Coming Full Circle: The Eagles Live
The Eagles Live in Knoxville,TN
January 20th, 2009 Thompson-Boling Arena
When the Eagles announced tour dates that drove right through Knoxville last year, I got excited and immediately got online to see what the ticket prices were. Far to high for me. So I decided to do something I had never done, go down to the Arena the night of the show and try to get tickets cheaper from a scalper...
Well, all went perfectly to plan and Audrey and I found ourselves in the third best seats I have ever had (Behind on the floor seats for Springsteen and Garth) and I saved a crap ton of money. I was on the left side of the stage about two sections over. I could have thrown a football to Joe Walsh or Don Henley without even trying. I felt full of excitement as the Eagles came on the stage.
Adorned in suits, the guys launched headlong into “How Long” to open the show strong. Three more new songs followed including the fun Joe Walsh sang “Guilty of the Crime.” The lights then went out and an amazing trumpet solo launched us right into “Hotel California.” The sound blew me away. I had heard that no one sounded as good live as the Eagles, but I never expected this type of perfectness. The sound was by far the best I have ever heard live.
The band continued to play old songs until the intermission. “Witchy Woman” was really cool, as was the Don Henley solo classic, “Boys of Summer.”
Stage was fairly simple with two screens high above on each side of the stage. The background of the stage was a large arcing screen that showed mostly different background images and colors for the songs.
“In the City” was one of the best songs of the night. It rocked hard and sounded better than it did on the “Hell Freezes Over” album that mom and dad used to play repeatedly when I was a younger kid. “The Long Run” was next and brought us to an intermission that lasted about 20 minutes.
New songs started the second half of the show on stools. The a capella “No More Walks in The Wood” seems to be the new “Seven Bridges Road.” It's good, but nothing beats hearing, “There are stars in the southern sky.”
The boys continued sitting on stools through another new song and into “Love Will Keep Us Alive.” This song sounded so beautiful and even seemed to affect Audrey, as she put her head on my shoulder and sang along with me. They continued to sit through the classic “Take It To The Limit” and then stood afterwards for new songs “Long Road out of Eden” and “Somebody.” The Joe Walsh solo classic “Walk Away” was extremely fun and launched right into “One of These Nights.” Band introductions followed. Don Henley got a thunderous applause but it was nothing compared to what Joe Walsh got. Fans really seem to respect Henley, but love and relate to Walsh.
“I just wanna apologize to all the young people who are here,” Walsh began. “I wanna apologize that you are all so messed up. I take full responsibility because I know it's cause your parents played this song so much when you were growing up. I know that it is the reason you are all so weird.” “Life's Been Good” sounded crystal clear. It was the most fun song of the night. Walsh used his helmet cam and let us sing the “maserati” line. Joe Walsh is the reason the Eagles are classified as rock-n-roll and not country.
Don Henley's “Dirty Laundry” trashed today's media and had a great video in the background featuring crap news and TV from Jerry Springer and the View to FOX News and MSNBC. It was a great video that was well edited. Walsh's “Funk #49” followed. Walsh showed why he is one of the greatest guitarists of all time with this one, really getting into the solos and really working the crowd.
“Heartache Tonight” got most of the arena on their feet and “Life in the Fast Lane” got pretty much everyone else. The lights on this one were awesome, very well choreographed and produced in way that wasn't over the top, but still very flashy and impressive.
Everyone left the stage and the arena became filled with the lights from cell phones and even the occasional lighter as the encore began. “Take it Easy” seemed to make sense to everyone in attendance and “Desperado” closed the show softly. The Eagles bowed together as the Knoxville crowd stood in great appreciation for a band that has left their mark on not only rock and roll, but but everyday people's lives. And with that, Audrey and I exited the arena into the cold night.
I couldn't help but think of two things during and after the show. One was my grandmother that passed away what will be ten years ago in October. She had loved the Eagles and took Jamie, her daughter, my aunt, to a show many years ago. I couldn't help but think she was watching me tonight and was proud. Not only because I was at an Eagles show, but because I was with a girl that knew every word to every old song and even corrected me on the lyrics a few times. Granny had to be happy I caught myself a girl like that. I miss and love you Granny...
The other thing I found myself thinking of, or actually feeling, was like I had come full circle. Mom and Dad had raised me listening to a few select groups of musicians and artists that will always be close. to my heart.The Eagles, Garth Brooks, John Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, and Billy Joel were what we listened to. Thanks to them I also discovered Bruce Springsteen and The Rolling Stones. I had seen all these people live but there was one group I had never seen, The Eagles. I remember Mom playing “Hell Freezes Over” all the time. I remember Dad playing the first greatest hits album on trips up to New Jersey. Seeing the Eagles brought me full circle for the music Mom and Dad raised me on. Thanks for showing me what real music is Mom and Dad, I'll never be able to repay you...
