Eagles rock the classics

The Eagles Farewell I tour packed Conseco Fieldhouse to the nosebleed seats Saturday night with middle-aged hippies and yuppies alike longing for the music of their younger days. The most expensive tickets cost fans $150, but nostalgic fans begrudged the band none of it for a night filled with back-to-the-good-old-days music. \nDon Henley said the group decided to title the tour "Farewell I" because, "well, you never know what's going to happen." And let's hope Farewell I will extend into higher numbers because the Eagles still have it -- whatever "it" may be. \nThe foursome (Don Felder was dismissed in February 2001) played with a plethora of energy for over three hours in front of 13,000 fans. Even the people on the back wall of the highest seats stood up to dance while raising their beers.\nThe band opened with "Long Run" and kept the crowd rocking with other classics throughout the show like "Love Will Keep Us Alive," "Life in the Fast Lane" and "In the City." And these classics haven't changed because the group hasn't changed them. No extra guitar solos and no fancy remixes. \nThe audience clearly paid to hear their favorites, and that's what they got at the end. The band exited the stage without playing "Hotel California" or "Desperado." But the crowd's cheers and lighters called the group back for three encores to fulfill the wishes of nostalgic fans. \nAnd while they weren't the same long-haired, T-shirt and tight-jean wearing gang they were in the past, and age showed on their faces, they still played with a youthful spirit. For three hours, everyone in Conseco Fieldhouse was back in the late '70s.\nDon Henley and Glenn Frey's smooth, classic interlocking voices haven't changed a bit in 25 years, and neither has Joe Walsh's goofiness. \nWalsh stole the show at many points during the concert with flawless guitar solos and performances of solo favorites like "Life's Been Good." He was born to play the guitar. He even wore a "fan cam" helmet during most of the concert. But with his backwards hat and backward ways, he gave the highlight performances.\nThere were times in the three hours when people would get up for snacks because all the music started to sound the same. But at the end of the night, everyone should have felt their $150 was worth it -- and went home to listen to their old Eagles CDs.