-------------------- Calendar • Karaoke & DJs ------------------- STEELY DAN - From Page 2 Thursday, July 25 Sunday, July 28 and the Americans a few months later. Jay Black, the Jay of Jay and the Americans, called Becker and Fagen Starkweather and Manson. ANGOL A FORT WA YNE Skip’s Party Place — Rock Star Karaoke, 8 p.m. After Dark — Dance videos & karaoke, 9:30 p.m. That was in 1971. Later in 1971 in New York Becker and Fagen met AUBURN Checkerz Bar & Grill — American Idol Karaoke w/TJ, 7 p.m. the producer Gary Katz. When Katz got a job at ABC Records in Los 4 Crowns — Shotgun Prod. Karaoke, 10 p.m. Crooners Karaoke Bar — House KJ, 9 p.m. Angeles, he invited the duo to come along as songwriters. Attempts to Mimi’s Retreat — Karaoke, 8 p.m. Tycoon’s Cabaret and Grill — Shooting Star Prod. w/Nacho, 9 find a suitable band to perform their increasingly complex tunes failed, so FORT WA YNE p.m. Arena Bar & Grill — American Idol Karaoke w/Jay, 8 p.m. they put together a group of studio musicians, including Denny Dias and Crooners Karaoke Bar — House KJ, 9 p.m. Jeff “Skunk” Baxter on guitar, Jim Hodder on drums and David Palmer Deer Park Irish Pub — Bucca Karaoke w/Bucca, 10 p.m. Monday, July 29 Latch String Bar & Grill — Ambitious Blondes Ent., 10 p.m. on vocals. Katz produced, Becker played bass and Fagen played keys FORT WA YNE North Star Bar & Grill — Karaoke w/Michael Campbell, 8 p.m. and sang, reluctantly. (On a few songs Fagen’s voice reminds me of Al- After Dark — Karaoke, 10:30 p.m. O’Sullivan’s Italian Irish Pub — Tronic, 10 p.m. Crooners Karaoke Bar — House KJ, 9 p.m. falfa’s.) They had songs but no name, so in a pinch they fell on Steely Piere’s — House DJ, 9 p.m. Latch String Bar & Grill — Ambitious Blondes Ent., 10 p.m. Dan, an implement from Burroughs’ Naked Lunch. Tycoon’s Cabaret and Grill — Shooting Star Prod. w/Nacho, 9 Office Tavern — Swing Time Karaoke, 7 p.m. When Can’t Buy A Thrill came out in October of 1972, the band had p.m. NE W HA VEN already laid the groundwork for the future, inviting guitarist Elliot Ran- NE W HA VEN East Haven — Flashback Karaoke, 8 p.m. Canal Tap Haus — Flashback Karaoke, 8 p.m. dal and sax player Jerome Richardson to play on the record. Can’t Buy a Rack & Helen’s — American Idol Karaoke w/Jesse, 9:30 p.m. Thrill was a surprise hit and, at their label’s request, launched Steely Dan Tuesday, July 30 on a supporting tour. Playing in public was uncomfortable for Becker and Friday, July 26 Fagen. (Just watch that Midnight Special clip of “Do It Again.” Baxter, FORT WA YNE 4D’s Bar & Grill — Karaoke w/Michael Campbell, 9 p.m. ANGOL A playing the congas, seemed to be having a grand time, however.) They Crooners Karaoke Bar — House KJ, 9 p.m. Club Paradise — DJ Rockin’ Rob, 9:30 p.m. disliked touring not just because of their shyness, but because it took Office Tavern — Shooting Star Prod. w/Stu, 9 p.m. AUBURN O’Sullivan’s Italian Irish Pub — Shotgun Prod. Karaoke, 10 p.m. them away from writing and the studio. But the label executives won out, 4 Crowns — Shotgun Prod. Karaoke, 10 p.m. VIP Lounge — Shotgun Prod. Karaoke, 9 p.m. and Steely Dan toured through early July 1974 while writing Countdown Meteor Bar & Grill — Classic City Karaoke, 9 p.m. Woodland Lounge — American Idol Karaoke w/Josh, 9:30 p.m. CH URUBUS C O to Ecstasy and Pretzel Logic. Then they stopped and concentrated on stu- GA RRETT DW Bar & Grill — Karaoke w/DJ Chuck, 10 p.m. dio work. CJ’s Canteena — Classic City Karaoke, 9 p.m. FORT WA YNE NE W HA VEN Steely Dan the band quickly morphed into “Steely Dan the Becker A.J.’s Bar & Grill — Karaoke, 8 p.m. Rack & Helen’s — American Idol Karaoke w/TJ, 9:30 p.m. and Fagen duo plus whichever musicians fit best with the music.” Aban- Babylon — DJ Tabatha, 10:30 p.m. doning the rigors of touring made it easier to pick and choose. Palmer Babylon, Bears Den — DJ TAB & karaoke w/Steve Jones, 10:30 had left after the first tour. After the Pretzel Logic tour the rest, except for p.m. Wednesday, July 31 Columbia Street West — Dance Party w/DJ Rich, 10 p.m. Dias, were gone as well. Crooners Karaoke Bar — KJ Jessica, 9 p.m. FORT WA YNE These albums followed: Katy Lied (1975), The Royal Scam (1976), Early Bird’s — House DJ, 9 p.m. After Dark — Karaoke, 10:30 p.m. Aja (1977), Gaucho (1980), Two Against Nature (2000) and Everything Flashback — House DJ, 9 p.m. A.J.’s Bar & Grill — American Idol Karaoke w/Eric, 8 p.m. Must Go (2003). With each, Becker and Fagen grew more obsessed with Green Frog — American Idol Karaoke w/TJ, 9:30 p.m. Berlin Music Pub — Shooting Star Prod. w/Barbie, 10 p.m. Hook & Ladder — Shooting Star Prod. w/Stu, 9 p.m. Chevvy’s Pizza & Sports Bar — American Idol Karaoke w/TJ, 10 p.m. perfection in sound and obtuseness in lyrics. A musician friend of mine Office Tavern — Swing Time Karaoke, 9 p.m. Columbia Street West — American Idol Karaoke w/Josh, 9:30 once said he didn’t care for Steely Dan because he felt he needed to be- Peanuts Food & Spirits — DJ Beach, 10 p.m. p.m. long to a special club to understand what the songs were about. Oth- Piere’s — House DJ, 9 p.m. Crooners Karaoke Bar — House KJ, 9 p.m. ers agree. There’s an online dictionary of Steely Dan references, though Pine Valley Bar & Grill — American Idol Karaoke w/Jesse, 9:30 Dupont Bar & Grill — Shut Up & Sing w/Michael Campbell, 8 p.m. p.m. Office Tavern — Shooting Star Productions w/Stu, 9 p.m. the creator of the site wisely chose to stick to the fact-based, verifiable Quaker Steak and Lube — American Idol Karaoke w/Jay, 9:30 Pine Valley Bar & Grill — American Idol Karaoke w/Jesse, 8 p.m. allusions. So now we all know who Cathy Berberian is. (Granted, that p.m. Skully’s Boneyard — Ambitious Blondes Karaoke w/Josh & reference comes from “Your Gold Teeth” on Countdown to Ecstasy, but Rum Runners — DJ dance party, 8:30 p.m. Logan, 8 p.m. the point is made.) Gaucho marks the peak of the studio obsessiveness, Tower Bar & Grill — Bucca Karaoke w/Ashley, 10 p.m. Wrigley Field Bar & Grill — Karaoke w/Bucca, 10 p.m. Uncle Lou’s Steel Mill — Shooting Star Prod. w/Barbie, 10 p.m. GA RRETT perhaps, when they went through 42 musicians in order to get the sound Woodland Lounge — DJ Randy Alomar, 9 p.m. Martin’s Tavern — WiseGuy Entertainment w/Josh, 10 p.m. they wanted. LA OTTO Every Steely Dan fan has his favorite songs and solos and whatnot, Sit n’ Bull — Classic City Karaoke, 9 p.m. Thursday, August 1 but I think it’s safe to say the Larry Carlton “Kid Charlemagne” guitar LEO American Legion Post 409 — Flashback Karaoke, 7:30 p.m. solo on The Royal Scam, the Steve Gadd drum work on the song “Aja” ANGOL A JR’S PUB — American Idol Karaoke w/Doug P, 9 p.m. Skip’s Party Place — Rock Star Karaoke, 8 p.m. and (okay, all of Aja, with Wayne Shorter, Tom Scott, Joe Sample) and NE W HA VEN AUBURN Gaucho (okay, fine, the entire Steely Dan oeuvre) have been every fan’s Canal Tap Haus — Flashback Karaoke, 9 p.m. 4 Crowns — Shotgun Prod. Karaoke, 10 p.m. favorite at one time or another. Spudz Bar — Bucca Karaoke w/Bucca, 9 p.m. Mimi’s Retreat — Karaoke, 8 p.m. WOL C OTTVILLE FORT WA YNE And now, following a long hiatus in the 1980s and a shorter one Coody Brown’s USA — American Idol Karaoke, 9 p.m. Arena Bar & Grill — American Idol Karaoke w/Jay, 8 p.m. in the 90s, Steely Dan fans have had ample chance to get their fix. The Crooners Karaoke Bar — House KJ, 9 p.m. sardonic humor, the horns, the great backup singers, the complex chord Saturday, July 27 Deer Park Irish Pub — Bucca Karaoke w/Bucca, 10 p.m. changes, the syncopation, the stick-in-your-brain tunes, the band, the Latch String Bar & Grill — Ambitious Blondes Ent., 10 p.m. great band, the sporadic, goofy interviews, the weird letters to Owen Wil- ANGOL A North Star Bar & Grill — Karaoke w/Michael Campbell, 8 p.m. son’s brother (spend some time wandering around steelydan.com), it’s all Club Paradise — DJ Rockin’ Rob, 9:30 p.m. O’Sullivan’s Italian Irish Pub — Tronic, 10 p.m. AUBURN Piere’s — House DJ, 9 p.m. here. And we’re still going to be up all night singing those stupid songs, Meteor Bar & Grill — Classic City Karaoke, 9 p.m. Tycoon’s Cabaret and Grill — Shooting Star Prod. w/Nacho, 9 all the while knowing every word of every song is true. FORT WA YNE p.m. AmVets — Lady Leo Entertainment, 2 p.m. NE W HA VEN Arena Bar & Grill — American Idol Karaoke w/Josh, 10 p.m. East Haven — Flashback Karaoke, 8 p.m.