Steely Dan

Steely Dan fell out of favor in the 80s and 90s, especially at the peak of alt-rock’s conquest. Jazzy pop-rockers Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were seen for what they apparently were: Studio mercenaries who worked their magic in velour control rooms. Besides, they were effectively retired. Remember, there actually was a time when rock stars gracefully left the stage after a long run of success, desperately hoping not to be made fun of or resurrected for purposes of lucrative self-parody. But their core fans knew all along that this was one of the great, subversive pop duos of the 70s. Now, perhaps, is the biggest surprise of all: The Dan is back for all the right reasons—writing interesting new material, recording important new albums, and finally exploding the myth that they were bloodless studio hacks by simply taking the stage. 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., (651) 726-8240, http://www.xcelenergycenter.com