Then I might not be able to listen. Go Green! (Note: the drummer, Igor Javad-Zade, is probably from one of the former Soviet Block countries, and may not even speak English. So unlikely a real Buckeye. Oh wait - a lot of OSU alumni have trouble with English too! LOL)
Steely Dan are one of those bands you need to be brave to cover one of their songs. I have been a Steely Dan fan for 35 years or so and this is incredible!. Well done to everyone involved, I would love to hear more Steely Dan from you guys.
Calling Leonid and Friends a cover band is like calling the NY Philharmonic Orchestra a cover band. These are some of the best musicians in the world and when they do a song it’s all out perfection. Leonid pulls every note and nuance by ear too. Unbelievable. You’ve got to see them live
Absolutely brilliant! Sounds 99.9 recurring percent like the originally recorded version. World class performance!!!! So good to see Serge Tiagnyriadno performing as well.
I'm still in somewhat disbelief how well they pulled that off. One of my favorites of all time from The Dan. Has to be the greatest cover of any song by any band ever.
I am 70 next year. I've been a Steely Dan fan since the early 70's, and I am an English musician. I'm your harshest critic and I have to say this was BRILLIANTLY SUPERB. Holy moly, it was as near dammit to the original as you can get. All that was missing was Mr Fagen. Well done. Music conquers the earth. From Dave in Yorkshire England
@@joyceromano9424 Leonid, the brilliant bassist, arranger, organizer and engineer actually speaks it pretty well. They've toured the U.S. now a couple of times. Check out their Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire covers...just a brilliant!
@@artistaloca4 I can only imagine! I dream of being in their studio just to sing along with them. I miss my long ago solo days of my youth. If I was gonna have a band... this is what I would want. Such a class act and a joy to watch / hear!
Ha! He did look a little like Ace, but damn these guys are just brilliant, close your eyes while listening to this (and many other tracks they do) and you might think it was Steely Dan just remarkable
From America guys... and from someone who has been listening to that album, since it came out, in '73, and knows literally...'every note. We Love you! You absolutely.....NAILED this amazing ( and fairly complex) song. From the Vocals...( good god...that guitar player and singer...doing 'Both! Incredible) We thank you, for this absolutely stunning version...of this American Classic. From the USA... We love "Leonid and Friends'. You guys are Amazing.
I have to totally agree! Every vocal note, every riff and bit of guitar harmonics on-the-fly, every complex pattern by the brass section, all just absolutely PERFECT. (And yeah, Alexander getting Fagan's vocals and "Skunk" Baxter's INCINDIARY guitar work, all at the same time....!)
@@NeverTalkToCops1 Never? Too bad you feel that way. Seems user error has it's problems. It'll take more than mere music to save us from our travails here and abroad.
I never thought it possible for someone to cover Skunk Baxter's guitar work, but the tone was absolutely DEAD ON and the playing was impeccable. Astounding job guys!
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Uncle Leonid’s bass playing. Easy to overlook amidst all the other fantastic musicians, but he consistently plays some extremely complex bass parts with ease and touch. Bravo!
I've spent my entire adult life, over 40 years, playing in cover bands. Covering Steely Dan poorly is hard. These folks just kill it and make it look easy. Every one of them. But I am particularly amazed at the Skunk Baxter solos. The guy nails it and the tone is perfect. That drummer is so in the pocket too. Just beautiful, joyous music making at it's finest. More Steely Dan, Please :)
@@pwoessner4478 OK, I bow to your superior knowledge that it was Baxter, not Becker on those solos. How did he get his nickname by the way, anyone know? Did he have problems with personal hygiene, or maybe a tendency for posterior flatulence??
Yes, this guitar player is the quintessential journeymen guitar player for any band. Whenever he becomes a free agent, everybody in the band draft would be fighting for him
I think sometime Leonid's production skills get overlooked. But it's no secret that Fagen and Becker were perfectionists and he more than matches them.
There is a reason why you never see bands cover Steely Dan Songs. The line up of Steely Dan consisted of the best artists, musicians and session players ever assembled in the history of Rock-'n'-roll! But you my friends, have just made Walter smile down upon you from Heaven!!👍
As far as I'm concerned, the hardest thing about Steely Dan music is the chord progressions. It's the hardest music I've ever tried to pick out on my keyboards because of the complexity of the chords. You really have to listen.
@@charlesmcfarling9337 It’s said that some studio musicians ran out of the studio and never came back To play with Becker and Fagen is the highest level you can reach
Steely Dan is one of the most important and least remembered bands of the 70's and it's a great pleasure to see an excellent band like Leonid and Friends masterfully interpret their songs, congratulations.
Ha! They are definitely not one of the least remembered bands of 70's! Not counting all the hits from the 80s and 90s, they won 4 Grammys in 2000 including album of the year!
Becker and Fagen were perfectionists and knew early on that they weren't going to achieve it by using local musicians, it's why Steely Dan isn't better known. Their lineup wasn't really a band, per se, just Becker and Fagen and a collection of the best session guys they could find. They also didn't tour that much. I'll take them just the way they were, though. It's definitely the soundtrack of my late teens on until now.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a “perfect” cover of *any* song, let alone Steely Dan. Right down to the articulations and tones. I mean…this is almost spookily perfect…
One day when I’m rich and famous I’m going to put together a group of people and we’re going to play this song over and over until the end of our days and we will be the happiest people that ever graced this planet.
