Live Review: Eagles

Last night’s History Of The Eagles tour was a lesson in music history, as what seemed to be a live documentary showed how this group spanning 42 years is still thriving.

The four-piece created an intimate space, reeling the audience in from the outset by casually playing atop of equipment trunks front of stage. Peaceful Easy Feeling seemed a fitting choice as Don Henley nursed his acoustic guitar and slapped it like a bongo, the light reflecting off the lacquer into a sea of dead silent faces.

As we were walked through the Eagles legacy the stage and band seemed to grow in increments; they were anything but predictable.

The first half of the show saw their slower tracks like Tequila Sunrise, The Best Of My Love and Take It To The Limit test the attention spans of the crowd.

An obvious testament to their success is an ability to share the limelight, with each member showcasing their personality and instrumental range to its full extent. However, it is Don Henley who is the recognisable voice and all-round instrumental genius, an entertainment tractor-beam. His voice seemed to boomerang through the stadium while he drummed as if the sticks were an extension of his body.

The second half had the packed arena on their feet, rewarding them for their studious attention, with classics like Heartache Tonight and Life In The Fast Lane. Then after some hilarious banter with a receptive crowd, it was time for Joe Walsh’s famously larrikin version of Life's Been Good, keeping within the storytelling theme.

With a two-part encore making it a three-hour set there is no doubt as to how the Eagles have managed to maintain a reputation for musical finesse and a following that packs out arenas 42 years on.