Eagles flying high on record-breaking tour
Timothy B. Schmit dazzles the crowd at Harveys on Aug. 30. Photos/Kathryn Reed
By Susan Wood
STATELINE – I was 12 years old when the Eagles’ debut album came out. I spent so many hours in my room listening to it that my mom would occasionally feel the need to check on me.
I loved the melodic harmony and kickback California style so much that it set the ground for my longing to leave the East Coast for the West. More than half the songs off the album became hits, from one of their favorite early garage-type jams “Witchy Woman” and heavy guitar rhythm “Already Gone” to top-down cruisey “Take It Easy” and sway-inducing “Train Leaves Here This Morning.”
From there, I was hooked – gobbling up LPs from “On the Border” to the more recent “Long Road Out of Eden.” This was the first full studio album in 28 years for one of the most popular rock bands of all time.
Some would say the group’s signature country-rock blend was a first for this popular mix and definitely not the last.
The Eagles wrapped up the Harveys Outdoor Concert Series this weekend with two sold-out shows. This part of their box-office record-breaking “History” tour was so named to coincide with a 2013 documentary of the same name. The band, which is led by front men Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, will continue on its massive $145 million tour that started July 2013.
Glenn Frey and Don Henley
The core singers and musicians returned to Stateline for the second time. This time original guitarist and banjo plucker Bernie Leadon joined them, much to the delight of the heavy baby boomer crowd. The band members looked older, but still had it — as they were on key and in sync with their guitars, percussion and keyboards.
Always considered the proverbial bad boy of the band, the longhaired Walsh even delivered on his own major hits “Life’s Been Good” and “Rocky Mountain Way.” He engaged the crowd with a call to perfect a guttural chant and provided his own classic contorted facial expressions.
Through the years, Walsh, Henley and Frey have shown their mettle in going solo.
Henley – always widely respected for his ability to sing as a drummer, launched the band into his own mega hit “Dirty Laundry.” The timeless piece showed news images depicting the public’s fascination with misfortunes in the news cycles.
Even Schmit, who mainly plays with the band, took the lead for his sweet, high-pitched honest depiction of a romance gone awry with “I Can’t Tell You Why.”
And later Frey tipped the band’s hat to the Beach Boys, indicating how the 1960s beach soft rock group led by Brian Wilson inspired his band’s harmonious sound.
“The Eagles were settlers, but the Beach Boys were pioneers,” he said.
With that, “Heartache Tonight” made the crowd rise again.
Then, Walsh cranked out the sexy “Those Shoes.”
After a fun-filled electric guitar challenge between Walsh and Frey in which the latter announced “you got to be funky,” the boys of summer got the crowd to its feet for “Life in the Fast Lane” – one of its biggest hits in more than four decades of making music.
The event brought hit after hit after hit.
I’ve never been to a concert where so many people knew most of the words to the songs. The couple behind us belted out a good majority of them.
Harrah’s entertainment director, John Packer, said before the Aug. 30 show to expect that based on Friday night’s concert.
“This is a bucket list show for people,” he said. “People hear they’re touring and don’t care what tickets cost.”
The Eagles shows are some of the priciest.
The first time the band played Stateline the shows sold-out immediately, prompting Harrah’s management to add a performance.
The Eagles apparently like returning to Lake Tahoe for however long they play together.
“They find out what a lot of what locals know. It’s nice here. And (the band members) get that vibe,” Packer said.
Some people don’t think twice about seeing this band more than once, as in Joe Patone of Belmont.
“I like the venue here,” he said, while the band opened with country tune “How Long.”
The group followed up with the audience sighing with a big “ah” for its soft melody “Take it to the Limit.”
From start to finish, the band gave the audience a walk down memory lane. When Henley and company left the stage before a triple encore; I could hear concertgoers declaring the band had to play “Hotel California.” The song, with its so-named album, became one of its biggest hits and marked its peak of commercial success in 1976.
But it was Henley standing in a plaid shirt at the mic for his melancholy “Desperado” that is moving enough to make the emotional cry. The lights even came up for the entire audience to sing, “you better let somebody love you.”
With yet another special pinnacle in the band’s storied career, the Eagles have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, earning five No. 1 U.S. singles and six Grammy awards. In 1998, the band was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
It was definitely a great show and they sounded fantastic. The only downside was their rule of no photos or texting. Really? Why should they care if we want to capture and share some memories of the band we paid HUNDREDS of dollars to see? Do they honestly think we are selling those photos? Come on! And if someone wants text or post a photo of them at the concert with friends, why should they care? I heard Frampton last month grabbed a phone from a front row person and threw it out in the audience. He said people shouldn’t be texting while he is playing. Now the Eagles are on board with this arrogant policy? Even security at the concert was apologizing to those they had to tell to put away their camera.
The Eagles MUSIC was great. Too bad the band members are nothing more than a bunch of greedy geezer ba$tard$. Am I off base here?
Great concert and it really kept me in the moment not having to even think about bringing my phone out. I thought it was sad when Steven Tyler of Aerosmoth was playing to a group of held up cellphones instead of the crowd. It was an excellent concert season!
This was a joke. We were told not to stand up in our 200.00 seats cause we were blocking the view of those sitting behind us. And some security doush grabbed my phone screaming ‘no video!’. Screw the Eagles and screw Harvey’s. This concert was by and for dinosaurs.