@@leonardomoraes5682 I've watched this at least a couple dozen times over the last year and still can't believe how good it is. Have to believe Fagan and Becker, if he was still alive would be blown away. The fact that they're from Russia makes it even more amazing.
I've seen dozens and dozens of Steely Dan covers, including several of My Old School, and I've got to say that this absolutely takes the Gold. Steely Dan tunes demand absolute precision and attention to every little detail and complexity, and you guys simply nailed it. Thanks for making my day.
Clearly the Russians have surpassed us in studio quality. Whoever does the mixes on these sessions always produces the most amazing sound. I was just following the bassline from beginning to end. You are not going to find a better rhythm section anywhere on this planet than Leonid and Igor. I like the Lexington Lab Band Steely Dan versions as well but this one is amazing.
Instrumentally, it sounds pretty much identical to the original, but the vocals lack the personality and character of Donald Fagen, so I would have to say that Steely Dan can do it better. Also, they not only played the parts, they wrote them. Sadly, last time I saw Steely Dan, Fagen forgot some of the lyrics on My Old School. Sad how the years catch up in even the best of us. And this band has one thing the original doesn't; Hulk Hogan on back up vocals. Well done.
@@mattlove1... Well, of course. That's like saying, "no one can match an original artist on any cover because they're not the original artist." You stated the obvious. LOL. And yes, some artists perform live well past their expiration date. 😀
"My Old School" is in my top 5 favorite songs ever, from the first time I heard it when I was 15 in 1973. What Leonid & Friends did with it is jaw-dropping, astounding and absolutely BRILLIANT! It's very, very nearly note perfect, the guitar and horn sections are spot on. I got all misty listening and watching this video. WELL DONE L&F!!
I am so addicted to this group! I would rather hear their versions of Steely Dan and Chicago and Earth Wind And Fire than the originals! LOVE YOU ALL, keep up the great work and my husband is from Ohio, so drummer, we love your tee!!
Well, thanks to YT, we get to watch them perform those great classic songs. And that adds a lot to the experience too. And let's face it, watching Ksenia do a Karen Carpenter cover is much, much better than a listening only experience.
I played for a great number of years with three different bands and have had the pleasure of sitting in sessions with a few other musicians and I cant think of a better Drummer I have sever seen. Igor is a class act drummer.
@@Hammer1126 I played with several drummers as well, a couple of them were very good. But Igor is as good as anyone. Danny was/is great but Igor, while he puts a little twist on stuff as all drummers do is fun to listen to. And that's why we listen ... right?
@@markmiller7454 Jeff Pocaro of Toto was in my estimations way be of if not the best player of percussions followed by Danny S of Chicago, but Igor fits up there in my very humble view His work on My Old School is so far my favorite. I wish they sold Leonid and Friends in a hoodie style and if I could get and autograph photo from Kesnia with I’d jump at both.
@@Hammer1126 - Gadd, Calautti, Purdie and then Porcaro...but I really liked Igor's cymbal grab at 4:48. It's a little thing, but it smacks of precision!
Wow, as a lifelong Steely Dan fan this is an exceptional cover of the song. Instruments absolutely perfect. Absolutely amazing that a foreign born band can replicate some of the best American music of the 70's and 80's. I'd pay to see this live
Where the he'll are their GRAMMYS? Wake up America. The best music ever arranged in the USA is being nailed by Russians. Keep it up guys. We love you.😀
But you're certainly not a fool. Guess I was just gushing a little because they are talented, classically trained musicians who are doing justice to music of that era. Must be the boomer in me.😆
@Tom Olson Whoa there, Mon frer. Taking my talking point a little too serious, I think. I realize they don't give out Grammys for what they do. My larger point is this. Knowing the back story of how Leonid and friends came to be, I find it unusually refreshing that they practice such attention to detail to give their fans( I understand not all are fans) what they want. The band Chicago uploaded Leonid and friends to their own website. Technically, maybe copyright infringement? Could be. I wouldn't pretend to know copyright law. Just trying to appreciate superior musicianship in this era of autotune. Relax. Don't overthink it.😀 (p.s. Check out "Speck of dust" for an original tune. Awesome )
Unreal Russian doing a classic Steely Dan and doing it FANTASTICALLY This off charts good, coordinating that many instruments and doing it all perfectly !!! WELL DONE Probably greatest re-make of My Old School A+++++++++++++++++++++
OMG, you are covering Steely Dan, an impossible band to cover, like a champ now!!!!! Seeing you in October and can’t WAIT!! Please, more Steely Dan. Cheers!!!
I think it's a better recording than the original, 21st century technology meets insane musical talent. The piano is brighter, the bass is moved more to the front than the original, the backup vocals are cleaner in this mix, they would have had more recording tracks to work with compared to the 70's original. Seems a beat or two slower than the original but very close indeed.
It's been a over a month since I discovered this excellent Steely Dan cover and I keep coming back to listen to it. What a great group of musicians. Support them and buy their music.
