Oklahoma City Goodies

Oklahoman Preview

Summer concert season heats up venues
2002-06-28
By Sandi Davis
The Oklahoman


Britney Spears may have had the honor of being the first artist announced to perform at the Ford Center, but it's the Eagles who get to play there first.
If you're lucky enough to have tickets for Saturday night's show, you'll see this year's version of the Eagles, what their press releases call "Eagles V" -- Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit.

You can count on hearing all the old favorites you've heard since they soared onto the rock music scene in the 1970s.

While I like "Hotel California" and "Heartache Tonight" and "I Can't Tell You Why," I was very happy to hear the band sing "The Last Resort" at their "Hell Freezes Over" tour. That song ranks right up with my other favorites "The Sad Cafe" and "The Long Run."

I expect we'll hear songs from all the Eagles' solo projects, and, considering those, Henley's win in a walk. If I would count my compact discs by the guys, I think I have all of Henley's while only a few of Frey's and Walsh's and none from Schmit.

I'll be there, the person with a laptop glowing in the dark. I'm not playing Solitaire; I'm working, and you can read my review of the show in Sunday's paper.
 

Oklahoman Review

Eagles rock fans at Ford Center
2002-06-30


Oklahoma fans gave The Eagles a mighty big welcome Saturday night to the first concert at the new Ford Center.
The sold-out house rocked as Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh delivered a hit-packed set, accompanied by a backup chorus of more than 20,000.

The quartet delighted everyone with its opening number, the a capella "Seven Bridges Road" then played a great version of "The Long Run."

The acoustics in the Ford Center are superb. From the floor or the highest seats, the sound was as pristine as a recording as each member took a solo turn, backed up by fellow Eagles.

Walsh sang "Pretty Maids All in a Row," Schmit sang "Love Will Keep Us Alive" from "Hell Freezes Over" and Henley sang "Boys of Summer."

Frey was the only one to sing a classic Eagles song during his featured vocal, with a stirring take of "Take It to the Limit."

The audience, made up of all ages and spanning all styles of dress, made it easy for the Eagles on songs like "New Kid in Town" and "Already Gone." Henley just had to use one finger to coax more applause and screams when the band played "Wasted Time."

After a brief intermission, the band returned to sing more of their hits from the '70s, '80s and '90s.

The eight-piece backup band included lead guitarist Steuart Smith The band included a solid brass section, keyboards and a one-man music machine who played everything from percussion to violin.

When Schmit was singing "I Can't Tell You Why," the audience sang with him lyric for lyric.

The Ford Center has nothing to worry about when competing with other markets for big acts. The sound in this building makes it perfect for any act that cares to come this way, including Britney Spears, whose concert is July 19.

-- Sandi Davis and Brandy McDonnell, The Oklahoman

Jim W's Review

THE EAGLES in Oklahoma City- OUTSTANDING!!!!!

29 June 2002 20,000 fans piled into the new Ford Center for the FIRST EVER Rock Concert at the Center...The Eagles opened with 7 Bridges Road and Rocked for the next 3 and 1/2 hours....we were not only given Eagles hits but songs but Joe Walsh, Don Henley, and Glen Frey...From Rocky Moutain Way to Sunset Grille..we got it all!..and if you think they forgot the past WRONG..they open up the second set with Witchy Woman!!!! The Eagles was the best Show I've had a chance to see!!!!!!! and I've seen a few shows...

I would like to say Great Job to the Eagles and thanks for coming to OKC (or as Glenn Frey said Oak City which we are known as aswell)..Great Show!!!

Jim W.
OkC

PS- Long live rock (for the OX Rest in peace)

Phil's Review

This is my review on the OKC Eagles concert. If it wasn't for Joe Walsh, the overall Eagles concert would have been very average. It sure wasn't worth the $170 I paid to sit 4 rows form the top (Extremely nosebleed!). I hope I can save somebody some money by writing this. Surely this is their last tour, if it isn't it definitely should be.

Mahesh's Review

All I can say is... WOW. This is my second time at an Eagles concert (last one was Dallas last year) - and both shows will rank at the top of my list of great concert experiences. Voices, harmonies, instruments - all perfect. The atmosphere was fantastic. And contrary to prior reports, the guys had a blast on stage (Yes - Henley too). Memorable moments included Henley's long pause in Wasted Time after the line "you can get on with your search, baby" and of course, Joe's "WASSUUPP" in Life's Been Good. The setlist apears to have been the same as in the earlier shows. I was hoping against hope that they would play The Last Resort (it being my favourite Eagles song) but no such luck. Can't complain though, as they played pretty much everything else.

Looking forward to next time...

Scott's Review

The Eagles in Oklahoma City excited me to no end because it's great to see major bands back in Oklahoma City.  Plus, this would be my second Eagles concert in one year as I was fortunate to see the band in Dallas last summer when they christened the American Airlines Arena.

As far as Saturday night goes, the band was truly magnificent, in some ways better than the show in Dallas last summer.  I thought the camaraderie among the band members was awesome, something that has not always been the case.  It was great to see Frey, Henley, Walsh, Schmidt, and new guitar player Steuart Smith dancing and hamming it up during the long set.

Seeing Smith for the second time, I was even more impressed.  He is a truly great musician, showing great versatility in all his guitar work.  The band does not miss a beat with him at the guitar.  He is excellent and the band gives him some freedom during the show

Don Henley's vocals were great, he was hitting the high notes well and looked to be having a great time, especially when he asked for more noise during "Wasted Time".  He really put on a show during his solo songs, especially "Dirty Laundry".  His solo songs all are unique with their special sounds and riffs.

Timothy Schmidt was awesome on "I Can't Tell You Why" as always and is great on back-up vocals.

Glen Frey was excellent, cracking a few jokes, referring to his ex-wife's credit card on "Take it to the Limit".  Plus his vocals on the old Eagle songs were great, especially "Already Gone".  He made a number of references to different Oklahoma cities including substituting Norman, Oklahoma, for Winslow, Arizona, on "Take it Easy".

Joe Walsh is the same old Joe.  When it's his turn to be in the spotlight he takes the show over.  It's amazing the James Gang tunes are as well received as they are because those songs are 35 years old.  His versions of "Life's Been Good" and "Rocky Mountain Way" were unreal.  He was the perfect fit for the Eagles when he joined because he gives the band an edge, which he would give any band.

The song list was tremendous.  They give the fans the songs they want to here and they played those songs with gusto for nearly three hours.

Living in Oklahoma it's hard to see a lot of good concerts without driving some distance, which we've gone to Dallas quite often.  Fortunately with the Ford Center, it looks like the bigger acts will start to come back, especially if the people of Oklahoma support the big shows. 

It was a great night in Oklahoma City for all Eagle and concert fans

Bud's Review

Went to the OKC concert last night and it was beyond all expectations. The Eagles came on at 8 pm and played until midnight with only a thirty minute break.  The ticket price of $95 was worth every penny. The band was right on and the sold-out  crowd asked for and got three (3) encores. I haven't seen a show this good  since Elton John or The Beatles. The only negative was someone needs to  tell the sound man that the "boomy" overhead speakers negated Timothy B's licks and sounded like  a huge jet but the venue may be partly to blame. Nevertheless, I'd go again  in a minute and it was great. I did miss Don Felder, though. Keep up the good work.