Flying High

Writing a classic rock song was not in the forefront of Don Felder ’s mind as he strummed guitar at a rented Malibu beach house in July 1975. A minor chord grew into a progression as he idly watched his kids play on a swing set. He suddenly realized he had the beginning of a song and recorded the intro to what would become a No. 1 single nearly two years later and provide the title of 1976 Eagles’ magnum opus album, Hotel California.

Felder’s guitar playing is instantly recognizable to several generations that grew up on Eagles music. His tone and phrasing, captured with advancements in recording technology that enabled great leaps forward in fidelity, made him an instrumental part of the band’s success and led to his eventual induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The guitarist delivers a smorgasbord of Eagles hits from “Already Gone” to “Victim of Love” at concerts, diving deep into the band’s catalog to play founding Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon’s lines from “Witchy Woman.” Leadon was a high school classmate of Felder’s in Gainesville, Fla., where Felder gave Tom Petty lessons and jammed with Stephen Stills. He also learned slide guitar from Duane Allman before joining the Eagles for 1974’s On the Border.

The Eagles eventually imploded, but Felder reunited with his bandmates for their Hell Freezes Over era and flew with them until 2001. He’s since grown confident as a lead vocalist, releasing his latest album, American Rock ’n’ Roll, in 2019. He has played the title track from that album at his most recent shows, along with a cover of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy” and Felder’s solo hit, “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride).”

Felder will bring his trademark white doubleneck Gibson guitar to re-create the riffs from “Hotel California.” Expect inspired playing as Felder takes it to the limit one more time with expert acoustic picking on songs such as “Seven Bridges Road.” –Matt

Kelemen

Westgate Las Vegas, 8 p.m. March 3, starting at $29 plus tax and fee, 12+. ticketmaster.com