Absolutely PERFECT in every way.....everyone in the band played their part true to the original especially the lead guitar player. I was in a band when this song came out and we all were Steely Dan fans. Must have listened to this song hundreds of times and I recall the original solo down to every note. The guitar player nailed every note perfectly......GREAT JOB !!!!!!!
They nailed it! I've gotta have heard this song a thousand times. I'd slip my 8-track of Countdown to Ecstasy in and there it'd sit, fillin' the car with joy. Leonid and Friends have gotta be the best find I've made on TH-cam.
I saw Steely Dan last summer in Toronto at the Budwiser Stage. Mesmorizing then and I just had the same feeling again. Every single musician in this video had a vital role that could make or break this song. Supurbly done, for a song that would be hard to cover for the best of bands. I know every note of this tune in my head and you can typically see where cover bands make shortcuts or simpler lead parts. This was to the letter perfection. Thank you.
holy shit...I've followed the boys since they first emerged and I did not expect to live long enough to hear someone be able to do this this fucking well. The most impressive cover I've ever heard.
Absolutely flawless cover. Played with tremendous joy, precision and soul. Alexander played the guitar solo perfectly with all its subtleties and nuances. Mere words cannot describe my love for this group of musicians.
My gracious what talent! This Band is top notch! Vocals and musicians like going back in time and seeing Steely Dan Live! Aja is my favorite album! Feels like I am in my teenage car 40 years ago!
This was an iconic solo by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter which I always love every single time I hear the original. And this cover really made me smile! Good work.
Not precisely note for note, but right in all the right places, captured the exact spirit of the original, and threw in a couple of tasty wee flavours. Very, very good.
The best cover of Steely Dan EVER. This is indisputably one of the most lively and complex horn sections in the history of pop music. You nailed it! Leonid & Friends are top notch musicians.
Saw Leonid & Friends live in Visalia, CA last week. They played this song and I thought I'd never hear anyone play Steely Dan like these guys did. What a great show. My wife and I were thoroughly impressed with this group. Can't wait to hear them again.
Just heard this live a few hours ago. Probably one of the best sounding songs they played all night. The EWF songs were done quite well also. I hope they come back to Hawaii. Peace, Love and Aloha from Waikiki..
Igor the drummer is an awesome maniac! And a Buckeye!!
Gonna bring Igor and the band some Nittany Lion/Happy Valley t-shirts next weekend and set him/them straight!
@@qquark99 that sucks
GO BLUE! 🏈
Yes, but Oleg the saxophonist is clearly a Penn State Nittany Lions! WE ARE….PENN STATE!!
Then I might not be able to listen. Go Green! (Note: the drummer, Igor Javad-Zade, is probably from one of the former Soviet Block countries, and may not even speak English. So unlikely a real Buckeye. Oh wait - a lot of OSU alumni have trouble with English too! LOL)
Great tone!
I never thought I’d see the day when a band could do Steely Dan justice. As a lifelong Dan fan....BRAVO! Absolutely incredible!
I agree..Even Steely Dan would say " will done "...
Same, Monica!
Agreed!
My Old School is one of my favorite Dan tunes. These guys absolutely nailed it!
Steely Dan are one of those bands you need to be brave to cover one of their songs.
I have been a Steely Dan fan for 35 years or so and this is incredible!.
Well done to everyone involved, I would love to hear more Steely Dan from you guys.
Whoever is mixing the sound should win some sort of award.
Absolutely! The balance and clarity is awsome.
It's the bass player. He's the brains of the outfit.
That would be Leonid
@@roytee3127 Yep. Leonid Vorobyev
AM YISRAEL CHAI!
Calling Leonid and Friends a cover band is like calling the NY Philharmonic Orchestra a cover band. These are some of the best musicians in the world and when they do a song it’s all out perfection. Leonid pulls every note and nuance by ear too. Unbelievable. You’ve got to see them live
Come to think of it….orchestras ARE cover bands. Mind blown.
They are unbelievable.
And I thought they were American. Lol their cover of Chicago is incredible
Spot on performance! Bravo!
…Bolshoi of blues rock?
Drummer sits there like somebody’s dad watching football, and he absolutely slays on those drums
He certainly did in Kansas City last nite 😂unbelievable drum solo 😮stunning to say the least🌹🌹🌹🌹
With a name like Igor Dzavad Zade no less.
He kills it!
He rules on drums!!!
As a lifelong drummer since I was a kid,....I agree.
As a dad, who watches football, and plays bass...that's the funniest line for ANY drummer I have ever heard! I laughed so loud, I woke the wife up!
Absolutely brilliant! Sounds 99.9 recurring percent like the originally recorded version. World class performance!!!! So good to see Serge Tiagnyriadno performing as well.
I am 66 years old, and THAT is as good music as I’ve ever heard!
Dam straight!
They have a huge collection of great covers, especially from Chicago.
I'm 65 and I'm pretty sure next year I'll still agree.
I'm 67 you can't tell the difference between steely Dan or Lexington lab band excellent
No doubt!!
drummer is a machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Truth forever 💓♾️
I hope the Steely Dan trend continues. This a marriage made in heaven!
