Monday, October 13, 2003

By Scott Mervis, Post-Gazette Weekend Editor

With a set of songs that seem like they'll endure forever, harmonies to die for and an overall peaceful, easy feeling, the Eagles came into Mellon Arena like the living embodiment of classic rock radio.

Indeed, there's a lot more to the Eagles Farewell I tour than the greatest hits, volumes 1 and 2, substantial as they are. You get the synth-driven rock of Don Henley's solo run, including the great "Boys of Summer," and the quirky best of Joe Walsh and the James Gang. You even get the dreadful "You Belong to the City," from the Glenn Frey years, and one attempt at a new song, "Hole in the World," that we can only hope isn't a taste of what's to come.

For better or worse, there's quite a variety that falls under the Eagles' wing. The vintage sound is that of Frey, who looks like the guy who does your taxes but still shines as a country-rock singer. He handles the quick hits such as "Peaceful, Easy Feeling," "Already Gone" and "Lyin' Eyes," all played just like the record by a band that maxed out at 12 pieces.

Henley, serving double duty on the drum kit and center stage, adds the blue-eyed soul with that pained but prize-winning voice. He gets the call on the more atmospheric pieces such as "Hotel California" and "Sunset Grill."

And then there's Walsh, who might have been a circus clown if he hadn't learned to play guitar. I'm still not sure how he fits with the Eagles, but the Eagles would be a much duller affair without him. Along with hired gun Stuart Smith, who played Don Felder's riffs to perfection, Walsh provided the spark, whether reaching for the screaming wah-wah parts on "Turn to Stone," camping it up on "Life's Been Good" or squawking through the talk-box on "Rocky Mountain Way."

Singer/bassist Timothy B. Schmit only came forward for two leads, including "I Can't Tell You Why," the Eagles hit that could have been a Bee Gees song, but that high, pretty voice of his plays a big part on the harmonies. He also maintains his rock-star looks, well into his 50s. (Interestingly, there are no bald Eagles.)

One rap against the Eagles is that the band, a radio powerhouse but not the kind of group that had people dropping everything and following it in a VW van, plays it note-for-note live. If you left at intermission, you might have thought it all a bit too slick.

But thanks to Walsh, the second set loosened up into a rock 'n' roll show. "I was almost going to run for governor of California," Walsh said, "but decided not to at the last minute because we had a concert in Pittsburgh. The good news is, from now on I'm going to do all the 'Terminator' movies."

He definitely sold the packed crowd on the idea, shredding the place with "Walk Away" and "Funk 49." With the show in high gear and the horn section rockin', Henley dragged out "Dirty Laundry," played with all the intensity it deserves. Henley closed out the set with a ride through "Life in the Fast Lane" and didn't miss a note or a drum beat as he pulled into the "Hotel California." After Frey's upbeat version of "Take it Easy," Henley sent the crowd into the slow lane with a beautiful reading of "Desperado." Frey joked at one point that management was backstage working on a Farewell VI tour a decade from now.

He can sleep well knowing that all those same folks will be back to cheer them on.

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