My husband and I traveled over 2 hours to see the Eagles in Milwaukee last night. We live just outside of Chicago in Northern Indiana. This was the closest city for us to see them in concert because they are not playing in Chicago. The Marcus Amphitheater was full, every seat and blade of grass taken. The concert sold out in record time according to Glenn Frey. We went with close friends and big Eagle's fans so we expected to get our money's worth and we did! The band was excellent!! As good or maybe better than the "Hell Freezes Over" tour. I think they all seem more comfortable with each other now. They were less reserved and just looked like they were having a great time. The play list was the same as what has been mentioned on this site previously. They started with the Long Run and ended with Desperado. 29 songs. I think it is great that this band focuses on giving the audience what they came to see and hear. great songs from 30 years of great music. I have seen them 3 times before and they sound better every time. I did miss "The Last Resort" which is a favorite of mine but they can't do them all I guess. I am totally looking forward to the new album and the tour to promote it. As long as they continue to play and sound great, I will continue to pay big bucks to see them...money well spent.
Rose
Chesteron, IN

Jeff

Eagles Review - Milwaukee Summerfest - 7/7/02

You couldn’t have asked for a better night in Wisconsin. A warm summer evening, not a cloud in the sky and the Eagles playing at Summerfest on closing night.

This being my first trip to Summerfest, I was really in for a treat. We entered through the north gate and discovered a setting combining the best elements of “Taste of Chicago”, “Woodstock” and “Walt Disney World.” Food, music and rides/games as far as the eye could see. Looking at the map, we realized we had to trek south for awhile in order to make it to the Marcus Amphitheater. Rising out of the grassy Lake Michigan bluffs, the Marcus Amphitheater is a sight to see. It blends in with the colors of the lake beautifully and is a fitting place to host the world’s greatest band.

We made it to our seats and waited for the show to start. Too numb to think about anything else, all I could focus on were the house lights. When they dropped, the crowd’s excitement soared. The Boys of Summer took the stage in fine fashion, being led out by the backing musicians. The Moroccan-style attire of the brass/string (yes, string) section was reminiscent of Henley’s recent solo tour. The band themselves were decked out in their ordinary attire. Glen’s jacket and shirt combo beckoned back to the Miami Vice days. Henley and Timothy were in their usual garb and Joe’s bright orange pants were status quo.

While no “Seven Bridges” opener, the band did kick the night off with a great version of “The Long Run.” The majority of the first set was pretty laid back and the entire night’s set list was verbatim with what is posted on L&M’s page. They skipped “Seven Bridges” and “Best of my Love,” but everything else was there and in order. Everything Glen sang was pure magic, entrancing the crowd into a giant sing-along for “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Take it to the Limit.” During “Already Gone” (the first real rocker of the night) Glen inquired “Who still likes country rock after 30 years in Wisconsin?”; a twist on his Millennium show question. Formal band introductions were made before “One of These Nights.” Based on Stuart Smith’s PHENOMONAL job playing guitar, I can only hope that he is considered the “fifth” Eagle during next year’s tour. In the eyes of this reviewer, he has DEFINATELY earned the right.

At this point we hit a long intermission. Frey promised we were going to rock during the second half and he did not disappoint. “Witchy Woman”, “Lyin’ Eyes”, and “I Can’t Tell You Why” set the groove, before Joe kicked things into gear with “Walk Away.” I would have to say that the highlight of the night was Joe. He was in rare form. Always the crowd-pleaser, Joe always managed to bring the audience to their feet and start screaming. Extra chords, guitar licks and thrown-in lyrics (including the “WASSUPP!?!?!?!” from other shows) always seem to do that. “You Belong to the City” prompted a lot of “Boy, I haven’t heard this one for awhile” lines from the forty to fifty-ish group sitting around me. Joe turned it all around again with Funk #49 - the audience didn’t sit for the rest of the night. Followed by “Dirty Laundry”, “Funk #49”, “Heartache Tonight” and “Life in the Fastlane” you couldn’t ask for a better 2nd set!!!!

The encores brought out “Hotel California” (which I still think is more mystical at the beginning of the concert vs. the end) with Stuart Smith on the large “double?” guitar, obviously taking Felder’s post. It was sung in perfect harmony. “Rocky Mountain Way”, “All She Wants to Do is Dance”, “Take it Easy” and the perennial “Desperado” rounded out the evening. The crowd was in shock. How could an aging band continue to crescendo up over the course of 3+ hours? It was absolute poetry. At the end of the evening, Glen announced that the 11 minutes it took to sell-out this show was a new Summerfest record! The crowd ate it up.

A new album next year will be most welcome in this fair state. The Eagles will always have a home in Wisconsin. Glen made a point of thanking the people of Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago and Green Bay for coming out to the show. We’re all eagerly anticipating 2003. In a time of constant change, it’s nice to know that we can all meet on a Common Thread and know that Life’s Been Good.