Me too!!!
Keep the Rox Bros.!!! Presented by: Committee to make Rox Bros. (Chino and Daddy Gee) international rock stars!
Agreed!
I think Doobies would also be a good fit!
@@TheJimbob1603 YES!
ABSOLITOUSLY!!!
I'm still in somewhat disbelief how well they pulled that off. One of my favorites of all time from The Dan. Has to be the greatest cover of any song by any band ever.
Everything these guys and girl do is flat AMAZING.
the Best!
That’s a fact!!
Exactly! WOW. Nailed it. I didnt think it was possible! Hats off!
There are many versions of this song on YT but this is by far the best
Igor on the drums is the coolest dude in town.
Go Bucks! lol
Igor is the KING
RIP CHARLIE PARKER....can we get Igor to sit in with the Stones? He's that tight!
@@adamivany7792 Especially when he wears the Penn State/Happy Valley gear I brought him at the Penns Peak concert in Jim Thorpe, PA in June!
@@holdouts OH...
I am 70 next year. I've been a Steely Dan fan since the early 70's, and I am an English musician. I'm your harshest critic and I have to say this was BRILLIANTLY SUPERB. Holy moly, it was as near dammit to the original as you can get. All that was missing was Mr Fagen. Well done. Music conquers the earth. From Dave in Yorkshire England
Don't War! Make Music! ❤
And these guys don't even really speak English! You'd never know it by listening to them sing. Amazing musicians.
@@joyceromano9424 Leonid, the brilliant bassist, arranger, organizer and engineer actually speaks it pretty well. They've toured the U.S. now a couple of times. Check out their Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire covers...just a brilliant!
check out so of Leonid & Friends other covers. Everything they do is supurb!
Better.
Omg, they’ve finally done a classic cover of Steely Dan “My Old School”.
It can’t get any better than this!
Freaking amazing! Who can't they do? I have to see them in person before I die... remarkable in every way!
@@mistycrick5877 I've heard the meet & greet will change your life.
@@artistaloca4 I can only imagine! I dream of being in their studio just to sing along with them. I miss my long ago solo days of my youth. If I was gonna have a band... this is what I would want. Such a class act and a joy to watch / hear!
Yep, I can only imagine how this would have been w/ the original members...
Amazing!
Somewhere, Walter Becker is smiling about this.
I will never tire of this rendition. Superb.
The guitar player killed it - and did so while dressing like Ace Ventura!
Haha I thought he looked familiar
Oh! That’s what Ace is doing now! Lol Thanks for pointing it out, i had a laugh! Good looking guy‼️
Ha! He did look a little like Ace, but damn these guys are just brilliant, close your eyes while listening to this (and many other tracks they do) and you might think it was Steely Dan just remarkable
He's dressed like Fagen if you've ever seen them live...
This group needs to be recognized as great musicians! Great cover band of talented musicians!
And I must say, Alexander KILLED it on lead guitar!
Boy, did he EVER!
He might've outskunked Skunk! And great vocals too.
He just needs a walrus mustache now :)
Must be great to be able to play like that. I have 0 musical talent and I've tried.
I thought Skunk did that. Thanks for affirming that. @@mrmockatoo6786
Their drummer is amazing. Nails every style asked of him. No changing of heads per concert. Just kick ass behind a basic kit!!! Bravo!!!
He nails Jim Hodder's parts down like a champ.
I'm not sure if you noticed, they have 3 drummers, they each learned a few songs and take turns at the drums and do percussionist work.
He's a Rock Star ✨✨✨
The drummer is always Igor Javad-Zade. He’s a beast. They often add other percussionists but I’ve not seen anyone else at the traps.
@@philipdaniels1817 I've only seen Igor.
Once again, Leonid and friends are absolutely killing it!!!!!!!!
One of the best all around band, ea one has their talent, spot on, unbelievable how well they perform OMG🎶🎸🎵🎸
Equal to or even better than the original..😳
Keeling it.
@@israelzayas8282 I've had the same thought many times.. they are amazing 👏
Absolutley FABULOUS. Tons of feel, spirit, prowess - they've got it all and playing like a band. Wow!
I've seen Steely Dan 3 times, never thought anyone could cover them..... Then I found you guys...... you nailed it
From America guys... and from someone who has been listening to that album, since it came out, in '73, and knows literally...'every note. We Love you! You absolutely.....NAILED this amazing ( and fairly complex) song. From the Vocals...( good god...that guitar player and singer...doing 'Both! Incredible) We thank you, for this absolutely stunning version...of this American Classic. From the USA... We love "Leonid and Friends'. You guys are Amazing.
From Venezuela to👍
I have to totally agree! Every vocal note, every riff and bit of guitar harmonics on-the-fly, every complex pattern by the brass section, all just absolutely PERFECT. (And yeah, Alexander getting Fagan's vocals and "Skunk" Baxter's INCINDIARY guitar work, all at the same time....!)
Totally agree with your comment. Not only every note perfect, every little nuance, accent and tweak is on point. These guys are WORLD CLASS.
Amen brother!
The guitarist did it for me!WoW! L&F deliver once more!
I keep praying music will save this world. These guys are certainly doing their part.
