Review: The Eagles Still Mild at Heart in Vancouver

The Eagles in concert at a packed Rogers Arena in Vancouver. (Anil Sharma / CTV)

In the choice between modesty and spectacle, The Eagles selected the former to open their Vancouver concert at a packed Rogers Arena last night.

Founder members Glenn Frey and Don Henley entered from opposite sides of the stage, strapped on acoustic guitars, sat down and strummed their way through relatively obscure album track “Saturday Night.”

One short Frey anecdote about their time backing Linda Ronstadt was the cue for the introduction of original guitarist Bernie Leadon (who has evolved from his hirsute youth into the spitting image of Breaking Bad’s Hank Schrader), who in turn led his considerable chops to acoustic outings “Train Leaves Here This Morning” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” the latter bolstered by the arrival of bassist Timothy B Schmit. Another short lecture followed, providing the prompt for guitarist Joe Walsh to roll on stage to deliver the intro to “Witchy Woman.”

The concert, billed as “The History of The Eagles,” was proving to be an accurate description. Bolstered by the acclaimed, warts-and-all documentary of the same name, the mega-selling yet critically unloved band seemed to be revelling in tales of its tumultuous rise to commercial glory.

As befitted the history lesson, the country-themed set list had its dial stuck on mild, “Doolin-Dalton” and “Tequila Sunrise” both delivering harmonious perfection if not thrills. Explaining that the band “needed to rock a little harder,” Frey accelerated the pace with “Already Gone” and reminded the crowd that “We did everything fast in 1975,” before reverting to type leading up to the interval with a sequence of classic ballads that all but blurred into one another.

Bladders emptied, the difference on The Eagles’ return was instantly noticeable. Joe Walsh, a supporting player at best during a first half dominated by Henley’s still-perfect vocals and Frey’s storytelling, was at the mic delivering “Pretty Maids All In A Row.”

It was the start of a mighty second half for the band’s nominal lead guitarist. Despite clearly being the weakest singer in the group, and now possessing a face that resembles a discarded shoe, Walsh displayed a natural sense of on-stage fun and charisma that the innate professionalism of collar-shirted Frey and Henley were never able to match. Walsh, sporting a Boris Karloff Frankenstein t-shirt and basketball sneakers, generated the biggest cheer of anyone on stage during the band introductions, before leading the crowd in a charmingly daft call and response rolling into “Life’s Been Good,” the worst sung yet most joyful track of the entire night.

“We’re still here because you’re still here,” smiled Henley by way of introducing “The Long Run,” trying his best to take the crowd back out of Walsh’s pocket. It was all in vain, as a Frey vs Walsh guitar duel was never even close, providing the springboard for a version of The James Gang’s (Walsh’s previous band) hit, “Funk #49.” The set closer, “Life In the Fast Lane,” saw Schmit, Frey and Henley pulling synchronised guitar moves but still failing to draw the crowd’s focus from Walsh, who was ripping yet another fine solo.

The encore finally prised the audience out of their seats, Leadon returning after an hour and half’s absence for “Hotel California” and an appropriately relaxed “Take It Easy.” “Rocky Mountain Way” sounded great, but was accompanied by the sight of a close-up on the giant screens of a perspiring 30-foot Joe Walsh with a talk box tube in his mouth, one of the most terrifying images imaginable at a concert.

The evening ended with a gentle rendition of “Desperado,” an appropriate selection for a show that confirmed The Eagles’ reputation as the kings of creampuff-soft rock balladry, despite the repeated hints at their off-stage escapades.

All apart from Joe Walsh, of course. That guy rocks.

The Eagles play at Rogers Arena again tonight.