As promised, here is a VERY long, detailed review that I wrote after the Oakland concert on October 11, 2005. It was the 3rd Eagles concert that I attended. But, this was the first concert where I had a really great seat, and I watched the guys intensely and took MANY notes. Just as an FYI, I also attended Sacramento show a fews weeks after this and didn’t write down one single word. After reading this, you'll probably understand why. Well, here goes...
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Oakland Coliseum - October 11, 2005
Many of you have probably heard me say that I would give anything to just have eye contact with the guys. I would not have been qualified to comment on whether or not the guys check out the audience or not - but after Tuesday night, I am officially qualified. Let me tell you - I got EYE CONTACT!!! Let me also preface this by saying I'm no spring chicken and am not the hottest chick that was in the audience. Many people got eye contact, including some men in the audience. I was sitting in the third row right in front of Glenn (and Don when he took center stage). After the first few songs, I thought Tim was trying to "chose" me because I thought he made eye contact with me several times. But we all know about wishful thinking and it looked like he was looking at me, but I wasn't positive. I also think I made eye contact with Don once and Joe once. Then, finally it came - Glenn finally took me back from Tim. I thought I got eye contact 3 or 4 times from Glenn. But, then came the real deal - verified EYE CONTACT! Here's what lead up to it - none of which was planned, but some tips that we should never forget. First of all, I wore a bright sky blue shirt and whenever the stage lights came up, they were right on me, so I guess the shirt may have stood out. But the best stroke of luck was that there was a little 4 or 5 year-old girl sitting right next to me with her mom. Sometime late in the show Glenn acknowledged the little girl and was talking to her and making cute faces at her. During LITFL, was my major moment - Glenn was mouthing the words as usual and when he got to the line "she was too tired to fight about it" he stared directly at me through the whole line. I stared directly back, and then I pointed to myself and mouthed ME? at him - he looked back at me, pointed to his shirt, and mouthed "blue" indicating the color of my shirt. He made a quick face at me by squenching his nose and gave me a little grin. And I swear, I'll never be the same again. Now, I really did think I was dreaming, but I am certain now that it wasn't a dream - it was real. After the song ended, before leaving the stage, Glenn bent over and said "Don't leave, I've got some picks for you." A few minutes later, someone came over and gave the little girl next to me a set of picks. There were none for me. However, I don't think the little girl got more than a couple of bruises as I wrestled them away from her (now, of course, I am just kidding).
What I want to convey about this is that as much as that moment meant to me, I'm sure Glenn probably just considers it "working the crowd". Entertaining is his business and many of us have acknowledged many times what an astute businessman Glenn is. These guys know who butters their bread. The only thing left for me to say right now is that it is probably just as well that I didn't get to meet this man in person. I don't know what I'd have done if I had cornered this happily married father of three! All I can do now is ask for you all to keep me in your thoughts, and hope that I have a full and speedy recovery.
BTW - I tried to get a camera in two different doors, but got caught both times so, I had to take it back to the car. They apparently strictly enforced the no camera rule because I don't recall seeing flashes going off during the show.
Okay everyone - I'm sitting here with my notes from the concert. I already posted the best part (at least for me). I apologize in advance for the length, but some of you wanted details, so I'm giving them to you. All I can say is if you don't want details, then skip over this post. So now, let the details begin - it's going to be a long post ladies and gentlemen.
Part I - The Fashion Report
The guys looked fabulous! After the break, they all kept the same pants, but changed shirts. Here is a pic (Sorry, Tim fans).
Tim - I'll start with him since, again, the photographer must have forgotten that "TIMOTHY IS AN EAGLE." He looked great in his skin tight faded black jeans. During the first set, he had on a white button down long sleeve white shirt opened to the 3rd button - no chest hair showing - oh dah! He was also wearing a black vest with very small white pokka dots and a short black rope chain around his neck. His hair was the usual "Tim" hair. After break, he changed to a fitted, collarless black knit 3/4 sleeve shirt (looked REAL hot).
Don <sigh> - He looked great the first set. He wore dark black jeans. The shirt was really nice - a double pocket button down light grey silky (not shiny though) fabric with a very thin black stripe opened to the first button (no chest hair showing). His hair was a little longer than in the F1 DVD, but still spiked. No cowboy hat this time. After the break, it was back to plaid - white and light beige double pocket button down opened to the first button. For Desperado, he put on a brown sports type jacket. Now, of course, I would never make fun of Don's fashion sense - but let's just say the jacket appeared to be a little dressy over the shirt, particularly since the shirt sleeves were much longer than the jacket sleeves. (Still hot though, no matter what he wears).
