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Eminent Hipsters is the new memoir by Donald Fagen, best known as the singer/songwriter of 70's jazz/rock band, Steely Dan. I can't hear "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" without instantly being transported back to childhood memories of riding in the way, way back of my parent's station wagon, with the ol' Steely Dan cassette playing in the woodgrain dashboard. Ah, memories.
Well, this book covers everything in Donald Fagen's life EXCEPT those Steely Dan years, which is kind of interesting that he would leave that out. The first half of the book covers his family's musical lineage, suburban Cold War childhood, and introduction to modern jazz. The second half is structured like a journal following a recent tour across the country with Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald as they play classic jazz standards.
I recommend this book if you're really interested in learning more about Donald Fagen's modern jazz influences, as it is what he writes the most passionately about here. If you grew up around the same time as him, you will enjoy reading about his Jean Shepard experience and college years. But it definitely has a cranky old man "Back in my day...." vibe going on, which I guess is OK because the dude has been doing this for 40 years now. If he wants to use the book to complain about clueless audience members staring at their iPhones, that's fine with me, because I AGREE- nothing sucks the energy from a crowd than people on their phones. Oh, now listen to me- I'm starting to sound old too.
Eminent Hipsters will be available from Viking Publishing October 22, 2013.
Well, this book covers everything in Donald Fagen's life EXCEPT those Steely Dan years, which is kind of interesting that he would leave that out. The first half of the book covers his family's musical lineage, suburban Cold War childhood, and introduction to modern jazz. The second half is structured like a journal following a recent tour across the country with Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald as they play classic jazz standards.
I recommend this book if you're really interested in learning more about Donald Fagen's modern jazz influences, as it is what he writes the most passionately about here. If you grew up around the same time as him, you will enjoy reading about his Jean Shepard experience and college years. But it definitely has a cranky old man "Back in my day...." vibe going on, which I guess is OK because the dude has been doing this for 40 years now. If he wants to use the book to complain about clueless audience members staring at their iPhones, that's fine with me, because I AGREE- nothing sucks the energy from a crowd than people on their phones. Oh, now listen to me- I'm starting to sound old too.
Eminent Hipsters will be available from Viking Publishing October 22, 2013.
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Book tour:
10/22 New York, NY - Barnes & Noble ”Upstairs at the Square” 10/24 Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia Free Library Onstage Q&A with David Dye |
10/29 Washington, DC - Sixth & I
Onstage Q&A with Cary Sherman 11/06 San Francisco, CA - Café Du Nord Onstage Q&A with Ben Fong-Torres 11/07 Seattle, WA - Town Hall w/Elliott Bay Onstage Q&A with Ross Reynolds |
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