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One time my good friend, bandmate, and roommate JP casually said to me, “You know what would be great?”
“A waffle topped with vanilla ice cream, raspberry jam, whipped cream and a cherry?” I answered (this was JP’s standard wish, though I’ve never seen him actually eat one), incorrectly it turned out.
“Not this time, Lady Velveese,” (JP had a lot of nicknames for me).
“What would be great would be sitting on the lawn in the late afternoon at a nice outdoor venue somewhere. The sun is shining and out comes Steely Dan and they open with that awesome little three-note riff that kicks off Reelin’ in the Years and everyone jumps to their feet all at once and starts dancing.
“Yeah,” I agreed, noticing that we were indeed listening to Steely Dan at the time. “That would be great all right.”
And being one to accept and absorb any and all great ideas as if they were my very own, just like that I had another life mission to undertake.
And it was one I figured would be pretty easily checked off of the list when I purchased a ticket to see Steely Dan on July 28th, 1996 at what was then the Molson Amphitheatre and what remains a nice outdoor venue at the former Ontario Place, and whattya know, it had (has) a lawn. But I was wrong.
Unfortunately JP wasn’t with me but I was fortunate to be among great friends: my Toronto hosts Anne-Marie and her husband Jay, both Dan fans to be sure.
I made a point of finding a comfortable spot of grass for us to plant ourselves on, one with ample room for jumping up when those three notes were played.
The sun was tilting just right as the band ambled onstage to hearty applause. I remained reclined, waiting and ready to pounce to my feet.
And they opened with…Do It Again. Harumph, but okay, I got up. There was still plenty of sunlight left.
Bad Sneakers came next, then a barrage of slightly recognizable pieces. It was great, but my anticipation was getting the better of me. By the time they played Rikki Don’t Lose That Number it was already dark; the dream had faded. At least I could salvage a bit of the magic when Reelin’ came in the inevitable string of hits that would close the show.
Which isn’t what happened at all. Peg and Kid Charlemagne were in there but again, obscure fan-based material ruled the night.
And the encore? My Old School. Great song, sure, but not The Song. I walked out shaking my head. Was it disappointment? If so, I was disappointed in what had been a heck of a show performed by a world-class rock outfit comprised of the creme de la creme of studio musicians and sidemen. So no, I wasn’t disappointed, but I sure was surprised – dismayed even – that Steely Dan didn’t play their signature song, and most importantly I still had a moment to chase!
Which is all on me, admittedly.
(I saw the band again several years later and if memory serves they didn’t play Reelin’ In the Years then either. Maybe they forget how it goes?)
Todd Man Out 