Joe - He looked absolutely fabulous - the best I've seen him recently. The best thing was his pants - they were more fitted than the usual pajama/elephant pants he wears making him look much thinner than in the F1 DVD. They were all black and either cotton or knit fabric - showing that he still has quite a nice bod. You can see the great looking black and green 3/4 sleeve shirt in the picture with a long sleeve black shirt under it. His hair also looked great - no gel. After the break, he kept the long sleeve black shirt but changed to a short sleeve bright multi-colored shirt over it. (Very nice as well)
Glenn (excuse me, but I may have just fainted) - You can see his light blue jeans in the picture with a black tee shirt. The cover shirt was hot - long sleeve (sleeves rolled) white with pink and black thin to medium width stripes and no pockets. Normal great Glenn hair about the same length as in F1. After break, he kept the black tee and changed to a solid light blue shirt about the same color as his jeans. Again, the shirt had no pockets, was long sleeve with sleeves rolled. BTW - Glenn had a goober-free evening as far as I could tell.
Other guys -
Steuart - Wore all black - black jeans, black tee, and black long sleeve shirt. After the break, he just took off the black cover shirt. He looked okay, but I personally prefer some color.
Will - I never could see his pants, but he wore a really nice button down (open to third button) long sleeve navy blue shirt with a medium to wide width white stripe. (Real nice)
Scotty - I never could see his pants, but he wore a button down (open to second button) solid black shirt. I forgot to write down the sleeve length. oops
Mike - He was the only thing I could not see the entire night. The piano was just at the wrong angle where I was sitting, and I never even saw his face.
Mighty Horns - Pretty much standard attire - wore the hats some.
Part II - What They Said
There were some new comments and jokes. I thought they all seemed in very good spirits. Although, I think Joe must have either been tired or a little under the weather. If there is tension going on in the band right now, they managed to hide it well. Glenn, in particular, was in really good spirits and pretty talkative for an Eagle. BTW - The show started at 8:22.
Glenn - Made opening remarks after Witchy Woman. Just said "Hello Oakland, San Francisco, Bay Area ecetera and that it was nice to be playing California, and they were going to play for a long time.
NKIT - Glenn said the song had the highest notes he could hit in his natural voice (pause) in 1976.
Lyin' Eyes - said he always dedicates to first wife, Plaintiff. It actually got a good laugh, so I guess there are still people out there that haven't heard it before.
OOTN - After the song, Glenn said that when they wrote most of their songs, the Dead Sea was just sick.
NMCD - Glenn said he had listened to some David Grey stuff and really liked it and it gave him the inspiration for writing the song. He said that songwriters didn't call it stealing - they call it modeling. He joked that amateurs model - professionals steal.
TITTL - Glenn said the song had a deeper meaning in California - only in CA do their wives call it the credit card song. (I thought they called it that everywhere). I think he was trying to be warm and fuzzy because he also said that people call them a Southern CA band and as far as they were concerned that they are a CA band - they don't differentiate between northern CA and southern CA.
Glenn's band intro was particularly cute this time. He said he was going to tell where everyone was from - then he laughed and said actually we all live together in a big house in Laurel Canyon. He introduced Chris Mostert as their seed dealer from Holland, and he said that the band all goes home after the shows these days, but they "send Scotty out to let them know what would be happening if they did still hang."(Note: Unless Glenn was lying, IMO, this validates that the band is no longer partying with groupies after the concerts these days - but all along I thought that was the statement they were making when they added a real third encore to the shows.)
AG - Glenn's said to the audience thanks for our support not just tonight, but over the last 37 years.
Joe - I was really disappointed that he didn't do ODAAT so his first song was In the City. He started with his "How ya doin'?" of course. Then he said he couldn't believe it was October already - wasn't it still June about 10 minutes ago? Said that the song was about being in the city.
LBG - Joe used the helmet cam. He joked and said to feel free to express yourself however you wanted, although some ways are more effective than others. He introduced the song by saying that he "started writing a beautiful love song, but somewhere along the way I must have had a big mood swing cause this is what happened." He also said he was hoarse, but would get through it. And boy he did - it sounded great. He changed the words this time to "the Lakers stink without Shaq" and said his fans write to tell him Don's great.
RMW - Joe said "Bush is at bat - now you all say it." So the band didn't sing "time to change the batter" - the audience did.
Don introduced the break instead instead of Glenn. (I was glad since Don does so little talking). He said they couldn't play this long without taking a break - "just think of it as a 4th inning stretch and we'll be right back."
