Sunrise Reviews

Matt: Fan Review

The show started very upbeat with The Long Run, but then slowed down significantly with New Kid in Town and Wasted Time. Not really sure what they wanted to accomplish here, but the tempo change seemed strange to me. The set list normalized later on. The band really knows when to push the crowd's collective buttons. I think everyone heard their favorite song by the time the night was over. James Dean was VERY well executed, Glenn sounded great and the guitar work was super. Glad to see them dig this song out of the catalog. Maybe when they tour to support the new album, they'll fill the sets with more of the older album tracks instead of just the greatest hits.

Musically they were very precise all night long, as one would expect for a band that is so well rehearsed. I thought that Steuart Smith really picked up Don Felder's parts exceptionally well, although a four-member version of the Eagles just doesn't seem the same to me in principle (gotta support my fellow Gainesville native Felder). If I hadn't known that Felder was missing, I might not have noticed the difference. Smith is a very talented musician.

Vocals throughout were outstanding, as usual. I was especially impressed with Glenn's lead vocals. In past concerts I've always thought that he ran hot and cold, but this time he was solid throughout, hitting tough notes on several songs. Maybe it's just because the Eagles are early along in their tour, but Glenn sounded fantastic. I hope he sounds this good by the end of the tour.

Henley seemed positive mostly, although from time to time the on-stage cameras caught him with that dour expression that he sometimes wears. He seemed to relish belting out Boys of Summer and Sunset Grill, and later during the encore with All She Wants To Do is Dance he looked like he was really enjoying himself. He appeared irritated when the crowd applauded for an extended interval when he stepped out to explain Hole in the World. Seems like a typical Henley-ism: how dare they interrupt the smooth progression of our concert with their senseless appreciation?

The audience seemed to have good energy, and Joe's guitar work and vocals were definitely crowd pleasers. Turn to Stone and Rocky Mountain Way have never sounded better, although I was honestly disappointed with Walk Away. I saw Joe and Glenn (Party of Two) in Sunrise years back, and their backing band really seemed to enjoy the delivery of this song more than the Eagles did. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't memorable like I expected.

There were a few technical problems, like on You Belong to the City when Glenn's microphone wasn't on for the first verse. Henley was upset with the sound board personnel immediately after Wasted Time, though I couldn't hear anything unusual. And for some reason the band's video background screens (behind them on stage) had unusual on/off behavior during some songs. Whether this was planned or not I can't say, but it seemed like a distraction to me.

The facilities were exceptional, if overpriced ($3 for a plastic cup of water? Come on!). When the concert was over, the parking lots all looked exactly the same. We shared amused glances with fellow concert-goers who couldn't figure out where they left their cars. Dozens of people tried setting off their alarms to distinguish their car from the huge lots, but with so many alarms blaring, it wasn't very effective (it was hilarious, though). This was the funniest post-concert experience I can remember.

Kudos to the Eagles for providing an evening of excellent entertainment. The band looks and sounds great. If you can part with the small fortune that it takes to see them live, do it -- opportunities like this won't be around forever. I was less upset about how much I personally paid for tickets than I was knowing other folks wouldn't be able to go because they cost so much. EVERYONE should get a chance to see the Eagles play, not just those with lots of money.

Richie: Fan Review

My wife of 2 months and I attended the Sunrise concert on May 17th. Overall, it was the best concert I've seen The Eagles perform (This was my 7th). My wife was simply awestruck and kept talking about how strong their voices are, how tightly the band played, and how awesome Joe's guitar playing is.

The first highlight was how beautifully Don sang Wasted Time. At the end I thought I heard a lot of emotion in his voice, almost to the point of cracking a bit. The next highlight was Hole In The World...we both think the song is BEAUTIFUL, and will be a big hit. Other high points of the first half was Timothy singing Love Will Keep Us Alive (really hoping he gets more vocals on the new album) and Don's vocals on One Of These Nights. His voice is SO strong…he must put a lot of work into it. One note about the set list…they aren't playing Pretty Maids. Hole In The World was moved up to the 4th spot, Pretty Maids was eliminated, and everything else stayed the same.

When the second half started, Joe was dressed in a red Zoot suit wearing a hat with a feather sticking up about 6 feet…CLASSIC Joe. His guitar playing during the extended versions of some songs (Already Gone, You Belong To The City, etc) was the best I've heard. Also, Steuart was given a couple of opportunities to improvise a bit, and he can PLAY. Obviously there's a wide gap between his playing and Joe's, but Stu is a terrific guitar player.

It took awhile for the crowd to warm up. When Don mentioned that they'd been working on a new album, there was almost no response from the crowd. He had to prime them for some reaction…for a second I think it occurred to him to just skip the new song altogether. By the time the encores hit, however, the crowd as at a fever pitch and didn't want the show to end.