Joe Walsh stole the show. The other guys looked like they needed wheelchairs and the vocals were not strong. Getting old ain’t for cissies. I like that policy of no phones.
The concert was stunning. We did the Friday nite concert with the sunset overhead and a nice gentle occasional breeze. Absolutely unreal to see Life in the fast lane and Witchy Woman perfomed live. Classic Lake Tahoe music. Henely is something else on the drums and vocals. Been to a lot of concerts- this was one of the very best!
Tahoebluewire, you were blocking my view in my $200 seat–they had plenty of room on the side to dance. It says right on the ticket no camera/video/recording, except for you of course. This was the best show I’ve seen at Harvey’s since Joe Walsh played solo
about 10-15 years ago. Can’t wait for more “old folk” bands!
Attended the Friday night concert and loved every minute of the show. Whhhaaaa to the whiners who couldnt take videos. Put your stupid phones away and enjoy the show. I think its so rude to have to look around someone holding their phone in my face to get a c r appy photo.
This is the third time seeing the Eagles. Ive seen the guys with their other bands too. The first concert I ever attended was Joe Walsh back in 1973 doing Rocky Mountain Way and the Beach Boys in Long Beach. I us to go see Poco alot. Don Henley is such a Master. Joe Walsh was great at this Fridays show. He has done amazing at getting past his demons. And the Sunset was beautiful. I loved seeing all the guys lined up with their guitars. They are all amazing musicians and poets and it looked to me like they enjoyed being on stage and seeing so many happy fans. Id go see them again any time, any where.
First, saw the Friday show and it was GREAT! Yes Johnny, you are off base. I had no problem with people having to keep their phones turned off and in their pockets. I have been to a lot of shows where people are on their phones yelling into the mic(s) trying to carry on conversations and it is a real distraction from the music. Owning a phone gives you no special privileges that I am aware of to annoy every around you.
For those who agree with the policy of no texting and photos. As long as I am not talking on my cell phone, how is my sharing a couple photos on Facbook bothering you? You have a right to focus exclusively on the show so why can’t others have the same right to share their experience with friends who can’t afford the tickets or were smart enough to not pay the outrageous prices and associated fees? Everyone has a right to enjoy the show the way they please as long as it doesn’t infringe on other’s enjoyment. (Note I am not agreeing or supporting the no standing rule). I just want to take some photos home to remember it by without hurting anyone.
How am I off base here?
I totally agree with the no video/no photos rule and I wish they had done this for every Outdoor Concert this year. At Aerosmith and Zac Brown, people all around our $200 seats had their phones in the air much of the time with arms extended and blocked a good view much of the time. Some chicks stood on their chairs (and some chairs collapsed..Hah!) and even standing up on the ground couldn’t provide a decent viewpoint.
Thank You Harrahs/Harveys for providing such a great concert series. Please consider the No Cell Phone photos rule for all future events.
Live in the moment, people! Concentrate on enjoying the show and not on what stupid pix your want to post on your FB page in an hour.
Well, as a participant who sat directly behind a couple who had their cell phone out and on for the whole time they were there, turned on, taking pictures even as the band asked them not to, I took offense that they had to hold their phone up in front of my view to get their pictures. I was so glad they moved away about half way through the show. And some random guy sitting next to us was yelling into his phone pretty much the whole time. Sure, maybe he was expounding to his buddies how great the show was while it was happening but really it was just annoying to hear the occasional shout out he had to make between songs. Regardless, the prices to see the show were relative to other shows that went on this summer. I guess people can choose what they can afford. If its too expensive stay at home and let your friends call you from the show on their cell phones.
this eagles concert was wonderful and the band rocked.
Johnny. Going or not going to show gives you no rights. Sorry, but you are not the center of the universe.
Saw the eagles at SLC after Tahoe…I propose that the band allow everyone to take a photo when they first come out on stage, ask everyone to put the phones away and bring out the phone police then….the SLC newspaper printed Eagles-released photos from our concert a day or two later and you can post those on facebook. We figured they wanted to refine and photoshop any flaws before the pics hit the internet! Ha Ha, not easy being 65 and doing 120 concerts in a year and a half!
Debbie, problem is “people” don’t want to follow any rules, heck how many people talk or text and drive in cars?
I ASKED how I was off base and several of you gave understandable reasons. While a cell phone in your view is obnoxious, a simple tap and request to please lower their phone is no different than someone with a large hat, standing, talking, and anything else inconsiderate of others. Great suggestion Debbie. Rock4Tahoe, please get out of my universe until you learn how to share your opinion respectfully. :-)
Johnny. I did respectfully disagree. I did not take a cell phone to the show and still had a great time; In this universe no doubt. Some people just see the glass have empty I guess.
rock4tahoe says – “… Sorry, but you are not the center of the universe.” Very respectful words. No worries. Agree to disagree.
If I tapped someone on the shoulder to ask that they put down their phone, take off their hat, sit down, or to stop some other annoying thing, well, its my guess id get a beer thrown in my face, or told to f&€÷ off at the least. Thats my take on it…
JohnnyGP says about The Eagles Show–> “…definitely a great show… downside was their rule of no photos… why should they care if we want capture and share… Come on!… arrogant policy… [The Eagles] are nothing more than a bunch of greedy geezer ba$tard$… I just want to take some photos.”
Yes, the “disagreement” between us is obvious.