Music helps. Prayer? Never.
I truly believe this bunch could do it!
Yes.when you hear this band you've got to be believing there's still hope
@@NeverTalkToCops1 Never? Too bad you feel that way. Seems user error has it's problems. It'll take more than mere music to save us from our travails here and abroad.
Oh please. You need to do a lot more Steely Dan.
THIS. THIS POST WINS.
Absolutely
you gonna be there on ludlow?
Jesus that put a smile on my face wide as the moon....
I never thought it possible for someone to cover Skunk Baxter's guitar work, but the tone was absolutely DEAD ON and the playing was impeccable. Astounding job guys!
that was impossible in my mind before I saw this...
DEAD ON IT!
@@edwardmason7258 agreed!
Agree
He does a PERFECT Terry Kath too! That guy is unreal!!
Even Ksenia's beauty cannot distract from the outstanding musicianship. Well, mostly anyway.
she is so easy on the eyes .... love
Oh, I don't know about that...she's definitely a world class beauty. And talented and smart and ...
Ksenia vs the rest of the male band members equals, balance.
@@jeffaitken7287 haha, yes. I wonder if Ksenia has a brother who plays trumpet. ?
Speak for yourself...
First they crushed Chicago, and now The Dan! WOW...
Just freakin' WOW! More PLEASE!!!!
My thoughts, exactly!
Yours is no disgrace by Yes might be a step up.
And EW & F which is arguably just as hard to reproduce as SD.
This is as good as a cover tune can be!!! Everyone is excellent but Alexander Pozdnyakov's guitar work is as close to perfect as I've heard!
I was thinking the same thing ❤❤❤
This is still one of the greatest performances on youtube!
Agreed. I can't stop coming back to it.
Yes it definitely is ❤
Definitely!
Love this group... these guys have chops!
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Uncle Leonid’s bass playing. Easy to overlook amidst all the other fantastic musicians, but he consistently plays some extremely complex bass parts with ease and touch. Bravo!
Uncle Leonid...lol
Sensei Leonid
That J-Bass is growlin’
Excelente bajista...!!!
I play a Fender Jazz bass. But after hearing Uncle Leonid play it I might just use it as a doorstop..... :-)
I've spent my entire adult life, over 40 years, playing in cover bands. Covering Steely Dan poorly is hard. These folks just kill it and make it look easy. Every one of them. But I am particularly amazed at the Skunk Baxter solos. The guy nails it and the tone is perfect. That drummer is so in the pocket too. Just beautiful, joyous music making at it's finest. More Steely Dan, Please :)
Skunk played those solos??? Someone else pls confirm this is true. I always thought that they were from the magic fingers of Walter Becker (RIP).
Nailed the guitar work. I do think it was skunk baxter
@@pwoessner4478 OK, I bow to your superior knowledge that it was Baxter, not Becker on those solos. How did he get his nickname by the way, anyone know? Did he have problems with personal hygiene, or maybe a tendency for posterior flatulence??
Yes, this guitar player is the quintessential journeymen guitar player for any band. Whenever he becomes a free agent, everybody in the band draft would be fighting for him
My favorite Steely Dan song, and Rox Bros killed it
Great musicians having a great time while performing a great song. What it is all about.
It's not just that they nail the notes, the tone, and the feel but their engineer is f**king god-like. That mix...
I think sometime Leonid's production skills get overlooked. But it's no secret that Fagen and Becker were perfectionists and he more than matches them.
Definitely "God-Like*!
TRUTH ❣🌹🌹
My thoughts exactly.
@@davidcox3076 good call!
There is a reason why you never see bands cover Steely Dan Songs. The line up of Steely Dan consisted of the best artists, musicians and session players ever assembled in the history of Rock-'n'-roll!
But you my friends, have just made Walter smile down upon you from Heaven!!👍
As far as I'm concerned, the hardest thing about Steely Dan music is the chord progressions. It's the hardest music I've ever tried to pick out on my keyboards because of the complexity of the chords. You really have to listen.
@@charlesmcfarling9337
It’s said that some studio musicians ran out of the studio and never came back
To play with Becker and Fagen is the highest level you can reach
Totally agree.
Steely Dan is one of the most important and least remembered bands of the 70's and it's a great pleasure to see an excellent band like Leonid and Friends masterfully interpret their songs, congratulations.
Being a child of the 70's, I will ALWAYS remember Steely Dan! :)
Ha! They are definitely not one of the least remembered bands of 70's! Not counting all the hits from the 80s and 90s, they won 4 Grammys in 2000 including album of the year!
Least remembered? Not to real rock fans.
@@joshrandall5297 I agree with you, but the most people nowadays don't know Steely Dan.
Becker and Fagen were perfectionists and knew early on that they weren't going to achieve it by using local musicians, it's why Steely Dan isn't better known. Their lineup wasn't really a band, per se, just Becker and Fagen and a collection of the best session guys they could find. They also didn't tour that much. I'll take them just the way they were, though. It's definitely the soundtrack of my late teens on until now.
This cover band never fails to blow my mind. Covering Steely Dan with eerie perfection and nuance is their new world record. Outstanding!
Somehow there needs to be more than a simple "thumbs up" rating. Mindbendingly great !!!
