Eagles music soars in Canyon Lake

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Good tribute artists are a gift to generations of fans who love the great music legends of the past. The Long Run, a professional tribute band brought to Canyon Lake last Saturday through the efforts of the Fine Arts Guild, held a packed house captive with the famous guitar licks, rich vocal harmonies and memorable lyrics of the Eagles.

The appeal of Eagles’s music crossed generational lines in Canyon Lake, as all ages could be seen dancing in their seats or in the aisles. Some of the older adults (“recycled teens?”) were joined by middle-aged and younger audience members as they rocked out to “Already Gone” and other lively numbers.

With drums, keyboard and various types of guitars filling the stage, The Long Run opened their concert with, what else, “The Long Run,” after which they paid tribute to the recent passing of Eagles’ co-founder Glenn Frey on January 19, 2016.

From there, they launched into “Lying Eyes,” “One of these Nights,” “Take it to the Limit” and more, inviting the audience to dance, clap and sing along.

The Eagles was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. With five number-one singles, six Grammy Awards, five American Music Awards, and six number one albums, the Eagles was one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s – giving The Long Run plenty of top tunes for the hour and a half concert.

The Long Run tribute band was formed in Los Angeles in 1999 by a group of professional musicians. It quickly became regarded as the finest Eagles tribute band in the country, praised by Eagles members themselves.

The audience cheered, whistled and applauded every song, with the highlight of the evening, of course, being “Hotel California” in all of its more than six minutes of guitar and Twilight Zone splendor. (Frey did once say that he and Henley wanted to write a song that was “sort of like an episode of the Twilight Zone.”)

In the end, after once again introducing the band members, singing a couple more chart-toppers and receiving a standing ovation, the musicians concluded the concert with an encore performance of “Heartache Tonight.”

Fine Arts Guild President Travis Montgomery opened the evening by thanking the POA and Lodge staff for the opportunity to present the concert at the Lodge. He noted the concert had been sold out seven weeks in advance, providing music that “transcends generations.” He also thanked the Fine Arts Guild benefactors for their support in bringing fine music to Canyon Lake.

Program Director Ron Martel closed the evening by announcing that the Fine Arts Guild’s next concert would be “Beatles vs. Stones,” a musical shootout between Beatles tribute band, Abbey Road, and Rolling Stones tribute band, Jumpin Jack Flash.

As much as everyone loved The Long Run concert, Ron says, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” Tickets are now on sale for the Friday, June 10, concert, at a cost of $25 for general admission and $45 for VIP assigned seating.

Tickets can be purchased at the POA office, brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.

Ron encouraged the audience to enjoy more music by attending an upcoming concert at the Lodge next Saturday, April 2, featuring country music artist Collin Raye. The concert is sponsored by the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association; tickets can be purchased online at www.canyonlakepoa.com or at the CLPOA office.