Eagles band member Glenn Frey performs some of his newer tunes in addition to some Eagles standards, such as Take It Easy, at Bell Auditorium during Thursday's concert to benefit Fort Discovery. MICHAEL HOLAHAN/STAFF

Frey sizzles at Bell with benefit show

Web posted April 7, 2000

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By Steven Uhles
Staff Writer

Country rock pioneer Glenn Frey took Augusta's mind off golf for a couple of hours Thursday night and instead had them thinking about a different kind of Eagle.

Mr. Frey, best known for his work with the California supergroup the Eagles, performed at Bell Auditorium in a benefit for the National Science Center's Fort Discovery. The show combined his solo work, a handful of covers and a number of songs recorded during his days with the Eagles.

Introduced by Gov. Roy Barnes, Mr. Frey opened the performance with a rave-up version of Let The Good Times Roll.

Although the crowd responded politely to each number, it quickly became evident that in Augusta at least, Glenn Frey is forever an Eagle, with the band's hits generating the greatest response.

``We grew up with the Eagles,'' said Marie Jackson, who watched the show with her husband, Scott. ``This is really the music of our generation.''

Mrs. Scott said she didn't mind paying the hefty $56 ticket price because it was Glenn Frey and because it was in support of a good cause.

``It's a fund-raiser for something that's really worthwhile,'' she said. ``We have two small children, so anything that supports education I'm in favor of.''

Peppering his performance with between-song banter, Mr. Frey introduced his 1982 hit The One You Love with a little self-deprecating humor. He said the song was from his first post-Eagles solo album, which he jokingly referred to as ``Prelude to Obscurity.''

Other hits played during the performance included The Heat is On, Smuggler's Blues, Lyin' Eyes, Take It Easy and Heartache Tonight.

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626.