Its just gone 7.35pm, its already dark inside the Bell Centre and a medley of 5-second clips of 60’s and 70’s music suddenly cuts out to reveal Don Henley and his band. No support act, no DJ – tonight is all about, indeed, exclusively about, the living legend, and his first solo show here since 1990. A couple of songs in he tells us ‘We’re gonna do more than 2 hours of music, spanning 4 decades… because we can.’ Over the next 2 ¼ hours, he makes good on his promise.
With such an early start time, though, its no surprise that there are a great many empty seats at the start of the show; indeed, people are still milling in for the first 30 minutes or so, evidently having not taken the advertised start time seriously. It soon becomes apparent that many seats will remain empty tonight, which is a shame, although with ticket prices ranging from $62 to $144, and James Bay playing to a good few thousand across the city a little more affordably, its perhaps not surprising. No matter, though, as the 4,500 or so who chose the Bell Centre tonight are in for an absolute treat.
After opening with an acapella cover of Steve Young’s “Seven Bridges Road” with his extensive touring band, the low rumbling organ-driven intro of 1982`s “Dirty Laundry” kicks in, and the show really gets going, with the man himself leading a huge clap-along in to the resounding breakdown towards the end, where a sea of strobe lights accompanies the chanting of ‘KICK EM WHEN THEY`RE UP! KICK EM WHEN THEY`RE DOWN!’ After its epic conclusion, Don tells us ‘we’re gonna do a song off an album I put out last year ago called…’
‘THAT OLD FLAME!’ yells an enthusiastic guy in the audience.
‘Thanks! I wouldn’t have remembered…’ replies Don, dryly, eliciting chuckles from the crowd. Sure enough, “That Old Flame,” from last years collaboration-packed album “Cass County” follows, a duet with one of the 3 backing singers he has with him on this tour. 1984`s “Sunset Grill” is up next, and includes the introduction of a 5-piece brass ensemble; afterwards, Don explains ‘I brought a few people… its not very profitable, but it sure is fun!’
The biggest roar of the night thus far comes when the next song is introduced with ‘we’re gonna go back to 1972 now’ – that song is the classic “Witchy Woman,” and is the first of a handful of Eagles songs aired tonight. “One Of These Nights” follows 2 songs later, equally well received, and with the guitar solo in the outro sounding as fresh today as it did in 1975. “New York Minute” and “Shangri-La,” both from 1989 solo album “The End Of The Innocence” record, follow in quick succession. With a muted trumpet added to the brass section for these songs, the Bell Centre is given the feel of a smoky blues club for a few moments. Its a good time for everyone to catch their breath!
Following rearrangement of the stage, a couple of country numbers follow from the new “Cass County” record. “Bramble Rose” is about as bluegrass as you get, with a mandolin, slide guitar, heck, even a harmonica thrown in! Don duets with a Dolly Parton-esque (in terms of sound, not looks…) vocalist from his backing group, with the other girls and 3 of the guys joining in, and then a cover of “It Don`t Matter To The Sun follows.” ‘By now you realize these girls aren’t just here for decoration,’ Don exclaims after the song, before continuing ‘I’m gonna ask these 3 girls to do a song while I have a smoke and a pancake!’ That what it sounded like anyway… various conversations with people round about confirm that he said ‘pancake.’ At this point, Don leaves the stage and allow the girls to cover “I Don’t Want to Hear Anymore” (from The Eagles 2007 comeback record “Long Road Out of Eden”), and it briefly feels like a Dixie Chicks concert. Not to worry, Don soon returns for a jazz-infused run-through of “The End Of The Innocence,” and after relating an extensive back story, “The Last Resort.” The latter in particular is huge, featuring prominent violin, rousing choral vocals and a grandiose finale that brings many to their feet in applause at its conclusion.
“The Heart Of The Matter,” and a cover of Tears For Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” in tribute to ‘the political situation in the south’ follow, before the main set concludes with undoubtedly Henley`s most popular solo moment, “Boys Of Summer.” The rows and some parts of the aisles fill with mom-dancing, and again, the song sounds as fresh as ever.
Following a brief moment off-stage, Don and his band swiftly return, and the unmistakably 70`s riff intro of “Life In The Fast Lane” erupts, and the dancing continues to a stomping rendition of the 1976 Eagles classic. The equally unmistakable spooky intro to “Hotel California” creeps in, and one of the finest songs ever written is delivered with such conviction, you can`t help but feel chills. When Dons vocals conclude with the evocative ‘YOU CAN CHECK OUT ANY TIME YOU LIKE, BUT YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE!,’ he immediately exits the stage, probably the 70’s equivalent of throwing down the mic, and the rest of the band completes the epic instrumental outro in a confident manner the original band would be proud of. Glorious.
After another brief pause, and after people have begun filing out of the Bell Centre (oops!), Don and band return for a second encore, its single song introduced by Don simply as ‘this ones for Glenn,’ in tribute to recently deceased Eagles band-mate Glenn Frey who died earlier this year. Its adds more emotion to the already-poignant 1973 classic “Desperado,” which is delivered in an arena now illuminated with lighters and cell phones. Yet another stirring moment in a set full of them.
At this point, previous shows on the tour have concluded, but curiously, the house lights don’t come up. Surprisingly, Don and band return for a 3rd encore, with Don joking ‘some of were already outta the door!’ before telling us, ‘you get extra.’ He duets one final time on 1976’s “Wasted Time,” before leaving the stage for the last time after a fantastic, nostalgic 2 hours 15 minutes.
The word “timeless” is often over-used, but is perfectly epitomises the work of Don Henley and The Eagles. Who knows if and when he’ll be back here again? 26 years is a long time between the last 2 solo visits. Whatever happens in the future, those of us who can say we were there tonight will remember this one for a long time.
Set List
Seven Bridges Road (Steve Young cover)
Dirty Laundry
That Old Flame
Sunset Grill
Witchy Woman (Eagles song)
When I Stop Dreaming
One of These Nights (Eagles song)
New York Minute
Shangri-La
Bramble Rose (Tift Merritt cover)
It Don’t Matter to the Sun (Garth Brooks cover)
I Don’t Want to Hear Anymore (Eagles song)
The End of the Innocence
The Last Resort (Eagles song)
Train in the Distance
The Heart of the Matter
Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears cover)
The Boys of Summer
Life in the Fast Lane (Eagles song)
Hotel California (Eagles song)
Desperado (Eagles song)
Wasted Time
Review – Simon Williams
Photos – capturacamera.com
