Don Henley Kicks Off 2017 Tour

Legendary recording artist Don Henley kicked off his 2017 Tour in Austin, Texas at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater on Saturday, January 14, 2017, before a sold-out house of music fans. The Grammy Award-winning singer performed hits from his 4 decade long career including selections from his time with the Eagles, his vast solo catalog, and his latest release, Cass County.

Henley is an eight-time Grammy Award-winner and has earned numerous gold and platinum albums. He was a founding member of one of the most successful rock bands of the 1970's, the Eagles,and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Henley released seven studio albums with the Eagles and has released 5 studio albums as a solo act. His latest, Cass County, was released in 2015.

Some artists like to have all kinds of odd things decorating the stage when they perform, like mannequins or trees or even giant weird looking animals. Thankfully, Henley is not one of these artists. Henley's "stage swag" was an array of vintage radios suspended from the ceiling. The opening moments of the show featured sound clips of songs and historical broadcasts played while spotlights moved from one vintage era radio to another.

On this night, Henley made the show about the music, performing for more than two hours. He told the audience, "We want to do it while we can." After last year's tragic loss of Eagles band mate and close friend, Glenn Fry, Henley's statement makes perfect sense. The Linden, Texas native turns 70 later this year.

Henley and his band began the show with a beautiful a cappella cover of Steve Young's "Seven Bridges Road." Young is another member of the music world lost in 2016. Later in the evening Henley paid tribute to Leonard Cohen, whom we also lost last year, with "Everybody Knows."  As Henley lamented, "we lost a lot of amazing people last year."

While much of the show was filled with Henley's solo projects and some covers, the encores were a full-on Eagles and Glenn Frey tribute with "Life In The Fast Lane," "Hotel California," "Wasted Time," and "Desperado" giving the appreciative audience what they had come to witness; a rocking good time.

The 15-piece band accompanying Don Henley:
Will Hollis - Keyboards/bandleader
Steuart Smith - guitar
Chris Holt - guitar
Michael Thompson - Keys, accordion
Milo Deering - multi-instrumentalist
Erica Swindell - vocals, violin, viola
Lara Johnston - vocals
Lily Elise - vocals
Scott Crago - drums
Lance Morrison - bass
Tom Evans - saxophone/trumpet
Charlie Peterson - trumpet
Trevor Neumann - trumpet
Michael Boscarino - trombone
David Mann - baritone sax

Don Henley Setlist:

Seven Bridges Road
Dirty Laundry
That Old Flame
Sunset Grill
Witchy Woman
When I Stop Dreaming
One Of Those Nights
New York Minute
Shangri-La
Everybody Knows
It Don't Matter To The Sun
Best Of My Love
The End Of Innocense
The Last Resort
Talking To The Moon
The Heart Of The Matter
Everybody Wants To Rule The World
The Boys Of Summer

Encore 1:
Life In The Fast Lane
Hotel California

Encore 2:
Wasted Time
Desperado

J.D. and the Straight Shot

Opening for Henley was JD and The Straight Shot.

JD and the Straight Shot are an Americana band. They are touring in support of their highly acclaimed 2016 all-acoustic album Ballyhoo!.  They are already working on their next release slated for early this year. Their first single "I Know, You Know, I Know" is available on iTunes and can be sampled on the band's site, http://www.jdandthestraightshot.com/music

They are fronted by vocalist/guitarist Jim Dolan. Other members of the band include guitarist/vocalist Marc Copely and bassist Byron House. Touring musicians include guitarist JJ Appleton, violinist May Jo Stilp, vocalist/guitarist Erin McCarley, and percussionists Shawn Pelton and Everett Bradley.

While many opening bands are newcomers, struggling to make a living on the road, this group doesn't have any worries about where their next meal will come from. Jim Dolan isn't just some newbie trying to make it in the music world. He is actually one of the richest, if not the richest, touring musician in the world. But all of his wealth hasn't been earned in the music industry. When Dolan is not on the road strumming a guitar, he is a savvy businessman. Dolan is the CEO of Cablevision Systems Corporation and the Executive Chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company.

JD and the Straight Shot was a great opening act for Henley. Their unique mixture of folk, classic rock, and country played well with the Henley's fans of classic rock. Their show had many in the audience on their feet dancing and singing.