Gig review: The Eagles, Glasgow Hydro

You couldn’t accuse The Eagles of not giving the fans what they want to hear in this mammoth “History” tour. All the big hits – and there are many – plus a few rarely played oldies, organised roughly chronologically, and nary a new tune in sight.

The Eagles

The Eagles - Glasgow Hydro

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Whether a fan of their early country-rock style or their later bluesy-rock sound, there was something for everyone – except, perhaps, anyone hoping for spontaneity.

The first half, staged like an acoustic campfire jam, with original guitarist Bernie Leadon rejoining founding members Glen Frey and Don Henley for the first time since 1975, highlighted the careful harmonies and smooth melodies of songs like Peaceful Easy Feeling, Whatever Happened To Saturday Night and Lyin’ Eyes (amusingly dedicated by Frey to his first wife, “Plaintiff”). But it took forever to get going, slowed by documentary footage and long anecdotes bearing a distinctly rehearsed tinge, recounting the story of their formation, which is presumably familiar to most fans anyway. The performances are as polished as the patter.

Joe Walsh, who replaced Leadon, dominates the rockier second half and is an entertaining stage presence, playing up to the audience as casually as he reels off some dizzying guitar licks. But with long solos and less-than-subtle songs like Life’s Been Good, Life In The Fast Lane, Heartache Tonight and Those Shoes, this lapsed into an indulgent dirge, while Hotel California is hard to take straight these days. Still, a (relatively) gentle version of Desperado sang everyone out happily enough.

Seen on 31.05.14