If you're looking for the sleek studio-quality Steely Dan you remember from the 1970's and 80's, you'd be better off buying the iTunes Essential Steely Dan collection for $44.55 than spending $83 for one of the remaining upper balcony seats for tonight's concert at the Wellmont. Listening to the familiar songs in the meticulously-restored 1922 venue, beautiful as it is, is a little like listening to music through a gramophone. At least if you sat, as I did, in the upper balcony. If you went to college in the 1970's, you'll recognize songs like "Bodhisattva" or "My Old School" immediately, just from the tunes. But if you've got a college student sitting next to you, as I did, you'll have to supply simultaneous translation. Although, as she said, "Well, the words aren't important."
But of course you don't go to a Steely Dan concert, at the Wellmont anyway, for perfect musical fidelity. At least you don't go to a baby boomer retro show like Steely Dan for that reason. You go, as I overheard one person saying on the way out, because it reminds you of all the places you were when you heard the songs. You go for the mingled smells of marijuana and Opium. (Not a lot of marijuana, and as soon as it wafted into the crowd, a muscle-bound Wellmont employee climbed to the back of auditorium, arms folded, presumably to find its source.) You go because you want to see what the Wellmont is all about, but you're too much of a geezer to care about Wolf Parade and not enough of a geezer to want to see Tony Bennett.
Let's clear up a few Wellmont myths right away. There were seats on the first floor -- I could see them from the nosebleed section -- which means that the Wellmont realizes that baby boomers do want to sit down, although it is a little disconcerting to see with your own eyes that the people you were young with are now card-carrying members of AARP. The ushers who guided us, like loyal sherpas, to the oxygen-deprived heights of Row X did actually match us to the exact seats indicated on our tickets. And as we reported last week, you can save all the surcharges by buying your ticket at the box office, which does, now, take credit cards. Parking, it should also be noted, was a cinch at 7:30 pm -- at least if you know Montclair. (I will keep my parking secrets.) Diet sodas were reasonably priced at $3.
The Steely Dan Orchestra '08, which comes with three Afro-coiffed soul sisters (Hey nineteen/that's retha franklin), took the stage at 8:54 pm and played a nine-minute instrumental overture, which eventually crystallized into "Royal Scam," before Don Fagen walked on. That was followed by "Show Biz Kids," which sounded slightly flat. But then, as a fellow geezer pointed out afterwards, "It's 60-year-olds singing to 50-year-olds." Other crowd pleasers included the cranked-up "Bodhisattva," "Babylon Sisters," "Black Friday," "Josie," "Peg" -- and, of course, "Hey Nineteen." To me, the best song of the night was "My Old School," which was the first song they played in encore. To my college daughter's utter embarrassment, I clapped along and found it impossible to resist a few tiny riffs of air guitar.
The concert went til 11, and it wasn't too hard to march past the Steely Dan t-shirts at $40, and join the feel-good very-white crowd of aging hipsters fanning out to Bloomfield Ave. We had several conversations about the quality of the sound, but as one fellow concert-goer said, "The best thing about it is I can walk home."
I had to drive. But it only took about two minutes. And unlike a venue with a single parking lot, there was no bottleneck.
These things matter when you're not 19 anymore.
Comments (49)
I saved my money and instead stayed in and listened to a few of my favorites on youtube--during which I came across the making of peg, which reminded me that these guys are a studio creation much more than a live band.
Back in the day, Steely Dan was noted for it's avoiding live concerts. They simply did not do shows, they were all about producing high quality studio albums.
I would have killed to see them live back then. Now, I'd just as soon listen to them on my mp3 player.
It sucks getting old...
Do the acoustics in Wellmont really suck that bad?
Sounds like I'll have to continue seeing live music in NYC and saving the Wellmont for stand-up acts like Maher.
I'm with you. I almost hate to admit it but I enjoy listing to my iPod, stereo, YouTube more than I enjoy going to live concerts. It's just such a hassle: overpriced tix, PITA parking, rude crowds (same with the movie theater), sound problems. Can't blame it on getting old because I was like this when I was younger, too (sans iPod and YouTube, of course).
Some bands are better live, some are not. But the audiences do seem to have become much less well mannered.
Hey gurl, when do I start? I've already quit my current job so I'm all yours. Question: do I need my own handgun, or will you supply one?
I already own the essential Steely Dan collection: none of their songs.
Do you have the necessary skills, Walleroo?
Hilarious Hawker!
We were in the nosebleed section last night, too. Our view was partially blocked by wooden and metal railings. These seats should have been designated as partial view. They certainly weren't worth the nearly $100 a piece that we paid. Sound needs a ton of work. Floor lighting during performances needs to be installed. We nearly killed ourselves trying to maneuver the steps to our seat while the opening band was playing.