The Eagles LIVE
Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena
Showtime- 8:10-11:30 (20 minute intermission)
Setlist
1. How Long
2. Busy Being Fabulous
3. I Don't Want To Hear Anymore
4. Guilty of the Crime
5. Trumpet Intro-Hotel California
6. Peaceful Easy Feeling
7. I Can't Tell You Why
8. Witchy Woman
9. Lyin' Eyes
10.Boys of Summer
11. In The City
12. The Long Run
INTERMISSION
13. No More Walks in the Woods
14. Waiting in the Weeds
15. Love Will Keep Us Alive
16. Take It To The Limit
17. Long Road Out Of Eden
18. Somebody
19. Walk Away
20. One of These Nights
BAND INTRODUCTIONS
21.Life's Been Good
22. Dirty Laundry
23. Funk #49
24. Intro-Heartache Tonight
25. Life In The Fast Lane
ENCORE
26. Take It Easy
27. Desperado
RATING: 9/10
NOTES: The Eagles wore suits the entire show- Sat for most of the show- Timothy B. Shimdt seems to be one of the nicest guys alive and it was quite funny when he got excited and into the music- Glen Frey was the main one that talked between songs and made joke after joke, calling this the Eagles Assisted Living Tour- Don Henley can sing, I mean amazingly high and on pitch. There is no way he has any testicles- Joe Walsh makes the funniest faces and does the most hilarious dance moves- During “Life in the Fast Lane” (Audrey's favorite song) a woman behind Audrey actually asked Audrey to sit down so she could see, Audrey, who hadn't stood the whole show, flipped around with full attitude and said, “This is my FAVorite song and I'll sit down when it's over!” Audrey then, without missing a beat, turned back to the stage and corrected me in a lyrics mistake I made and then continued to sing the song. I had never been so proud in my life. Audrey later explained she would have given the woman a piece of her mind if that song wouldn't have been on- We were in the rich people section so they mostly wanted to sit- Best sound I had ever heard live- No “Tequila Sunrise,” “Already Gone,” Rocky Mountain Way,” “All She Wants to do is Dance,” “Sad Cafe,” Wasted Time,” “Seven Bridges Road,” “Hole in the World,” or “Get Over It,” but one great man did say that “You can't always get what you want.”
Nickelback tour opener in Nashville next month...
Just some thoughts....
January 20th, 2009 Thompson-Boling Arena
When the Eagles announced tour dates that drove right through Knoxville last year, I got excited and immediately got online to see what the ticket prices were. Far to high for me. So I decided to do something I had never done, go down to the Arena the night of the show and try to get tickets cheaper from a scalper...
Well, all went perfectly to plan and Audrey and I found ourselves in the third best seats I have ever had (Behind on the floor seats for Springsteen and Garth) and I saved a crap ton of money. I was on the left side of the stage about two sections over. I could have thrown a football to Joe Walsh or Don Henley without even trying. I felt full of excitement as the Eagles came on the stage.
Adorned in suits, the guys launched headlong into “How Long” to open the show strong. Three more new songs followed including the fun Joe Walsh sang “Guilty of the Crime.” The lights then went out and an amazing trumpet solo launched us right into “Hotel California.” The sound blew me away. I had heard that no one sounded as good live as the Eagles, but I never expected this type of perfectness. The sound was by far the best I have ever heard live.
The band continued to play old songs until the intermission. “Witchy Woman” was really cool, as was the Don Henley solo classic, “Boys of Summer.”
Stage was fairly simple with two screens high above on each side of the stage. The background of the stage was a large arcing screen that showed mostly different background images and colors for the songs.
“In the City” was one of the best songs of the night. It rocked hard and sounded better than it did on the “Hell Freezes Over” album that mom and dad used to play repeatedly when I was a younger kid. “The Long Run” was next and brought us to an intermission that lasted about 20 minutes.
New songs started the second half of the show on stools. The a capella “No More Walks in The Wood” seems to be the new “Seven Bridges Road.” It's good, but nothing beats hearing, “There are stars in the southern sky.”
The boys continued sitting on stools through another new song and into “Love Will Keep Us Alive.” This song sounded so beautiful and even seemed to affect Audrey, as she put her head on my shoulder and sang along with me. They continued to sit through the classic “Take It To The Limit” and then stood afterwards for new songs “Long Road out of Eden” and “Somebody.” The Joe Walsh solo classic “Walk Away” was extremely fun and launched right into “One of These Nights.” Band introductions followed. Don Henley got a thunderous applause but it was nothing compared to what Joe Walsh got. Fans really seem to respect Henley, but love and relate to Walsh.
