Opening for the Eagles was "Keith Urban" and " The Dixie Chicks". The concert started at 4:30 in the afternoon and I couldn't get off work until 5 p.m. We got there at about 6:30 just as keith was finishing up. We've seen Keith before and he is excellent and we were hoping to see him again this time. I said "Who starts a concert where thousands will show up at 4:30 in the afternoon during the week when people are working? They can't all be on welfare :D"
When we arrived at the parking lot, which is huge in itself, there were many people tailgating having dinner on their small grills and listening to Eagles songs even though Keith was playing inside. After what seemd like a mile walk in the parking lot we finally got to the stadium. The old stadium is right next to the new one and still in the process of being torn down. It was surreal looking and looked like something out of a nuclear holocaust movie with tall steel beams and stairways extending upwards and partially torn down walls all with weeds and tall grass growing out of them. Once inside the stadium we were told our seats were on the other side so we walked what seemed like another mile inside. Inside is something else to behold with flat screen TV's jutting out from the walls and hanging from the ceilings and even in the elevators. We found all the attendants there very friendly and most accomodating to help you find your way around. Even the refreshment stand people I found to be very exhuberant and chatty making it even more pleasant.
Once we got our seats, which weren't bad at all, on the side facing the stage, we waited for the next act. Next up was The Dixie Chicks. I must admit I wasn't familiar with their music, just their politics and lead singer Natalie Maines which I'm 180 degrees to the right of, but musically I was very impressed. They are a very country style band and very talented. I particularly liked their violinist who played beautifully and had beautiful long blonde hair pulled back and up. Natalie had a buzz cut haircut which made her look very butch, but she did mention her husband so who knows. LOL. Fortunatly they left the politics aside and we enjoyed them. As Laura Ingraham says, "just shut up and sing." :D
After about a half hour break, The Eagles came on about 8 p.m. For those of you who are not familiar with them, The Eagles have been around for almost 40 years now and they look and sound great not like old guys. They are very energetic and you'd think by doing songs for that long they'd sound mechanical and redundant, but no, they are consumate performers and each song sounded fresh and like they just recorded them. The Eagles consist of Glen Fry, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmidt. They opened up with their hit song "Peaceful Easy Feeling" which got the audience in a good mood as they sang along in perfect harmony and unison along with them. Next the stage grew dark and a lone trumpeter playing a haunting melody bathed only in a red spotlight played. This solo led into the all too familiar guitar rift of Hotel California which got the audience applauding madly and in approval. I've included a link below to it which was from a performance I think was taken about a year ago. I've also included a link that tells some interesting facts about the song while you hear it. Although there have been many interpretations of the song, Don Henley said it's about the excess of the Hollywood elite since they were just four guys from the mid-west. Hotel California is actually an old hotel called The Pink Palace in Hollywood where many stars go.
Another favorite of mine is "Lyin' Eyes." The melody is so catchy and intriguing that sucks you in everytime and the lyrics about a cheating wife are so direct and sincere. When Glen Fry introduced the song he said it took them about two days to write that song and today it would take two weeks."We did things fast in those days," he said. He dedicated it to his first wife called "Plaintiff".:D. I love the beginning lyrics:
City girls just seem to find out early/how to open doors with just a smile/a rich old man and she won't have to worry/she'll dress up in lace and go in style/Late at night the big old house gets lonely/I guess every form of refuge has its' price/and it breaks her heart to think her love is only given to a man with hands as cold as ice/so she tells him she must go out for the evening/to comfort an old friend who's feeling down/but he knows where she's going as she's leaving / She's headed for the cheatin' side of town.
The video graphics the had were also fascinating to watch. In one song they had a repeated phrase that says "Hit 'em when they're up, Hit 'em when they're down".While they sang that song, media talking heads appeared on the screen such as Bill O"Reilly, Glenn Beck, Keith Olberman, Ann Coulter, Whoopi Goldberg , Jerry Springer and Dr.Phil. After several minutes of this it was followed by flashing sensational headlines from trashy tabloids like the Enquirer and The Star, People magazine and US magazine and many others. "Hit 'em when they're up. Hit 'em when they're down." It was humorous and made sense in a bizarre way.
Next came Joe Walsh who I think is one of the greatest guitar players around if not ever. Joe has been with the Eagles since the beginning and has gone out on his own too. He has very interesting features and an almost rubbery face that is really expressive. He did his famous song "In the City" which is featured in the move "The Wanderers." As he sang this, a video of the earth from outer space appeared and zoomed in on the East coast and eventually New York City and continued showing various parts and people indicative of New York City. Joe's guitar solos are outstanding and out of this world sort of speak. The video accompaning the song is appropriate in many ways considering he makes notes that sound like they are coming from outer space. He even mouths notes in weird sounds like Peter Frampton was known to do while adjusting his guitar strings to make long up and down sounds. The end of the video is in reverse and you leave New York heading out until you see the earth again from space as the song closes. WOW!
They played for two hours straight without a break and at the end came on for about three encores including their hit "take It Easy"and did my wife's favorite Eagles song "Desperado."
The Eagles are a clean, classy and professional group that really gets you rockin' and feeling good. Mrs. Jaycee agrees and has this advice for you. When going to a concert like this don't jump up and dance in front of people sitting behind you. Go out on the floor where other people are or in the main aisles. Don't selfishly obstruct others' view as we had with two couples in front of us forcing us to move our seats.
Here's a video taken last year of The Eagles doing Hotel California. Joe Walsh is the man dressed in black . Watch his hands on his amazing guitar solos. Don Henley is the one singing and playing the drums, Glen Fry is the one in the plaid shirt and Timothy Schmidt is the one with the long hair.
Hotel California - The Eagles Ca
Here's an interesting video that tells you interesting facts about Hotel Califoirnia with images as you listen to it. Enjoy.
MHere'susic Facts: Hotel California
Here's another video shot the nightwe were there 6/10/10 featuring Joe Walsh
The Eagles - Life's Been Good Live at New Meadowlands Stadium, NJ 6/10/10 East Rutherford
No comments:
Post a Comment