In fact an early, and awful, attempt at “Already Gone” by me on guitar and a pal on the bass was put on tape by a more seasoned and sadistic future band mate and used for years to torment us.
So it seemed improbable that in the half century since I had never actually attended a live Eagles concert. Somehow geography, finances, or other life priorities must have gotten in the way. When the band broke up in 1980 I figured I had lost my chance. Then it reformed but again I missed out on the Hell Freezes Over tour. And when the band’s cofounder Glenn Fry died in 2016, I figured any opportunity was likewise gone for good.
But then came the recent Hotel California tour. I gladly scooped up some high-priced tickets to the band’s stop in Greenville, SC. It was well worth it.
Yes, the irreplaceable Glenn Fry was gone, but Vince Gill did an amazing job of matching Glenn’s vocal parts. Steuart Smith did a masterful job of pairing with Joe Walsh for the lead guitar solos, playing them note for note as they appeared on the albums.
Not that these pros needed any help performing their songs, but they got it anyway. At some points in the show an entire orchestra (the Greenville Symphony) appeared behind them as well as a full chorus.
The band played through the entire Hotel California album, even having a gentleman come on stage at the top to place the vinyl record on a phonograph and then a lady appear to turn the record over at the halfway point. When “The Last Resort” was played, the last cut on the record, Don Henley explained the short set by noting that, “Albums only lasted about 40 minutes back then.” He promised that the band would come back after the intermission and play about “every song we know.”
They did.
Every time I wondered whether they were going to play a particular hit, that song came up on the play list.
Joe Walsh even squeezed in some of his solo work. I expected to hear him play his hit "Life’s Been Good” (and he did) but was surprised when he played the old James Gang chestnut “Funk 49.” And just as soon as I began thinking that I’d like to hear some “Rocky Mountain Way” there it came as part of the encore.
I was also hoping for some of Don Henley’s solo work and was happy to hear him go into “Boys of Summer” near the end of the show.
I’ve covered so many Eagles songs so many times over the years and heard other bands do the same, but nobody plays their music like they do. It was great to finally hear that.