Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers
Austin360 Amphitheater
May 27, 2018
Review and Photography by Gino Barasa
There’s a big black cow in the room, so let’s just admit it’s there.
The current Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers tour is 3 ½ hours of Dadrock on steroids. If ever there was any doubt of this claim, you just needed to be at the show Sunday night in Austin, Texas.
I think I spotted more oxygen tanks than 20-year-old girls and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t close.
That being said, these dudes practically invented Classic Rock and they left no doubt that they can still play it.
Despite sporting a few new members, the Doobie Brothers still look like your Dad’s original Doobies. Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee are all still center stage with some appropriately seasoned mates keeping the music alive and well.
The band may have aged along with the songs, but these songs are classic for a reason. After warming up the crowd with delicious versions of South City Midnight Lady and an especially tasty dish of Dark Eyed Cajun Woman, the boys started rolling out the hits. Crashing through a vamped-up Jesus is Just All Right brought the crowd to their feet and reminded everyone how tight those Doobie harmonies can be.
They quickly followed that up with another of their hits, Taking it to the Streets. The power of their music was undeniable when Russo came in with that unmistakable Sax intro and Simmons started singing, “You don’t know me, but I’m your brother.” Sure, it would have been unreal to hear Michael McDonald hitting those notes, but to be honest, in the moment I didn’t even think about that. The music was just so good.
Those back to back romps had the entire theater on their feet and ready for more, and that’s what they got. When John McFee picked up his fiddle and slowly drifted into the opening of Black Water the entire crowd raised their voices and sang the lyrics from start to finish. The roar of approval from the crowd made the event feel less like it was taking place at a Formula One race track and more like church.
The Doobies sprinkled in a few less radio-friendly songs through the evening, but no one minded. They all sounded so good, some even surprisingly good. Ending the night with feel-good hits like China Grove and Listen to the Music left the crowd warmed up and ready for the Dan.
Heading out on his first major tour since Walter Becker’s death, Donald Fagen has vowed to keep the music alive. Playing 18 songs in total, he did just that. After crashing in with the always strange and delightfully energetic Bodhisattva, Fagen stopped and acknowledged the passing of Becker when he pointed to a lone mic standing were Walter used to play and said, “I miss my friend. I wish he were here. He ran into some trouble and couldn’t make it.”
Some have criticized him for not doing more to recognize Becker’s passing. I think that’s a crock. Fagen and Becker were partners in making some of the most creative and sonically forward music of their time and if the last 4 decades haven’t proved how much these two meant to each other then nothing will. Fagan doesn’t owe critics an emotional show, and that sort of overt sentimental foolishness was never a part of Steely Dan’s act anyway. It’s clear what Walter meant to Donald and his short homage was perfectly done.
If the people came for radio-friendly hits, they got it.
After Bodhisattva, the band flexed their muscles by ripping into Hey Nineteen, Black Friday, Aja, FM, Time out of Mind, and Kid Charlemagne.
If the Doobie Brothers come across as good time rockers,
Steely Dan plays like a machine. Their sound is so tight. From Jon Herington’s crisp and white-hot guitar leads, to Walt Wisecoff’s sax solos and even the 3-piece backup singers known as the Danettes, everything is in its place and working smoothly.
The Danette’s function as an almost separate and alluring part of the band. Constantly in motion, these syncopated, salacious sirens serve more than just the sound of The Dan. They serve the soul. They even take lead vocal on the always popular Dirty Work. Never have back up singers seemed more integral to a band.
Showing how deep the well really is, Fagen went on another tear, ripping off hits like IGY, Peg, Black Cow, Josie and My Old School before giving the crowd an encore finish with Reeling in the Years.
Fagen and The Dan not only were in great voice this night, they looked like they were having a lot of fun.
I’m not sure how many hip replacement surgeries will be needed after tonight, but the crowd sure looked like they were enjoying themselves too.
STEELY DAN/ DOOBIE BROTHERS PHOTO GALLERY
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About the Author and Photographer:
Gino is grateful he grew up poor so that he could never afford to leave the state of Texas.
Known in Austin for his love of shooting the ever-changing Austin landscape, his true love is found in the Texas Hill Country and the endless vistas of the great wide open spaces of West Texas.
Gino feels his strength is in trying to understand the story that every setting is telling and finding a way to let that story ring true in the images he captures.