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These Eagles keep songs alive and well

The Forum, Inglewood, Cal., September 14, 2018

Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh

The newly reconfigured Eagles lineup, which now includes Vince Gill and Deacon Frey in place of the late Glenn Frey, hasn't changed its set much since this modified grouping's debut at Dodger Stadium in 2017. Don Henley announced from the outset, though, how the group continues to tour primarily so it can keep the Eagles' many great songs alive. This made for a hit-packed evening. Many of the Eagles' hits are also some of the band's best songs - a true win-win for concert-goers.

Furthermore, it's always a treat to Vince Gill's soaring voice applied to familiar lyrics, especially for "Lyin' Eyes" and "New Kid in Town." New setlist wrinkles this time out included Don Henley singing his solo hit "Boys of Summer," and Gill providing his take on Tom Waits' "Ol' '55." Left out of the set, however, was "Best of My Love" and the rarely played "The Last Resort," which were each performed at Dodger Stadium. Even though the band played for over two hours this evening, it was still impossible for one of the '70s biggest hit machines to play every one of them.

Along with its core reconfiguration, the band was accompanied by a horn section on some songs and a string section on others. Guitarist Steuart Smith, although not a member of the Eagles' nucleus, is nevertheless an essential contributor to the group's live ensemble. He took many of the lead solos, along with Joe Walsh (and to a lesser degree Gill), including the distinctive opening picking pattern hook for "Hotel California," one of the act's encores.

After closing with "Life in the Fast Lane," one electric guitar-powered song that solidifies the band's rock credentials, the group then followed "Hotel California" with Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way." Next, Henley took centerstage to sing "Desperado" before being joined by the rest of the group to perform the closing "The Long Run."

Henley also mentioned how the concert was being filmed for an upcoming concert video. This is a tour well worth documenting. These Eagles, both old and new, did a fine job keeping the band's distinguished songs alive and well.



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