The Eagles will be appearing at the Coors Amphitheatre on August 17th .
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
If you will be attending the show please post in the comment section. Don't forget to come back after the show and post your review.
Thanks to Darlene for passing along this preview!
Link: SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Features -- Albums? We don't need no stinkin' albums!.
Albums? We don't need no stinkin' albums!
'Heritage' pop acts rake it in despite a lack of new tunes - yes, the Eagles are coming to town
By George Varga
UNION-TRIBUNE POP MUSIC CRITIC
August 11, 2005
At first glance, the Eagles and the Pixies would appear to have little in common, musically or otherwise.
But the Eagles, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and perform here Wednesday at Coors Amphitheatre, have one key trait in common with alt-rock pioneers the Pixies, who headlined July 29 at Street Scene. Both bands are drawing large audiences – and enjoying some of the biggest concert paydays of their careers – even though it's been many years since either released an album of new music.
JIM SHEA
It's been 26 years since the Eagles released a new album, but the band's concerts draw big crowds and bigger bucks.
The Eagles, who disbanded in 1980 and reunited in 1994, have not put out a new studio album since "The Long Run" in 1979. The Pixies, who broke up in 1992 and regrouped last year, have not released a new studio album since 1991's "Trompe Le Monde."
They are not alone.
The nostalgia-fueled lure of one more payday has been at least partially responsible for the reunions this year of acts as disparate as Loggins & Messina, Dinosaur Jr., and Cream, none of which has released a new album. And some of the biggest pop concert money-earners of the past decade or longer have been veteran acts whose appeal stems almost entirely from their catalogs of past hits.
The best example is the Rolling Stones, performing here Nov. 11 at Petco Park. Many dates on the band's pending tour were instant sell-outs, although tickets are still available for the Petco date.
The Stones do have a new album, "A Bigger Bang," due out Sept. 6. However, the legendary English band has released only two other albums of new music over the past 15 years, 1994's "Voodoo Lounge" and 1997's "Bridges to Babylon," neither of which were hits.
But no matter, since the Stones have raked in nearly $2 billion in tour profits since 1989. And the band's best-selling album in this time period is 2002's "Forty Licks," a "best of" career retrospective.
The fact that the Stones can still achieve greatness on stage sets them apart in the music business. But other veteran performers – from Chicago to the Temptations – are prospering, albeit on a smaller level, regardless of their quality or the absence of new albums and original band members.
Other artists who are thriving without new albums on their current tours include Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (who play here Aug. 18 at Coors), Crosby, Stills & Nash (Sept. 13 at Viejas) and the Doobie Brothers (Aug. 28 at Humphrey's).
"We've had sold-out shows already this year by Steve Winwood, the Beach Boys, the Moody Blues, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Heart, Hootie & The Blowfish, and the B-52s, none of whom have any new or recent albums that I know of," said veteran Humphrey's producer Kenny Weissberg.
"For certain 'heritage' acts, it doesn't matter if they have a new album out. Because most people are interested in hearing the songs that made them famous, whether it's Valli songs from the '60s or Hootie songs from the '90s."
Sentimental journeys
In previous decades, few bands would even consider hitting the road without a new album to promote, in large part because fans, record companies and radio programmers expected fresh music each time an artist toured. So did concert promoters.
"One of the first questions I used to ask about artists I might book was if they had a new album coming out," Weissberg said. "That's not a big factor now with established acts."
Weissberg's comments were echoed by Street Scene founder-producer Rob Hagey.
"For superstar acts like the Eagles and Tom Petty, a new album isn't important, because they have such a history they can draw from," Hagey said. "And that audience isn't excited by new material. They have great memories of the songs by those bands that they grew up with, which have much more of an emotional impact for them than any of their new albums."
The Pixies, as bandleader Frank Black indicated in a recent Union-Tribune interview, are unlikely to record a new album any time soon. Even so, the band – which now commands six-figure fees – has made more money on its reunion tour than its members ever dreamed possible.
As for a new Eagles' album: "We've had some starts and stops, and it's been difficult," said Don Henley, the again high-flying group's drummer, singer and co-songwriter. "I won't try to gloss that over; it's been difficult. But now we seem to be into a rhythm. And we're going to try to continue that rhythm in September."
The question, though, is: Which September?
Henley made the above comments in a Union-Tribune interview two years ago. A new Eagles' album appears little closer to completion now.
