Review: Eagles at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, March 5th, 2019
Back in early 2016, it looked as though the end was in sight for the Eagles. Following the passing of founding member Glenn Frey, fans the world over believed that the group were finally set to pack it in for good.
However, in the middle of 2017, the band hit the stage once again. This time, their lineup featured the likes of country musician Vince Gill, and Glenn Frey’s son, Deacon. With rave reviews for this new lineup, the band made the decision to once again resume full-scale touring.
In late 2018, it was revealed that the Eagles were set to hit up Australia for the first time since 2015, complete with their new lineup and passion to honour the legacy of late bandmate Glenn Frey.
On Tuesday night, the Eagles kicked off this latest Australian tour, flying into Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena to deliver a setlist full of classic rock hits.
Check out the Eagles’ ‘Best Of My Love’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TcKrLlP3_8
As Tuesday evening rolled around, it was clear that this concert wasn’t going to be your run-of-the-mill rock show. With fans of all ages lining up to get inside, the show’s popularity was so apparent that by 8pm (the scheduled start time), it seemed as though half the audience was still waiting in the security line.
Thankfully, the proceedings were delayed by just a few minutes, giving the crowd a chance to find their seat and sit down, just in time for the lights to dim as the Eagles made their way onto the stage.
Bathed in soft lighting, one solitary strum of the guitar signalled the start of the evening as the band kicked off the harmonised intro to Steve Young’s ‘Seven Bridges Road’.
As images of a dimly-lit forest appeared on the video screen behind them, it was clear that the Eagles hadn’t missed a single trick, as they effortlessly slipped back into their old ways, dishing up guitar solos like it was second nature, and switching between vocalists as if they were born to do it.
“It’s nice to be back here,” Joe Walsh noted to the audience, jokingly adding, “We played here before a lot of you were born.” However, the mood soon became sombre as Walsh addressed the elephant in the room, recognising the untimely passing of Glenn Frey while introducing us all to his son Deacon.
As Deacon Frey launched into ‘Take It Easy’, the audience was treated to an almost surreal experience, with his stage demeanour, playing style, and – most of all – voice serving as an almost perfect replica for his father’s.
While at times it was almost eerie watching years of musical talent and experience coming from someone so young, it was clear that Deacon’s presence was greatly-appreciated, with widespread applause almost drowning out his voice from the second his mouth opened.
Check out the Eagles’ ‘Take It Easy’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSScV6Rt_6s
As Don Henley took up vocals for ‘One Of These Nights’, he took the chance to again lighten the mood, noting that the members of the band “are old enough to remember when Mr Laver played tennis,” undoubtedly eliciting a few chuckles from those who share similar memories.
“It’s a testament to your culture that this place is named after him and not some bank.”
While Vince Gill took the mic for the first time to perform a pitch-perfect rendition of ‘Take It To The Limit’, the hits kept on coming as the crowd sang along to almost every word on ‘Tequila Sunrise’ and the bluesy ‘Witchy Woman’.
After a performance of Joe Walsh’s ‘In The City’, the classic Eagles discography was again raided, bringing out iconic tunes such as ‘New Kid In Town’, ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’, and ‘Lyin’ Eyes’.
Of course, while the hits rained down upon the crowd, it almost felt impossible to look away from the talents of each and every member of this iconic group.
While the likes of Vince Gill, Joe Walsh, Don Henley, and Deacon Frey were all front and centre, overlooked guitarist Steuart Smith was undoubtedly one of the evening’s highlights, effortlessly delivering intricate riffs and licks at every turn, and making it look all so easy in the process.
Check out the Eagles’ ‘New Kid In Town’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR_Ii0hXLEk
Following an absolutely monstrous performance of Vince Gill’s ‘Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away’, Joe Walsh’s days in James Gang were brought to the forefront, with a brass section joining the group for a cover of ‘Walk Away’.
