Hotel California spoke my long lost language

Last night was the beginning of the end of the 2013/14 season for the Hot Springs Village Concerts’ Association and its going out with a bang. The final act of this season is Hotel California, a salute to the Eagles.

The Eagles released the album Hotel California, yes in vinyl, on December 8, 1976. It was the first album with legendary rocker Joe Walsh in the band. The original vinyl sold over 16 million copies, so there are a lot of fans still out there today and the band, Hotel California, is filling a huge niche market in nostalgia. If you loved the Eagles, you are going to love walking down memory lane with Hotel California.

The musicians of Hotel California are very accomplished as individuals and work well together. At times they channel the Eagles and at times they put their own spin on Eagles classics. Always each member demonstrates his skill as a performer. Ripping guitar riffs one after the other is par for the course. Each member of the band was highlighted on multiple instruments during the course of the concert.

I appreciated the long hair. That was so 70s. The guys of Hotel California have the look of the period down as well as the sound of the time. Hotel California performed with unending energy Eagles hits including Witchy Woman, Desperado, Tequila Sunrise, Heartache Tonight, Take It Easy, One of These Nights, Rocky Mountain Way, Those Shoes, Lyin’ Eyes and of course the signature piece Hotel California. For those of us in the Village and surrounding area this concert brings back all the good memories of vintage rock and roll.

Last night there was some dancing in the aisles, but not as much as when Hotel California appeared at the Woodlands in the Village a couple of summers ago. Sometimes it was a struggle to get the audience involved. Opening nights of the Concerts’ Association tend to be a little more staid and uptight and last night was no exception. So, tonight, strap on your seatbelt because you will need it to hold you in place otherwise you will find yourself dancing in the aisles to well-performed classic rock.

Thanks to Dicky, Wade, Scott, Steve and Dan for a rollicking step back in time. I met the performers after the show to say hi and let them know I enjoyed the show. They make themselves available to spend time, after the grueling performance, out in the lobby for a meet and greet. There are no CDs for sale because the hits belong to the Eagles, but there are t-shirts, bags, drum sticks and other goodies. Get yourself a signed autograph of the fellas. Take your picture with one or all of the performers. Continue the good times.

Besides the flawless performance, Hotel California gave me a night off from real life. No aches and pains, no adjusting my trifocals, no dialing down my hearing aide so it stops that annoying scream, just memories of the days of careless sex, drugs and rock and roll. I was a coed at LSU again and it was just another Saturday night. Hotel California was speaking my long lost language. Thanks.