They played Mary? I get choked up just thinking about that!

Hell, I've been an Eagles fan since the first time I heard Take it Easy, and that's when it was a hit, so I go way back with them. I've seen Don Henley solo in '91 but never the Eagles, and the reason I'm going is to see the Dixie Chicks. The Eagles were just gravy. I'd go if it was the ladies and no one else playing. In fact, that might be better.

I'm going Wednesday. I know they released a lot of tickets after the initial sell, so I am hoping and praying that all the Eagles fans got their tickets to the other shows and that there will be an abundance of DC fans.

I mean, the Eagles are a fine old band with a new record, but the band that has the most compelling story of this decade, the Grammys, and the musical chops are the Chicks.
I've seen the videos of the live performances, and I recognize people being moved on a gut level when I see it. That's what I want to experience.

Ticketmaster still has orchestra level seats for Wednesday, so it there's any DC fans out there that haven't bought tickets, help fill the place with support. Please.

The final encore was take it easy and desparado. That would be the time I could see a duet between bands. we know Natalie sang Desparado at the Henley tribute, and one of the myspace fan sights has a recording the the Chicks singing Take it Easy. I'll be so jealous! Heck i'll be jealous of any of you who get even 1 more song from the Chicks then I did.

To those attending the show on the last Night: I had read they were going to both play 2 full sets. We thought because it was Opening night we would see SOMETHING special: Didn't happen. I would guess, there was no encore, because the crowd didnt keep clapping when they left the stage. The 50 of us among 7000, wasn't enough I guess. This show sold out almost as quick as they went for sale-sold to,primarily, Eagles fans.

Regarding cameras: be careful, they will throw you out,not just delete pictures.

My opening night experience:
The always talented Dixie Chicks performance was excellent as always.

Nokia Theater was nice. The only celeb. I saw was James Woods on the way out. I saw Junichi NO WHERE. They took my signs at the door. I was told they were to large, so be sure to check the venue's web sight for max. sign measurements. They did not take the disposible cameras in the bottom of my purse, though the security was super ON IT if they saw you using cameras during the show. I had no problems. The crowd, sadly was not there to see the chicks. My area thought I was a nut. I could barely stay in my seat, and was told by security to sit down during Goodbye Earl.
Starting with WOS was smart, reminded THEM of the Chicks everyone loves. Natalie seemed annoyed, I guess I don't blame her, but I must say, we didnt think THEY would really be out right at 8! All of their hair looked super, my compliments to the hairdresser. It may have been big, but it looked great from row QQ.

The playlist stuck mostly to the newer albums. Thank you ladies so much for including Goodbye Earl,it got the ladies around me commmenting and moving a bit. It's really my FAV and the song that hooked me as a fan. Either you get it or you don't. Marty, your Cowboy take me away solo was perfect, I'll aways remember Storytellers when I hear it. The new song: I want to hear it again, when/where can I get it?
I was so sad my beloved Dixie Chicks were but an opening act for the Eagles. An hour wasn't nearly enough of them. And by the time the Eagles started at 10, this Mom had been up since 5:30am, and was ready for bed.
They Eagles were fine, but played to much Solo hits with eagles back up, and not enough EAGLES. The horn section was fabulous, I really enjoyed the Trumpet solo at the start of Hotel California. Show closed with Don Henley in the dark, singing Desparado. That was surreal.

Best Ladies Room ever! Full bar selection. No key chains or magnets for sale. No shirts with both bands on them. No special opening night souvenier.
On the way to the car, we got an AD for a new musical called Atlanta, co- written and directed by Adrian Pasdar.
Emily, Marty, and Natalie: Over all, I'd love to see you at a venue like Storytellers. Small, intimate, filled with people who love your music, and admire you as people. That would be worth $300 and we'ld all be EARLY!

Forget the anti chick critics. This is an L.A. show and most people attending this other then Chicks fans are probably only familiar with the Taking The Long Way Album and Not Ready To Make Nice which is what brought them to their feet and got them cheering.

A majority of critics these days are people who couldn't make it in any other business or line of work.

Have fun enjoy the music.

This is what I think, but it is only speculation, based upon some articles I read today, a TV review from an artist friendly reporter in LA, and from having worked shows with other bands.
You've got two headline acts performing full sets in a brand new venue. Neither one is used to being an opener. The show is heavily attended by media and entertainment people. The ladies are supposed to hit the stage at 8:15. The room is not full at 8:15 because it's a late arriving crowd, getting drinks, whatever LA crowds do instead of showing up and sitting down. They probably tried to wait as long as possible to hit the stage. Finally, at 8:45, they had to start or else the show would run into the wee early hours of the morning. The TV reporter, Sam Rubin, said Natalie seemed like something was bothering her at first, and that she made the comment about LA crowds spending $300 a ticket and still showing up a half hour late. I think they were nervous from not playing live in a long time, playing to a heavy industry crowd, and then not having things go as planned and scheduled. If you've been away from the routine of performing for awhile, that's a lot of distractions to have to work through.

I read different accounts, but the consensus was that around the time they started playing White Trash Wedding was when they finally started hitting their stride. I would love to hear their thoughts, but I'd bet (1) they probably didn't feel terrific about their performance, and (2) they had to turn the stage over to the Eagles crew, and that the combination of events and timing made them forego the encore.

I would predict that starting with Saturday's show, they will go back to kicking some serious musical ass. Start to finish, with encore. And sometime during the next week, we'll see them return to the stage at the very end of the show. A Desperado duet would be awesome.

LOL. I wrote Mr. Shuster an email this morning too.  So did other Chicks' fans. I didn't get a response though.  Darn. However, he knew he didn't have a response to the the argument that his review was biased and his "farm" remark had zero class. My only comfort is that I attended UCLA for undergrad, and until this morning, I'd never even heard of that paper. Check out CNBC which called the Chicks' fantastic, and Variety which stated that the Chicks' version of Not Ready to Make Nice blew everything the Eagles did subsequently out of the water.

Me again, the guy who wrote to Fred the idiot.

I forgot to mention:

the 11 year old who is going, is an up and coming singer. One of the songs she performs live is "I Hope", sung from a young person's perspective. I know this show is going to be something she remembers all her life, and I feel lucky to have gotten tickets and to be able to take her to see these special ladies.

First, if my email address appears, I apologize. It's an inside joke and is quite rude. Down to business.

I woke up early and wanted to scour the net for reviews, because I am going next week, and am anxious as can be. My first DC show, and I'm taking my friend and her 11 year old daughter, a new DC fan, and her first concert.
I found the review from the Daily News, a Valley wannabe newspaper, and the article written by a guy named Fred Shuster, who is obviously not a DC fan. After raving about the Eagles, he went on to say that their set was a whole lot of nothing, that they were 'self-absorbed' and that they had no class. He complained that they didn't talk about the new Nokia theatre, and that they should be returned to the farm as quickly as possible.

He includes his email address at the bottom of the review, and I took the opportunity to respond to him, saying that was a pretty harsh review for 3 women who swept the Grammys this year. I also told him a review is supposed to be about their musical performance, and not an opportunity to express his personal or political views. I ended by telling him that I would then wait for the LA Times to be able to read a real review.
This is Fred's answer:

yeah, get it from the times. they'll agree with you.


What a bitter man this guy must be. I adore those 3 women, their music, and their incredible story, and this guy really started my day off poorly.

I'll be there next Wednesday, on time, and yelling louder than anybody. Buzz off, Fred.