new kid in town…

I remember hearing the song, Take It Easy, when I was about 6 years old. The simple tune and catchy lyrics drew me in. Soon, I was an Eagles junkie.

Growing up in the 70’s & 80’s, I had plenty of Eagles music to dance to, to party to, to cry to. There was a song for every occasion. Lyin’ Eyes and Already Gone for the guy who broke my heart. Tequila Sunrise and Peaceful Easy Feeling when things were good. Hotel California, One of these Nights, and Witchy Woman to sing out loud with my friends, Life in the Fast Lane and New Kid In Town, when I was in my ’65 Mustang, cruisin’ alone, and Hole in the World and Please Come Home For Christmas, when I was feeling blue.

I was sad when the band broke up, although, I did enjoy their solo works. As I mentioned, Don Henley is my favorite and I have all his solo albums. (Yes, they are cds but I can’t get over saying album.)

I was elated when they reunited and celebrated when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

In 2013, I was listening to the radio and they announce that the Eagles were embarking on their History of the Eagles tour. I was so excited. I’d never seen them and not only were they in my top 5 bands of all time, Don Henley was my favorite solo artist.

I called our friends, Kirk and Diana McCutchan. They were in. I asked Jim and he told me if I wanted to go, then he would. I knew he liked the Eagles but he didn’t seem nearly as excited as I was.

As the concert drew near, my excitement mounted. I was so afraid that I was going to get a migraine and not be able to enjoy the show that Jim booked us a hotel so we could go early, I could lay down and rest. We took the train to Scott Trade Center (St. Louis) and met Kirk and Diana.

Our seats were pretty high up but once they took the stage, nothing else mattered. Don Henley and Glenn Frey took the stage and talked about meeting while they were members of Linda Ronstadt’s backup band. Although she hated to lose them, she encouraged them to start their own band. Way to go, Linda!!

The first song they played, Saturday Night, was one of favorites that never got much airtime. It was so cool, seeing just the two of them singing together.

As they went through their history, other members of the band joined them on stage, signifying when they joined the band. A special surprise was seeing Bernie Leadon, who was an original member of the band. Randy Meisner had been scheduled to join them but was too ill to perform.

And so it went until Jose Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit were on stage with them. To hear them sing such songs as Seven Bridges Road, New Kid In Town, Hotel California, etc…it was nothing short of amazing!

I remember that during the concert, the St Louis Cardinals were playing the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. Fortunately, the game was in Boston, otherwise we never would have gotten near downtown. During the concert, different members of the band would update us on the score. When Don Henley announced that we had won the game, 4-2, the place erupted in cheers. I wondered if a ballgame had ever halted an Eagles concert before?

Frey, Schmit and Walsh all sang songs from their solo careers and Walsh had a “barnstorming” session at the end of the concert with songs that included Funk #49 and Rocky Mountain Way. He really had the place rockin’!

It was an amazing evening. On the way back to the hotel, Jim said he knew the Eagles had a lot of good songs…but he had forgotten that the Eagles had a lot of great songs. We couldn’t believe we had waited so long to see them and said we would go again when we had the chance.

Sadly, founding member Glenn Frey died on January 18, 2016.

So now, we are doubly blessed that we saw the Eagles when we did. It’s a night that will live in my heart forever.