Gaucho Amigos

Evan and Ian of the Jokermen podcast join for a discussion about Steely Dan's 1990's live act. Through the lens of a bootleg soundboard recording of a 1994 show in Dallas, we talk about some of Don and Walt's creative choices in bringing their studio output to a live setting, and discuss how the "reunion tour" shows became the blueprint for the Steely Dan concert experience. Note: this is the first half of a two-part episode.

The man behind @TheNightflyWJAZ joins the podcast for a fun chat between two Dan-themed Twitter accounts. They speculate on everything from how Steely Dan might have been different had they continued alternating lead vocalists as on Can't Buy a Thrill, to what 1980's post-Gaucho "smooth jazz Steely Dan" might have sounded like. 

Author Peter Jones joins the podcast for a discussion of his recently published Donald Fagen biography Nightfly. He talks about how hearing Aja as a journalist and musician in the late 70's "detonated a bomb in his brain" and completely changed how he thought about songwriting. He also shares some of the most interesting discoveries unearthed in his research for the book, and explains why he chose not to idealize Donald despite a lifelong admiration of his work.

Film composer Julian Wass shares his "Steely Dan journey" and talks about how getting into them while in music school completely altered his perspective as a student.  He also recounts how seeing an ad for the "Reelin' in the Chips" Las Vegas residency inspired a road trip to finally see them live, as he and Alex compare notes on the Steely Dan concert experience.

Music critic Steven Hyden (author of the best-selling Twilight of the Gods) joins the podcast for a discussion about Steely Dan's ever-shifting legacy and their place in music history. He explains how their tenure as a studio-only ensemble anticipated how contemporary records are made, and how the reputation of the albums made during that era (such as Gaucho) has evolved as a result.

After hearing her excellent cover of "Time Out of Mind," it came of no surprise that London-based musician Lou Hayter has a deep knowledge and affection for Steely Dan. She talks to Alex about what it was like to cover them, and shares her love of some other Steely Dan-adjacent artists including David Crosby, Rosie Vela, and China Crisis.

After hearing her excellent cover of "Time Out of Mind," it came of no surprise that London-based musician Lou Hayter has a deep knowledge and affection for Steely Dan. She talks to Alex about what it was like to cover them, and shares her love of some other Steely Dan-adjacent artists including David Crosby, Rosie Vela, and China Crisis.

Professional wrestler MVP is, in his own words, "one of the biggest Steely Dan nerds you'll ever meet."  The WWE star tells Alex about becoming obsessed with Steely Dan during the aftermath of a natural disaster, his love of Walter Becker's 2008 solo album "Circus Money," and much more in this fan-to-fan chat.

In this debut episode of new Steely Dan-themed podcast "Gaucho Amigos," Alex is joined by his friend Harry to discuss Steely Dan's place in the 1970's California music scene, Owsley Stanley, Donald Fagen's "I.G.Y." and "Memorabilia," and much more in this wide-ranging conversation about Steely Dan's legacy and lore.