The Eagles played the Grand Ole Opry House on Sunday night (Oct. 29), as a special event to promote SiriusXM’s Hotel California channel. The Eagles-centric satellite radio channel will launch in mid-November and stay on air through the holidays.
The Eagles’ Opry concert, which featured band members Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, as well as Vince Gill and Deacon Frey, marked the first time that the band has played at the iconic venue. Stars including Reba McEntire, Chris Young, Old Dominion and Sheryl Crow, along with fortunate SiriusXM listeners, filled every seat in the Grand Ole Opry House for the historic event.
Read on to find out about six of the best parts of the Eagles’ special Opry show.
Vince Gill and Deacon Frey
Following Glenn Frey’s death in 2016, Gill has been touring with the Eagles, beginning with a series of shows earlier this year. The consummate singer, guitar player and overall performer blends with the iconic band as if he has been with them from the beginning.
“Twenty-five years ago, I heard the first record the Eagles made,” Gill shared from stage on Sunday night. “It changed everybody’s lives. It’s been one of the great thrills of my life to receive this phone call this year to come in and sing some of these songs … These guys have been heroes of mine my whole life. To get to come play in my hometown where I live is one of the great joys of my life.”
Gill took the lead on several of the Eagles’ hits throughout the night, including “Take It to the Limit” and “Tequila Sunrise.”
Also touring with the Eagles following Frey’s death is his son, Deacon Frey. Although he is a generation or two younger than the men he now shares the stage with, Frey clearly inherited both his guitar and vocal skills from his beloved father, and has earned the respect of his bandmates.
The Show-Opening “Seven Bridges Road”
The Eagles showed what kind of night they were going to give their fans with their opening number, “Seven Bridges Road.” All of the band members lined up onstage, starting out the song a cappella before joining in with their guitars.
As far as musicianship goes, that first number was a hard one to top.
The Horn Section
Long before Lady Antebellum used a horn section, the Eagles did it — and did it well. The five horns that joined the band for several songs, including “Witchy Woman” and “I Know What You’re Doing,” on Sunday night made them come alive.
Don Henley and Joe Walsh
Pages could be written about the musicianship of these two longtime bandmates. With Henley, who co-founded the Eagles, and Walsh, who joined in 1975, onstage together, tearing through some of their biggest songs, it was almost like a step back in time — except they sounded better than ever. Henley took on hits such as “One of These Nights,” and Walsh impeccably performed his own “Life’s Been Good” (from his solo album But Seriously, Folks ...) — to say nothing of his stunning guitar solos. It’s hard to believe more than 45 years have lapsed since the Eagles first formed.
The Classic Hits
Probably more than any other band in history, the Eagles have dozens of hits that have transcended time and remain as enjoyable as the day they were released. From “Take It Easy” to “Best of My Love” to “Heartache Tonight,” nearly every person in the maxed-out Grand Ole Opry sang along to every word. WIth part nostalgia and part amazement, the fans — who spanned at least three generations — hung onto every word.
The Encore
Of course, the Eagles saved their best hits for last, and the fans didn’t move until well after the last note rang out. Their encore began with “Hotel California” and “Rocky Mountain Way,” with Walsh playing two guitars (as only he can), and the night ended with Henley singing “Desperado,” accompanied by a string section. The awe-inspiring moment left fans lingering in their seats, waiting and hoping for more — but with so many songs packed into their two-hour show, the Eagles humbly took one final bow and walked off the stage.
Country Artists Reflect on Glenn Frey’s Influence, Legacy
This Article Was Originally Posted at www.TheBoot.com
