the better musicians and singers floating around these days. His voice is distinct, his lyrics mean something, and from my experience, he nails it live. My concern here is that he is touring with the actress Zooey Deschnnel under the guise "She and Him". There is just something fishy about an "indie" (god I hate that word) musician like M. Ward toting a Hollywood ingenue around, hopefully not just because they are like tooootally in love. The two will be performing at the Cat's Cradle in Carboro July 28th. It will be interesting to see if it works. Who knows? Maybe I hold a bit of anger towards Zooey for Co Starring in "The Happening" which was utterly terrible. I mean it was really really awful.

Here is their Video. It kinda reeks of MTV cheese if you ask me.




Please take the time to check out some M. Ward (sans movie starlet.)

Robert Pollard Exhibit

Former front man of the now defunct Guided By Voices, Robert Pollard has continued to release albums on his own, still carrying the tradition of what made GBV one of the most influential independent rock bands of the 1990's and early years of the new century (they broke up in 2004.) Known mostly for their frenetic lo-fi sound, unpredictable stage antics (usually alcohol induced,) and their seemingly tireless ability to release tons of material, GBV had much to do with sculpting the sound and vision of bands such as Sonic Youth and The Breeders.

Pollard was the centerpiece of GBV and still is something of a showman. The reason I am telling you this is because his latest art work and his new book will be the main attraction at Durhams Third Friday.

From Merge Records :

The inspiration behind the art show is the forthcoming coffee-table book entitled Town of Mirrors: The Reassembled Imagery of Robert Pollard, which will be released by Fantagraphics on August 6. Town of Mirrors collects the very best of Pollard’s visual art and lyrics/poetry. Featuring over 180 of Pollard’s favorite collages, hand-picked by the artist, as well as over a dozen new collages produced exclusively for this book, this is the first comprehensive collection of Pollard’s visual art ever released. The Durham show will include collages from the book as well as newer pieces. Original artwork and copies of the book will be available for purchase.


Whether or not you know who Pollard is or what Guided By Voices was, I can say that this exhibit will be worth checking out.

From Washington...

Raleigh's Drew Marks and Jim Dempsey have found more than moderate appreciation for their talent since the formation of their three piece rock outfit The Moderate.


The following article comes from the DCist :

The Moderate

Upcoming Performances in the Triangle

Some things breezing through town that I will try not to miss:

At Koka Booth Amphitheater :

Saturday July 26th - The Avett Brothers

Friday August 8th Wilco

It appears that the Lincoln Theater has decided to bring us a bevy of cover bands this summer. Not just regular cover bands, but metal and power rock cover bands. Let's see here, July 26th we have Night Prowler , an AC / DC tribute act. From the name alone, my guess is that they will kick ass, but you will have to see for yourself. There is no way I'm going. After that The Frontiers, who claim to be "the ultimate tribute to Journey". Yeah, we'll see about that fellas! For now though, don't stop believin', ok? Wow! This should be illegal - Appetite For Destruction (you can guess who they mimic, right?), Red Hot and Crue - as in red, hot , and MOTLEY crue, and then Poison'd...all in one night! In Poison'd's picture the lead singer looks identical to Brett Michaels, so that should be interesting.

The North Carolina Museum of Art's summer concert series kicked off Wednesday night with a performance from country siren Emmylou Harris. For 40 years, Harris has shared with us her own cocktail of country, bluegrass, folk, and rock which has never failed to impress. Harris has worked on numerous records and projects with the likes of Mark Knopfler, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and many more. Artists go out of there way to have Emmylou on board for an album. Her performance was chilling to say the least. Harris possesses a certain magic unattainable by most in her genre. A lot of girls out there are trying their damnedest to sound like Emmylou, but I think it's impossible. She is one of those creatures sent here to keep us slightly bewildered by her natural ability to write and sing, but moreover stirred by her voice and presence. The highlight of the evening for me was a tear jerking "Sailing Around the Room."

Please check out these venue calenders for upcoming shows. As this blog blossoms, I will do everything in my power to keep you guys up to date with what I'm looking forward to, what you should avoid, and what you may have missed. Please bear (yes "bear" not "bare") with us as we add more content. Thank you for your patience!

