3/9/1997 Don Henley and Friends, Union Hall, Phoenix, AZ

 24 years ago today...

March 9, 1997 - Phoenix, AZ

Eagles founder Don Henley recruited some great musicians to join him for a charity concert at tiny Union Hall.

Titled Don Henley and Friends, this was the later of two shows this day, a benefit for the Southwest Center of Biodiversity. 

 

This was a tremendous concert, with Henley singing classics from the Eagles catalog along with his top solo hits.  His all-star cast of friends included Eagles bandmate and bassist Timothy B. Schmit, Bruce Hornsby, The Byrds' Roger McGuinn and his former lover and Phoenix native Stevie Nicks.

Each artist had their time in a solo spotlight, but the concert highlights were in the duets.  McGuinn opened the night with his signature Byrds sound on "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Turn Turn Turn" and "So You Want to Be A Rock & Roll Star."  This was my first time hearing McGuinn and he was great.

Hornsby was next with "Way It Is," "Mandolin Rain" and "Walk On" before introducing the host and inviting him for a duet of Bruce's "The End of the Innocence" which Henley would release on his own album a few years later.

Henley took over the stage for his recent solo work including "Boys of Summer," "Dirty Laundry" and "Sunset Grill."  Fellow Eagle Timothy B. Schmit did the songs that he sings lead with the Eagles, "Love Will Keep Us Alive" and "I Can't Tell You Why."

Phoenix native songbird Stevie Nicks was clearly a crowd favorite.  She introduced her parents in the audience and thanked her dad for still hosting her concerts at the family-owned Compton Terrace venue.  She did a few Fleetwood Mac tunes before calling Don out for the evening's highlight, a beautiful duet of "Leather & Lace."  The two singers had an undeniable chemistry.

Henley closed the 2-1/2 hour show with an Eagles set that included "Hotel California," "Life In the Fast Lane" and "Desperado."  For the final number, all of the artists returned to the stage to join together in singing the Bob Dylan song "My Back Pages." 

"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."

Union Hall, a former high school gymnasium converted to a concert venue, offered surprising good acoustics for a old brick structure.  It was an intimate affair that could only accommodate 1,750 patrons, every seat a good one, hence two shows for fund raising purposes.

I enjoyed this benefit concert so much that I later purchased a bootleg cassette (!) recorded by a groupie taper and found on an Eagles fan site.  Unfortunately, it was of horrible quality and didn't include the McGuinn and Hornsby parts of the show.  I don't recommend ordering it.  Buyer beware!