Eagles fans got lucky on May 5: The weather remained clear during a week characterized by long spurts of rain. The balmy temperature eased the crowd’s attitude, and a breeze descended well into the initial verse of “Take It Easy.” And yes, since it was Cinco de Mayo and Tedeschi Trucks Band was the opener, many attendants were already pleasantly buzzed.
Generations of fans put on their vintage band t-shirts to catch Eagles’ Atlanta stop of “The Long Goodbye: Act iii” tour at Truist Park. The legendary rock band boasts more than 50 years of touring experience, and like other classic rock bands, has undergone lineup adjustments in the last decade. Deacon Frey and Vince Gill both joined in 2017 to fill the gap caused by Glenn Frey’s death the previous year, and Don Henley still dedicates stage banter time to thank them for stepping in.
The current lineup goes off without a hitch, achieving impressive guitar runs and the Eagles’ trademark harmonies. The balance of voices was especially keen on “Lyin’ Eyes.” They also played some hits by the core members’ side projects, including “The Boys of Summer,” “In the City” (which closed with an especially potent Walsh guitar solo), and “Funk #9,” and songs co-written with non-members. Some of those tracks, of course, are among the Eagles’ top hits.
They also concluded with an epic four-song finale, which, unlike a few other stops on the tour, included “Desperado.” Witnessing “Hotel California’s” guitar duet in person was a bucket-list experience.
“This is it,” my father-in-law, a hardcore classic rock fan, said after “The Boys of Summer” finished. “You know, when these guys finish, there will never be music like this again.”
