Eagles; Wachovia Center Philadelphia, PA 7/14/08

[jimmy19029]

Eagles; Wachovia Center Philadelphia, PA 7/14/08
At last! A whole new album of material to give us after 27 years and a good dozen or so of greatest hits shows. Not that an Eagles hits show is a bad deal, but us die hards had been hoping for more than just one or two newbies every several years. Their latest release, Long Road Out of Eden, was put out last fall and was a DOUBLE CD featuring 20 songs, with no less than NINE played tonight. GREAT DEAL!
Glad to see that ticket prices haven't gone up too much on them over the last several years in Philly(unlike the Borgata in Atlantic City where the tix for the Eagles run $200-$500! Factor in gas and tolls to A.C. and you're talking one quite expensive evening!)
The stage went dark at 8:17, but there was a three minute delay for an obvious technical problem before the boys started off with How Long(written by their songwriter/singer buddy J.D. Souther). This is the debut single from the new album that was actually not a new song. The band was playing this one live as early as 1973 but it never showed up on one of their albums until now.
On stage at the start, we had Michael Thompson stage right(left if you were facing the stage) on grand piano and a back line(going across) of Scott Crago on drums, then Will Hollis and Richard F.W. Davis on keyboards. On the front lines, Timothy was on bass with Glenn & Don on acoustic guitars in the middle. Then to their left were Joe Walsh and Steuart Smith on electric guitars, with Smith playing most the leads. This order would vary all through the evening as some members would switch around on their instruments. Don Henley would usually come back to sit behind the drums for the 70s era Eagles stuff or would just play percussion at other times. I was surprised to see him on electric guitar for a good part of the evening. And Glenn moved over to electric piano and Joe played organ while Steuart handled lead guitar on I Can't Tell You Why.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about the pride of Arlington, VA, Steuart Smith. An absolutely FINE guitarist and a breathtaking joy to hear and watch all night! Most us die hards were sad to see Don Felder go in 2001. But when we first heard Steuart, most of our fears were allayed.
After four new cuts in a row(quite a gutsy move), the stage went dark again, save for a red light which shone on a man dressed in a red mariachi outfit and Mexican hat. It was trumpeter Bill Armstrong who began to play a Latino style fanfare. And suddenly, there was Steuart Smith with his 6 string/12 string double necker electric. Well, we all knew what that meant....HOTEL CALIFORNIA TIME! Steuart played the opening notes as the screen behind the band began to come alive with the cover of that album.
The screens all the way over to the left and right featured closeups of the guys playing, while the center screen brought up images for certain chosen songs: like the ferris wheel and two lovers holding hands on Waiting in the Weeds, a beach and cadillac on Boys of Summer, video of Philly city scenes and satellite shot of the Wachovia Center on In the City, lightning and storm clouds on No More Cloudy Days, speeded up traffic on freeways and people scurrying on Life in the Fast Lane...and the BEST----shots of tabloid headlines, Jerry Springer's battling guests, Dr. Phil, Maury Povich, Bill O'Reilly, Jerry Penacoli, Chris Matthews and just about every currently popular talking head on Dirty Laundry.
Nice to hear Witchy Woman again since they hadn't played that one live in awhile. Steuart was just fine on lead, even if it lacked that killer snap on the strings that Bernie Leadon used to do back when. "This is from our "Satanic Blue Period", laughed Glenn. I recall it was the songs from One of These Nights they used to introduce as being from that "period". I guess they were talking about the songs' subject matter not the particular album they came from.
Al Garth added violin to some songs(like Lyin' Eyes) and percussion to others, then would run up to join the horn section playing sax. The horns were mostly absent during the first set but came on to play more in the second. I think this worked out alot better than having them on almost every song, like on their last tour. I'm even getting used to the new horn laden, full band version of Joe's James Gang era Funk #49. But I don't thing Walkaway works as well with the same treatment.
One of These Nights Glenn introduced as being inspired by the great 70s soul records made in Philly. "It's great to be back in Philly", Glenn said. "We've moved next door, just like all the sports teams. But I remember the Spectrum and dressing in Bobby Clarke's locker...."
Take it to the Limit was brought back into the set a few years ago, now sung by Glenn in a lowered key. I think he sounded much better and alot more comfortable singing it this time. Glenn did his usual variation of the current credit card joke to set this one up, introducing it as "The Credit Card Song". I was surprised not to see any horns appear here, like they originally were played on the album version.
I particularly enjoyed hearing Lyin' Eyes, even though I've heard it many times. Quite moving to the ears it sounded tonight. We all sang along to this, as we would to many others this night. I felt like I was 16 again.....
Breathtaking harmonies on the second set's opener, No More Walks in the Woods, and nice ripping lead by Walsh and fine slide playing by Steuart on Long Road Out of Eden's title track.
Last up were the encores, which included Take it Easy and Desperado. Then the show was over until next time. THREE GLORIOUS HOURS!

set 1(8:20-9:25)

How Long
Busy Being Fabulous
I Dont Want To Hear Anymore
Guilty Of The Crime
Hotel California
Peaceful Easy Feelin'
I Can't Tell You Why
Witchy Woman
Lyin' Eyes
Boys Of Summer
In The City
The Long Run

set 2(9:45-11:40)

No More Walks In The Wood
Waiting In The Weeds
No More Cloudy Days
Love Will Keep Us Alive
Take It To The Limit
Long Road Out Of Eden
Somebody
Walk Away
One Of These Nights
Band Intros
Life's Been Good
Dirty Laundry
Funk # 49
Heartache Tonight
Life In The Fast Lane

Rocky Mountain Way
All She Wants To Do Is Dance

Take It Easy
Desperado


Current Lineup:

Glenn Frey-vocals, gtr, kybds, synth, harmonica
Don Henley-vocals, drums, percussion, gtr, synth
Joe Walsh-vocals, gtr, kybds, synth
Timothy B. Schmit-vocals, bass
Steuart Smith-gtr, mandolin, kybds, backing vocals
Scott Crago-drums, perc.
Michael Thompson-kybds, trombone, backing vocals
Will Hollis-kybds, synth, backing vocals
Al Garth-sax, violin, percussion
Richard F. W. Davis-keyboards
Chris Mostert-tenor sax
Greg Smith-baritone sax
Bill Armstrong-trumpet

[Moon Beam]

The screens all the way over to the left and right featured closeups of the guys playing, while the center screen brought up images for certain chosen songs: like the ferris wheel and two lovers holding hands on Waiting in the Weeds, a beach and cadillac on Boys of Summer, video of Philly city scenes and satellite shot of the Wachovia Center on In the City, lightning and storm clouds on No More Cloudy Days, speeded up traffic on freeways and people scurrying on Life in the Fast Lane...and the BEST----shots of tabloid headlines, Jerry Springer's battling guests, Dr. Phil, Maury Povich, Bill O'Reilly, Jerry Penacoli, Chris Matthews and just about every currently popular talking head on Dirty Laundry.

I like this idea, the Dirty Laundry sequence seems fitting.
Thanks for the review, an enjoyable read once again.