Photos by Andy Argyrakis

For a 27 year span, Don Felder laid down some of the most iconic guitar riffs in rock, country and pop history as a member of the Eagles, also co-writing classic cuts such as “Hotel California,” “Victim Of Love” and “Those Shoes.” Though he split with the group in 2001, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer jump-started his solo career with the New York Times best-seller “Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles” in 2008 and the musical project “Road To Forever” four years later (his first since 1983’s “Airborne”), which was more recently reissued as an “Extended Edition.”

Armed with a double-neck guitar, the legend nailed “Hotel California” with the ease of having performed it practically every night of his life, alongside the joy of someone who could’ve easily checked out any time he’d like, but loves this musical life too much to ever want to leave.

Clearly there was a lot of ground to cover during Felder’s highly in demand return to the beautifully restored Arcada Theatre, and though he gave faithful a taste of the latest collection with the chunky, guitar-charged rocker “Girls In Black,” alongside a flashback to the cult favorite “Heavy Metal (Takin’ A Ride),” almost everything else was Eagles material. In fact, “Already Gone” and “One Of These Nights” kicked off the no nonsense, 90-minute night and each found the veteran player with his four piece band of Eagles touring caliber in mint form.

As the hits kept on coming, so did everyone’s spot on harmonies, including such standouts as “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “The Long Run” and “Take It Easy,” all with Felder mastering the lead as if he’d been a co-front man all along (and he was certainly worthy if Don Henley and the late Glenn Frey hadn’t already claimed the lion’s share). There was also a tale of the Eagles using Steve Young’s “Seven Bridges Road” as not just a warm-up song before taking the stage every night, but also to gauge who partied too much the previous evening.

Felder and company got the festivities flowing all the more with the talk box-stacked “Those Shoes,” and later, “Life In The Fast Lane,” though it was “Hotel California” that had even the last corner of the balcony on their feet and practically every smart phone glued to one of its creators. Armed with a double-neck guitar, the legend nailed it with the ease of having performed it practically every night of his life, alongside the joy of someone who could’ve easily checked out any time he’d like, but loves this musical life too much to ever want to leave.

Click here for more Don Felder photos from the Arcada Theatre.

For additional information on Don Felder, visit DonFelder.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Arcada Theatre include David Allan Coe (July 15); Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Kix and Enuff Z’ Nuff (July 16); Rita Coolidge (July 17); Killer Queen (July 22); Gary Hoey (July 23); Ted Nugent (July 28); Tower Of Power (July 29); The Music Of Chicago featuring original drummer Danny Seraphine (July 30) and Shooter Jennings & Waymore’s Outlaws (July 31). For additional details, visit ArcadaLive.com.

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