Joe Walsh brings good time to coliseum

When the classic rock band The Eagles performed at the North Charleston Coliseum in March of 2005, the sold-out crowd grooved to every last note from band members Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Timothy B. Schmit.

The real cheers during the show though, came when singer-guitarist Joe Walsh strapped on a homemade hard hat with a video camera attached. As Walsh roamed the stage, playing one of his many hits, the images from the tiny camera were projected onto the huge video screens high above the stage.

Joe Walsh has always been about having fun. He's even written a song, "Fun," to drive that point home. The perpetually grinning rock guitarist, who also played with The James Gang before joining The Eagles, has written some of classic rock's most enduring songs, and Saturday night Walsh treated a coliseum crowd estimated at 3,000 to a loud and loose set of hits.

Walsh started off quietly with a couple of acoustic songs, including "Life of Illusion," before getting off his bar stool to switch to electric guitar for crowd favorites such as "In the City" and "Walk Away."

A slow blues opening cleverly disguised the James Gang's "Funk #49," which brought the crowd to their feet for a string of hits that included "Life's Been Good."

During "Life in the Fast Lane," Walsh let backup singer Ricky Washington take over on vocals, explaining to the crowd, "It's hard to sing and play guitar at the same time."

Throughout the set, Walsh showed off the laid back demeanor that made him famous.

Before Walsh hit the stage, the audience was treated to a short set of music by the New York City band JD and the Straight Shot. The five-piece outfit, led by Jim "JD" Dolan, who works days as chairman of New York's Madison Square Garden, performed covers that included The Band's "The Shape I'm In," as well as an interesting reworking of Billy Squier's "Everybody Wants You."

Reach Devin Grant at chucktowncritic@yahoo.com.