![]() ![]() Keeping in similar territory, “The Heart of the Matter” was riveting with the singer’s vulnerable delivery. The affecting ballad “Praying for Rain,” inspired by the Texas drought earlier this decade and sung from the perspective of a farmer, really benefited from soaring group backing vocals.īefore the driving rock of surefire hit “That Old Flame,” Henley recalled how an email he received from a past girlfriend led to the lyric. A revamped “The End of the Innocence” saw Henley do the first half with minimal synth accompaniment and stretch out syllables to moderate success. The brawny “No, Thank You,” with memorable lyrics like “though nostalgia is fine / I respectively decline to spend my future living in the past,” was an early highlight. In Inglewood, the 24-song set comprised a bulk of “Cass County” (the deluxe version is highly recommend), some of Henley’s hit singles and his favorite covers. After one guy yelled for “Take it Easy,” Henley replied, “No, I’ve done those songs for 21 years.” Good move: it’s distracting when solo artists do too many selections from their primary group live. Yet fans expecting to hear other Eagles-related tunes were in the wrong place. ![]() They harmonized on “Seven Bridges Road” – just like The Eagles have done on past tours. Then the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and his large backing band started the engaging 2-hour, 10-minute concert by gathering at the front of the stage. On Friday night at The Forum, a quick montage of music and speech clips dating from the 1940s-’70s played as a spotlight roamed over various old transistor radio models suspended above the stage. In recent interviews, Henley has said the latest songs are about interior landscapes and the circular nature of life. Mick Jagger, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Lucinda Williams and Trisha Yearwood are among the stellar crop of guest vocal contributors. Named after the rural Northeastern Texas region where Henley grew up, the compelling album was co-produced by Henley’s longtime music partner Stan Lynch (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) and used ample pedal steel, mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitars and harmonies to fine effect. So Don Henley’s return to his roots for new solo release “Cass County,” which just debuted atop the Billboard Country chart, was a perfect fit. The Eagles helped popularize the country rock sound with their successful 1972 self-titled debut LP. Don Henley soars without Eagles material at Forum show – Orange County Register ![]()
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