The definition of Musical Tribute...
Talon – The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr, 2nd November 2013
Opening a show in four-part acappella might seem a brave or foolish decision, but when your harmonies are a major part of your show and you are vocally as good as Talon, it’s a decision that’s sound – and a pitch-perfect one at that.
Talon: The Best Of Eagles (to give them their full stage name) were making a welcome return to the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr after a break of around five years (the famous old theatre closed in 2009 until a decision on its future was made) and the UK’s award winning Eagles tribute band delivered exactly what it says on their backdrop.
A number of previous Talon tours/ shows have been based around Eagles albums or specific Eagles tours but from the opening vocal harmonies of ‘Silver Dagger’ to the encore finale of ‘Desperado,’ this truly was the Best Of Eagles (with a smattering of Don Henley and a healthy dose of Joe Walsh thrown in for good measure).
Talon is Chris Lloyd (vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards), Peter Anderson (vocals, guitars), Tony Vegas (vocals, lead guitars) and Jonny Miller (vocals, bass guitar, keyboards).
On tour the core quartet are augmented by Keith Buck (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Craig Wainwright (keyboards, percussion, guitars) and Charlie Kenny (drums); collectively the Talon septet are one of the most professional and polished bands you will see or hear – tribute or otherwise.
There was an added bonus for the full-house crowd by way of the db horns – Tom Lark (trombone), Sam Adams (saxophones) and Chris Welch (trumpet).
Collectively the trio brought some brassy swagger (and choreographed moves) to many of the numbers and also got a chance to shine individually.
Vocally, the Talon singers each take on the role of a specific Eagles voice.
Chris Lloyd (who is also a great pop-crooner) is Don Henley in range and emotive delivery while Peter Anderson takes the Glenn Frey leads, bringing warmth and depth to songs such as ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ and ‘Girl From Yesterday,’ the country ballad from Hell Freezes Over.
Tony Vegas covers the Joe Walsh material as well as taking the lead for crowd favourite ‘Take It to the Limit’ (originally performed by Randy Meisner).
Jonny Miller's soft vocal deliveries complement the ballads associated with Timothy B. Schmit (‘I Can’t Tell You Why’ and Miller’s stripped back arrangement of ‘Love Will Keep Us Alive’) extraordinarily well.
The Talon vocal roles are not an exact science however and there can be a vocal-exchange of material (‘One of These Nights’ and ‘Witchy Woman,’ both originally sung by Don Henley, feature husky soft-rock vocals from Miller).
But the Talon singers are not vocal mimics – they don't have the same tonalities as their Eagles counterparts, nor do they try and force that sound.
They are very much their own vocalists, paying homage to those instantly recognisable and renowned Eagles voices while delivering the lyrics with fondness and respect – the very definition of “musical tribute.”
Chris Lloyd’s vocal on Don Henley’s ‘New York Minute’ (the most atmospheric song of the night) captured the poignancy of the lyrics perfectly but his finest vocal moments were unarguably on ‘Last Resort,’ the Eagles’ masterful musical soundtrack to how the West was lost.
Being a major Joe Walsh fan I have to give the nod to Tony Vegas as performer of the night; his voice and guitar skills featured on a number of Walsh solo numbers, including ‘One Day at a Time’ and ‘Life’s Been Good.’
Vegas also played the funk out of his six-string on the James Gang/ Joe Walsh classic 'Funk #49,' with Jonny Miller laying down some grooving bass runs.
The set concluded with rousing renditions of ‘Heartache Tonight’ (featuring Keith Buck on vocals) and ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ (with Tony Vegas shifting his guitar into top gear) before a two-song encore of the aforementioned ‘Life’s Been Good’ and ‘Desperado’ brought the Gaiety curtain down on two hours of great music.
Since their formation in 1997 Talon have developed from a solid tribute act to one of the tightest touring bands in the UK.
But as good as they have been in the Millennium years Talon have recently gone up another notch – the sold out show at the Gaiety Theatre was the best I’ve seen the band and one of the best gigs I’ve caught this year.
For those that have never seen the Eagles or simply can't (or won't) pay the exorbitant ticket prices their previous shows and forthcoming 2014 UK dates command (One Live Nation under Ticketmammon, sorry Ticketmaster), get your claws on a Talon ticket.
You won’t find a better substitute – and tribute – to the Hotel Californians.
