the EAGLES

Couldn't care anymore, even though it was no SATURDAY NIGHT. After all those years (5 all in all) I couldn't believe it. IS IT TRUE? Yes indeed, the Eagles: live!! I took the train from somewhere ON THE BORDER (instead of using the "OL'55") to make it on time without useless driving around in search for a parking lot. Being somehow a kind of EARLYBIRD & around the concert hall at 5 p.m. (show was about to start at 8 p.m.) I was not just a single waiting OUTLAW MAN. There were already a pocket full of (hardcore?) fans waiting. So we were waiting for what should be a night to remember, because they never been the low-prize musicians. After hearing from inside the hall a few seconds from the sound check of "the long run" and the first lines of "seven bridges road" I thought tonight gonna be A GOOD DAY IN HELL. But it was just 10 past 5, and nothing more should happen until the gates were opened at 6.36 p.m.. It took quite a while, until the audience have taken the seats, (or like me stood first/second row) but it was worth the wait and the show started shortly after the official announcement referring to 8 o'clock (8.06 p.m. to be exactly) and of course without any supporting act.

They entered the stage from their right side and as the spotlight lit up the audience got really wild. Here they were (from left to right) Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, Glenn Frey & Joe Walsh. Live & fully colored. Even they were a little bit older theses days, they were loved as much as ever (even more I guess). They were all dressed in fine suits. Timothy & Don in black, Glenn also in a suit (but in his usual eyes-challenging somewhat XYZ colors). And Joe? Well, a little bit out of style comparing to the others (esp. his T-Shirt), but that doesn't matter, if you have seen THOSE SHOES !!
They opened with an a-capella version of seven bridges road which sounded really great. This I hadn't really expected, because I like the "Waldbühne" (where the concert originally should take place; below the open sky) much more than the "Max-Schmeling-Halle". And indeed there were a lot of light stuff above the stage to be seen, so it could really have been, that the official statement for shifting the place was true ...
Anyway. The lights went down and everybody (the other seven? musicians, too) went to their instruments and they continued with the long run. But it was a kind of poor version, especially because I like that one very much and so I was a little bit disappointed after that gorgeous a-capella opener. Something was missing or was it just because Don's voice weren't that good & voluminous after having the excellent 'inside job'-album tune in my ears? I hoped it were just because they were starting, even though the technical problems seem too much. Glenn's guitar & Timothy's bass rarely worked in the whole first part of the show. So both had a reason to look as bored and unhappy as they did, but even Don don't seem to be really happy to be here on stage at all. But without overrating this, I just kept on cheering to what Glenn said next. He welcomed the fans in their own language (sounded like: "Guten Abend meine Damen und Herren") and introduced the next song as one from the Hotel California-Album. While Don was playing the drums, Glenn were (singing about) the new kid in town. But what's that? Even Glenn's voice (hearing his alone) were just a 'pale shade of former times'. I nearly cried (but not like a lover) about that development of this evening. Don't know if MOST OF US ARE SAD, but at least I felt like a CERTAIN KIND OF FOOL, but still had some trust that it could only get better. So Don went back on the front-microphone and standing in the spotlight was 'performing' wasted time. But even that (their best ballade ever!) never hit me. No real emotion, just another song they are going to take down. I nearly thought about this whole evening as sitting in a kind of SAD CAFE instead of relaxing in one of the LAST RESORTs these days. The 'band' played the wasted time reprise and I was about to say "yes, indeed". A little bit better was peaceful easy feeling, even the fans started to make some noise and partly sung along. (Glenn weren't heard that loud, even though his voice became clearer and I loved it. - Not just because he's a great performer, but for he was not just TRYIN', but he is always giving himself into the songs and that's as much as any fan could expect. Maybe it sounded unexpected/unfamiliar, but worked anyway. Best one so far.)
