Hey 19! Reeling in the years with Steely Dan

Reeling in the years at the Taxslayer arena

Our seats from the stage allowed a nice view of the show, overall

Nineteen? Remember the 70's? Some of us were teens in that era, spending our high school and college years during the decade.

There's an anthology of Steely Dan music, four discs, 1972-1980, and it contains much of the music of our youth. That's what we found for a little while, Wednesday night at the Taxslayer Arena, Moline.

Steely Dan -- Donald Fagen these days -- and a 12-piece band performed Sept. 4, and although Fagen's voice was thready at times, he was able to capture some memories in the tunes.

The well-filled arena was filled with folks who remembered 19 maybe 40-50 years ago. Steely Dan started out the night with "Black Friday," but most of the best-loved music came at the end of the show, with "My Old School," and a terrific rendition of "Boddivesta."

Musicians younger than Fagen showed their expertise, especially among the four horn players, and a terrific drummer, Keith Carlock.

Fagen and Walter Becker founded Steely Dan in 1972 and recorded until they disbanded in 1981. They formed up again in 2000 to cut a CD, "Two Against Nature," which won four Grammy Awards. Becker died in 2017. Fagen has been touring quite a bit with this band; it started with nine shows in Las Vegas last spring.

The 70's were an easier time of life, for sure, when many guys drove hot cars, and the girls worried most about how they looked, and about school.

Bands like Steely Dan are reminiscent of that era and it was fun to remember, for at least a little while. Thank you, Donald Fagen and band. Your work in Moline was appreciated.

"Hey Nineteen! That's 'Retha Franklin ... She thinks I'm crazy, but I'm just growing old."