The Eagles at Hampton Coliseum Monday night

For more than three hours on Monday night, California country-rock act the Eagles checked in to the Hotel Coliseum, and at times it appeared as though they’d never leave. Not than anyone in the near-capacity Hampton venue – Hampton Coliseum – wanted them to.

The Eagles were one of the most celebrated bands to come out of the era dubbed these days as classic rock. Between 1972 and 1979, the group released six dynamic, hit-filled studio albums, the most successful being 1976’s “Hotel California,” which along with Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors,” produced singles that dominated the playlists of Album Oriented Rock formatted radio stations like our very own FM99.

Today’s Eagles – Glenn Frey (vocals/guitar/keyboards), Don Henley (vocals/drums/guitar), Joe Walsh (guitar/vocals) and Timothy B. Schmit (bass/vocals) – where accompanied by a full lineup of support musicians, which included three keyboard players, a percussionist and four-piece horn section.

The most impressive sidekick was Stewart Smith, an Arlington, Virginia guitarist who effortlessly played most of the signature guitar solos, like the one on “One of These Nights,” note for note. Early in the Eagles’ first set, Smith became an obvious crowd-pleaser.

The well-publicized animosity between band members was never present during the Eagles’ performance, though by looking at the number of tour buses parked out back it seems as if they traveled separately on the road. But no, the band was all business, right down, in fact, to the black suits and neckties they donned for the evening.

The first segment of each of their two sets – split with a 20-minute intermission – was focused on material from their 2007 chart-topping album, “Long Road Out of Eden,” their first full-length studio album since 1979’s “The Long Run.” The new tunes performed included “Too Busy Being Fabulous” and “Guilty of the Crime.”

Since much of the fresh material was slow tempo, when Glenn Frey jokingly said, “Check your ticket stubs, this is the Eagles assisted living tour,” it did indeed seem as though the band was in need of musical Viagra to get things revved up. At that pivotal moment, a lone trumpet player appeared and blew a brief measure of faintly recognizable notes. When the guitars eerily chimed in, the crowd erupted in applause at the sound of “Hotel California,” one of the most beloved anthems in rock music history.

Guitarists Joe Walsh and Stewart Smith absolutely smoked the dueling, melodic riffs. The band received a much-deserved thunderous standing ovation.

A few folks in the audience openly wondered why the Eagles performed the song so early in the first set. But given the plethora of hits, no one could have been left wanting.

The Eagles played the country-inspired songs like “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Take It to the Limit.”

From where I (the review sat), the sound in the Coliseum was exceptional. The overall volume of the Eagles was never overbearing; there was nice separation between instruments; the vocals and harmonies were clear and on-key.

The most animated Eagle of the evening was Joe Walsh. During guitar solos he changed facial expressions more times than the Lions lost football games this year. Performances of his non-Eagles material included the solo “Life’s Been Good” and “Funk #49” from his James Gang days.

The audience seemed to favor such high-energy tracks. Excellent versions of Henley’s “Dirty Laundry” as well as Eagles classics “Witchy Woman,” “Heartache Tonight” and “Life in the Fast Lane” were delightful.

Perhaps the most poignant multi-media experience came during the epic title track from “Long Road Out of Eden,” when the dramatic music was visually enhanced on the arched backdrop with dark scenes of the Iraq war. The song concluded with a military-like drum roll and the scene of an empty pair of combat boots lying in the sand. Wow.  

Now that’s what I call getting your money’s worth.

Jeff Maisey at (757) 222-3934 or jmaisey@pilotonline.com

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