On September 3rd, 2017, we received the saddening news that Steely Dan guitarist and co-founder Walter Becker had passed away at the age of 67. The music world will long remember the innovative songs he wrote with longtime friend and lone surviving original member Donald Fagen. The New York band, formed in 1967 while the two were at Bard College, was well-known for being meticulous in their songwriting process in the studio, creating numerous brilliant albums over the years. Steely Dan’s prolific creativity earned the band a devoted cult following, several Grammy Awards (including “Album of the Year” for Two Against Nature in 2001), and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, in addition to selling tens of millions of albums sold worldwide.
Another notch in the duo’s belt came back on October 29th, 2015, when the Empire State Building celebrated the 50th anniversary of it’s Master FM Antenna, which sits atop the world-famous skyscraper and anchors the iconic Manhattan skyline. Legendary lighting designer Marc Brickman—who also orchestrated an ESB light show for the Grateful Dead‘s Fare Thee Well show on July 4, 2015—fittingly choreographed the LED Tower Lights to the band’s 1978 hit “FM (No Static at All).” The song was written as the lead single for the film FM, which was about disc jockeys working at a popular radio station fighting to keep radio freeform. Take a look at pro-shot aerial footage of the memorable Empire State Building Steely Dan light show display below in all its glory:
Steely Dan – “FM (No Static At All)” – Empire State Building Light Show
[Video: Empire State Building]
At the fourth-annual Brooklyn Comes Alive, a number of our favorite artists will come together to pay tribute to Walter Becker and Steely Dan. Led by Joey Porter, The Motet keyboardist has tapped two-thirds of The Nth Power, bassist Nate Edgar and guitarist Nick Cassarino, for the Steely Dan tribute set, in addition to his bandmate and Motet vocalist Lyle Divinsky; Turkuaz‘s drummer Michelangelo Carubba and vocalist Sammi Garett; Snarky Puppy‘s percussionist Nate Werth, saxophonist Chris Bullock, and trumpeter Mike “Maz” Maher; singer Hayley Jane; and Kung Fu guitarist Tim Palmieri.
Brooklyn Comes Alive will return to Brooklyn’s beloved Williamsburg neighborhood on September 29th for an all-day music marathon at Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Rough Trade. Inspired by the vibrant musical communities of Brooklyn and New Orleans, Brooklyn Comes Alive brings together more than 50 artists, allowing them to carry out passion projects, play with their musical heroes, and collaborate in never-before-seen formations. For more information, ticketing, and to see the full list of performers scheduled for Brooklyn Comes Alive 2018, head to the festival’s website here.
Brooklyn Comes Alive is sponsored by Denver-based company, Pure CBD Exchange, which creates and sells a number of CBD/cannabidiol products (What is CBD?) from concentrates, tinctures, extracts, lotions, creams, and more. The use of CBD has gained much notoriety as of late, for use as both a health and wellness supplement and to treat conditions such as epilepsy, PTSD, cancer, and a number of mental disorders and is also used for anti-inflammation, nausea reduction, sleep aid, and more. Pure CBD Exchange was co-founded by Gregg Allman Band organist/keyboardist and Brooklyn Comes Alive musician Peter Levin back in 2017.
Pure CBD Exchange focuses on low-THC cannabis products with high CBD content. They work within the Colorado Industrial Hemp pilot program to distribute non-psychoactive tinctures, extracts, lotions, and more all over the world. The company has featured by companies like VICE, High Times, Leafly, and more.
The post Watch The Empire State Building Synchronize Lights To Steely Dan’s “FM (No Static At All)” appeared first on L4LM.