As the solo projects again saw a look in, Joe Walsh’s ‘Life’s Been Good’ gave the rocker a chance to showcase his fun-loving personality, while Don Henley’s ‘The Boys Of Summer’ provided a dream-like vibe as memories of summers gone by washed over the crowd.
Soon, the entire crowd was up on their feet, stomping and clapping to the opening sounds of ‘Heartache Tonight’, before a funky cover of James Gang’s ‘Funk #49’ was followed by the iconic riff of ‘Life In The Fast Lane’.
Undoubtedly the coolest-sounding song of the night, the tune provided even more proof as to why both Don Henley and Joe Walsh are considered two of the greatest vocalists and guitarists of all-time, with their complementary talents completely dazzling the crowd with every chord change.
Sadly, this brilliant performance signalled the end for the main set, with the band taking the opportunity to wave farewell to the crowd, undoubtedly leaving everyone wanting so much more.
Check out the Eagles’ ‘Life In The Fast Lane’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZPI4xbNS84
Following a brief intermission, the Eagles made their way back to the stage, as a haunting trumpet melody served as the precursor for their first encore. As silence soon flooded the venue, Steuart Smith began plucking the iconic intro of ‘Hotel California’, signalling that this was about to be one encore for the ages.
As Smith masterfully worked his double-necked guitar, Don Henley’s classic vocals were matched by almost every member of the audience before the tune culminated into that legendary guitar solo, featuring mesmerising interplay from the likes of Smith and Joe Walsh.
As the audience took in what they had just witnessed, the band again took their leave, only to reappear moments later to dish out an extended version of Walsh’s ‘Rocky Mountain Way’. However, after a sombre performance of ‘Desperado’, backed by a night sky on the video screen and the twinkling of mobile phone flashlights, the band again took a bow, and bade us farewell.
This time around though, it seemed as though it was all over, with much of the crowd making their way to the exists as the house lights refused to illuminate.
After several minutes of wondering, the Eagles once again took to the stage, this time to round out the evening’s proceeding with a performance of their first #1 hit, ‘Best Of My Love’.
As fans left the venue, many of them excitedly reflected on what they had just witnessed, with almost everyone looking back on the evening with sheer joy.
With the Eagles getting closer to their 50th anniversary as a band, you could very easily be forgiven for thinking that they’re nearing their natural extinction. However, just one solitary moment spent witnessing their live show and it’s clear that they’re still the rock icons that we’ve always known them to be.
Though the lineup might be vastly different to their early days (with Don Henley the sole founding member remaining, and Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit having joined throughout the ’70s), the addition of Deacon Frey, Vince Gill, and Steuart Smith undoubtedly make the Eagles’ live show one that any self-respecting fan of music would never want to miss.
The Eagles’ Australian tour continues tonight in Melbourne before travelling to Brisbane and Sydney over the next week. Check out all the details below.
Check out the Eagles’ ‘Hotel California’:
Eagles World Tour 2019
(Remaining dates)
Wednesday, March 6th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, March 9th, 2019
Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Sunday, March 10th, 2019
Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Thursday, March 14th, 2019
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Tickets on sale through Frontier Touring
Eagles @ Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 5/3/18 Setlist
‘Seven Bridges Road’ (Steve Young cover)
‘Take It Easy’
‘One Of These Nights’
‘Take It To The Limit’
‘Tequila Sunrise’
‘Witchy Woman’
‘In The City’ (Joe Walsh song)
‘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 Slippin’ Away’ (Vince Gill song)
‘Those Shoes’
‘Already Gone’
‘Walk Away’ (James Gang cover)
‘Life’s Been Good’ (Joe Walsh song)
‘The Boys Of Summer’ (Don Henley song)
‘Heartache Tonight’
‘Funk #49’ (James Gang cover)
‘Life In The Fast Lane’
Encore:
‘Hotel California’
Encore 2:
‘Rocky Mountain Way’ (Joe Walsh song)
‘Desperado’
Encore 3:
‘Best Of My Love’
