All of the concerts become a bit of a blur after a while, but I'll
try and remember what I can from last night!
I wasn't feeling at all well last night, but there was no way I was
going to miss this concert! Of all the events in the world, this was
one I wasn't going to miss!
The arena was full again, and had a good atmosphere. As it was
Sunday, I knew there would be a curfew at 10:30pm, so they started
dead on 7:30pm. It was the same setlist, as ever, but some songs
were missing from the encores. How Long still remains one of my
favourite songs on the new album, but as L&M said, there was
definitely a different feel to the songs when you hear them live. I
think I like the album more now that I've heard the songs live a few
times.
There was very little talking on stage at first. Glenn did thank
everyone for coming out over Easter Sunday [just a note here to say
it's been snowing really heavily in most of England, so travelling
has not been easy] they all seemed really grateful that we'd come to
see them. Glenn made the comment again about The Eagles being 'the
band that time forgot.' The audience loves it when he says that!
something tells me he's going to be saying that for maaaaany years to
come! They all sounded better last night than they did on any of the
other nights - I guess they're warming up.
Joe introduced Guilty Of The Crime as a song by Frankie Miller, a
'very fine Scottish songwriter' who was apparently in the audience
that night. Joe dedicated he song to him. I like this song
ordinarily, but it sounded even better live! Joe is very animated
whenever he's playing live, but he seems particularly animated during
this song, and Funk. As I'm remembering little things, I can
remember watching Glenn lip-sync with most of the songs. Glenn would
also do little finger exercises inbetween songs or when he wasn't
playing guitar. I'm assuming they're finger exercises because I'm
not a musician and I can't flutter my fingers the same way Glenn
can... it looked odd at first, but maybe it's something to do with
his arthritis?
It's funny watching the audience at the beginning of Hotel
California. It starts with a really nice horn solo, with the lights
low, then goes into the chords. No one in the audience knows what
the song is, so they go crazy when the song starts. They sing it
brilliantly as ever, and the crowd love it. Joe still has to
concentrate on the guitar work, and stands near Stuert to do so.
It's absolutely electrifying to watch the two of them jam together,
they're so professional and entertaining at the same time. The
backdrop of the album cover makes it all the more dramatic and
entertaining.
Peaceful Easy Feeling makes a welcome entrance at this point in the
set list, and it's another crowd pleaser. Glenn sings 'I like the
way sparking earrings swing...' and several times I've heard people
comment that it should be 'sway'. Tim sings Love Will Keep Us Alive
at this point, and I must say, I'm getting bored of this song. I know
it's one of only a few songs Tim does, but it was a bit flat after
hearing PEF. Just my preference. In The City is just amazing
though. Whoever the production company are who did the footage for
the stage, must be real fans, because they have the footage exactly
right for the tone of the song, and some of the footage corresponds
exactly with the words in the song. It's really slick. It's almost as
compelling to watch the film as it is to watch them on stage. This
song sounds like it's new again - it's the same song, but it was
really energetic and sounded brilliant. Joe goes straight into Walk
Away, and that's another of my favourites. I can still see the band
lining up to sing the backing vocals. It's one of the songs that
make the song worth going to the show just to see. Joe really jams on
this one.
There's great production on Witchy Woman again, and the same with
Boys Of Summer. I love this song ordinarily, but with the backdrop
is simply perfect. Again, the black and white screens of the band and
the black and white footage behind them fits perfectly with the song.
As I remember, the original video for the song was shot in black and
white too, wasn't it?
Glenn introduced Lyin' Eyes as a long song that was written
particularly quickly by himself and Don, "It was a story that had to
be told." Don introduces The Long Run as a band theme, and the
audience love it!
The intermission wasn't that long last night (as it was Sunday) but
we started with No More Walks In The Wood. Everyone sings harmonies
on this one, and it's only Stuert who does a little guitar work on
this. The boys are all sitting down for this, much like Seven
Bridges Road was. The audience are blown away! It's all action
again, and you could see the roadies running around the stage to get
it ready for Long Road Out Of Eden. It's worth saying at this point
that if anyone thought all the shows were starting to look alike,
this song is one of the best examples that the show is not. It's
completely different from Farewell, and entertaining in different
ways. They have a good mix of old and new, and it works! The
production on LROOE is fantastic, and it proved to me that Don is
still as political as always, but the band have done a brilliant job
of making a modern, appropriate song from the politics. It's even
better live than it is on the album, and Don sings it with such
conviction that you can't help but watch and get involved. All of
the audience know this song too, and the footage again ties in
brilliantly with the photos of soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan. Haunting.
Take It To The Limit, with Glenn's usual credit card joke, and he did
Somebody. That's great live! I really like Weeds, and No More Cloudy
Days. They're really refreshing to hear live, in between the old
stuff. I'm a fan of One of These Nights, but this version isn't much
different to every other time I've heard it. Glenn introduced it as
from their 'satanic country rock days.' I think Take It To The Limit
came after this song last night, because Glenn had to remember which
album it came from, then realised it was from the same album.
I really live hearing Dirty Laundry live! Don still does the dance
that goes with the song, "kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when
they're down..." and Glenn runs over to kick some switch on on the
floor to change their voice outputs. The crowd like this one too.
Glenn introduced the whole band again, including themselves. He
joked that Joe was a former governor of New Jersey!