Afterwards it was the first time Joe took the spot and thrilled with pretty maids all in a row. And if you believe it or not, it was just perfect. He had no problems with his voice & really sounded great. Not just because of the 'poor' others, but even better than ever I was about to believe. (Although I have to admit, that I'd underrated him completely up to this night.) And who can resist "Hi there. How are ya?" - the fans got wild and gave a big response. Afterwards Timothy spoke to the fans which (I understood as " ... the one and only Mr. Joe Walsh, you can hear/see a lot more of him ... if he chooses ..."). So he [Timothy] (may) got more response during the introduction of the song named love will keep us alive from the gorgeous hell freezes over long-player ['94] which he also sang. (As one of his JUST two but never the less great performances. But it's the prize for quality, I guess). Well, I really enjoyed this one and knew afterwards, why he is still the one with the most sympathy on his side. So he got as much applause as none of the others were able to catch so far. And it was justified because he was as good as on his last solo album feed the fire. During this song Don was on the guitar, which is still an unusual/strange picture.
The lights went down again and all on stage where again playing seek-and-hide, while they are changing positions and instruments. After a few seconds of the following song it was the first time you could see nearly TOO MANY HANDS, because Don was about to sing something about the boys of summer. It was a faster version as I was able to remember it was on his solo-album, but it was a really cool idea. The audience was hot and I was about to say: "they got them". And now the fans seem to feel free und enjoy the show.
Don't know if it was a good decision, but instead of feeding the fire with one more fast song, they slowed down again. While Glenn was back on the piano and introducing the following song with "... the next song we hadn't played for a while ..." and that they decided just a few days ago to play this one on stage (again). So some fans were willing to hear it as introduction to "OL'55" [with Glenn on piano], but instead take it to the limit were performed, which (to my surprise) also got a lot of the audience's applause. Even the solo was great. Now, finding myself in a kind of 'ballade-mood', I loved to hear best of my love. And was happy to recognize, that Don's voice was getting better and better the more he sang so as Glenn's did. Wonderful. Finally the Eagles were back!!
Now the best part of the first section of the show was about to happen. "... a lot of German names are in the band ... Meisner, Schmit, Walsh ..." [and some more, which of course don't really fit]. Now again Glenn spoke to the audience about George W. Bush and how he would prefer to sing the following song for him in about three years: already gone. - They still call the things by name. And this performance of the song was the best so far, without a shadow of doubt.
Don went over to the bongo-drums and tried to calm down the fans (which gone real crazy during the last song). But out of nowhere Joe drew the in the city. Unbelievable! How great that song sounds, when you hear it live is indescribable. Finally I got the feeling of having made the right decision being here tonight. The next one was introduced as the last (before that app. 20 minutes break) and the promise was "we will be back" , which no longer was a threat, but a prayer. It keep the fans going on. So they played the former title of that tour one of these nights. Again a great one and well performed.

