Photo by David Simchock
On Saturday, January 11, at 7 p.m., join Asheville’s own Dirty Logic for a special hometown performance at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts. This concert will mark the Steely Dan tribute band’s first performance since Hurricane Helene. Jake Wolf, bass player for the band, says the group has wanted to play at Wortham for many years. Its booking at the venue in 2020 was canceled when COVID hit. “Most shows we play these days are seated, ticketed shows in performing arts center-type settings,” says Wolf, adding that these venues align with the band’s core demographic. “Between this being our first show back in Asheville post-Helene and feeling like it’s a long time coming for us to perform in that room, it feels very poignant and meaningful, and a tender homecoming for Dirty Logic in Asheville.”
Dirty Logic formed in 2018 when its members, already good friends and musical partners in various bands, came together around the idea of playing the music of Steely Dan, an American rock band of the 1970s inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. “We all share a love, respect and admiration for Steely Dan’s iconic songwriting and musicianship,” Wolf says. “Over the years, the personnel has changed a bit, but we still retain a strong core of founding members. We work really hard to honor the music as it was written and performed, and we have found what we think is a sweet spot with paying homage to the original songs while bringing fresh energy to them and encouraging one another to let each of our respective talents come through.”
During the show at Wortham, the band will present two of its favorite Steely Dan albums in their entirety: Aja, the top-selling album for Steely Dan, and The Royal Scam. “We have many band favorites in our songfest, but it feels special and reverent to play entire albums from start to finish,” says Wolf.
Band members, all based in the Asheville area, find that making music together helps them feel grounded and comforted, and they hope, with this performance, to lift the spirits of the community members in attendance. “I think that in the aftermath of large-scale tragedies, people need to find ways, big and small, to fill their cups however they can, so they can sustain the overwhelming amount of time and effort that it will take to rebuild,” Wolf says. “We’re just thankful that the band can go forward and continue to be part of the fabric of Asheville’s amazing music scene. We hope that keeping the music scene alive, and making sure all the fantastic players can work will help ensure that the artistic spirit of this town endures.”
To purchase tickets, visit WorthamArts.org. To learn more about the band, visit DirtyLogic.Band.