Joe's Funk 49 is a classic!! Glenn and Joe swap the intro to this
one, and you're not quite sure where it's going until you realise Joe
plays something Glenn can't even attempt, and he hangs his head and
gives in. It's cute to watch... then we go into Funk 49. Before I
forget, which is the song that they end on with all of them changing
poses for each chord break? It's funny to see the exchanged glances
between all of them as they change positions. Joe is completely
caught up in his playing at this point, which makes me think it was
Funk that he was playing??
Heartache tonight is another one that the crowd likes, but I can take
it or leave it. It starts differently to how it usually does, so the
crowd are seduced into it. It does sound good live though, and I
think it was at this point that Tim and Glenn (?) get everyone on
their feet and clapping. I think even Henley was trying to get
everyone to clap along. Everyone loves Life's Been Good, with the
footage at the back and Joe loving every minute of it. Joe introduced
it as a song that was written last century. We loved it! The photos
at the back are brilliant. It made me wonder if they were perhaps
part of an upcoming DVD of the band (I wish!) Of course, the
audience loves Life In The Fastlane again. THe footage is all very
'fast' with commuters on the Japanese subway, and the hustle and
bustle of daily life. Joe really goes to town with the ending on
this one. Sheer brilliance.
There was only 1 encore - we missed out on Rocky Mountain Way and All
She Wants To Do Is Dance. It's a shame, as I love Rocky Mountain Way,
and the audience were calling out for it. Take it Easy sounded
brilliant, and I think this is where the footage at the back is of
the white line along a long, straight road. Very poetic. Everyone
was waiting for Desperado, and Don didn't disappoint. As the crowd
were singing along, no one was expecting Don to hold that high note
at the end - but he did, and perfectly too.
I'm sure I haven't got the songs in the right order, but I didn't
write down the setlist - I'm working from what has been posted
previously on the Fastlane message board. Does anyone have the
definitive setlist?? I saw that Joe was working from something on
stage, but none of the others seemed to.
It was another fantastic night, and to top it all, when I got home I
got to see the Sky News interview with Don that did earlier in the
week. It was a really Eagle Easter. Can't wait for the next concert
on 5 April!!!!
Well Wednesday afternoon I wasn't going... but thanks to L&M's ticket announcement yesterday I was there about 6 rows from the front applauding the chaps on to the stage.
The 02 was full but not a sell-out. They're going to struggle to get fans in over the Easter weekend with nightmare traffic on both road and rail.
Because the concert started about 20 minutes late, I had to leave early to catch the last train back to my desolate outpost of Manchester!
I made lots of notes on the train back home;
All wearing black suits. Dark shirts for the back up guys, (there's a new chap in the line-up - Richard Davis, stage right, keyboards, seated percussion and lots of vocals). They all do lots of vocals 'cept Crago. He reminds me of Dr John. White shirts for Glenn, Joe, Tim (looks like a hip sixth form student) and Don (sporting his favourite shoes)
Harmony vocals have never been better. Glenn sounded great, Tim great as usual (3 songs!) Don sounded great except on the oddnd Joe's high notes during In The City were imaginary.
Don looked disgusted when he botched an early high note in One Of These Nights and made damn sure he hit all the right notes at the end of the song. Really struggled at the end of Witchy Woman.. I can't believe he still goes for them!
No More Walks In The Wood is much better than 7 Bridges IMHO and is proceeded with a Silent Spring "back to your seats" type instrumental prelude which I enjoyed.
GOTC and Somebody really rocked. In fact all the Walsh driven songs really rocked... and then some! Joe added extra bars to all his solos. Is it just me or is Don the worlds worst for rock guitar posturing?
LROOE was spoilt by roadies rushing around adjusting the stage during the mood setting intro which, sadly, I think was piped. I didn't see anyone playing doudouk.
As for guitars, I watched carefully so I missed what was on the screen, mostly Joe, Steuart during the "Petroleum Club" verse, Joe and Steuart both play the last part of the blistering solo then Steurt plays that fantastic mysterious eastern guitar bit that preceeds the next verse.
No spotlight on Tim during his bass doodlings and all stand statue still at the end.. except M Robinson who sneeks off back to the piano. (Maybe I was too close and wasn't supposed to notice.)
Don forgot the words at one point and seemed to start singing when he wasn't supposed to. I thought the performance of LROOE was very tense and nervy.
Lots of newsreel type stuff on the screen during Dirty Laundry and amusing band photos with a certain DF skilfully edited out during Life's Been Good. Steuart play's Joe's guitar solo during helmet-cam with Joe joining in when he feels like it.
Steuart was brilliant on One Of These Nights and Boys Of Summer. Set one had a very strong finish. Halfway through In The City, Joe ditched his slide and threw in a fingery solo before the horn chart starts.
Funk 49 starts with a little bit of humourous guitar interplay between Joe and Glenn.
Don sounds a bit weird singing Waiting In The Woods (an unusual key for him but the harmony singing by everyone is fantastic
I had to leave as Rocky Mountain Way started. I was devastated. It's probably the best gig I've seen them do.
There's probably stuff I've forgotten to mention, I should check my notes... sorry it's so haphazard but it's 7 in the morning and I haven't slept yet.
Good Morning.. oh that reminds me, that were Joe's first words.
Joe gave us a public information reminder that soon we'll have to adjust our clocks an hour forwards or an hour backwards he don't know which, and Glenn still introduced the credit card and plaintiff songs. I thought he might've dedicated Lying Eyes to Heather Mills (no longer McCartney). bye