Australian Rock Collective’s upcoming celebration of The Eagles’ Hotel California is shaping up as far more than a straightforward tribute show, with guitarist Davey Lane describing the project as both a deep musical excavation and another chapter in ARC’s evolving chemistry as a band.
Speaking with Australian Musician’s Greg Phillips ahead of the June national tour, Lane admitted Eagles were so omnipresent during his formative years that it’s hard to pinpoint a first encounter, though he confessed that, as a younger self-described indie-rock snob, he may once have underestimated the group. That changed dramatically once he began digging into the detail of Hotel California, which he now speaks about with reverence, comparing the process of unpacking the album to ARC’s previous explorations of The Beatles and Neil Young.
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What has surprised Lane most isn’t necessarily the famous guitar work associated with Joe Walsh or Don Felder, though he remains an unabashed Walsh devotee, but the intricate vocal harmonies and buried production details that emerge when the songs are isolated and studied. He spoke enthusiastically about discovering the hidden architecture inside the recordings, crediting producer Bill Szymczyk for much of the album’s sonic magic.
Rather than attempt a four-piece approximation of a densely layered studio masterpiece, ARC will expand to a seven-piece lineup for the tour, with additional musicians helping recreate the album’s rich textures, from pedal steel flourishes to the soaring high harmonies and orchestral touches heard on songs like “Wasted Time.” Lane stressed the emphasis is on reproducing the spirit of the album faithfully without resorting to backing tracks, embracing live musicianship over digital perfection.
Fans can expect the album performed in full and in original running order, beginning, of course, with the title track “Hotel California” before ARC turns to a set of Eagles classics. Lane said playing the record sequentially felt non-negotiable, even if it means opening with one of rock’s most recognisable songs.
As the group works through the material, Lane is also going “forensic” on guitar tones, considering everything from a Fender-style tweed amp to a rotating arsenal of Telecaster (a custom made Rick Steward guitar), Stratocaster, Les Paul, six- and 12-string acoustics to capture the distinctive sounds across the album. Yet, tellingly, he suggested the bigger challenge lies not in the solos but in understanding how all the layers, guitars, harmonies and production combine into what he called the album’s “alchemy.”
There was also a humorous reminder of how seriously the Eagles protect their legacy, with Lane revealing ARC was briefly challenged by Eagles lawyers over promotional audio that sounded so authentic it was mistaken for original recordings, something he took as a backhanded compliment.
Beyond the technical side, Lane made it clear ARC has grown beyond a one-off tribute concept into something closer to a real band. Drawing on decades long friendships with bandmates Kram, Darren Middleton and Mark Wilson, he described the annual ARC tours as “holiday camp” from their regular musical lives, and even hinted that the long-discussed possibility of writing original music together remains alive.
The Australian Rock Collective are –
KRAM – Drummer and vocalist for one of Australia’s most successful and respected alternative rock bands ‘Spiderbait’
MARK WILSON – Bassist, pianist and backing vocalist for internationally acclaimed Australian rock band ‘Jet’
DARREN MIDDLETON – Guitarist and songwriter for one of the biggest bands in Australian rock history, ‘Powderfinger’, and successful solo artist
DAVEY LANE – Guitarist for definitive Australian rock band ‘You Am I’, and has been known to moonlight for Crowded House, Jimmy Barnes, Todd Rundgren and more …
ARC plays EAGLES tour will visit NSW Northern Rivers, Brisbane, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth in June.
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