Fans of the Eagles flooded the Dvorak Concert Hall in Doudna Fine Arts Center on Valentine’s Day Saturday to watch the tribute band EagleMania perform some of the group’s greatest hits.
The Eagles formed in Los Angeles in 1971, and they released their debut album, titled “Eagles,” in 1972. EagleMania has been paying homage to the band for the past 16 years.
EagleMania is comprised of seven members: Frankie Reno on keyboards and vocals, Marc Hoffman as lead vocalist, Ken Darcy on guitar and vocals, Tommy Grasso on guitar, Dennis Espantman on bass guitar and vocals, Ron Negro on drums and Josh Leclerc on guitar and vocals.
“It’s all Eagles music or Eagle-adjacent music. Some of the songs are Don Henley songs. Some of the songs are Joe Walsh songs, but most of them are pure Eagles songs the Eagles themselves have written,” Darcy said.
Darcy has always been drawn to musical performance.
“If you like something — whether it’s art, drawing, singing or playing an instrument — you’re compelled to do it and don’t really have a choice. I was always like that with guitar and piano,” he said. “If you love something a lot, do it. Life is short, and there’s no time to waste.”
The concert was scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. but ended up lasting until past 10 p.m. as the sounds of country rock, soft rock and classic rock filled the concert hall.
Despite the concert running longer than expected, the vast majority of the audience stayed until the very end, and many in the crowd sang along as the band played.
EagleMania’s rendition of “Hotel California” received large applause from the audience. The band’s repertoire also included songs like “Take it Easy” and “Witchy Woman.”
After the concert, the audience got an opportunity to mingle with the band, which reminded long-time fan of The Eagles Anita Tutt of her past.
“I grew up listening to them,” said Tutt. “It makes you remember those old school days when I was in high school.”
Darcy said he found the band to be a great way to give back to other people.
“When you’re on stage, you’re having fun and the people in the audience are having fun, it’s a great mission to share an enjoyable time with people and to share the thing you love with other people,” he said.
Evan Rybak can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].