Cat's Cradle

The Cave

The Lincoln Theater

Tir Na Nog

The Pour House

Local 506

Koka Booth Amphitheater

The North Carolina Museum of Art

Hardee's Alltell Globo-Chem Time Warner Cable Pavilion at Walnut Creek

Handguns and Dancing Shoes

Handguns and Dancing Shoes, the latest album from Triangle favorites The Proclivities, is yet another slice of musical talent and ceaseless effervescence that characterizes this amazing band.
Matt Douglas returns to the studio with a glowing spirit and a whole new inventory of trials and tribulations touching on adoration, love and doubt. The craftmaan-like lyrics are beautifully written, complemented by solidarity from the machine of talent brimming from the work of the band.
Chris Boerner’s signature guitar style remains the tour de force behind the quintet, always conjuring the crispiest chords and most tempestuous solos. Still he always maintains his position as a master of moderation keeping everything short and sweet.
Anyone familiar with Boerner’s work is aware he has the ability to shred any piece of music any time any where – but the Proclivities’ fatherly secret weapon lies within the able and delicate hands of Matt Douglas, also quite adept at guitar and saxophone, among other things
Opening track “Handguns and Dancing Shoes” is the muffled starter pistol to a moving and emotional race through Douglas’s mind and experiences. His timbre ebbs and flows right alongside Nick Slaton’s slippery bass lines. Matt McCaughan’s buoyant drumming through the joyous “Red Faced Girl” goes directly through the up tempo, cautionary trip of “Charlatan”. “Move Around the Floor” is a truly moving song, slightly somber and clearly the product of amorous inspirations.
The crowning achievement of the album comes last in the nostalgic breeze of ” Trickle Down”. Douglas professes his love singing “baby, you’re so cool”. in a way only matched in believability by Alabama Whirly in the film True Romance.
While sharing a commonality with “Predispositions – the group’s first album - “Handguns” contains a refreshing texture and depth layered within the construct of each track. Clearly a great deal of thought went into every second of the recording process. Every song is well written, well produced, and certainly worthy of major attention from a quality record label. The Proclivities will be performing at Tir Na Nog June 12, The Southern Rail in Carboro June 14, and Pianos in New York City June 26. Find out more here .
Players: Matt Douglas – vocals, guitar, keyboards, woodwindsChris Boerner – guitar, vocalsNic Slaton – bass, voclalsMatt McCaughan – drums, percussion, vocalsGuest include Jean Jolly, “Charlatan” and “Move Around the Floor”. Ryan Cavanaugh, banjo “The Devil’s Best”.

Rapid Eye Movement

The great R.E.M. performed to a very sweaty audience at Hardee's / Alltell/ Globo-Chem / Clear Channel / Live Nation Pavilion at Walnut Creek recently with support from The National and Modest Mouse.

First things first: Johnny Marr from the Smiths is now part of Modest Mouse, so that was an added pleasure for me. Mouse was great. Those dudes have been putting out good music for quite some time, achieving commercial success with the hit "Float On" which they didn't play - which was nice. I think that song attracted the 'tween scene to their shows in its heyday.

R.E.M. is a jewel in the crown of music from the south. A lot of us grew up listening to everything they did as it unfolded on the then fledgling MTV. Some of us were old enough to be cool enough to be actively listening in the 80's. Not me. R.E.M. was just always playing somewhere, somehow. I distinctly remember watching the video for "The One I Love" alone in our living room on Iredell Drive, playing with the Orko toy from my He-Man action figure set (Castle Gray-Skull included).

I also remember wanting to be the kid in the "End of the World as we Know it Video". It was later that R.E.M. started to really sink in. Green, Document, Out of Time, and Automatic for the People became crucial and memorized. Needless to say, R.E.M. became part of who I am somewhere along the line. Even while fumbling through high school jamming out to Phish and, yes, Panic (among many other things) - R.E.M. was a mainstay. I hung in there all the way through Monster and UP after drummer Bill Berry left the band. I kinda’ quit paying attention after that.

That being said, the show was important to me. But enough about me.

Stipe, Mills, Buck, and the rest of the touring band blew it up. Not a dull moment the entire time. The stage set-up and lights were nothing short of phenomenal. As far as energy goes, they might as well have been on stage at the 40 Watt, playing for rent money. Stipe gave a sincere thanks to the area for embracing them back in the early days. (The weekly Spectator here gave them early coverage. Spectator film critic Godfrey Cheshire toured Europe with REM and penned a million-word treatise that helped gain them national attention). At the show, they even brought out their early producers from our area, Mitch Easter and Don Dixon (Arrogance) for a moving rendition of "Sitting Still".

I knew Stipe was going to get his lefty agenda out there, and he did. It's fine. I just don't like mixing good music with politics. That's why I can't stand Wayne Coyne. More power to ya, Mr. Stipe - you've earned it. I'll go pee while you talk about how shitty the current administration is and all that stuff I like to forget about when I go see one my favorite bands.

Highlights: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?", "Seven Chinese Brothers", "Find the River", "Fall on Me", "Sitting Still", "Man on the Moon".

Oh, and "Orange Crush" was un-fucking-believeable.

Set: Harborcoat / Living Well Is The Best Revenge / Bad Day / What's The Frequency, Kenneth? / 1,000,000 / Man-Sized Wreath / Welcome To The Occupation / Accelerate / Seven Chinese Brothers / Hollow Man / Imitation Of Life / Houston / Electrolite / Walk Unafraid / The One I Love / Final Straw / Find The River / Let Me In / Horse To Water / Auctioneer (Another Engine) / Orange Crush / I'm Gonna DJ

Encore: Supernatural Superserious / Losing My Religion / Pretty Persuasion / Fall On Me / Sitting Still / Man On The Moon

Notes: Johnny Marr guests on Fall On Me. Mitch Easter and Don Dixon guest on Sitting Still