So I'm not much of an Eagles fan (I routinely pass over their songs on the FM radio, except for Boys of Summer), but I have a mild compulsion to go to classic rock concerts. So when I read that the Eagles would be touring this year, I snapped up a ticket but was ambivalent from minute one about whether I would attend. Moreover, I was sleep-deprived last night (see below) and had a fairly stressful work day, so right up until I was walking down to the concert at around 8:20pm I hadn't committed to going. I promised myself I'd leave after the first set (and I did, so sue me). Boy am glad I went. From the first few songs, which I didn't even know, the Eagles had me entranced. Then they kicked into greatest hits territory: Hotel California, Peaceful Easy Feeling, I Can't Tell You Why, Witchy Woman, Lyin' Eyes, Boys of Summer, In the City, and the first set closer, the Long Run. I found myself screaming along with the crowd. The Eagles looked sharp, played sharper. This is what a classic rock concert should be: talented musicians who've played together on and off for almost 40 years, great songs brought to life with passion and intensity, incredible musicianship all around the damn stage. Every member of the band was note-perfect from start to finish. Seriously. So I missed the second set, but I left the show happy, and I'm pretty damn contented to be home with the prospect of hopping into bed before midnight. That fantastic first set is the show of the summer for me (so far). I'll still pass over the Eagles on the FM radio, but I'll buy a ticket if they tour again.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The Eagles Rock the Garden
So I'm not much of an Eagles fan (I routinely pass over their songs on the FM radio, except for Boys of Summer), but I have a mild compulsion to go to classic rock concerts. So when I read that the Eagles would be touring this year, I snapped up a ticket but was ambivalent from minute one about whether I would attend. Moreover, I was sleep-deprived last night (see below) and had a fairly stressful work day, so right up until I was walking down to the concert at around 8:20pm I hadn't committed to going. I promised myself I'd leave after the first set (and I did, so sue me). Boy am glad I went. From the first few songs, which I didn't even know, the Eagles had me entranced. Then they kicked into greatest hits territory: Hotel California, Peaceful Easy Feeling, I Can't Tell You Why, Witchy Woman, Lyin' Eyes, Boys of Summer, In the City, and the first set closer, the Long Run. I found myself screaming along with the crowd. The Eagles looked sharp, played sharper. This is what a classic rock concert should be: talented musicians who've played together on and off for almost 40 years, great songs brought to life with passion and intensity, incredible musicianship all around the damn stage. Every member of the band was note-perfect from start to finish. Seriously. So I missed the second set, but I left the show happy, and I'm pretty damn contented to be home with the prospect of hopping into bed before midnight. That fantastic first set is the show of the summer for me (so far). I'll still pass over the Eagles on the FM radio, but I'll buy a ticket if they tour again.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Salem's Lot 1979 and Salem's Lot 2024
Happy Halloween everybody! Julie's working late and the boy doesn't have school tomorrow so he's heading to one of those crazy f...
-
(2007) * First of all let me say that as far as I could tell there are absolutely no dead teenagers in this entire film. Every year just ...
18 comments:
You are hardcore, AC! Out late on a Tuesday, longest drive home, AND still making your concert the next night...
you are too kind miko... half a concert doesn't count as hardcore.
No, you still get props for it AC. That is totally cool that you went, no matter how long you stayed. Who else can we rely on to keep Music Friday (and other days) going?
thanks guys!
i just got this email from my friend luana responding to an invitation to a group dinner this saturday night:
"I truly intended on attending but I won the Bruce Springsteen concert tickets and it turns out my friend who is in town loves him. I have to admit, no clue who the guy is... But will attend with her. Have fun at the dinner!"
i never saw bruce, am not a fan, but have heard he is a must-see live. lucky luana, doesn't even know who he is and wins free tickets!
"I have to admit, no clue who the guy is..."
The next time you see Luana, chop off her head, then burn the body, 'cause she is an alien from outerspace. Who the hell hasn't heard of Springsteen? My parents, who couldn't pick Prince, U2, Justin Timberlake, etc. out of a lineup, know who Bruce is. Even people who hate his music know who he is.
Alien!
luana is from brazil but has lived in the u.s. over ten years... maybe miko's alien hypothesis should be explored.
That's cool AC. I've never been much of an Eagles fan either but I'm sure they put on a solid live show. I can't remember the last rock dinosaur I caught live.
Isn't Boys of Summer Don Henley solo?
jsp, rock dinosaurs are so hit or miss that i can't really encourage anyone else to follow my example. don't you still do dinos of metal to some extent?
yes boys of summer is absolutely don henley solo. my ref to not particularly digging Eagles music included all solo efforts by all members of the band, which is of course lazy and inaccurate writing. if i were sensitive like miko, i would now need to look for another blog. since i'm shameless in that particular regard, i'll stay.
How dare you insinuate that Paul Stanley isn't as youthful as he once was! That's it, I'm outta here too.
Let's see.. other rock dinosaurs.
Iggy Pop is incredible live.
Tom Petty's still got it.
I saw Bob Dylan in '96 and it was a borefest although he's had 2 great albums since and I heard his gigs improved as well.
David Bowie and Lou Reed = fair at best.
And of course the Monkees are always a good time even without Nesmith.
agreed about the monkees and dylan, both of whom i've seen. will save my $ and skip reed and bowie, neither of whom i've seen.
jsp, are there any dinos at all (metal, rock, or anything) you haven't seen that you would like to see if they tour?
Excellent query...
I guess I'd like to see Paul McCartney to check a Beatle off the list...
I've never seen Pink Floyd (or Roger Waters or Gilmore) and that frankly tears me up inside.
Guns & Roses - not sure if they're officially dinosaurs but still.
Can't think of any others I haven't already seen off the top of my head.
Yourself?
like you, johnny, i've seen many of my own "must see" dinosaurs. what's left on the list is bands who apparently play a great show (the who, u2, fleetwood mac) or bands that have broken up or never tour or someone crucial died (led zeppelin) or bands that never actually existed (spinal tap).
Oddly enough, I saw Pink Floyd in High School. (With the dreaded first ex - not miko - who I then thought stalked me at a Rocky Horror midnight showing once.)
Anyhoots, that was in the 80's, with the big pig? I shamefully admit here that I am not a huge fan. But it is kind of cool to have seen them.
My one outstanding band I think is U2, I would really like to see them. And, you know, Pat Benatar.
ooh, dcd, if u2 tour again shall i keep an eye out for tickets?
no worries about not especially liking pink floyd, though i am pea green with envy you got to see them in the 80s. we don't judge each other for our differing musical tastes (or do we)?
I've never seen U2. U2 is one of the only bands I wish I had seen that I missed (add Kraftwerk and Paul McCartney to that list). I've seen Pink Floyd and Roger Waters (twice). AC, please keep your eyes out for U2.
will do. i'm guessing nosebleed seats at the boston garden, but u2 plays the kind of show for which that shouldn't matter. for mccartney i was as far away from the stage as it was possible to be (plus i was sick and in no mood to go), but that show (his 2005 "us" tour) will probably always rank among the best concerts i've ever seen.
Post a Comment