EAGLES // THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW

American rockers, The Eagles, returned to Glasgow for the first time since 2014 to play at the SSE Hydro Centre as part of their six UK dates for their 2019 world tour.

EAGLES PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SSE HYDRO - 04.07.2019 PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY — **EAGLES PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SSE HYDRO - 04.07.2019**
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY

★★★★★ (5/5)

Described as one of the most successful American bands ever, having sales of over 150 million albums and their Greatest Hits album 1971-1975, having outsold the best-selling album of all time, Thriller, fans of all ages came out in their droves to catch a glimpse of their idols.

Rolling Stone has described the Eagles’ sound as ‘country tinged vocal harmonies with hard rock guitars and lyrics’. They are wise enough to know that it’s the old songs that the fans still yearn to hear. They may be coming up to fifty years in the business, but that does not detract from the energy of these ageing performers. Drummer, singer and songwriter, Don Henley, assured the audience they would be giving their all. “We’re playing two and a half hours. Why? Because we can.”

The Eagles opened on a high note with a cover of Steve Young’s Seven Bridges Road; that vocally unifying moment when all five voices came together in harmony. Take it Easy swiftly followed with Deacon Frey stepping up for lead vocals; his own unique mellow tones as every bit as good as his late father, Glenn Frey, who sadly passed in 2016. After Frey’s death, the future of the Eagles looked bleak, but aided by fellow bandmates, Timothy B Schmit and Joe Walsh, and country legend Vince Gill, Henley managed to hold the band together. Deacon has brought with him his own style, but kept his father’s memory alive. As Henley put it, “Young man, big shoes to fill, but has stepped up. Carrying forward the torch”.

This beautiful run of west coast classics continued. One of These Nights, with Henley singing from behind his drums and Vince Gill taking over lead vocals on Take it to the Limit and Tequila Sunrise. While the timeless and heavenly harmonies evoked a sense of nostalgia for many, Joe Walsh, the wise cracker and joker of the team, raised the roof with his audience participation and killer guitar licks on Walk Away and Funk #49. Still reaching the high notes and in true Joe Walsh style, comical facial expressions and all, he belted out Life’s Been Good, with Henley coming back with his own post-Eagles solo hit, The Boys of Summer.

Being such an iconic number, how could any audience not sing along to Lyin’ Eyes? As Deacon announced “I’m going to sing one that my Daddy sang”, Peaceful Easy Feeling, the song he performed at his father’s private memorial service, he touched the hearts of the audience and rightly received massive applause.

As the two and a half hours’ marathon of hit songs drew to a close and the audience hoped for more, an amazing Spanish style trumpet solo preceded an extended version of Hotel California after the first encore. Two more encores followed with Desperado, the song which marked the beginning of the Henley/Frey writing partnership and the Eagles first Billboard Hot 100 number one hit single, Best of My Love.

Like them or loathe them, the Eagles are still going strong and wowing the fans.