Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

For Liverpool fans of the Eagles, 2014 was a momentous year, a moment in which the band came back to the U.K. and gave arguably one of the greatest performances by the band in perhaps the whole of the career. It was possibly made all the more special for the fact that they had not played as a cohesive unit, least not on the rain battered shores that the River Mersey takes solace in, for some time and yet the music was as beautiful and hard hitting as it ever had been. The only disappointment that would have been felt was the feeling of numbness as the dying embers of the classic songs slowly drifted off into the ether and the realisation that these songs of nights out in the desert and where the symbol of American freedom might never be heard live again.

Little faith can bring scant reward but in the feeling of commitment shown in some quarters, for fans of the Eagles the music was allowed to breath with assuredness once more as The Illegal Eagles came to The Empire Theatre and stole the Friday night like Raffles the Gentleman Thief, not out of malice but to show that beauty could still live on even if the originators of such music might not return to the Merseyside arena.

For 19 years now The Illegal Eagles have given their all to keeping the memory of the premier American band alive and the exquisite summer feel of their songs, the heat, the hazy waves of  warmth that filter through the air like tarmac melting deliciously melting under foot, as near to the audiences collective memory as possible.

There are many cover bands the whole world over, there are ones in which the rankling of spirit washes over the music lover in despair, some are around and you have to wonder why when the band they are aping are still very much relentlessly touring and then there are those like The Illegal Eagles for whom the whole point is to save the musical soul; to keep alive and love of the spirit of industry and the captivating sound that came across the British radio stations and infused itself into the hearts of all.

Note for note and emotion for passion, the Illegal Eagles thrilled the Empire Theatre audience with their perfect renditions of songs such as Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, One of These Nights, Witchy Woman, I Dreamed There Was No War, Lyin’ Eyes, Take It To The Limit and the sensuous rememberance of the days of Doolin’ Dalton in Desperado. Such was the power of the night that the over-riding sense of flourish came off the stage and was allowed, ushered, made to feel comfortable, in the hearts of all.

It may not have been the outragous harmonies of the leading American band on stage, nothing can ever top that level of accurate heartbreak, but with Phil Aldridge, Keith Atack, Greg Webb,  Al Vosper, Darin Murphy and Garreth Hicklin in attendance  it was the nearest, most perfect substitute. Some nights just soar in the memory.

Ian D. Hall