Spotlight on The Eagles as the Long Run comes to Rock & Rails

The Eagles is the kind of music that whenever it's played it's hard to keep from tapping your feet or humming along. Fans know the songs, though many prefer one style of the group's songs over another.

When The Long Run takes the stage at Rock & Rails, fans can do more than hum or tap. They can dance the night away while, according to rumors, enjoying more copious adult beverages than at any other Rock & Rails show. Band founder and Don Henley-style vocalist Mark Trippensee talked to us about his upcoming performance and the band, which has played at numerous festivals as well as Red Rocks and The Paramount Theater.

Q: How are you feeling about coming out to Niwot? As you look back on your history as a musician, what do you see?

MT: It's usually a standard on our schedule. We've been doing it for quite a while and we love it.

Q: How was the group formed?

MT: It was just a little idea I had 14 years ago when there was just a small handful of tribute acts around the state here. I knew several of the other tribute bands, but there weren't any other bands in this time zone that were focused where we wanted to be. Through the years, we've had a handful of members come in and out of the band, but we've always had some long standing members, and we appreciate them.

Q: What are some of the songs you play that audiences really seem to love?

MT: That's so hard to answer. I mean, it is the band that had the biggest selling album of the 20th century. Nobody will be able to beat that record now. There's such a depth of material that it's really hard to pinpoint any one thing. No matter what we do in a 90-minute show, we're leaving something out.

Q: But I bet you're also capturing something people love.

MT: We sure are.

Q: Is there one song that really lifts the audience? Maybe Heartache Tonight?

MT: You'd assume it was that, but if it's a crowd that likes more country, so they can do a lot of two stepping, they'll want something like that. Or if you think the crowd doesn't seem like they want the harder material, but you play something and they really go for it.

Q: Any Rock & Rails performing experiences that really stand out.

MT: Well, I'm not sure, but I"m told that when we play, the organizers sell the most booze! So that's something.

Q: What makes Rock & Rails different from the other places you play at?

MT: This is the only place where we play from a gazebo!

Q: And then there's the train, right?

MT: Yeah. But we can't time it to come by and blow the whistle during the right song. (laughs) Lots of times it happens during a quiet passage. Like during Desperado. But if we knew when they were coming through, we'd time it with Midnight Flyer.

Q: So who are your influences? The Eagles?

MT: There's a number of bands I grew up with and that I love. And when you're a singer, you have to know a range of stuff. (NOTE: Mark has shared the stage with a number of bands including Winger, REO Speedwagon, and .38 Special)

Q: Well, we look forward to you doing the whole bunch of stuff. Thank you for talking to us today.