Starstruck in the Presence of Lee Kerslake: Eagles

Monday, 8 July 2019

Eagles

4th July 2019

Glasgow Hydro

I really don't suppose many folks would have blamed the Eagles had they chose to call it a day after the death of Glenn Frey in 2016. Indeed, as remaining original member Don Henley pointedly stated at the time: he “didn't think the band would perform again” .

But, two years on, enter the fray (no pun intended) Glenn's son Deacon and, with the addition of experienced and much respected Country singer/songwriter Vince Gill (not that I had heard of him) to flesh out the higher range harmonies, we had an Eagles' reboot.

And whilst I would not go so far to state that Frey Jnr. was in any way a passenger, (although the word “legacy” was frequently used during song introductions), on the evidence of this evening I would attest both his voice and guitar playing probably lie just the correct side of competent. What was notable was that he bore a remarkable resemblance to Orlando Bloom in Will Turner guise. Had it not been for Daughter in the seat beside me, I would also guess he was probably the youngest person in the building by some years.

The band opened with an a capella intro to Seven Bridges Road, before proceeding to lay down a fistful of trump cards from their early Seventies Country-rock period: One of These Nights, Take it to the Limit and Take it Easy – Deacon making a pretty decent fist of the latter, I have to say.

Joe Walsh, hamming it up with his reformed-but-still-slightly-addled-druggie persona provided a deal of light relief. But his guitar work was never less than stunning, particularly so on In the City – a new one for me.

But this song's conclusion heralded in a decidedly flabby middle third to the set. During which only the sumptuous harmonies of Lyin' Eyes will live long in this attendee's memory banks. The band finally cranked up the quality control with Walsh's Life's Been Good, before presenting us with what in my humble opinion is Henley's best ever tune: The Boys of Summer. As I career headlong towards my dotage, I find the message of this one more and more difficult to listen to with each passing year. I can think of no other song which more unerringly hits that nostalgia-for-days-gone spot we all try to keep hidden.

The Hydro, Glasgow.

The first encore, prefaced by a trumpet intro, was Hotel California. Rather like Stairway to Heaven, Hey Jude or Bohemian Rhapsody even, this tune has become so familiar to most folks over the decades, it almost gets taken for granted. But it is quite simply one of the most finely crafted rock compositions of the 20th Century. The lyrics still intrigue and disturb in equal measures, and probably have just as much to say today about a decadent and hedonistic US as they ever did.

Joe Walsh then brought his party piece to the table – Rocky Mountain Way, complete with mouth/geetar gadget thingy – before Henley stepped forward to perform Desperado to a rapt silence. This latter song written by Frey and Henley as a plea to Walsh to cut down on his 1970's excesses, if one website is to be believed.

The lads were then considerate enough to close the evening with one of their duffers: The Best of My Love, which allowed a number of the slightly less-committed (Daughter and I included) to sneak out early, and miss the traditional Hydro post-gig gridlock.

Thanks, boys. That really was rather considerate of you.

Set list

Seven Bridges Road
Take it Easy
One of These Nights
Take it to the Limit
Tequila Sunrise
Witchy Woman
In the City
I Can't Tell You Why
New Kid in Town
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Love Will Keep Us Alive
Lyin' Eyes
Don't Let Our Love Start Slipping Away
Those Shoes
Already Gone
Walk Away
Life's Been Good
The Boys of Summer
Heartache Tonight
Funk #49
Life in the Fast Lane

Encores
Hotel California

Rocky Mountain Way
Desperado

Best of My Love