The Eagles Farewell I Tour, Live From Melbourne is a two-disk set featuring thirty songs and bonus interviews with the remaining four core members of the band. The DVD includes classics from The Eagles' catalogue as well as Eaglized solo material from each member. The quartet is supported by a horn and string section as well as a drummer who fills in when Don Henley is not playing. Guitarist Don Felder has been replaced by the able and talented Steuart Smith who has the leads down pact.

The DVD is well produced with 5.1 Surround Sound. The Eagles are well rehearsed and their harmonies are still stellar. The recording is crisp allowing each instrument to be heard and the songs are executed with precision. and poise.

The camera angles through out the concert are notable, including full stage shots, close-ups for solos and pans of the audience singing along to well-known favorites. The transition from each camera angle was silky smooth. In the middle of the second set Joe Walsh was wearing a helmet camera, capturing a completely different perspective of the show.

Disc One has twenty songs and for the most part each Eagle holds his post at his mike. The Eagles stand in a straight line focusing on harmonies. Joe Walsh was the most animated of the bunch throughout the show.

In addition to first rate musicianship the live show includes lots of visual effects, lighting and video screens. Both discs contain mostly hits with only a few new song including 'No More Cloudy Days,' written the night of 9/11. The song has a stirring five-part harmony and a hook line that the crowd soon picked up on.

After a break the band returns having changed their clothes and are sitting on stools. Bassist Timothy B. Schmit looks a little uncomfortable seated with his instrument as The Eagles perform a few slower tempo tunes. Eventually the seats are removed and the band loosens up with Joe Walsh performing some of his solo material. During 'Life's Been Good' he improvises the lyrics to correlate to current times.

During 'All She Wants To Do Is Dance' Joe and Glynn Frey were clowning around. The DVD closes with 'Desperado'. The concert is basically flawless with songs often played as recorded which is a hallmark of The Eagles live shows. The DVD set features over two and half hours of music from the 2004 tour demonstrating that The Eagle are still a formidable live act!

The bonus feature is somewhat short but insightful. The Eagles feel that they are better today then they were in the 70's. They are more inclined to listen to each other and have no qualms about playing the hits.

"We rehearse a lot, especially the vocals and sound checks are important." Their hard work is apparent in the quality of the live performances as captured in Live From Melbourne. "We still have fun" and The Eagles jest that "we can do as many farewell tours as we want, we just have to number them."

Related Links: For more information on The Eagles and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- EaglesBand.com | BUY DVD | BUY CD

(Originally Published on August 02, 2005)