Eagles

[chip]

I'm off to see the Eagles tonight at the LG arena courtesy of my sister. I have seen them twice before, once at Stafford Bingley hall 1977 and Wembley stadium 1994. On both occasions they were great especially the 1977 gig which was to promote Hotel California. It's about a year since I went to the LG to see Neil Young, I doubt they will match that, but, hey it's free. The tickets cost an astronomical £250 each, however we are very close to the stage and bang in the middle, I will though, move around the place to hear and see how they sound from different angles.

Interestingly my sister has been with me to all their gigs but also she has seen them countless times in the states whilst on holidays. More later. You know what to expect.

[Oldrottenhead]

Was never a fan of the eagles but recently watched documentary on BBC 4  and am now a confirmed fan.

[Flash Harry]

Enjoy it!

£250 a ticket. Glasto was cheaper!

[Blooby]

I thought the Eagles and Barbara Streisand were the first two who gouged the fans with inflated ticket prices. This was before downloading killed the money train, too.

Not so?

Blooby

[Farrell Jackson]

That's great Chip! I saw them in Ca. 1996 on the last leg of their When Hell Freezes Over tour and it was a good one. Each member got to showcase their best solo songs in one segment which was like several mini concerts within the main concert. I've always been an Eagles fan so have fun!

Farrell

[Burtog]

EAGLESFEST!!

[T.C. Elliott]

I like old Eagles music. I never got their albums but for the best of or greatest hits collections. But when they came out with that Hell Freezes Over or whatever it was a bunch of years ago I got very, very anti-eagles. That song they played all the time sucked big time, imo.  Never seen them live, though. I bet it isn't a bad show.

[chip]

Part 1. This ain't long.

Arrived and had a drink or three, sat down in the seats which were around 30 odd rows from the front and bang in the center. The gig began with Frey and Henley sitting on amp cases playing acoustic guitars, they played some early songs then were joined by Leadon on acoustic too. There was some small talk about the old days which I thought was unnecessary as the people attending this gig would have known that anyway, also quite ridiculously there was footage of the film they made which again everyone there would have seen.

On comes the bass player and Walsh, the electrics get turned on and it gets a little better, the sound is very good, pumping bass and kick drum that has my chest quaking, everything is as clear as daylight. The set continues with more laid back songs including Witchy Woman, prior to which, Henley stated this version was a new arrangement. To be frank I wish they had not bothered, it was lame with no balls whatsoever, my heart began to sink. Thankfully the first set was short. Would it get better?
More later including a opinion on the LG Arena and how this gig was put together which may cause a debate in it's self.

[chip]

Anyway. The second set did get better, a whole lot better. This was more like it, Leadon is now gone back to wherever and a new guitarist is on stage, the amp cases are gone, so are the video clips. Now we have a very nice backdrop which moves to different themes through the gig. The band play all the usual suspects with aplomb using enough guitars to cause one hell of a gas attack. In effortless fashion they play for 2 hours or so swopping guitars on every song. I must admit I didn't really notice any difference to the overall sound. Was it just flash?

The band were joined by not one but four keyboard players,why? I have no idea. There was another drummer too who played along with them including the times Henley was playing the drums. The big applause come when Walsh's songs are played with lots of cheers and hoots from the crowd and great they were too. Funk 49 turning into a fantastic groove. The encore was Hotel California. The next, Take it easy then, in my opinion a bad move Desperado ( but they always finish with that one, I don't quite know why?) and that was that.

I think I seen them at their best years ago and I'm thankful for that. I feel that Felder was the missing link here, although the other guitarist was fine he just didn't have what Felder had, a Gibson Les Paul for a start. They are though what they are and do it well, they sing like birds, have written timeless songs and still rock out.

As for the first set I probably would have enjoyed it more if they had cut out the extended chat, withheld Already gone for the second set ( A great song which rocks but didn't in the first set) and  played Witchy woman like it should be played.

All in all a good crack but I wouldn't pay to see them, not that much anyhow.

I will carry on with my assessment of the LG arena later plus, how the band buggered up the seating arrangements.

[Satchwood]

I never bought their music, but always loved Walsh's solo in Hotel California!   My old ... old band used to play "Life's Been Good" and had fun with it.   A fun concert i saw by Mojo Nixon use to sing Don Henley Must Die lol... never quite understood that one.,.   But it sounds like you saw a pretty cool show actually... that you enjoyed!