Don Henley soared like an Eagle in Ovation Hall at Revel, Friday evening, February 1. Joining him on stage was an outstanding six-piece band that also helped by providing awesome singing back-up support for him. Many in the audience, wearing Don Henley T-shirts did notice the fact that the performance was delayed approximately ten minutes from the scheduled 9pm start and began chanting 'Henley, Henley.”
The show featured some of Henley’s biggest hits, including some of his sounds from his group the Eagles. Opening his solo stint show with “Dirty Laundry,” which was quickly followed by “Long Road” and “Sunset Grill.” Throughout the performance, Henley included the songs his fans came to hear and they rose to their feet when he sang “New York Minute” and “One of These Nights.”
The thirteen-song line-up not including the encores, proved to be outstanding and enjoyably invigorating that when Henley and the band returned to the stage for the encore, the audience was already primed and on their feet, for the remainder of the show.
Henley and the band started the encore and played the two biggest Eagles and Henley hits, “Hotel California” and finishing with “Desperado” to roars of applause and whistles. Although the show had ended and the lights in the arena had come on, Henley’s fans just stood there a few minutes hoping for more before they slowly began to exit the hall.
Henley who is best known for his group the Eagles, formed in the fall of 1971. The group reached mega hit status during the 1970’s and then split apart in the early 80’s leading to Henley becoming a solo act. As a song writer/performer, Henley had little trouble reaching his fans when ”Dirty Laundry” went to #3 in 1982 followed by two more top ten hits in 1985 “The Boys Of Summer” and “All She Wants To Do Is Dance.”
Born in Gilmer, Texas, July 22, 1947, Henley has been able to combine a unique style and sound by blending a little country, folk, R&B with some rock and pop. That sound and Don Henley’s strong vibrant voice propelled the Eagles and Henley to impressive heights selling over 100 million albums worldwide.
The Eagles became the first band in history to have over 10 million in sales for two separate albums, “Hotel California,” (15 million) and “Eagles-Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (26 million copies surpassing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as the best selling album of all time in the US.) remained separated until 1996 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Don Henley still has his special vibrant sound and his performance brought a smile to the faces and a memory to every audience member that started from the opening song and endures throughout the show and long after he had left the stage.
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