The Eagles at the Sphere - Las Vegas

[Finagler 6853 Life]

I'm still trying to let it all sink in.  For our 45th anniversary, I bought a package last fall to see the Eagles, live at the Sphere.  I don't have a lot to compare to as I'm not really a concert goer.  I've been to three "concerts" in my life.  Styx, in 1976.  They played at the college I attended.  It was ok. It was loud and a lot of dancing around on stage playing to each other and not paying the audience much attention.   I saw Sons of the San Juaquin 25 (?) years ago in a tiny venue, Viroqua, Wisconsin that was having their Wild West Days.  I had been a fan and thoroughly enjoyed that.  Great musicians and terrific vocalists.  I really enjoyed that show.  Then maybe 20 -24 years ago I saw Michael Martin Murphy at the storied Al Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wisconsin.  He performed all by himself and sang primarily cowboy songs.  He is a great talent and did a terrific job.  He spent time signing autographs at the end of the show.  My daughter and I dressed "cowboy".  I wore my best frock coat and she wore her belle of the ball dress.  Murph commented on how pretty she was.  That was a really fun show.

 

And then there are the Eagles.  I don't want to disparage Murph but I've not been to a world class performance before.  This was fantastic.  The Sphere in and of itself it amazing.  We were 11th row aisle seat on the floor in front of the stage.  I could have gotten us right up front but I didn't want to be looking up their nose holes.  I wanted to see the whole stage all at once.  I still can't wrap my head around it.  There was just so much.  Glen Fry's son took his place and they had Vince Gill playing as a member.  These are amazing musicians.  Multi kinds of instruments played buy a number of them, I swear a change of guitar, a different guitar, for each member after every song.  I have never seen such a thing. I don't think they used the same guitar twice.  There was no dancing on stage, jumping around like a fruitcake, pyrotechnics or other foolishness.  The Sphere provided a great light show, themed to go with each song.  The whole interior of the building is one giant screen.  Five guitarist, sometimes six, two keyboard/pianists and occasionally two drummers.  Henley would move around from one set of drums to another to playing guitar.  As a former vocalist in college choirs, ( a long time ago and far away) it is boggling to have all the members of a group be tenors with most being 1st tenors.  I can't hit those high notes like I used to could but these guys still can and the harmonization.  It was out of this world.  I don't know if they use Auto-tune now but when they started there was no Auto-tune.  You sang it/played it as your heard it.  Never heard an off key note.  I did not detect or suspect any lip syncing.  It was the real deal.  These guys were playing music simply because they loved the music.  I'm sure the money isn't bad but you can tell these guys really loved the music.  Joe Walsh, he's still a hoot.  Life's been good to me so far.......

 

Would I go again?  I'd love to but I doubt Elizabeth would look favorably on it.  If it weren't for having to fly there, if they were more local, I'd do it again.  I had forgotten how much I dislike flying through Chicago.  When I've gone to Vegas in the past, I like playing the tables but not so much this time.  Elizabeth doesn't like gambling so the little bit I did play didn't seem as enjoyable.  That and I don't drink much at all now so I didn't even partake of the free booze.  Yeah, free, right.  We stayed at the Venetian, part of the package.  It is a fine hotel but horribly over priced.  Talk about glitz and glam.   Good service, they have that figured out.  I wanted to take her first class.  We never do that.  I'm practiced at traveling on the cheap.  I love a bargain.  There was no bargain here.   I wanted it to be nice for her.  Make some good memories.  Just for S&Gs we took the Deuce downtown.  What a dump.  Seeing it in the daylight,  What a dump.  They keep the refuse picked up but it is a dump.

 

Everything is horribly expensive and we expected that but it still makes you grouse about it.  We ate pretty much at the Venetian at the Cafe they have right off the casino floor. Good food, big portions but still a bit pricey.  We walked to Walgreens and bought some sodas and a water to tide us over.  They wanted $6 for a bottle of Diet Coke at the hotel.  A cup of coffee was $6.50.  Yeah, yeah, now I'm just bitching.  

 

This was probably the most fun I've spent 2 hours watching these guys.  I'm still processing it.  Memory overload.  Did Elizabeth like it?  She said it was the best concert she has ever been to and she has been to quite a few before I ever knew her.  So she says but the details are always a little sketchy.  I think it is best not to ask.  But mission accomplished.  Other than the flights, she really enjoyed herself.

 

When I booked the tickets, last fall, the February concert dates were to be the last performances so I wanted to get in before that and get a break away from the Wisconsin weather.  50s doesn't seem that warm to you?  Today it is -10 and that is without the wind chill so 50s was balmy.  Since I booked my tickets, their residency has been extended out through April.  So if you want to go, better get at it before it is all done.  Or maybe gets extended out again.  Who knows.

 

It was a once in a lifetime experience for me.  I'm glad I did it.

Edited January 21 by Finagler 6853 Life

[Choctaw Jack]

Joe Cocker? or Joe Walsh?

......either would be fine with me!

[Blackwater 53393]

Cocker died several years ago! 
 

Walsh is who he meant.

[Widder, SASS #59054]

I've seen the Eagle's twice.   Both were fantastic concerts.

Other favorites that sounded as good or better than the albums:   Jimmy Buffet, Elvis and Ronnie Milsap in his younger years.

But the best show... Music, singing performance and production was Rod Stewart.

 

..........Widder

 

 

[Finagler 6853 Life]

58 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Cocker died several years ago! 
 

Walsh is who he meant.

Brain fart!  Walsh.  Thanks for the correction.

[Kid Rich]

Eagle=Great. Love em.

kR