I don't know if even great musicians can overcome bad acoustics but Steely Dan put out a live concert DVD a few years back, recorded at a venue in NYC, and the sound and musicianship were top notch. This is no studio created band.
Seems to me the value of a live performance is the opportunity to witness spontaneous jamming and vocal expression that you can't get on studio recordings. If the musicians don't provide this unique experience, they would soon have lots of empty unsold seats.
I was in the Orchestra section under the balcony and the sound really sucked. Sounded flat...no depth. Vocals were impossible to decipher...I'm sure at no fault of Steely Dan's. There are some great acts coming in the future such as Steve Winwood and Greg Allman...to me it's not worth the money to see them with the acoustics so bad.
Do you have the necessary skills, Walleroo?
Which skills would those be, gurl?
Sounds like they may need to do some emergency installation of sound proofing / redirecting materials.
Plaster and concrete, while true to a nostalgic look, are not the best at withstanding and enhancing the sound levels that come with your typical rock concert.
I wonder if Greg Allman will continue with the show if a chunk of ceiling comes down on his head.
"I wonder if Greg Allman will continue with the show if a chunk of ceiling comes down on his head."
He won't even notice.
I know you can hire big companies like Bose to come in and do an assessment of your whole sound system to see where it needs work. Bose also does this for dept. stores and restaurants.
I LOVE Steely Dan! They're one of my favorite bands and have been for years now, so I was pretty sad to see that the tickets at the Wellmont were so expensive... $83 for upper balcony seats? I have orchestra seats tonight down at the Count Basie for Ani Difranco that only cost me $50! Too bad.
Hey, Barista: Tony Bennet may be over 80, but you don't have to be a geezer to like his music. His MTV Unplugged went Platinum and won an emmy in 1994. Of course, he was only 68 then, when he became an overnight success with whatever younger generation (X?) was in power then...
The BEST part of last night's show was that it was close to home. The band wasn't bad either (oh Deb, that other guy who came on stage with Donald Fagen was Walter Becker. He's in Steely Dan, too), but the sound was crappy and our view of the stage was obstructed by by a railing as well. I will be happy to return to the Wellmont if they actively address the issues and lower the prices just a little. If they don't, I have a feeling that the Wellmont just may be a one-season wonder.
What! Steely Dan is not just one person?
Der smoke yer weed before the show this isn't the Arts Center
What! Steely Dan is not just one person?
Naw, you're thinking of Jethro Tull.
Jethro Tull is two people. Don't forget Martin Barre, the most ferocious guitarist in rock, with an incendiary tone and a mastery of the pentatonic form of expression few have ever achieved.
CDJones, I was so far from the stage I couldn't see Becker...I kept squinting and wondering which one he was.
I was joking about Tull as the uninitiated thought lead singer Ian Anderson was a dude named Jethro Tull.
Debbie,
He's the guy with the glasses and the amazing guitar technique. He makes Andy Summers look like a rank amateur.
Deb, Walter was the balding old guy who was using the microphone... and he shouldn't be allowed near a microphone!
The sound problem is so disconcerting!!!! I would've loved to have been there but not if I had to keep a finger in one ear to drown out the mud...especially at those prices!! They bring their own "sound guy"....was there the typical large mixing board??
I've been so excited The Wellmont is open for concerts!!! (& the box office) But somebody needs to tell the *powers that be* that it's opperating a concert hall is MUCH more than about aesthetics!!!!
Oh, and by the way, I've been listening to them since I was about 17... I'm only 20 years old now and they're still one of my favorites.
I'm so ancient, MellonBrush, that I actually remember when Mick Abrahams was Jethro Tull's lead guitarist before moving on to found Blodwyn Pig. So Jethro Tull has been at least "three people." (I'd say at least four, given Dave Pegg's own transit in the band. They also put out a pretty interesting 'Christmas" cd a few years back.)
weirdly written little piece...
lol
concert review?
review of the Wellmont?
statement about Tshirts?
generation gap?
lame music opinion?
Don't know the the point was..but you got it all covered!
Yeah, Mick decided to leave the band after 'This Was'.
Martin Barre is largely responsible for the signature sound of the 'Tull', with which most people are familiar.
A recent excellent compilation of live recordings called "Living With the Past" was released a few years ago. The live version of 'Nothing is Easy' is nothing short of astonishing.
.. 'By the way, which one is Pink' ..
BTW...great review ~ Deb!!
:P ~ whatever!!!