18 clowns gave it a thumbs down. They have poor taste!
@@josephmartinez8803 All the thumbs down are ppl that never went to school. ;)
@@jpcanes
🤪😂😂👍
Standing ovation is the proper response.
Most likely they're jealous of their musical prowess!!😁I'm in awe. Totally knocked another one out of the park!!!
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a “perfect” cover of *any* song, let alone Steely Dan. Right down to the articulations and tones. I mean…this is almost spookily perfect…
It’s. So. Perfect!!!
Not that tough with all the overdubs.
@@jakedconway yeah seriously, they weren’t really trying to make it a secret with this one lol
Shockingly perfect. The guitarist pulls off the Skunk Baxter solo as an laid back afterthought.
spookily
Those Rox Bros are really cool dudes! Great voices and guitar playing! I can watch this every day!
One day when I’m rich and famous I’m going to put together a group of people and we’re going to play this song over and over until the end of our days and we will be the happiest people that ever graced this planet.
Steely Dan is notoriously difficult to cover. this cover shines like a new penny. very well done.
And way way better than Steely Dan do it now.
Totally agree !
Everything they cover is magic. Incredible musicians.
Fantastic version. The lead guitarist is so good!
What an insane performance by Alexander both on lead vocal and guitar. Wow.
Fantastic. I was listening to Steely Dan in '76 when my friend's older brother got Royal Scam and played it on his Marantz stereo.
Good ole Marantz!
Singer looks like a young Glenn Frey. BTW....this is fabulous!
Mixed with a bit of Ace Ventura…. Allllllriiighty then.
Guy was channeling both skunk and Fagan, incredible job.
Really incredible! WTF
@@leonardomoraes5682 I've watched this at least a couple dozen times over the last year and still can't believe how good it is. Have to believe Fagan and Becker, if he was still alive would be blown away. The fact that they're from Russia makes it even more amazing.
@@08c6vette Totally agree with you! I LOVE Steely Dan, this guys blowed my mind!
@@08c6vette 100% agreed! They are some mind blowing motherfuckers!!!
I've seen dozens and dozens of Steely Dan covers, including several of My Old School, and I've got to say that this absolutely takes the Gold. Steely Dan tunes demand absolute precision and attention to every little detail and complexity, and you guys simply nailed it. Thanks for making my day.
Agreed 💯
Couldn't agree more!
Oh yeah, this made my day, super joyous!
spot on, so good!
Clearly the Russians have surpassed us in studio quality. Whoever does the mixes on these sessions always produces the most amazing sound. I was just following the bassline from beginning to end. You are not going to find a better rhythm section anywhere on this planet than Leonid and Igor.
I like the Lexington Lab Band Steely Dan versions as well but this one is amazing.
Whoever the sound engineer was on this definitely knows what they're doing. It sounds like a CD mix from a pro engineer.
Always
That would be Leonid
Steely Dan!! Holy smokes this is fantastic!!! Bravo!! So proud of everyone. Just blown away. THANK YOU!!
What she said !!
...and more of what she said..from New Zealand!! Stunning cover of a classic Dan tune. I'm blown away!!!
No one, absolutely no one, could do this better. Stunningly perfect. Vocals and playing perfection. Mix is dead on Wow.
Instrumentally, it sounds pretty much identical to the original, but the vocals lack the personality and character of Donald Fagen, so I would have to say that Steely Dan can do it better. Also, they not only played the parts, they wrote them. Sadly, last time I saw Steely Dan, Fagen forgot some of the lyrics on My Old School. Sad how the years catch up in even the best of us. And this band has one thing the original doesn't; Hulk Hogan on back up vocals. Well done.
@@mattlove1 Vasily Asimov's muscular stature certainly is at its best!!!!
@@mattlove1... Well, of course. That's like saying, "no one can match an original artist on any cover because they're not the original artist." You stated the obvious. LOL. And yes, some artists perform live well past their expiration date. 😀
Check out Lexington Lab Band.
Stunningly great 👏👏👏👏👍🏻😎🥂
"My Old School" is in my top 5 favorite songs ever, from the first time I heard it when I was 15 in 1973. What Leonid & Friends did with it is jaw-dropping, astounding and absolutely BRILLIANT! It's very, very nearly note perfect, the guitar and horn sections are spot on. I got all misty listening and watching this video. WELL DONE L&F!!
I have listened to SD version and these guys back to back Atleast 20 times. Not very often is the remake better .
There are elements of this I like more than the original
Same here. Amazing.
Guitar is just spot on, so clean and tight along with the rest of the band, superb.
I am so addicted to this group! I would rather hear their versions of Steely Dan and Chicago and Earth Wind And Fire than the originals! LOVE YOU ALL, keep up the great work and my husband is from Ohio, so drummer, we love your tee!!
I would agree with the way those groups sound today because L & F are pretty damn close to the way those groups sounded back in the day.
Amen!!!
Yes I feel the same way! So addicted!
Well, thanks to YT, we get to watch them perform those great classic songs. And that adds a lot to the experience too.
And let's face it, watching Ksenia do a Karen Carpenter cover is much, much better than a listening only experience.