HITW - Don's intro was longer than F1 (which, again I liked). He repeated the part about how they had finished touring Europe and Russia and made the comment about drinking vodka to keep warm. Then, he talked about how they were supposed to go in the studio on September 20th - then he corrected himself and said I mean September 11th. He also said that they started writing the song that night, and it took them about a year to finish it. (Sorry - I can't resist saying it - but no wonder they can't lay 10 tracks for a new CD). He dedicated the song to the 9/11 victims, as well as, the victims of the tsunamis, recent hurricanes, and "at the risk of being politically incorrect" the victims of the earthquake in Pakistan and India.
DL - Don dedicated it to Nancy Grace, but made no other comment.
Tim - Before LWKUA, Tim said it was his turn to greet everyone and that everyone thinks he's from Sacramento, but he was actually born right here in Oakland. (Big roar from crowd, of course).
Part III - Other cool, fun, memorable moments.
I saw Glenn blow the kiss to the camera and laugh, but I don't know what song. It was very cute.
NKIT - Near the end, when Glenn sings Oh my, my - I think he must have messed something up. It wouldn't have been noticable except that he just cracks up laughing at himself.
Lyin' Eyes - At the end Glenn and Joe bow to each other.
BOS - Glenn and Don had some really nice warm and fuzzy moments playing and laughing together. Then, Steuart comes across the stage to Glenn during the guitar solo and they play together. During same, Don and Joe are talking and laughing back and forth.
TLR - Joe and Tim have a warm and fuzzy fun moment. When Don "sings" to Joe, Joe mouths "couldn't hold a candle to me." Don and Glenn both bend over at the same time during "kinda bent, but we ain't broken" and then crack up at each other. It seems as if a good time is being had by all.
LWKUA - Dreamer has very probable, but unconfirmed eye contact with Tim. Glenn is mouthing the words (never seen him mouth the words to this one before).
WA - Tim is really into it. Comes up very close to the edge of the stage and is "working the crowd."
SG - Don and Glenn have another warm and fuzzy moment playing at the beginning. Joe says something to Don and Don really cracks up (a big one). At the end during the sax part, Glenn is repeatedly mouthing what looks like boo ba boo ba to the music. (You know how that man loves his sax).
LBG - The usual Glenn and Joe funnies, but they don't do the little skip and jump part.
DL - Glenn and Joe cracking up at each other again. Glenn and Tim have a warm and fuzzy - smiling at each other during the "kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down" part. Don goes over to the far left of the stage (only time I think). When they line up together, Joe is the only one that jumps up and down, but Glenn and Don are cracking up and having another "moment." After Glenn's guitar solo at the end is when he first starts interacting with the little girl sitting next to me.
F49 - Glenn and Tim interacting - Tim is clapping and Glenn is doing something back by rubbing his neck. Glenn starts major interaction with audience.
HT - Dreamer has very probable, but unconfirmed eye contact with Joe. Glenn is "into" it.
LITF - Glenn is mouthing the words as usual. Dreamer has confirmed eye contact and communication with Glenn. LITF is now Dreamer's new best Eagles song and blue is now my favorite color. "She was too tired to fight about it" is the best line ever written in the history of rock 'n roll, IMO. OBTW - I don't know how I remembered this, but at the end of the song, when Don comes out from behind the drums, a piece of Don's little spiked hair has fallen down on his forehead like in F1. Glenn leans over before leaving the stage and says, "Don't leave, I have some picks for you." Everyone is excited because they might get picks.
HC - Glenn winks and sniffs when Don sings "warm smell of colitas." Don does a small "uh."
RMW - Glenn nods his head up and down when audience sings "time to change the batter." (Note: Some of you may now think that Dreamer is somewhat fixated on Glenn and not paying attention to the other guys, which could be partially true, but Glenn truly is the one that is really "working the crowd" at this point). Someone brings set of guitar picks to little girl sitting next to Dreamer. Dreamer doesn't get any.
ASWTDID - Dreamer has very probable, but unconfirmed eye contact with Don and Don grins. Don goes over to play with Steuart during guitar solo. Don gives a very big grin again. Glenn does his dance, but Joe is pretty much just playing. Doesn't do his dance like in F1 and Tim didn't clap.
AG - Glenn gives Tim a big smile during guitar solo.
Desperado - Don is "into" it - doesn't look at audience.
Curtain Call - Joe "slouches" as he comes to center stage, indicating that he is very tired. As the guys are walking off the stage, someone throws something white that very much appears to be "lingerie" but I couldn't tell what it was (definately too small to be a tank top). Don picks it up, grins, and carries it off stage with him.
Whew - The End
P.S. I hung around for a few minutes checking to see if anyone was going to make it backstage, but I didn't see anyone.