When the organizers of the Greenwich (CT) Town Party booked Steely Dan for their 2017 event, little did they know that it would be the band’s final performance with Walter Becker. The co-founder died on September 3, 2017, and didn’t appear at the group’s big stadium concerts at the Classic West and East in July.
Steely Dan’s May 27, 2017, 17-song, hit-filled concert was part of “an annual celebration for the people of Greenwich to come together and participate in a day of music, food, fun, family, and friendship to experience the strength of community.”
The day-long event annually attracts top acts to its artist lineup. The 2017 show also featured Alabama Shakes. Since 2011, performers have included Eric Clapton, John Fogerty, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the Doobie Brothers, Santana, James Taylor, Paul Simon and Buddy Guy.
Within days of the 2017 performance, Steely Dan’s entire set appeared on YouTube. It was removed not long after. (Since then, we’ve posted two clips as well as the entire set, again, below.)
At the 12:40 mark, during “Hey Nineteen,” Becker addresses the audience and acknowledges the Steely Dan fans. “Without you guys, we can’t get together and do our thing. Tonight, we’re gonna play our best hits. We’re gonna play them long and hard. It’s gonna be groove after groove and hit after hit. No bullshit. No obscure album cuts.”
During the four-minute speech, Becker also good-naturedly made fun of the well-heeled audience. “When you head back to your condo… back to your beautiful estate… back to wherever it is that you’re de-camping… all the troubles, all the insider trading… [nervous laughter from the crowd] all those DUIs… remember that?”
Watch a brief clip from that evening
Becker was born February 20, 1950.
Watch another montage from the performance
Steely Dan, Greenwich Town Party, May 27, 2017, Setlist
Bodhisattva
Black Friday
Hey Nineteen
Aja
Show Biz Kids
Black Cow
Daddy Don’t Live in That New York City No More
Time Out of Mind
Dirty Work
I Want To (Do Everything For You)
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin’ in the Years
Kid Charlemagne
Encore:
Pretzel Logic
The Untouchables
Watch the entire performance
Donald Fagen continues to tour as Steely Dan. Tickets are available here and here.
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