Words & Photos by Rod Snyder
Don Henley rolled into the old steel town of Bethlehem to the Sands Event Ballroom, with his 16 piece band in tow to face a jam packed crowd. Over the next 2 hours, the band would play some of the most requested songs on American radio.
The stage was set up with a semi circle of microphones, front and center. The band members took to the stage, with Henley at the center mic. The opening vocals of “Seven Bridges Road” rung through the speakers; it was a nice prelude of things to come.
The evening was mixed with Henley’s solo material, as well as some Eagles songs. A few covers were thrown in as well. A rousing cover of the Tears for Fears, “Everybody Wants To Rule the World” was sang on this tour because it made Henley feel better, due to the shape the world is in right now. Who can blame him?
The set came to a close with “The Boys of Summer”, and with some folks dancing in the aisles. They would remain standing for the remainder of the show. The band came back on for 2 encores, “Life in the Fast Lane” and “Hotel California”. The latter was easily one of the best songs of the night. With the backing vocals & dueling guitars at the end, it was incredible. The set ended, but the show wasn’t over yet.
Henley & Co. came out for a second encore that consisted of the classic “Desperado” – I could sense some tingles in the room at this point. It was a great rendition. Then came the last song of the night, “Peaceful Easy Feeling”, dedicated to the late Glenn Frey. This was only the second time played live by Henley and the boys.
Don Henley’s voice still packs a punch and sounded even better with the band he put together. Catch them for some of the remaining dates left on the tour or if you’re lucky enough check out the Eagles headlinging “the Classic” East and West show in Los Angeles & New York in July.
Setlist:
Seven bridges road
Dirty laundry
Sunset grill
That old flame
Witch woman
When I stop dreaming
New York minute
One of these nights
It don’t matter to the sun
Best of my love
The end of the innocence
The last resort
The heart of the matter
Everybody wants to rule the world (Tears for Fears cover)
The boys of Summer
Encore 1:
Life in the fast lane
Hotel California
Encore 2:
Desperado
Peaceful easy feeling
www.donhenley.com
TheWaster.com | PA
6.11.17
The Cost of Living isn’t a cover.
That is a killer setlist, Saw him twice on the first couple of albums he did solo. And though I did miss him on this last tour I did just pick up a ticket for The Eagles here in NYC. I’ve never seen them before and I feel like I need to hear how they are going to do without Glenn, who I did get to see solo live in 1993 which also happened to feature Joe Walsh as his “other” guitarist. So in some sort of way the circle will be completed next month.