Members of Speedy Ortiz, So So Glos, Ava Luna & more playing Steely Dan tribute at Shea Stadium
Some people think Steely Dan are the epitome of ’70s excess and wanky Yacht Rock cheese. Others find them to be one of the most deeply weird, subversive (lyrically especially) bands ever to score a string of hits. (Still others say, “Well, ‘Peg’ is pretty catchy.”) One of those in the “pro-Dan” camp is Eric Slick of Dr. Dog and Lithuania, who penned a lengthy Dan defense at The Talkhouse:
I’m not a bandwagoner, though; I’m a staunch Danatic, through and through, and have been something of a Dan counselor to the uninitiated. I know it can be tough to wrap your mind around lyrical esoterica and crunchy Mu Major electric piano chords. If you’re around me long enough, though, I’ll try to convince you that Steely Dan belong in the upper echelon of rock worship.
Slick followed this up by then recording a Talkhouse podcast on the subject with his Lithuania bandmate Dominic Angelella that will air sometime soon.
After all this deep Dan thinking, The Talkhouse decided to put on a tribute night at Brooklyn’s Shea Stadium on October 8 featuring covers by Lithuania, Ian Sweet, Twiga and Bad Faces, with help from members of Speedy Ortiz, So So Glos, Ava Luna, Laser Background and more to be announced. Tickets are on sale now.
You can listen to a Spotify playlist Slick made of Steel Dan essentials:
