CheekyChicago

Soldier Field was aglow last Saturday with the blazing combination of Keith Urban, the Dixie Chicks and The Eagles. While I’m not a diehard country fan, I will say that the opening acts put on an immensely enjoyable show. And even though the members of the Eagles have aged considerably (they’re in their 60s), they proved they’ve still got it.

Urban took the stage playing a handful of his hits: “You Look Good in My Shirt,” “You’ll Think of Me” and “Somebody Like You.” During his set, he remained jovial despite the heat, asking the crowd to sing “Happy Birthday” to his wife, Nicole (Kidman, whose birthday was the next day) so he could show it to her as a surprise. At one point, he also donned Patrick Kane’s Blackhawks jersey, congratulating the Chicago team on their win.

The Dixie Chicks were electric during their set. Lead singer Natalie Maines (with a surprising head of red, shaved hair), Martie Maguire on fiddle and Emily Robinson on banjo entertained the crowd right away with opener “Wide Open Spaces.” They performed their notable hits: “Long Time Gone,” “Sin Wagon,” “Ready to Run” and “Goodbye Earl,” as well as covers of “Landslide” and Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister.” While their set was tight from beginning to end, it seemed to me that Maguire wasn’t enjoying herself as much as Maines and Robinson, but maybe when your instrument is up against your chin for a straight hour, you tend to look unhappy…

The Eagles stayed tried and true to their classic arrangements, playing hits like “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Witchy Woman” and “One of These Nights,” as well as solo hits from individual members, including Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” and Joe Walsh’s “Life’s Been Good.” Surprisingly, they played “Hotel California” early in the set, but saved “Desperado” for the encore. At some points it appeared as if they were just going through the motions, but I’m hesitant to take issue with that because it truly was a fantastic show. Shows like this prove how timeless music can be.