M&S Arena Liverpool – 30/06/19
I can’t quite believe that last night I finally got a chance to see the Eagles. Entering the newly re branded M and S arena there was a real buzz of excitement from the packed crowd. The band casually walked on stage to a huge cheer and launched into their first song, an a capella version of ‘Seven Bridges Road’. Wow! These guys still have it and those harmonies were absolutely perfect. We were in for a real treat.
‘Take it Easy’ was up next and really got the crowd going. I was in musical heaven. Stunning guitar lines, fantastic vocals and the sound was perfect. In fact, if you closed your eyes and forget you were in the presence of musical royalty, it could have been the record. No, scratch that, this was better! As the second song draws to a close, Don Henley steps up to the microphone; there was such a respect and admiration from the entire band for the cities musical legacy, with Don declaring that if it weren’t for four guys from this city, they might not have been here.
The Eagles were joined onstage by Vince Gill and Deacon Frey, son of co founding member, Glenn Frey. They had big shoes to fill, but they well and truly earned their place up there.
Vince Gill’s voice is brilliantly suited to the Eagles’ catalogue, he sang a wonderful rendition of ‘Take it to the Limit’ as well as ‘Lying Eyes’ later in the show. I thoroughly enjoyed the inclusion of Vince Gill’s own song ‘Don’t Let our Love Start Slipping Away’ and despite it not being an Eagles song, it fitted so perfectly within the set. I must have a listen to more of his stuff! Again, Vince showed so much admiration towards the Beatles, declaring that the first record he bought was a Beatles LP. He really fitted in with the band and vocally he added so much, both with his lead songs, but with his fantastic harmonies and guitar work too.
Deacon Frey was sublime. I really felt the band were looking out for him up there on stage. Multiple pats on the back from the others, giving him that support as he was walking in his father’s shoes, not the he needed any help. He was magnificent. A few people in the crowd commented that he was the future of The Eagles and I’d have to agree. His vocal delivery was so like his father. Glenn would have been looking down and smiling. Introducing ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ as “One my dad used to sing” – it was an emotional moment, with a picture of Glenn Frey on the screens as the song was sung. It was such a nice moment.
I was amazed at the real display of musicianship up on the stage. A fantastic backing band, the horn section were brilliant and additional piano player and drummer were great, because of course Don Henley flitted between the drums and guitar. His voice was again stunning and he absolutely nailed ‘Hotel California’ from behind the drums! He also played his own hit, ‘The Boys of Summer’, yet another fantastic moment.
Another treat was bassist Timothy B Schmit’s impeccable falsetto on the track ‘I can’t tell you Why’. Such a soulful delivery and to have maintained such a voice and still be able hit those high notes aged 71, hats off to you sir!
Guitarist Steuart Smith was great. Another mighty fine player, acting as co lead guitarist, he provided fantastic licks throughout the show and he whipped out the iconic double necked guitar for ‘Hotel California’, for that ever famous guitar duel with Joe Walsh.
Talking of Joe Walsh, what a player! I now have a new guitar hero. He absolutely blew my mind. Not only was he a fantastic guitarist, he also used a talk box on a few of the songs and his singing was exceptional. He was certainly having fun up there encouraging the audience to join in with his song ‘Life’s Been Good’. His guitar solo’s were brilliant. His solo in ‘Walk Away’ was special but the solo of solo’s came in ‘Funk #49’. Just awe inspiring!
The Eagles certainly put an amazing show on. Playing for over two and a half hours and doing three, yes THREE encores, it was a truly special night. They finished by playing their first number one ‘Best of My Love’. What a way to end. It was such a great show. The harmonies were to die for and the vocals were as good, if not better than the original recordings. I absolutely loved it. I can’t quite put into words just how good they were, exceptional doesn’t even come close. Leaving the arena the crowd was on such a high and for good reason, The Eagles came to this musical city and delivered, they well and truly blew us all away!
