Desert
Highway
Post show review
By LJC
Oh dag nab it…I was a few songs late to the show, so as the usher walked me down the aisle to the second row, I took my seat and I immediately felt my body relax, as I tuned in to the familiar vibe and sweet sounds of the virtually
“identical” versions and quality to the Eagles themselves…! At that
moment, I closed my eyes and suddenly I was in my car on my way to the beach, driving with the top down, wind blowing through my hair…listening to a CD of the Hell Freezes Over Live tour….cool.
Desert Highway is the name of this band, and they actually did exactly what I had hoped for. They made me forget where I was, and they were able to take me on an imaginary journey in mind back to the beginning of the time when I came to know and love the music of the Eagles… too bad I missed “Hotel California” while I was in the rest room…Darn I’ll have to wait till they come back again.
The delivery of the shared guitar parts was so well combined, and just for the record, these extremely skilled and seasoned players really took each song to the limit… every time! The feel was totally spacious, never rushed in
tempo and the held tight with extremely impressive clarity… the four guitars
varied in style… deliberate picking, the acoustic strumming, and the electric
slides… All executed with a dynamic and harmonious blend. Slow and settled guitar perfection, almost ambient and dreamy… (Suddenly I felt that I had kicked off my high heals and had slipped into a well broken in pair of cowboy boots…) Ah… I felt a confidence and trust that I would forget my busy day and just allow these magical songs to take me away…
So, guitars were rather turned up in volume, as they should have been, but I
was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to hear the distinction and the beautiful
tapestry of vocal harmonies that I had so greatly anticipated. However, all four voices so unique in tone and timbre, were combined and well mastered in a melodic cushion of breathy harmony, so well balanced and again I describe this unit of singers with having a flawless blend… I was wowed by the vocal flexibility and natural ability ofeach individual true to his tone… high tenor meets mid baritone meets smoky tenor meet organic textures that color my world. (And yours…) Very rich, smooth and pleasantly displayed.
Well, The Dream bubble popped when I was
profoundly awakened, even sat up and opened my eyes, right from the down beat (mid set) when they kicked into Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way” With a really strong back beat, well timed and deliberate sense of solid hold, the virtue of the drummer and keyboard were in such rhythmic sync… and now I began to feel Bruce Hornsby in the room…! Again apparent on Don Henley’s “End of the Innocence” …. Nice job on the keys …!
For a minute I turned my head around, only to see the packed audience was moving their heads and swaying in their seats, all as consumed in the moment of this memoir of songs we remember and love…Just like old friends kicking back, they too appeared to be sitting in their cars… on their way to the beach…lol…While the band wrapped up with no intermission, they came back with an encore of “Take it easy” and I must say I was well satisfied, like having just finished a good meal. Thank you Desert Highway for that peaceful easy feeling….that just won’t let you down.
Audio comment
It was a bit loud at times, guitars, but bloody precise solos, wa wa and vocoter effects all intact with virtuous deliveries, such as the real deal Eagles themselves… All roared with a deserving volume boost. But, this is what concert venue quality sound is all about…After all I always remember my ears ringing just a bit as we all shuffled out through the crowd of happy listeners….Rock and Roll is here to stay.! Always at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center…Find a wide variety of flavors on their menu of shows coming up.! Hope to see some familiar faces at the show next Saturday night… the cherished songs and music of “Chicago” With another genuinely dedicated band of musicians… Beginnings…