If nothing else, this inordinately long delay means that – at 26 years and counting – the Eagles just may set a record for the longest time between new albums by a major artist. The band has surpassed Steely Dan, which went a mere 20 years between "Gaucho" in 1980 and "Two Against Nature" in 2000.
"We're friends with Steely Dan; we're not in a contest to see who can sit out (from making a new album) the longest!" Henley said during that 2003 interview.
"Some days I come home from the studio and feel very confident about this band," he continued. "And some days I think: 'This is going nowhere.' And it goes back and forth, and has for two or three years now."
Henley cited several reasons for the delays in finishing a new Eagles album, for which 18 or so songs are currently awaiting completion.
They included artistic differences and the fact that he lives in Dallas, while guitarist-singer Joe Walsh lives mostly in San Diego's North County, and singer-guitarist Glenn Frey and bassist-singer Timothy B. Schmidt live in Los Angeles. "Glenn and I have our differences, certainly, but we also have an overarching vision for this band," Henley said. "We sort of tend to agree on the general direction this band should go. We disagree on some of the details of how, when and where. But there have always been disagreements with this band.
"That holds particularly true with regards to songwriting and production, so that's not really terribly different than it was. – I think we're probably less open about it now. We used to just have it out. Now, nobody wants to fight. So there's less drama, but more repression, and all that will come pouring out at some point."
A more pertinent issue could be whether this even matters to the band's fans, since the Eagles are wildly successful without a new album.
In 2003, the band grossed $69.3 million in concert revenues, with another $19.5 million coming in from back album sales. The group's 2005 tour, which includes six upcoming concerts at both the Staples Center in Los Angeles and the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, is the highest-grossing of the year so far, according to Billboard magazine.
And the band's new live DVD, "Farewell I Tour: Live From Melbourne," has topped the national charts for the past two months. The 30-song collection includes just two new songs by the Eagles, whose "Greatest Hits" is the best-selling album of all time with sales of more than 28 million.
Henley is proud of his band. But he is also concerned that, without a new album, the Eagles will be regarded as a nostalgia act, however accomplished and profitable.
"The audiences pack the (venues) and scream and bring us back for multiple encores. So who am I to deny them that?" he mused.
"And I try to remember that this music does mean a lot to people, no matter how tired of it I may be – and I am, I really am. But it means a lot to people, evidently, and in that case we're happy to do it for them."
The Iloveallaccess crew signed us in for our 5-Star VIP Package at the Coors Amphitheater at a little after 6. We were taken to a hospitality area with the buffet dinner and an open bar. Nicci and I sat at a table with 6 other animated Eagles fans. Our Iloveallaccess representative told us it was our job to keep the band motivated. Our table was dedicated to meeting that objective and making this a great party. We screamed encouragement for each raffle winner. We were definitely the fun table.
The Iloveallaccess crew grabbed Scott Crago as he was coming into the arena to have him pull a raffle ticket. As Scott walked past our table after pulling the raffle ticket, I asked him if he would sign my program. Scott sat down at an empty seat next to me and signed my program. He signed several things for other people. Our Iloveallaccess representative took a picture of our table with Scott. Scott had his arm around me. It was so cool!!!!!
After Scott left, the raffles continued. Nicci won a t-shirt. I won a promotion item from the DVD release that was signed by Don, Glenn, Joe, and Timothy. I am thrilled with my raffle prize. We all got our Iloveallaccess bag with a selection of Eagles items.
We left the hospitality area with our new friends and made our way to our seats. All the 5-Star ticket holders were seated in the first three rows. Nicci and I were in the first row!!!! Our friends from dinner sat beside us and directly in back of us. We were amazed and pleased to be so close to the stage.
The big moment came. The Eagles took the stage. The crowd went wild. From the first bars of Take It Easy the crowd was on its feet. I was screaming. Everyone around me was screaming.
There was about six feet between the first row of chairs and the white do not cross line in front of the stage. That gave everyone room to dance. It was an unbelievable experience. Even though we all just meet, we danced together like old friends. I am sure I looked like a nerd, but I had a great time.
Nicci had a Glenn moment. Nicci was dancing, playing air guitar to Glenn's part. Glenn was standing in front of Nicci and me. There was short segment where Glenn's part was silent. Nicci waited for time to come back into the song. Glenn looked at her and used his fingers to count down to when he came back into the song. I was stunned. I stood there with my mouth open watching.
Joe's introduction to One Day at a Time was touching. You could feel the melancholy in his voice as he talked about old friends that had died. He said he was surprised he lived this long. Joe seemed surprised by the tremendous roar from the crowd when he said he was glad he was alive. I have heard this song intro several times. This night it was especially real.
