The Eagles at Pechanga Arena

The Eagles brought their Hotel California and Greatest Hits tour to the Pechanga Arena March 3rd.

What band is the biggest selling American Band and has both the number one and third biggest selling album in U.S. history? This would be none other than the Eagles. The Eagles have been inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and Vocal Group Hall of Fame, won two Grammys, and were Kennedy Center Honorees. In 2021 the group turned 50 and with the 45th anniversary of their biggest album Hotel California the Eagles played three nights at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, NV performing the album in its entirety for the first time in September 2019. This turned into a whole tour beginning February 7th, 2020 and a month later was put on hold with the Covid-19 pandemic. The tour resumed August 21st, 2021 with two nights at Madison Square Garden in NYC. The tour continued through November 27,2022 and included three shows at the Forum in Inglewood, CA. This run in 2023 included six West Coast with the last stop at the Pechanga Arena.

The Eagles had the same lineup of founders Glenn Frey (Vocals/Guitar) and Don Henley (Vocals/Drums/Guitar), Joe Walsh (Guitar/Vocals) and Timothy B. Schmit (Bass Vocals), and Don Felder (Guitar/Vocals) from 1977 to 1980 and again from 1994-2001. With the departure of Felder in 2001 the band continued as a four member lineup and guitarist Steaurt Smith has been their touring guitarist playing his parts since then. With the passing of Frey in 2016, it was uncertain whether the three members would continue. A year later the band along with Jackson Browne and original guitarist Bernie Leadon performed “Take It Easy,” to honor Frey and were presented their Grammys for Record Of The Year for “Hotel California,” which they had won almost 40 years prior. The last tour with Frey was the History of The Eagles Tour.

In 2017 the Eagles returned to performing with Classic West and Classic East with two new members. Covering Frey’s vocals/guitar was his son Deacon and Country legend and 21x Grammy Winner Vince Gill. The Eagles first tour without Frey took place in 2018. Deacon toured with the group until April of last year and rejoined these last few shows for select songs.

The show was 27 songs broken into two sets with an intermission lasting 3 hours. The show began with a man walking out carrying the vinyl of Hotel California and placing it on a turntable. Smith played the opening riff to “Hotel California” then the lights came on the group. The full album was played ending with “The Last Resort,” and the group was joined by an orchestra and choir, almost all local musicians on some of the songs. Jim Ed Norman who was the conductor and string arranger on the album has been conducting the orchestra. Henley joked they didn’t know who the group was being much younger. Set two began with “Seven Bridges Road,” which was their usual opening song before the Hotel California tour. Deacon came out for the following two songs “Take it Easy” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” The also included four of Walsh’s songs like “Funk #49” and “In The City.” Out of Henley’s solo hits only “The Boys of Summer” was performed. The final song in set two before the encore was “Heartache Tonight”. They returned for a four song encore of “Rocky Mountain Way,” “Desperado,” “Already Gone,” and “Best of My Love.” Deacon returned for the last two songs.

Scott Crago has been the touring drummer/percussionist since the Eagles reformed in 1994, Michael Thompson and Will Hollis have been the touring keyboardists since 2001,

The Eagles will head to the East Coast for another six shows March 25th-April 7th.

Setlist (Setlist.fm):

Hotel California (Side 1)

Hotel California (Side 2)

Greatest Hits