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| Gerry Beckley of America @ City National Civic (Photo: Ken McCain) |
It was an evening of classic music, though not the kind written by Beethoven or Brahms or even Wagner. No, this was a night of classics from the 1970's and on. It was a double bill of
Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles) and the band
America. Both have a history of hits and each are loved by fans worldwide. We were fortunate to catch them at a local venue in San Jose, CA called the
City National Civic.
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| Don Felder @ City National Civic (Photo: Ken McCain) |
The event started off with the great songwriter and performer Don Felder. Felder spent 26 years with the Eagles, writing and playing on 4 of their most acclaimed albums, as well as live recordings, and toured until the band broke up in 1980. His catalog doesn't start and stop with the Eagles, however, it is quite extensive. He wrote one of my favorite tunes, the title track from the movie "Heavy Metal". His set this past Thursday night was short in comparison to what his former band would play, and given the time he would have had plenty of material to cover.
The setlist was a "top tracks" with Eagles and that favorite of mine "Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride)". It's what most fans who come out to see him want to hear, and he delivered.
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| Don Felder @ City National Civic (Photo: Ken McCain) |
Backed by a great touring band, including Steve DiStanislao (drums) and David Myhre (guitar) and Timothy Drury (keyboard), Felder still has the chops on the Gibson Les Paul and his signature white Gibson EDS-1275 (double neck 6 and 12-string guitar) to keep up with the demands of these iconic songs. With a 5 piece band Felder's songs don't quite sound as full as the original recordings and as age gets to us all, the voice isn't as strong, but you cannot deny Felder's sound. From Eagles hits to "Heavy Metal" and other solo projects, to collaborations with other artists, he has a sound that is unique.
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| America's Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley @ City National Civic (Photo: Ken McCain) |
Next up was the band America. Gerry Beckley, one of the founders of the group, said to the audience, "don't try to Google 'America' looking to find us there. We've done it. It doesn't work." Though, if you look up the band under "America (band)" you will find tons of info on this storied group that formed back in 1970. Beckley, along with Dewey Bunnell, formed the band after playing music around London in the late 60's. They were both living there because their fathers were stationed at the US Air Force base at RAF South Ruislip, England. Naming their band America was their way of telling Londoners that they were not an English band trying to sound American. It didn't take long to get a record deal, and soon they found themselves opening for The Who and Elton John at a local Christmas charity event. Real success came to them early on too, with a song penned by Bunnell recalling his childhood travels in Arizona and New Mexico while living at the US Air Force base at Vandenberg. Originally called "Desert Song" they quickly changed it to "A Horse with No Name", added it to their debut album
America (iTunes) and struck gold!
Beckley and Bunnell continued through the 70's along with other members of the band. Like so many groups, members came and went over the years, some staying at length, some remaining only a short time. The 70's were kind to the band. They produced 10 albums, including a few live recordings and a greatest hits album. They also had the fortune to work with mega producer George Martin (The Beatles). A six year run with Martin was enough to send them on their way to stardom, and their hits came with each record. 30 albums in total including live and "best of" albums complete their catalog as of 2018.
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| America's Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley @ City National Civic (Photo: Ken McCain)
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Songs off of those and many others made it to their setlist this past Thursday evening. I remarked to one friend that if you don't know any songs by America, you probably do, you just don't know that you do. For me it was one song after another, saying, "Oh yeah, they did this one?!", then the next would play and I'd say (to myself) "I love this one, they did it too?? That's right!" Unlike the Felder set, where the fans were on their feet almost all night, America's set was a bit more reserved; same crowd, mind you. As a seated event suggests, people should sit, though it doesn't mean they can't sway or sing to the music. I felt myself and saw others all doing it the rest of the night.
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| America's Dewey Bunnell @ City National Civic (Photo: Ken McCain) |
The two founders, again, are accompanied by extremely talented musicians. They tend to be, in most cases, the backbone of the touring group, doing most of the heavy lifting and allowing the "head(s)" to do what they do best. Richard Campbell (bass), relative newcomer Ryland Steen from the band Reel Big Fish (drums, percussion, vocals), and newcomer Andy Bar (guitars, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) played their hearts out. Campbell took a bass solo, Steen sang lead on "Don't Cross the River", and the multi-talented Bar played leads and solos on the electric guitar as if he was at a rock show, and everyone was standing up!
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| America @ City National Civic (Photo: Ken McCain) |
They ended their set with an encore with that iconic tune written by an 18 year old boy, in a room in drizzly grey England. The horse doesn't have a lot to do with the song, but it could represent freedom, or a longing to get away. The desert is that mystical place where the writer wants to go. It seems to represent home: America.
Tour dates continue for both
Don Felder and
America, throughout the states. Catch them next time they come around. I'm sure you'll remember a few of their songs that you forgot you knew.
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