“I just wanna apologize to all the young people who are here,” Walsh began. “I wanna apologize that you are all so messed up. I take full responsibility because I know it's cause your parents played this song so much when you were growing up. I know that it is the reason you are all so weird.” “Life's Been Good” sounded crystal clear. It was the most fun song of the night. Walsh used his helmet cam and let us sing the “maserati” line. Joe Walsh is the reason the Eagles are classified as rock-n-roll and not country.
Don Henley's “Dirty Laundry” trashed today's media and had a great video in the background featuring crap news and TV from Jerry Springer and the View to FOX News and MSNBC. It was a great video that was well edited. Walsh's “Funk #49” followed. Walsh showed why he is one of the greatest guitarists of all time with this one, really getting into the solos and really working the crowd.
“Heartache Tonight” got most of the arena on their feet and “Life in the Fast Lane” got pretty much everyone else. The lights on this one were awesome, very well choreographed and produced in way that wasn't over the top, but still very flashy and impressive.
Everyone left the stage and the arena became filled with the lights from cell phones and even the occasional lighter as the encore began. “Take it Easy” seemed to make sense to everyone in attendance and “Desperado” closed the show softly. The Eagles bowed together as the Knoxville crowd stood in great appreciation for a band that has left their mark on not only rock and roll, but but everyday people's lives. And with that, Audrey and I exited the arena into the cold night.
I couldn't help but think of two things during and after the show. One was my grandmother that passed away what will be ten years ago in October. She had loved the Eagles and took Jamie, her daughter, my aunt, to a show many years ago. I couldn't help but think she was watching me tonight and was proud. Not only because I was at an Eagles show, but because I was with a girl that knew every word to every old song and even corrected me on the lyrics a few times. Granny had to be happy I caught myself a girl like that. I miss and love you Granny...
The other thing I found myself thinking of, or actually feeling, was like I had come full circle. Mom and Dad had raised me listening to a few select groups of musicians and artists that will always be close. to my heart.The Eagles, Garth Brooks, John Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, and Billy Joel were what we listened to. Thanks to them I also discovered Bruce Springsteen and The Rolling Stones. I had seen all these people live but there was one group I had never seen, The Eagles. I remember Mom playing “Hell Freezes Over” all the time. I remember Dad playing the first greatest hits album on trips up to New Jersey. Seeing the Eagles brought me full circle for the music Mom and Dad raised me on. Thanks for showing me what real music is Mom and Dad, I'll never be able to repay you...
The Eagles LIVE
Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena
Showtime- 8:10-11:30 (20 minute intermission)
Setlist
1. How Long
2. Busy Being Fabulous
3. I Don't Want To Hear Anymore
4. Guilty of the Crime
5. Trumpet Intro-Hotel California
6. Peaceful Easy Feeling
7. I Can't Tell You Why
8. Witchy Woman
9. Lyin' Eyes
10.Boys of Summer
11. In The City
12. The Long Run
INTERMISSION
13. No More Walks in the Woods
14. Waiting in the Weeds
15. Love Will Keep Us Alive
16. Take It To The Limit
17. Long Road Out Of Eden
18. Somebody
19. Walk Away
20. One of These Nights
BAND INTRODUCTIONS
21.Life's Been Good
22. Dirty Laundry
23. Funk #49
24. Intro-Heartache Tonight
25. Life In The Fast Lane
ENCORE
26. Take It Easy
27. Desperado
RATING: 9/10
NOTES: The Eagles wore suits the entire show- Sat for most of the show- Timothy B. Shimdt seems to be one of the nicest guys alive and it was quite funny when he got excited and into the music- Glen Frey was the main one that talked between songs and made joke after joke, calling this the Eagles Assisted Living Tour- Don Henley can sing, I mean amazingly high and on pitch. There is no way he has any testicles- Joe Walsh makes the funniest faces and does the most hilarious dance moves- During “Life in the Fast Lane” (Audrey's favorite song) a woman behind Audrey actually asked Audrey to sit down so she could see, Audrey, who hadn't stood the whole show, flipped around with full attitude and said, “This is my FAVorite song and I'll sit down when it's over!” Audrey then, without missing a beat, turned back to the stage and corrected me in a lyrics mistake I made and then continued to sing the song. I had never been so proud in my life. Audrey later explained she would have given the woman a piece of her mind if that song wouldn't have been on- We were in the rich people section so they mostly wanted to sit- Best sound I had ever heard live- No “Tequila Sunrise,” “Already Gone,” Rocky Mountain Way,” “All She Wants to do is Dance,” “Sad Cafe,” Wasted Time,” “Seven Bridges Road,” “Hole in the World,” or “Get Over It,” but one great man did say that “You can't always get what you want.”
Nickelback tour opener in Nashville next month...
Just some thoughts....
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