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PACKARD MUSIC HALL Welcome back, Joe Walsh
IF YOU GO
What: Joe Walsh
Where: Packard Music Hall, 1703 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8 p.m. Sept. 18 (sold out)
Tickets: $59.50, $85 and $99.50 via Ticketmaster
By John Benson
These days, Joe Walsh is doing just fine.
When the “How You Doin’?” singer isn’t on the road with the Eagles, he can be found playing solo gigs, such as his shows Wednesday and Sept. 18 at Warren’s Packard Music Hall. Both are considered sold out, but there are still some single tickets for Wednesday’s show.
All tickets for the Sept. 18 concert were gone in about two hours, making it the fastest sell-out in Packard history, according to JAC Management, which operates the hall. Wednesday’s concert took three days to sell out, said Jim Bugos, Packard manager.
Walsh attended Kent State University and got his rock career started in Northeast Ohio, where his fan base remains strong. The Packard hall shows – the second one was added because of the quick sellout – are the only Northeast Ohio dates on the tour, so they will be a homecoming of sorts for Walsh.
The 13-city tour actually begins with the Warren concerts.
How did it wind up in Warren? Bugos couldn’t say for sure, but said JAC’s long relationship with tour promoter Live Nation, the strong response to other rock concerts at Packard, and the fact that Walsh is playing only theaters on the tour may all be factors.
Those attending either concert should get to Packard early to beat the traffic and secure a free parking spot at the venue, said Bugos. Doors will open 90 minutes before the concerts (start times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, and 8 p.m. Sept. 18).
Concert-goers also can take advantage of free parking at the downtown Warren parking deck. Free shuttle bus service to and from Packard hall will be provided, said Bugos.
To celebrate Walsh’s nearly 50-year career, here’s a look at 10 things maybe you didn’t know about the “Life’s Been Good” artist:
Despite the fact Walsh is associated with Northeast Ohio, the Columbus-born singer-guitarist graduated from high school in New Jersey. He did return to the Buckeye State to attend Kent State University.
When Glenn Schwartz left the James Gang in 1967, Walsh was his replacement.
A serious guitar collector, Walsh sold his 1959 Gibson Les Paul to Jimmy Page. Also, Walsh gave The Who’s Pete Townshend a 1959 Gretsch 6120, which was used on such classic albums as “Who’s Next” and “Quadrophenia.”
After leaving the James Gang for a solo career in 1971, Walsh didn’t enjoy radio success until 1973’s top-25 hit “Rocky Mountain Way,” which was from his top-10 album “The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get.”
In the early ’70s, Walsh appeared on two Michael Stanley albums.
Walsh’s first No. 1 solo single was 1981’s “A Life of Illusion” from his album “There Goes The Neighborhood.”
In 1975, Walsh had offers to join Humble Pie and the Eagles. He wisely chose the latter. His first album was the band’s definitive 1976 effort “Hotel California.”
The Eagles’ 1979 album “The Long Run” featured Walsh’s concert staple “In The City.”
When Walsh isn’t touring with the Eagles or solo, he often can be found hitting the road with Ringo Starr & his All-Starr Band.
Last year Walsh made a guest appearance on the Foo Fighters’ album “Sonic Highways.” He plays on the song “Outside.”