Again just like with their renditions of Chicago’s music they knock it out of the park! I have never heard a Steely Dan tune covered so well!
Neither have I🤩
Steely Dan couldn't cover Steely Dan this well!
Steve S -- here is a great cover of "bodhisattva"
th-cam.com/video/el4KUGtAnIE/w-d-xo.html
yep, and i don't think we will hear it so well done ever again
God, that bloke can play a guitar and sing. Really great. Absolutely amazing.
Великолепно и безупречно исполнено.Вы лучшие!
Fantastic rendition - these 2 brothers need to be added to the line-up Leonid!
Ksenia is absolutely STUNNING
Singing Karen Carpenter covers - Ksenia is spot on. Best next to Karen herself, may Karen RIP
Shes always stunning.
I can't take my eyes off Ksenia. 😳🤓
One of the most beautiful women in the world and a flawless singer. Band is lucky to have her!
That woman is flawless.
Igor is a beast on the drums. This man is as accurate as a Swiss watch. Great job !! As always.
I played for a great number of years with three different bands and have had the pleasure of sitting in sessions with a few other musicians and I cant think of a better Drummer I have sever seen. Igor is a class act drummer.
@@Hammer1126 I played with several drummers as well, a couple of them were very good. But Igor is as good as anyone. Danny was/is great but Igor, while he puts a little twist on stuff as all drummers do is fun to listen to. And that's why we listen ... right?
@@markmiller7454 Jeff Pocaro of Toto was in my estimations way be of if not the best player of percussions followed by Danny S of Chicago, but Igor fits up there in my very humble view
His work on My Old School is so far my favorite. I wish they sold Leonid and Friends in a hoodie style and if I could get and autograph photo from Kesnia with I’d jump at both.
And wearing a Ohio State shirt! Classic!
@@Hammer1126 - Gadd, Calautti, Purdie and then Porcaro...but I really liked Igor's cymbal grab at 4:48. It's a little thing, but it smacks of precision!
Wow, as a lifelong Steely Dan fan this is an exceptional cover of the song. Instruments absolutely perfect. Absolutely amazing that a foreign born band can replicate some of the best American music of the 70's and 80's. I'd pay to see this live
This is just insane, the lead guitarist must be from outer space. Just like the rest of those guys. What talent 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Skunk Baxter reincarnate… amazing indeed
Agree, whoever the heck he is...second to none, including Baxter and many others.
Where the he'll are their GRAMMYS? Wake up America. The best music ever arranged in the USA is being nailed by Russians. Keep it up guys. We love you.😀
@Tom Olson really? many many artists have cloned songs from former artists. Your comment makes no sense.
@Tom Olson you are a fool, read history and learn
To Mr. Olson.... 2014 Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. Best traditional pop vocal.All previously recorded material.
But you're certainly not a fool. Guess I was just gushing a little because they are talented, classically trained musicians who are doing justice to music of that era. Must be the boomer in me.😆
@Tom Olson Whoa there, Mon frer. Taking my talking point a little too serious, I think. I realize they don't give out Grammys for what they do. My larger point is this. Knowing the back story of how Leonid and friends came to be, I find it unusually refreshing that they practice such attention to detail to give their fans( I understand not all are fans) what they want. The band Chicago uploaded Leonid and friends to their own website. Technically, maybe copyright infringement? Could be. I wouldn't pretend to know copyright law. Just trying to appreciate superior musicianship in this era of autotune. Relax. Don't overthink it.😀 (p.s. Check out "Speck of dust" for an original tune. Awesome )
That is the most beautiful woman in the world.
A 10 and she sings Steely Dan! A diamond in the rough for sure!
Unreal Russian doing a classic Steely Dan and doing it FANTASTICALLY This off charts good, coordinating that many instruments and doing it all perfectly !!! WELL DONE Probably greatest re-make of My Old School A+++++++++++++++++++++
Lets ask Donald Fagan
OMG, you are covering Steely Dan, an impossible band to cover, like a champ now!!!!! Seeing you in October and can’t WAIT!! Please, more Steely Dan. Cheers!!!
That's right ...More cover please👍👍
Where did you see them? I did Clearwater and had a great time- such a great performance ❣❣😍👍👍
I can't get enough of these guys. Unbelievable talent
I second that. More SD
I’m still here and “you Leonid plus friends” are still the “best of the best”. No one comes close to equaling your performances.
This is my new favorite group. Their renditions are spot on to the originals.
If you need a long-drive piece of music on a loop, this is the one. My favorite Steely Dan song covered to perfection.
It's more than a copy. You breathe new life into the favorite songs of many people.
I think it's a better recording than the original, 21st century technology meets insane musical talent. The piano is brighter, the bass is moved more to the front than the original, the backup vocals are cleaner in this mix, they would have had more recording tracks to work with compared to the 70's original. Seems a beat or two slower than the original but very close indeed.
It's been a over a month since I discovered this excellent Steely Dan cover and I keep coming back to listen to it.
What a great group of musicians.
Support them and buy their music.
so do I
Alex Pozdnyakov is an amazing guitar player.
you got that right, those are some tough licks to replicate. Outstanding !
So is this guy.
