A Salute To The Eagles in Thrasher Park

Hotel California, the official Eagles cover band, is playing a free concert Friday night at Thrasher Park Amphitheater in Norcross from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. To-go picnics are available at the eateries downtown.   

What can you expect to hear at the concert? “All the hits, every one of them,” said Greg Dickinson, also known as Dicky-Lee, who described his position in the band as, “all things string.”

With 15 years in Hotel California, Dickinson is one of the new guys in the group. The band originally formed in 1982 just to have fun. They all had jobs and played gigs on the weekend. But things are very different now.

These days it’s a full-time endeavor for the five multi-talented musicians, one of whom, keyboardist and guitarist, Wade Hogue, is an original member.

“We play a lot. It’s gotten huge,” Dickinson explained. “We do 180 to 200 shows a year.”

Dickinson doesn’t have a favorite Eagles song. “For me it changes, it really does,” he said. “All the songs have a particular emotional content. That’s why it’s so good. They told stories, they captured the emotion of the song and that was one of the things that made their song writing so good, but that’s also why it’s so hard to have a favorite.”

The California-based band plays all over the country and has also played outside of the United States. Dickinson said every area they travel to is a unique experience, even if they’ve been there before.

“It really varies,” he said. “Some parts of the country are more beautiful in the fall; some are more beautiful in the winter. You know, you go, and you’re like, ‘this is great,’ and then you come back in the winter and you’re like, ‘this is miserable.”

Hotel California will be traveling to Norcross for the first time ever. Dickinson has a special treat in store because his mom, who lives in North Carolina where he's originally from, is going to drive down to watch him perform. He said being able to take his family on the road with him at times is one of the best perks of the job.   

“It’s kind of fun to do a job where your family can come along,” he said. “Most people don’t really get that opportunity. You know, how many moms (are) gonna want to come watch their son drive a truck?”

Overall Dickinson described playing in Hotel California as “a pretty cool job” and said that it’s all rather pleasurable. All the band members are living the dream as highly-respected professional musicians. And they all showed their deep musical interest at an early age.

Steve, who does vocals, the banjo and various guitars, started his six-string career when he pounded out “If I Had a Hammer” during his first public performance in Sister Mary Jolene’s sixth grade class in front of an excited group of his classmates. "Wow, what a rush," he recalled.

Dickenson too said that music was his first love and that he realized he was a musician at some point back in elementary school.  

They all grew up with the music of the Eagles, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Now they “salute the Eagles” night after night, playing their timeless, classic sounds which transcend the boundaries of Rock, R&B and Country.

You can join the party this Friday (June 10). Bring a blanket and pick up a to-go picnic, but most importantly, don't forget your dancing shoes because that's what you'll need the most.