Former Eagle Felder flies high in solo performance at The Guild

BY HELEN LAME’

Appearing at the intimate Guild Theatre in Menlo Park on Friday night, Don Felder‘s concert performance was a treat for a small crowd assembled to enjoy a series of well delivered flashbacks from the collection of the former Eagles lead guitarist.

Fifty years after making his debut as a member of the Eagles in 1974, the Gainesville native continues to strike an engaging presence on the stage, with brief antidotes often preceding the delivery of the well known material to follow.

Felder, now 76, helped author some of the Eagles biggest hits, including “Victim of Love” and “Hotel California.” Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 with the group, it’s now been nearly a quarter century since his acrimonious dismissal from the band, but his part of their lasting legacy is unmistakable.

A century old complex with a renovation completed just two years ago, the Guild’s atmosphere is unique for Bay Area venues. Featuring a limited seating section in front of the stage where the entire first four front rows only encompass 14 seats each, the 500 person capacity former movie house literally doesn’t have any locations where one can feel detached from the compact stage, forming an atmosphere that’s difficult to beat.

Opening with “Already Gone” from 1974’s On the Border, Felder proved to be an appealing performer throughout his 80+ minute set, clearly emphasizing Eagles material over his solo work. “One of These Nights” would follow before a delectable cover of the iconic Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Pride and Joy.” Felder‘s voice is still amazing and the pristine acoustics of the Guild were top notch throughout the evening with no glitches as he alternated between an arsenal of guitars.

“Victim of Love” and “American Rock ‘n’ Roll” were up next. The title song of his most recent solo album, American Rock ‘n’ Roll is a highly enjoyable (and underrated) collection of raunchy and rollicking guitar based rock tracks enhanced by guest appearances from the likes of Sammy Hagar, Bob Weir, Joe Satriani, Peter Frampton, Slash, Mick Fleetwood and RHCP drummer Chad Smith, along with Alex Lifeson from Rush. Felder introduced the song with a brief tale about how it was inspired by him attending the Woodstock Festival as a 22 year old. Considering the brevity of the concert, including a couple additional tracks from the album would’ve been well received.

An abridged version of Eagles greatest hits would follow starting with “Peaceful Easy Feeling,”Tequila Sunrise” and the harmonious “Seven Bridges Road,” first recorded by the band for their 1980 Eagles Live concert album. According to Felder, when the group first began playing stadiums the band would warm up prior to their concerts by singing the song in locker room shower areas. Afterwards, each show would then begin with the band’s five members singing “Seven Bridges Road” a capella into a single microphone.

The only other non-Eagles track performed would be “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)” from the 1981 album of the same name. The non stop barrage of hits would continue with “Witchy Woman,” “The Long Run” and “Take It Easy,” dedicated to the late Glenn Frey.

Saving the best for last, Felder and his bandmates Brett Simons on bass, drummer Seth Rausch, keyboardist Rob Arthur and guitarist David Myhre, headed for home with “Heartache Tonight” before taking it to the limit with the blistering “Life in the Fast Lane,” setting the stage for the first and only appearance of the artist’s double neck guitar for an electrifying set closing classic rendition of “Hotel California,” complete with the inevitable extended guitar solo.

There’s no reason to think Felder has lost any of his creativity or desire to perform, so hopefully more new material awaits us. All true music fans should have the opportunity to experience at least a slice of rock history from the Seventies – traversing Memory Lane onto the Sunset Strip and into Laurel Canyon – in such a welcoming venue.