This drummer is rock solid
Absolutely PERFECT in every way.....everyone in the band played their part true to the original especially the lead guitar player. I was in a band when this song came out and we all were Steely Dan fans. Must have listened to this song hundreds of times and I recall the original solo down to every note. The guitar player nailed every note perfectly......GREAT JOB !!!!!!!
What a great Sunday morning surprise!..Keep up the great work!
AMEN!! 🙏👏🙏👏
Some of the faces have changed but Leonid is still on bass and Igor's still behind the drum kit.
One of the best rhythm sections on TH-cam.
And Ksenia is still in the group!! :)
I've never been a fan of cover artists, but this just blew me away. Wow, how fabulous is this.
Yep they’re awesome ❤so are the Lexington lab Band Rosanna (Toto) Def Leppard Boston kiss zeppelin and Heart ( Straight on for you😮
Got to love those horns.
How is not this band one of the best in the world? They are Incredible
Spread the word my Friend!
One of the best cover
Because they are doing covers of old songs. They need to do originals to get airplay.
they actually are hahahhaa...but the world doesn't know yet! More share and likes pls!
They are among the best. It’s our job to push them up.
I'm so obsessed with this cover. Everyone is so on point. Lead guitar...off the chart.
Me too. Just can't stop coming back for more.
Backing vocals (especially the guy on cowbell) killed it, the horns too
They nailed it! I've gotta have heard this song a thousand times. I'd slip my 8-track of Countdown to Ecstasy in and there it'd sit, fillin' the car with joy. Leonid and Friends have gotta be the best find I've made on TH-cam.
I saw Steely Dan last summer in Toronto at the Budwiser Stage. Mesmorizing then and I just had the same feeling again. Every single musician in this video had a vital role that could make or break this song. Supurbly done, for a song that would be hard to cover for the best of bands. I know every note of this tune in my head and you can typically see where cover bands make shortcuts or simpler lead parts. This was to the letter perfection. Thank you.
How about props to the incredible brass section! Just incredibly good like every aspect of L&F. Bravo..
holy shit...I've followed the boys since they first emerged and I did not expect to live long enough to hear someone be able to do this this fucking well. The most impressive cover I've ever heard.
literally!
Amazing muscisians all of you. The singer great and the beauty of Ksenia round the piece. Great work!
The best steely Dan since steely Dan 😉
Absolutely flawless cover. Played with tremendous joy, precision and soul. Alexander played the guitar solo perfectly with all its subtleties and nuances. Mere words cannot describe my love for this group of musicians.
The guitar player is flat out amazing. He did an incredible job on this classic song.
Agree, note for note
My gracious what talent! This Band is top notch! Vocals and musicians like going back in time and seeing Steely Dan Live! Aja is my favorite album! Feels like I am in my teenage car 40 years ago!
This is simply incredible. This group is the greatest cover band of all time, and are all super talented. Perfection
No doubt! These guys (and gal) are totally awesome!
Just the perfect amount of cowbell. Brilliant.
"More cowbell!"
You beat me to it !! LOL
Guess what? I got a fever. And the only prescription….
Is more Leonid and Friends!!
Fill the room.. More cow bell
Crikey, that was unbelievably good. The bloke playing Skunk's solo parts was especially great.
You are correct sir. Just awesome.
Skunk would be proud!!
This was an iconic solo by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter which I always love every single time I hear the original. And this cover really made me smile! Good work.
Was thinking the same. Really did it justice.
Not precisely note for note, but right in all the right places, captured the exact spirit of the original, and threw in a couple of tasty wee flavours. Very, very good.
FABULOUS!!!!!! Just as good as Steely Dan
As meticulous a musician as Donald Fagen is in the studio, he has to be astounded at this rendition! Amazing!!
I hope Donald has or will hear it.
Sadly we will never know but I wondered the same thing. Extraordinary performance by Leonid & Friends!
Fagen is so picky about how his music is played and sounds. If he doesn't like how these guys nailed it then Fagen needs to be in a retirement home!
YES!!!! More Steely Dan please.
Yes yes...More Steely Dan! The whole AJA album would be great...but any tune from that album would be awesome.
But "Peg" first!
@@ejb7969 - Whew... gotta find reasonable sounding Michael McDonald vocals! Those harmonies are killer in that song!
Real singing. Real musicianship. Real talent. TOTALLY REFRESHING.
The best cover of Steely Dan EVER. This is indisputably one of the most lively and complex horn sections in the history of pop music. You nailed it! Leonid & Friends are top notch musicians.
That’s the closest vocally that I’ve heard... both main vocalists knocked it out of the park. Wow!
Don Fagen quickly checked to see if his vocal chords were missing and placed in another body.
Don't forget Ksenia!! ❤ that lady!!!😉
Check out Kipp Lennon too.
Saw Leonid & Friends live in Visalia, CA last week. They played this song and I thought I'd never hear anyone play Steely Dan like these guys did. What a great show. My wife and I were thoroughly impressed with this group. Can't wait to hear them again.
Just heard this live a few hours ago. Probably one of the best sounding songs they played all night. The EWF songs were done quite well also. I hope they come back to Hawaii.
Peace, Love and Aloha from Waikiki..