Ross Muir
November 2013
Talon – The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr, 2nd November 2013
Opening a show in four-part acappella might seem a brave or foolish decision, but when your harmonies are a major part of your show and you are vocally as good as Talon, it’s a decision that’s sound – and a pitch-perfect one at that.
Talon: The Best Of Eagles (to give them their full stage name) were making a welcome return to the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr after a break of around five years (the famous old theatre closed in 2009 until a decision on its future was made) and the UK’s award winning Eagles tribute band delivered exactly what it says on their backdrop.
A number of previous Talon tours/ shows have been based around Eagles albums or specific Eagles tours but from the opening vocal harmonies of ‘Silver Dagger’ to the encore finale of ‘Desperado,’ this truly was the Best Of Eagles (with a smattering of Don Henley and a healthy dose of Joe Walsh thrown in for good measure).
Talon is Chris Lloyd (vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards), Peter Anderson (vocals, guitars), Tony Vegas (vocals, lead guitars) and Jonny Miller (vocals, bass guitar, keyboards).
On tour the core quartet are augmented by Keith Buck (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Craig Wainwright (keyboards, percussion, guitars) and Charlie Kenny (drums); collectively the Talon septet are one of the most professional and polished bands you will see or hear – tribute or otherwise.
There was an added bonus for the full-house crowd by way of the db horns – Tom Lark (trombone), Sam Adams (saxophones) and Chris Welch (trumpet).
Collectively the trio brought some brassy swagger (and choreographed moves) to many of the numbers and also got a chance to shine individually.
Vocally, the Talon singers each take on the role of a specific Eagles voice.
Chris Lloyd (who is also a great pop-crooner) is Don Henley in range and emotive delivery while Peter Anderson takes the Glenn Frey leads, bringing warmth and depth to songs such as ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ and ‘Girl From Yesterday,’ the country ballad from Hell Freezes Over.
Tony Vegas covers the Joe Walsh material as well as taking the lead for crowd favourite ‘Take It to the Limit’ (originally performed by Randy Meisner).
Jonny Miller's soft vocal deliveries complement the ballads associated with Timothy B. Schmit (‘I Can’t Tell You Why’ and Miller’s stripped back arrangement of ‘Love Will Keep Us Alive’) extraordinarily well.
The Talon vocal roles are not an exact science however and there can be a vocal-exchange of material (‘One of These Nights’ and ‘Witchy Woman,’ both originally sung by Don Henley, feature husky soft-rock vocals from Miller).
But the Talon singers are not vocal mimics – they don't have the same tonalities as their Eagles counterparts, nor do they try and force that sound.
They are very much their own vocalists, paying homage to those instantly recognisable and renowned Eagles voices while delivering the lyrics with fondness and respect – the very definition of “musical tribute.”
Chris Lloyd’s vocal on Don Henley’s ‘New York Minute’ (the most atmospheric song of the night) captured the poignancy of the lyrics perfectly but his finest vocal moments were unarguably on ‘Last Resort,’ the Eagles’ masterful musical soundtrack to how the West was lost.
Being a major Joe Walsh fan I have to give the nod to Tony Vegas as performer of the night; his voice and guitar skills featured on a number of Walsh solo numbers, including ‘One Day at a Time’ and ‘Life’s Been Good.’
Vegas also played the funk out of his six-string on the James Gang/ Joe Walsh classic 'Funk #49,' with Jonny Miller laying down some grooving bass runs.
The set concluded with rousing renditions of ‘Heartache Tonight’ (featuring Keith Buck on vocals) and ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ (with Tony Vegas shifting his guitar into top gear) before a two-song encore of the aforementioned ‘Life’s Been Good’ and ‘Desperado’ brought the Gaiety curtain down on two hours of great music.
Since their formation in 1997 Talon have developed from a solid tribute act to one of the tightest touring bands in the UK.
But as good as they have been in the Millennium years Talon have recently gone up another notch – the sold out show at the Gaiety Theatre was the best I’ve seen the band and one of the best gigs I’ve caught this year.
For those that have never seen the Eagles or simply can't (or won't) pay the exorbitant ticket prices their previous shows and forthcoming 2014 UK dates command (One Live Nation under Ticketmammon, sorry Ticketmaster), get your claws on a Talon ticket.
You won’t find a better substitute – and tribute – to the Hotel Californians.
Ross Muir
November 2013