Summary (part one): After a poor part shortly after that brilliant opening (with 'seven bridges road') the show was getting better from song to song. They seem to find to one another and the voices became clearer and stronger. It was striking, that only Glenn seems to be able/willing to communicate with the fans, but he done a very good job. The technical problems were getting fewer and the order of songs was not that bad after all. So we (as fans) took the time to cool down after the first 65 minutes - sometimes time just flies by - while some things on stage were rearranged.

9.32 p.m. they came back with witchy woman, which I guess is a purely Henley song. After lyin' eyes it was Timothy for his second (and unfortunately last time) who was singing the emotional I can't tell you why. Went down to the bones, really. Great job, well done.
Now Joe was joking with Timothy and sung walk away. Never came clear with this song so far, but again it was Joe who made it worthwhile. So it turned out to became my temporary best loved Eagles song. Ain't that cool?! *g* Everyone got OUT OF CONTROL and this excellent & enthusiastic performance will forever remain as one of the best ever in my mind. This was followed by the silent spring interlude meanwhile all four took guitars to celebrate the tequila sunrise. Again it was Henley's turn "down at the sunset grill". Awesome & no time for another beer meanwhile. I hadn't expected such a slow song in the second part of the show, but it was really cool and fitting. Glenn, using the "short piano"(or whatever) gave us (after the band's instrumental prelude) you belong to the city. Strong one, but it turned out to be different than he had expected. Because while playing the guitar-solo Joe stole Glenn's spot with his genius play. But all that just seems to be a preparation of the Joe-Walsh-Show. Because life's been good to him so far and he enjoyed it really do be doin' it on stage. Having fun, joking around and even create some new lyrics. You can't expect more. Ever mentioned they all played their instruments good? Well. In this song everything fitted (esp. Timothy on bass & Don on drums) but they all were just a kind of band-aids for the guitar of Joe Walsh. He surely is the man & great & as written on the screen "HE'S COOL" and everybody admitted and screamed "OH YEAH !".
And now they got hot and pushed each other. So the show went on with dirty laundry and the audience sung extra-loud "kick'em when they're up - kick'em when they're down" and gesticulated all the time along with him. Fantastic as even he (Don) must admit, even though he never really showed it. But the push was just alright with Joe, who just started the funk #49. It was getting harder and harder for the fans who seem to be exhausted, but enormously happy. But instead of having time to slow down and recover, they just must kept on going. It was so an overwhelming feeling without a single chance to escape. So all pain were thrown apart and again begun the rhythmical claps. This time to heartache tonight. And it was at least as touching as the studio track - but I guess much more. (Meanwhile were a little struggle between a fan and the security, which nearly brought the performance to a sudden death, but as the staff seemed to have everything under control, the Eagles could concentrate again and could continue.) To push the emotions again, they played life in the fast lane which really took the last breath away. I personally never really loved that song (not even liked it at all), but they played it f***ing cool and so you couldn't do less than sing along. After ending this song, they left the stage, so the fans had to beg for more.
Hadn't took them that long, two minutes after leaving the stage the Eagles came back and started 10:37 p.m. with a trumpet solo ending in there everlasting classic rock monument Hotel California.
Leaving the fans again for some more cheers (meanwhile 10:47), it took them this time the endless time of three minutes to bring them back on stage. The second encore was again a one man show for Joe Walsh. Playing his rocky mountain way pushed each and every one (again!) to the limit.
Not really knowing, if there would be one more encore some fans were already leaving. I couldn't believe that! Were they crazy? At this point of the evening I was about to say, it was the best party I ever visited and it was the best decision I ever made. But anyway. After three more minutes they entered the stage a final time. Exactly at 11:00 they seem to be as happy as the audience was. And being the stars as they are, they seem to say: It's just us, the Eagles, so: take it easy. Another great one in a row of superlatives. The lights went down a final time and while standing in the spotlight, Don gave, now with a incredible strong voice, to us the hymn for all Desperados out there. It was the only time, he/they wanted the fans to sing along and they did the repetition of the last line ("you better let somebody love you") damn well. So even they [Eagles] were able to feel the emotion and had the certainty still playing the best country-rock for over 30 years. - Well done.

Summary (part two): Brilliant. Not much more to say. Really improved (voices & technique) and really amusing entertainment. So after that more or less weak first part they were worth the money and were really cool. Respect. So after they played more ballads in the first, they gave the rock&soul in the second part. They showed each and every one, they are still on top and no dinosaurs. They really can compete with the rookies.
So all in all it was one of the best concerts I ever been to and really enjoyed it. They played about two and a half hour (8.06-11.08), so the tickets weren't that much overpriced. (While the merchandise indeed was!) The only thing to criticize is, that there were not that much mic-work as they are able to do. So it may have seem to them to play just one more gig they had to play, without feeling special to be in front of that awesome audience which cheered them within the first seconds up to the last echo of the final note. Maybe they were really a little bit tired after doing so many other shows before, but at least Joe seems to be happy to play one more gig and be in front of such a wild bunch of crazy fans. So my personal worst "actor" of the night (even he was partly great too) was Don Henley. Although I still love his music best and he's still cool, it seemed to me that he had no real fun this evening and was frosty (or was in a kind of 'pissed off'-mood) for I don't know why.
Missing songs were a lot to mention, for there are so many good songs written by them all through the years. They kinda liked not having so much slow ballads on their playlist, although I had liked to hear the ballads 'ol'55' , 'heart of the matter' or 'learn to be still'. Nevertheless 'get over it' or 'victim of love' would also had made a lot of fun to hear. I hope they come 'round again some one more times. Because without a shadow of a doubt they are still hot.