Well firstly DD thank you for starting this thread and I hope things go well on your personal front over the summer. I am so glad you got to see your idol in person too. I didn't find the heat a problem (except for the heat emanating off the stage of course)
Now where to start........
We arrived at the O2 with about an hour to go before the doors opened and joined the queue. Then the girls (02 angels!) asked if anyone in our group was on the 02 network. Of all people, my 10 year old is! So they immediately brought us to the front of the queue! Bonus #1! We were one of the first into the arena. We met a German girl who is going all three nights. I was tempted to ask was her name Koala or EF!
Once in I looked for the VIP nation desk to get our laminates... Nobody knew where it was! Eventually found it to be told to come back later for the 'exclusive Eagles gift'. :eyeroll:. Ireland does not do VIP very well!
Anyway back to the family and I had won two passes to the O2 premium lounge, so myself and a work friend used them and had a very pleasant hour or so there. Great music and food, I think some of you saw our pic on my FB account.
Back about 15 mins before the show we found out seats. Now this was a GOOD surprise. I had thought we were in row 5 of the seated. We were, but row 5 was front row with only the standing people ahead of us. And there seemed no barrier between seated and standing. So I planned to stand on. Friday nights show regardless of my seated ticket.
We were however warned at the various entrances and at a public announcement before the show not to use cameras, video equipment phones etc, a directive that was rigidly enforced for the entire show sadly. My son wanted a pic of the stage before the show and even he was told to put the phone away.
The excitement was palpable as the lights went down and the guys came out. Ireland has been Eagle starved for the last 5 years, so this was a feast!
Of course I was just delighted to see Glenn
again looking as good as always.
There's no point in regurgitating the set list because there were no changes from the standard list that we are used to, but I will point out a few moments from the first section of the show that I remember as being particularly special
Glenn
shortly after the start of the show when he was welcoming everyone he commented that it was great to be playing indoors as he didn't have to keep watching the weather, or the sun (looking up cutely to the ceiling). I thought at that point he sounded ever so slightly hoarse but I'd he was it certainly didn't show in the rest of his singing or commentary. Possibly he just needed a drink!
I loved Already Gone - I was too busy taking pics in NYC to appreciate the background video in full, but oh My My! It is amazing!
Then when he introduced LE with his usual preamble about being in the Troubadour and seeing the girls with the guys who inspired the next song, that it was written fast because they did a lot of things fast in the seventies. Then he said 'this goes out to my first wife' paused and a few of us called out 'Plaintiff'.
Then he laughed and said 'ah, you know her, and held the mic to the crowd so more of us hollered PLAINTIFF'. Then he laughed and introduced the song.
As usual before TITTL he said they would take a break 'men our age cant sing 31 songs without needing to use the bathroom', getting a laugh (and agreement) from everyone!! He then dedicated TITTL to Randy as he does.
Overall the first part was amazing as always, perfect singing, tight harmonies, amazing music. Everyone sang along to it really taking the roof off the place.
They took a break, and then totally unaware, I was in for quite a surprise......