The Eagles at Fayetteville

Yeah, thats right. They Came and Hell Freezed Over. The Bud Walton Area packed with approx. 13,000 Eagles crazy Wal-Mart people. If not all Wal-Mart, they were somehow assciated with the fortune 500 number one company. The Eagles' live performance was one of the many live in concerts organized by Wal-Mart during their Annual Shareholders Meet which happened during the memorial day week from 27th May to 1st June.

Watching The Eagles live was always a dream since college time. I had a DVD of Hell Freezes Over which i got from my Nepali friends in college, the Eagle came back for that concert. Watching them live was indeed a dream. Who knew that time how that will come true, and that too in such a manner.

I was talking to a freind of mine few days back when Amjad Ali Khan performed at nearby Tulsa, he wanted to go to some big concert. But we laughed on the possibilty of that. He said, the probability of watching some big band live is more in Bangalore than in Bentonville, Arkansas. I simply agreed. BUT then came the mail from Wal-Mart internal about the schedule of events for the Shareholders Meet, and the second day says 'The Eagles'. Oh my god, awesome, The Eagles coming here to Arkansas for the Wal-Mart annual event, mind-blowing. The second thing I read was that this event will be held in the Bud Walton Arena in U of A. fayetteville. U of A is University of Arkansas, and Bud Walton Arena is university's basketball arean with a massice capacity of 18,000 people. The mail also mentioned that the event is not Open to public and only Wal-Mart associates are allowed but they can take two guests. Ah ha, so the search started, who can take us. we were three people who found them crazy and jumping around with the news of Eagles. After 5 days of search we finally got nod from Raghu, a Wal-Mart associate and part of our project from Wal-Mart side. And 30th May evening, we scooted out of office at 4:30 and reached Bud Walton Arena, initial parking seemes to be a big problem but that was handled esily although the traffic was jammed towards U of A. Huge lines outside the gates,people in Wal-Mart T-shirts, crazy electrifying atmosphere with a Band playing in nearby open air parking lot.

They let us enter much ahead of time because of showers, and inside the whole almosphere was nothing less than a soccer game. I didnt even remember whan I started participating in mexican waves flowing across the stands. There were Wal-Mart shareholders teams from all part of the world and they were giving tempo shouts and dancing. The one hour wait in the auditorium because we entered early didnt seem ages because of so much activity happening. The stage looked awesome, with picture is the Indian Head projected in the back.

At 7, lights dimmed, we notice some activity on the stage in dark and when the lights came back with a staring of guitar, few more guitar joined in with drumns and piano and everybody was on their feets, shouting , cheering for Eagles and singng "Take It Easy" along with them..... awesome that was real awesome. They finished Take It Easy and started with "Witchy Women". After Witchy Women they stopped for a breather and they said hello people. few talks, they introduced two new members and the Trumpet and Sax player and they started again. Wow, every time they start with a new song, people cheering, dancing, everyone on their feets. They anounced that their new album will be out soon with brand new songs.
the played few of their brand new singles like - "One Day At A Time"

That was going as one heck of an event, they went back stage after about half an hour, few people seems disappointed and few were still in shock of what they have just seen. I was thinking , no they can't end it like this, how come no Hotel California. And I was right in 10 mins they were back, and the guy with trumpet started playing the starting music piece. I remember when thay perfom live the start of Hotel California is very different most of the time and that what is not captured in the Original. Be it the Hell Freeze Over concert. Today it was a good impressive music piese on Trumpet and then the leads started for Hotel California. Don Henley is his husky voice on drums....

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway;
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself,
’this could be heaven or this could be hell’
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor,
I thought I heard them say...

Welcome to the hotel california
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the hotel california
Any time of year, you can find it here

People singing along, mesmerized by the same husky voice on Don. Soon after Hotel California, we found Don again at the centerstage with lights on him crying Desperado....Desperado, why dont you come to your senses?

Desperado, why dont you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin, but theres a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before its too late

I guess that was the best song to end the lovely evening, the only song we missed a lot was Tequila Sunrise, but we cannot ask for more after this wonderful evening. Each and every song was well supported by terrfic stage lightings and effects with video projected in the back groung on stage. No one wanted to go but the show has to end. They have to go home. But thanks for those wonderful songs and thanks for the awesome performance.

Viva the Eagles!


It’s another tequila sunrise
Starin’ slowly ’cross the sky, said goodbye
He was just a hired hand
Workin’ on the dreams he planned to try
The days go by

Ev’ry night when the sun goes down
Just another lonely boy in town
And she’s out runnin’ ’round

She wasn’t just another woman
And I couldn’t keep from comin’ on
It’s been so long
Oh, and it’s a hollow feelin’ when
It comes down to dealin’ friends
It never ends

Take another shot of courage
Wonder why the right words never come
You just get numb
It’s another tequila sunrise,this old world
Still looks the same,
Another frame, mm...