Unfortunately it did, but I'm going to the Atlanta concert on the 19th and then will see them in Philly on 7/8…so there's always next time!!!

Hilary and Bernie: Fan Review

I have to say the 5/16 Sunrise show was one of our all time best shows ever! The Eagles really connected to us,the audience, the new stuff was great and a lot of real old stuff was fresh . Back up band terrific, but I think what I liked so much was that the Eagles looked like they were having as great a time as us. We were sitting by Timothy B. and he is such a pro, all the guys were on top form and it'll be a show I'll always remember, Thanks guys, you are the best!

Jamie: Fan Review

The Eagles swing through Florida continued Friday and Saturday night in Sunrise, and we were there to cheer them on again. The show was again fantastic, but got off to a rocky start. Everyone had taken the stage, but they all just kept mulling around. We kept screaming, "it's the Long Run, guys" (just in case they had forgotten what the first song was). I think it was technical problems with the drums, but it eventually did start and sounded good, but a little tinny. The sound was kind of off all night long and there continued to be little technical problems all evening. When Glenn went to the organ for ASWTDID, he had no sound and proceeded to bang the keyboard, while looking at the sound guys. And for the third time this week, Don had to ask for a light before the introduction to Hole In the World. Joe seemed a little off all night and during Rocky Mountain Way, didn't finish the talk box part. He just quit, handed that guitar off, smiled, shrugged his shoulders and finished the song. He didn't joke around with Steuart like he has been either.

This crowd, like the Orlando one, was slow to stand up and although I love to stand up and dance along, I didn't mind grooving in my seat. During one song in particular though, we just couldn't stand it any longer and tried to stand up only to have the group behind us ask us to sit down and that there would be plenty of time to rock out later in the show. They finally did get up during Life's Been Good, and didn't sit down the rest of the show. There was a couple beside me that had had way too much to drink and were a little obnoxious, talking like they were in their living room, but everyone else seemed to enjoy the show. The drunk people eventually left and we got to scoot even closer towards the middle, where we had an even better view of Don singing Desperado. He seemed to be in a much better mood tonight and kidded with the audience a lot. He handed a guy in the front row a drum stick at the end, and two or three guys ended up fighting over it.

Glenn had on a pink jacket and pink shirt, that looked very nice on him. Don was back to black, Tim was in blue and Joe had on some more wild pajama bottoms. Glenn changes shirts at intermission every night, and I wish he'd get rid of that darn jacket and all the suits for that matter. We want blue jeans!

Since this was the third night this week in the first or second row, at about the same place, I managed eye contact with Scott Crago and gave him a little wave. He waved back with his head and it cracked him up for the longest time.

I remember at one point thinking what in the world will I say in a review about tonight, this show is basically like the other ones except for the problems I mentioned before. And then during the second encore, a woman tried to jump up on the stage. The security guard sitting right in front of the stage was on her very quickly and had her out of there lickety split, and one would assume really out of there. Every person on that stage was grinning from ear to ear and couldn't keep a straight face. I think it made their nights! Then during Take It Easy, she tried unsuccessfully again, and they all just started laughing. It was hilarious and really made the night! Before her little escapades, a beach ball came really close to making it up on stage. It bounced off the front edge of the speakers in the front. Would have been interesting if it had made it.

Saturday night's crowd got a little nudge early on when Don came out and started singing Long Run. During the instrumental part at the beginning, he motioned for everybody to stand up. They did and I thought, good for you Don! If they won't get up, you just make 'em. But never fear, after that it was sitsville until probably halfway through the second set.

For the first set, Don had on his blue chambray shirt and Glenn had on a shiny gray suit with a turquoise shirt. Timothy had on a black shirt and blue jeans and Joe had on tie dyed pants. When they came out for the second set they had all changed except for Tim. Glenn had changed to an orange shirt. Don had on a kind of western style shirt, white with little cactuses in the stripes. Sounds hideous but was kind of cute. But the biggest surprise was Joe. He had on a bright red long tailed suit with suspenders and a black and white tie. His black hat had a long feather. The crowd really ate it up.

During one of the later songs, and I really don't remember which one, Glenn started having guitar problems and went behind the drums and came back out. By that time it was time for his ending guitar solo. He then noticed that he had forgotten to plug back in and Steuart played the solo for him. During it, Glenn stood with his back to the audience, laughing like crazy. Everybody on stage and in the audience were laughing along with him. They all seem to genuinely like working with one another and just keep having a ball night after night.

This wraps up this leg of the tour for us, and I'm exhausted, but will be all charged up when we hit the road again in June for the Tallahassee and Texas dates. It's funny how after a few shows you kind of change from just watching, to feeling like you are willing everyone to do a good job. You know what's coming and you just sit there hoping everything turns out all right. And the guys never disappoint us. They always pull off a great show.

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