Jimmy Page once named the guitar solo in Reelin’ In the Years his favorite of all time. The Low Darts step up to it live. The five-piece classic rock, pop, and soul band, fronted by Colman Connolly on keys and lead vocals, filmed a cover of the Steely Dan classic that gives the song its full bite.
Steely Dan opened their career with a guitar showcase. Reelin’ In the Years appeared on the 1972 debut Can’t Buy a Thrill, and session ace Elliott Randall reportedly cut its dazzling solo in a single continuous take.
Honor the one-take solo
Randall’s lines move fast and never repeat a phrase, weaving melodic runs through the bridge and outro. Players spend years learning to phrase like that under pressure.
Guitarist Jonas Brown carries those passages live, trading the energy of the original while keeping the melodic logic intact. The whole band frames him with the driving feel that pushes the track forward. Hear that interplay across the band’s live cover library.
Drive the rhythm engine
Underneath the guitar, Reelin’ In the Years runs on a tight, propulsive rhythm section and crisp piano stabs. The pocket has to stay relentless for the solo to land.
Colman anchors the keys while Sean Byington and Luke Foote keep the engine churning, and Colman’s lead vocal carries the bright, conversational melody. That balance reflects Colman Connolly’s musical background as a trained accompanist and producer. Watch the clip above, then hear their version of another Steely Dan deep cut. When your event calls for a band that plays the hard stuff right, book The Low Darts today.
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