Live Review: Don Felder @ Jiffy Lube Live — 7/12/25

Hotel California… and Then Some: Don Felder Lights Up Bristow
Words and Photos by Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography

It was about 7pm and already the crowd felt the weight of anticipation pressing down on Jiffy Lube Live. Then Don Felder’s band strode onstage as part of The Brotherhood of Rock Tour. Here was Don Felder — cool, collected, and slinging a Gibson like a guy who’s got nothing left to prove but still has everything to say.

At Jiffy Lube Live, the man launched straight into “Already Gone” and, well, any pretense of restraint evaporated instantly. That golden California harmony sound — bright, jangly, effortlessly locked in — felt like it had been vacuum-sealed and preserved since the vinyl days. His voice wasn’t just intact, it was seasoned. And the band behind him? Tight. No fluff. Just straight high-grade rock and roll.

Formerly lead guitarist of The Eagles from 1974-2001, Felder performed a number of The Eagles songs in which he had a hand in writing. By the time “One of These Nights” dropped, the place was a sea of swaying heads and finger-pointing singalongs. That falsetto chorus — delivered not as imitation but as tribute — landed with warmth. Felder didn’t try to be The Eagles. He played his part of The Eagles, and it made all the difference.

Watch the official music video for “One of These Nights” by The Eagles (with Don Felder in 1977) on YouTube:

It’s always a bit of a highwire act when classic artists mix deep cuts with their biggest bombs, but Felder knew exactly how to balance the set. “The Long Run” showed up early, and it smirked its way through the humid air like a sly wink to anyone who’d ever bought a 1979 tour tee. It wasn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake — it was a real, lived-in groove.

And then “Seven Bridges Road.” That one was like a family heirloom. Acoustic guitars, layered harmonies, just enough reverb to make it feel church-like. If you didn’t get chills, you might’ve been sipping too much lawn margarita.

Don broke into “Hollywood Victim” next — a solo-era cut that brought a little edge and bite to the setlist. Gone were the breezy SoCal vibes; in their place, some grit and swagger. That led beautifully into “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride),” which was pure, unabashed arena power. Crunchy, loud, ridiculous in all the right ways. If you didn’t throw a fist in the air, you probably left your soul in the minivan.

Watch the official lyric video for “Hollywood Victim” by Don Felder on YouTube:

“Take It Easy” came next and the crowd roared like they’d been holding it in all night. There’s something untouchable about that riff — sunlight and asphalt and open roads baked into every note. Felder could’ve coasted through it, but he didn’t. He leaned in. Played it like it still mattered.

“Heartache Tonight” followed, and man, did it growl. That big, stomping rhythm, those tight harmonies. It was the kind of song that turns an amphitheater into a bar fight in slow motion. Felt good. Felt real.

By the time “Life in the Fast Lane” hit, the place was near combustion. That riff — that riff — is a national treasure. Felder tore through it like a man possessed, his fingers a blur, the crowd howling every syllable. And just when it felt like nothing else could top it… “Hotel California.”

It didn’t start flashy. It started quiet. Measured. That iconic 12-string intro crawling out into the dusk like a familiar ghost. Then the buildup. The rhythm section slowly stacking tension. And when that solo came it wasn’t just a song anymore. It was a declaration and Felder stood center stage, bathed in gold light, and let it rip.

Watch The Eagles perform “Hotel California” live with Don Felder in 1977 via YouTube:

When it ended, there was a half-second of silence, like nobody wanted to breathe too early. Then came the eruption. Applause, cheers, tears. The whole bit.

Felder didn’t talk much; he didn’t have to. He let the music do it and it said plenty. And on a summer night in Bristow, Virginia, Don Felder reminded everyone that the songs we grew up with still live and breathe, especially when the guy who wrote them plugs in and brings them roaring back to life.

Setlist

1. Already Gone (Robb Strandlund cover)
2. One of These Nights (The Eagles cover)
3. The Long Run (The Eagles cover)
4. Seven Bridges Road (Steve Young cover)
5. Hollywood Victim
6. Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)
7. Take It Easy (The Eagles cover)
8. Heartache Tonight (The Eagles cover)
9. Life in the Fast Lane (The Eagles cover)
10. Hotel California (The Eagles cover)

Here are some photos of Don Felder performing live at Jiffy Lube Live to open Styx on July 12, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Michael Sprouse/Odd Rocker Photography.