Don was behind the drum set for much of the concert. It was a treat when Don came to the front of stage to sing. We laughed when a fan shouted out, "I love you Don" only to be followed by another fan screaming, "I love you more!" Don was at the front of the stage to sing Dirty Laundry. This became a 100% audience participation sing along. Everyone was on their feet sing pointing up and down in unison with Don.
Timothy has always impressed me with his kindness to the children in audience. After the Sonoma State Concert, he motioned a reluctant child to come up to the edge of the stage to give the child a guitar pick. I wanted a guitar pick. I thought I had no chance of ever getting a guitar pick. I made my way at the end of the concert to just in front of Timothy's position on the stage hopefully. Timothy left the stage. He came back out and tossed a handful of picks into the air. They landed right at my feet. I got one!!!!! I got another one for Nicci!!!! This was the perfect ending to an amazing evening.
Link: SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Features -- Eagles rest majestically on familiar perch.
In 1972, The Eagles released their super popular, self-titled debut album that included "Take It Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling."
In 1973, I was born.
As the group was busy creating a laid-back California sound that defined the 1970s, I was "Doin' the Pigeon" with Bert & Ernie. And because my parents only listened to Beatles records and rancheras on AM radio, the Eagles didn't even exist for me until well into the 1980s.
SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune
The Eagles' Glenn Frey (left) and Joe Walsh cranked out familiar hits Wednesday night at Coors Amphitheatre.
So about the only song I really knew before heading to my first Eagles concert Wednesday night was, of course, "Hotel California." That tune, it seems, is just as ingrained into American consciousness as the "Happy Birthday" song.
But as the band took the stage at Chula Vista's Coors Amphitheatre, its members looked much more familiar than I'd expected.
Wait, I know these guys!
The drummer is the dude who sings "Boys of Summer!" And that other guy, he sings "Smuggler's Blues!" That song was all over the place when MTV first went on the air!
Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit (along with guitarist Stuart Smith, who's not an official member of the band) opened their three-hour concert with "Take It Easy," which brought the sold-out crowd of 17,000 to its feet immediately.
Everyone – from the Dockers-wearing retired grandfather to the 8-year-old girls in braces – was into it.Parents and kids sang along to the mysterious "Witchy Woman" and the rocking "Heartache Tonight."
And to my surprise, so did I.
Backed by a group of musicians that included a lively horn section, the band played note-perfect renditions of songs that have – without my even realizing it – found a spot in my musical memories.
"I Can't Tell You Why," sung sweetly by bassist Schmit, was a slow-dance staple at high school dances. And "The Long Run" was one of those songs that seemed to be playing in the background at neighborhood diners.
All around, the mostly over-age-40 crowd (that included basketball personality Bill Walton) was reliving musical memories of its own, and doing more than merely singing along. As the night went on, ladies old enough to be my mother danced – or gyrated – a little too provocatively.
And there was lots of hugging and eyes-closed-swaying going on. Every few minutes, fans high-fived in clouds of smoke – just like in the '70s, man.
What does it matter that the Eagles only played two new songs? Who needs more than classics like "Tequila Sunrise" and "Take It to the Limit?" It's hits like those that bring out the fans, making the Eagles one of the biggest money-making touring bands around.
These superstar musicians, in their checkered shirts and loosefitting jeans, may look like mellow dads now, but most dads can't sing and play drums at the same time, like Henley.
Though the songs were played exactly as they sound on records, there wasn't much onstage interplay, or banter, between the Eagles themselves.
The band members occasionally sang into the same microphone or struck an exaggerated rock pose. But for the most part, they just smiled for their fans and churned out those hits.
But it wasn't all Eagles all the time. The set (which included a 20-minute intermission) was augmented with songs from various band members' solo records.
Yes, Henley sang "Boys of Summer" in his raspy voice, and the band even included those cool sea gull sounds heard on the original recording. And Walsh performed his sarcastic party song, "Life's Been Good."
But nothing topped the excitement of that famous guitar riff heard toward the end of the night.
Under the warm summer sky, the Eagles finally played "Hotel California." And it was perfect.
There it was. My Eagles experience was complete.
For someone weaned on Depeche Mode and INXS, these guys aren't the most exciting band in the world. I probably won't see them again, when they return to SDSU's Cox Arena Nov. 16, but for three hours, the Eagles somehow brought back memories I didn't even know I had.
Recent Comments