The Eagles
Brisbane Entertainment Centre 10.03.2015

It’s their third trip to Australia since ‘hell froze over’ in the mid-90’s. This time around the Eagles are presenting their History of the Eagles Tour. As we’ve come to expect, it’s a long show: three hours with a brief interval. Taking it’s name from the documentary of the same name, the band are here to play the hits, a few tunes from the margins and reflect on a career that began well over forty years ago.
First of all, the documentary is superb. If you haven’t seen then do so immediately. Great songs, bad relationships, drugs and ambition fuel the story. Tonight the set opens with the front men Glen Frey and Don Henley at the foot of the stage with two acoustic guitars. They play Saturday Night, the song  ain’t bad and the harmonies are superb. Next, original guitarist Bernie Leadon joins them. It’s a freak out moment for fans. Together the three of them play Dillard & Clark’s Train Leaving Here This Morning. Henley explains that this really is ‘the history of the Eagles’ and they’ll be telling stories throughout. He also says that Bernie (who rotates off stage later), clad in plaid, is wearing the same shirt he had on when they first met in LA a lifetime ago. Peaceful Easy Feeling is next and bassist Timothy B. Schmidt is now on stage. It’s still a small rig with the foursome at the foot of the stage. Henley moves to the drum kit and beats out a groove: it’s Witchy Woman and Joe Walsh has joined them.
The set opens up, the big screens are turned on and a phalanx of additional players join the group. There’s no Don Felder, but Steuart Smith has his guitar parts down pat. More hits follow: Tequila Sunrise, Already Gone and The Best Of My Love. Henley explains their early obsession with outlaws before they play Doolin’ Dalton. The final furlong of the first set features Lyin’ Eyes, a sublime One Of These Nights and Frey’s reading of Take It To The Limit. Original bassist Randy Meisner’s vocal is missed, but you can hardly have an Eagles’ gig without the tunes inclusion.
The second half isn’t as crisp as the first and the set occasionally drags. A little too much guitar histrionics from Walsh and a set largely structured towards chronology, as opposed to what feels right, doesn’t help.
Hardcore fans no doubt enjoyed Pretty Maids All In A Row, Those Shoes, In The City and the cover of the James Gang’s Funk #49. The rest of us got a buzz from I Can’t Tell You Why, Life’s Been Good and the dizzying riff that kick-starts Life In The Fast Land.
The first encore includes the mercurial Hotel California. They’re called back for Take It Easy, Rocky Mountain Way and the closer Desperado. Not quite on par with past visits – it was still a great gig. The Eagles have got it all: superb playing, terrific songs, wonderful guitar parts, peerless harmonies and the real ace in the sleeve: Don Henley’s voice.
Words: Sean Sennett