Life has been moving at such a frantic pace that I know if I don’t take a little time out of my Sunday to get down my thoughts of The Eagles show a couple of weeks ago, I’m never going to get there. That’d be a shame, because while it’s only March, I’m pretty sure it’ll be the best show I see all year.
My dad passed his love of The Eagles down to me. It’s as much a part of me as my grey eyes that are a spitting image of his own and the way our noses get stuffy when we drink too much red wine. Every time they tour, I’m right there by his side, singing along to the songs that have such a special place in our hearts.
This was a different tour though, one tinged with sadness. We lost Glenn Frey a couple of years ago now. I cried then, and I felt the tears welling up at certain points during this show. When his image was beamed onto the back of the stage in tribute. When the band played “Already Gone,” a song usually so joyous that didn’t quite have the same spark. When the band introduced Vince Gill and Deacon Frey, Glenn’s son. They took over Glenn’s vocals admirably, but it says something that it takes two men to even attempt to replace my favourite Eagles member.
Acknowledging Glenn and his passing was important, but not as important as the music and the brotherhood on stage. While there’s a little hole in the band now, and arguably a bigger one than that experienced when Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner, or Don Felder left the band, there’s still a great camaraderie between these guys. The new recruits felt every bit a part of the show as the old guard. In time I imagine we might struggle to imagine the Eagles without them, just as I do “new kid” Timothy B. Schmidt.
Music is such a powerful healer. While my thoughts turned to Glenn from time to time, most of the show I spend singing along to those hits. “One of These Nights,” “I Can’t Tell You Why,” “Lyin Eyes,” a killer version of “Heartache Tonight.” I was in raptures. The harmonies, always an Eagles signature, were flawless. It was fitting to hear Vince Gill’s “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slipping Away” alongside solo hits from Don Henley and Joe Walsh, a true acknowledgement that he’s one of the guys now.
Speaking of Joe Walsh, can I just take a moment to mention just how fantastic he is? My dad has often joked that Joe’s legendary partying has killed just about every brain cell except for those that play guitar. He does that perhaps better than any musician I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen many of the greats. He’s also hilarious. His solo tracks “Life’s Been Good” and “Rocky Mountain Way,” so special that it made the first encore, were among the gig’s highlights, no mean feat in a show with so many smash songs.
When Glenn passed away, my family and I counted our blessings that we’d been lucky enough to see The Eagles as many times as we have. We didn’t think there’d be another tour. We said our goodbyes then, made peace with it. This time Don said these shows are probably the last we’ll get. If this is goodbye, what a farewell. Again we count our blessings, thankful we got the opportunity to see this outstanding band one last time.
Image source: own photos