The Eagles sure know how to keep things fresh and interesting on the road.
For the veteran rockers' new stadium tour, the band, which often performs without supporting acts, recruited none other than the Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban to open shows.
"We're giving people something for their money — not to say they weren't getting their money's worth when they see us by ourselves," Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit says. "Normally, we're on a show of our own, but on this one we decided to have a little bit of a summer fest."
Booking the Dixie Chicks was somewhat of a controversial move. Many have yet to move past lead singer Natalie Maines' comments against the war in Iraq and then-President George W. Bush at a 2003 concert in London.
"We have nothing but respect for them because of the fact they stand by their convictions," Schmit says.
The Eagles have postponed or canceled a handful of dates for this tour, leading some critics to point to it as an example of an underperforming summer concert season.
Schmit says the band had to postpone some shows after he became ill, leading to surgery and a five-day hospital stay.
"We've already made up those dates," he adds.
As for reports of slow ticket sales, Schmit says the Eagles have managed to press on while other bands have canceled entire tours.
"The fact that we altered ours a little bit is really fine," he says. "We're still rolling."
Fans can expect a set list with songs such as "Take It to the Limit," "Witchy Woman," "Lyin' Eyes," "One of These Nights" and "Take It Easy."
In addition to the band's best-known songs, the show incorporates solo hits by Schmit, guitarist Glenn Frey, drummer Don Henley and guitarist Joe Walsh.
"These songs ... almost become Eagles songs when we play them," Schmit says.
Schmit's most recent solo project is "Expando" (2009), which he wrote and produced. Schmit says he went back to his roots for the new CD.
"I came from folk music and started every song on acoustic guitar and voice," says Schmit, who recruited artists such as Graham Nash, Dwight Yoakam, Kid Rock and Kenny Wayne Shepherd for the album.
There are no Eagles members on "Expando," which explains why it sounds nothing like an Eagles project.
"I didn't say I'm not going to make an Eagles album," Schmit says. "I said I'm going to make my album. I did what I wanted to do."
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.