“I’m 55 years old, but tonight I’m a teenager!”

That is what I heard a random man’s voice exclaim in the men’s room in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. My wife told me of a similar conversation she overheard by a group of older women declaring they were 15 years old again. Did Las Vegas finally discover the fountain of youth? Not quite. But Vegas did host the next best thing…

For the first time ever, the Eagles performed their iconic 1977 record, Hotel California in its entirety during a sold out three show run at MGM Grand, and it was epic. People came from all over the world to witness the Eagles Hotel California live. And they did not leave disappointed. Prior to the show, conversations were started by strangers on the Vegas strip, both wearing their Eagles t-shirts. “Are you going to the show?” one would ask. “You know it!”was the enthusiastic response. Then both would share their own personal history with the band. The same thing happened after the show as well. This time it started with, “Did you go last night?” and then the conversation would go on about how great the show was. And it was great. No, it was more than great. It was epic.

The Legend Comes To Life

The show started with a mysterious male figure walking across the stage with a copy of the Eagles Hotel California record in his grasp. The figure then retrieved the vinyl from the sleeve with deliberate care and placed it in the turntable waiting at the opposite side of the stage. Once the record was in place, he dropped the stylus down on the record to create the warm crackles and pops that only a vinyl record can deliver. Then, seconds later, those infamous notes began. The plucks of a guitar that could only be the intro to the song,”Hotel California.” But those notes were not coming from the record. No, all of sounds from this point on were made by Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Vince Gill and Deacon Frey…the Eagles. That intro is enough to cause goosebumps when you hear it from a recording, but live…live it causes chills up and down your spine. And that was just the first of many chilling moments. Over the next three hours the band not only played the Hotel California record, but they also played just about any other Eagles hit you could think of. Don Henley and Joe Walsh even sprinkled in some of their solo material as well. Each song in the set list could have very well been the encore show closer.

Beyond Eagles Hotel California

The only time the band stopped was during a brief 20 minute intermission after the final song of Hotel California. When the lights came on for the break, the guy standing next to us just continued to stare at the stage with his mouth slightly open. After a few moments, he just looked at us and said, “That is MY album.” He didn’t need to say anything else, we understood what he meant. But he continued by saying he must have worn out multiple copies of that record over the course of his teenage years. He said what he had just witnessed on that stage was something he would never forget. It made the four hour drive from Bakersfield, CA so worth it. Overhearing our conversation, the gentleman in the seats in front of us offered the same sentiment. He proudly stated that he too had owned a copy of the Eagles Hotel California on vinyl while growing up and that he still has it to this day. He and his wife had made the three day trek from Texas to Vegas to see the show. There we were, a group of strangers connected by the 8 songs that made up a record that was released back in 1977. They were teenagers while I was still cooking in my mother’s tummy on February 22, 1977, when the record came out. But it didn’t matter. What we witnessed there in the MGM Grand united us together.

It all made me wonder if in 40 years there will be a record released today that will be celebrated the way the Eagles Hotel California was. Will the conversation be, “I remember streaming this song when I was a kid?” That’s just it. In this generation of picking and choosing songs in the attention span deprived streaming world, the album has become a lost art. There are no discussions on favorite cuts, or analyzing the album cover art for hidden messages. That made what the Eagles did in Las Vegas even more special. It stretched beyond an album, or even a band. It was a moment for a generation to gather from all over the world and for once not argue about what makes them different, but to celebrate something that unites us all. For three nights in Las Vegas, NV, one album released 42 years ago really showed what power that music truly possess.

More shows to come!

If you weren’t able to get out to Las Vegas to experience this event for yourself, you are in luck. The Eagles have announced they will be bringing the Hotel California tour to six cities in 2020 for two amazing shows in each town. They are bringing the symphony and choir with them so you will get the full experience. That is 12 more chances to see what you have just read about. I promise, no matter how far you may have to travel, it will be worth it. Tickets go on sale for these shows on Friday, October 18th. I highly recommend not waiting to get your tickets. You don’t want to get left out of Hotel California live!

“Hotel California” 2020 Tour Dates:

Friday, February 7 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena
Saturday, February 8 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena
Friday, February 14 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Saturday, February 15 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Saturday, February 29 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Sunday, March 1 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Friday, March 6 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Saturday, March 7 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Saturday, April 11 San Francisco, CA Chase Center
Sunday, April 12 San Francisco, CA Chase Center
Friday, April 17 Inglewood, CA “Fabulous” Forum
Saturday, April 18 Inglewood, CA “Fabulous” Forum

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