The moniker was the hardest part.
For Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs, coming up with a name for their one-shot tour together was more challenging than figuring out which songs to perform.
"We went through a few names," said Fagen, best known as the voice of Steely Dan. "I think we started out with 'The Theme From "Sea Hunt" Rhythm Revue,' but that didn't get universal acclaim. I think the 'Dukes' is a sort of name that a lot of '50s doo-wop bands would use. And then 'September,' aside from the fact that we'll be touring in September, I think this kind of allusion to our collective ages in the sense that, say the Kurt Weill song, 'September Song,' would also use September as a metaphor in that sense. That's basically the way it worked out."
For the repertoire, each singer submitted a list. Then they started discussing. What they ended up with is a dynamic mixture.
"It's ranging from R&B from the late '50s through folk material, Motown material, and we may be doing some material by the Band that's come up, and also going right into things like the Beach Boys," Fagen explained in a joint conversation with the other singers. "And we have to be careful that we don't get too obscure. We want to pick the songs that not only we enjoy, but that the audience will enjoy. Doing the old stuff is really the more self-indulgent part for us, because we probably enjoy that even more than playing our own stuff."
Granted, this teleconference took place before tour rehearsals began. So things could change.
The concept of the tour is an extension of what Fagen did in the early 1990s with the New York Rock and Soul Revue, which featured a revolving cast including Scaggs, McDonald, Phoebe Snow, Fagen's bandmate Walter Becker and bluesman Charles Brown.
"It's, in a way, the most fun kind of show to do, because it gives the audience a lot of variety, so it never gets boring," Fagen said. "It's fun for the other musicians to do something they don't usually do. And I think there's a great tradition in it. Like in New York here, everyone always talks about these great shows they used to go to like the Motown Revue and the soul revue where you'd get to see Otis Redding and Sam Cooke and all these great acts, all on one stage with one band."
Being sideman vs. frontman
Even though each of the Dukes will do some of his own hits, they view this project as a collaboration, not a competition.
"We like to make each other look good," Fagen said. "So it's more about collaboration really."
"Yes, I think Donald is right," chimed in McDonald, "in the sense that music, by nature, is so uncompetitive really. And for us, the reason for getting together on stage is just that."
"I have a feeling, correct me if I'm wrong," Fagen continued, "but each of us probably enjoys being a sideman as much as being a frontman."
The other Dukes agreed.
Many of the players in this new revue, including guitarist Jon Herington and bassist Freddie Washington, have come from Steely Dan's touring band. But keyboardist McDonald and guitarist Scaggs recently toured together as well, so they are quite familiar with each other. And keyboardist Fagen and McDonald go back to the latter's stint with Steely Dan in the 1970s while he also was in the Doobie Brothers.
Each singer has a recording project in the works. McDonald is making a duo disc with guitarist Robben Ford. Fagen has started on a solo album, and Scaggs is compiling material for another collection of standards.
State Fair on Labor Day
But the Dukes of September have undertaken a six-week, late-summer tour that brings them to the State Fair grandstand on Labor Day.
How do they feel about playing Labor Day?
"That's great for me, because I tend to get depressed on holidays," Fagen explained. "So if I have a gig on a holiday, it saves me from having to live through it. Do they have any good rides at the fair? Like a Whip or something like that?"
How 'bout the bungee jump?
"There you go," Fagen said.
"I always like playing outdoors," McDonald said.
"Are there animal exhibits near the stage?" Scaggs asked.
Not near the grandstand, the interviewer said, but there's a birthing center and various animal barns at the fairgrounds.
"I love that stuff, like breeding," Fagen said.
"I'm there," Scaggs confirmed.
"I love playing fairs," Fagen said.
"Serenade the two-headed cow, yes!" McDonald promised.
Jon Bream • 612-673-1719