Saw the Counting Crows on the second night and the sound was awful. Sounds like they have no intention of fixing it. Not worth the price tag to hear great acts in horrible sound conditions. Stand up-ok, music go to NYC.
I absolutely loved the concert last night - acoustics notwithstanding. I was on the main floor and had a great view. (No marijuana scent wafted our way, though.) The band was FANTASTIC, and the manageable size of the theater enhanced their connection with the crowd. Far better than the PNC experience!
was in the front row, close enough to watch fagan's projecting saliva. Had no problem with the sound whatsoever (what a band!), but i did with the ticket price and the crick in my neck.
the back-up singers were fun to watch and not too hard on the eyes. becker looks like a bartender gone to seed, and fagan . . . well . . . what can you say about him? he's one of a kind in every regard.
one of the highlights: listening to their guitarist, Jon Herington, who's Larry carleton, Skunk Baxter, and more all rolled up into one humble, smokin' wunderkind.
Mellon,
Gregg Allman might not notice but all kidding aside, I saw him with the Bros. when they opened for the Dead Reunion show for Change at Penn State last month. He was on fire and did a Sweet Melissa that was outstanding!
Disconcerting words about the acoustics, but I'm still likely to take my chances for Steve Winwood - thanks to aprilpenny for mentioning that - cuz I just love that man's voice & music. Not to mention his instrumental skills.
I don't expect it to top the 4-hour show he did at the Bowery Ballroom a few years back - what ever could top that night of jamming & one great song after another? - but I suspect it'll be worth my taking my first shot at the Wellmont.
2 of my favorite bands...Steely Dan and Tull. Just love the flute work or Anderson and the frenetic guitar of Barre. Back in the 70s Tull was one of the best live acts. The music and atmosphere was a total trip especially fueled with a Columbian export.
"...in your pomp and all your glory you're a poorer man than me...as you lick the boots of death borne out of fear...."
I can't be the only person who sat upstairs and thought the sound was pretty good, can I? I know I was expecting mediocre, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. I had 3 different pairs of friends in the orch section and they all had problems with the sound though. Maybe sitting up higher was to our advantage this time. Agree that they're going to have to do something or the excitement about having these acts so close to home is going to die off-along with our willingness to spend $$$ in this economy.
I will echo what someone said about finding seats in pitch dark, however. First we stood waiting for an usher to point us in the right direction and then the lights went down so we really couldn't go looking on our own. Then our guy didn't get us to the right row let alone to our seats. He literally pointed to the same number seat in the front row of the section and said "That's #whatever-go up to row L and sit in that spot." Can't make this up!!! We took other seats until the opening act ended as we weren't willing to risk breaking our necks to walk up at that point.
Can't they at least afford some glow in the dark paint for the row letters? And how does THAT get past the safety inspection?
Also a fan of Tull. Love the lyrics as well as the sound.
/me thinks she'll wait till the bugs are ironed out, sadly!! Keep me posted, folks!!!
Ug, Steely Dan took all the parking last night, whomever he is. Does the Wellmont not have a dressing room he could have used? Why the large, white movie vans taking up all the parking!
I could tell what time the show started by the sudden outflux of all the middle-aged balding men at the sushi joint.
The reviews of Tuesday night's Steely Dan show are similar to those of Monday's performance. People attending say there was terrible feedback and the show was listless. One large group walked out after only a few songs. I had heard that the band's recent shows, including those at the Beacon in NYC, have been lackluster. Sad if true. Guess I'll have to get by on fading memories of their Spring 1974 tour (remember Pretzel Logic?).
"terrible feedback and the show was listless"
Jerzee, that wasn't the show I saw on Monday night. I'm sure the sound depended on where you sat, but in the front the balance was good, the band super tight, and songs rocked. Admittedly, there didn't seem to be a great deal of love lost between becker and fagen, but married couples are often like that.
Listless? Lackluster? Could those reviews have been written by one of the many patrons who multitasked through the entire show their Blackberrys aglow. Do we never have anything good to say? Personally I loved the show minor imperfections and all. Had I not loved the show I would keep my mouth (and my Blackberry) closed.
I looked forward to the reopening (hey, a concert venue in walking distance?) But I have to say that the sound at Tuesday night's concert was sub-par -- there _was_ audio feedback; the sound in the nosebleed section was mushy; if I didn't know the words to the songs already, wouldn't have known what they singing.
Eighty-plus bucks for upper balcony with poor sound is not so good a deal -- even not having to pay for parking. But I wish the Wellmont well: it'll be interesting to find out if the sound's better with other (smaller?) groups, say a single comedian -- or a chamber orchestra? What groups were playing the Wellmont in the 1920's? Not somebody with Steely Dan's acoustic heft, I bet.