Another Tequila Sunrise Returns to The Colonial Theatre

KEENE – The Eagles "Hotel California" is just one of the classics that Another Tequila Sunrise, America's premier Eagles tribute band, will likely perform on Saturday night at the Colonial Theatre. The last time the New England based tribute played at the Colonial was on September 9, 2022. "This is our fifth show at the Colonial and it's one of our favorite theaters to return to," says Jeff Griffith who covers Glenn Frey's part in the band. "Our first year (at the Colonial) we lost power during the show. The house distribution panel blew a fuse and so we marched downstage and we did a few songs a cappella." "We sang along with the crowd and then the power came back on. It proved that in live music anything can happen, and the beauty of music is that you can sing it anywhere," adds Griffith with a laugh. For more than 20 years, Another Tequila Sunrise has performed to sell-out crowds across the U.S. Griffith explains, "We approach the Eagle's catalog with reverence and with painstaking detail, always striving for the most authentic reproduction of the sound and the spirit of the Eagles." Another Tequila Sunrise's lineup includes: Jeff Griffith (Glenn Frey) on guitars, pedal steel and vocals; Rick Steinau (Randy Meisner / Timothy B. Schmidt) on bass; Steve Brodi (Scott Crago) on drums, vocals and stage manager; Jeremy Beek (Don Felder / Stewart Smith) on guitar and vocals; Doug Vennard (Joe Walsh) on guitar and vocals; John Robert Murphy (Don Henley) on vocals and Denis Brunelle (Joe Vitale) on keyboards, guitars and vocals. The owners of Another Tequila Sunrise, Rick Steinau (currently on medical leave from the band), Steve Brodowski, Jeremy Beek and Jeff Griffith have been working together on various projects for decades. John Robert Murphy is a regular fixture within the New England music scene and can often be spotted singing the National Anthem for the Boston Bruins and other local organizations. Denis Brunelle's multi-instrumental skills, along with the soaring guitar of Doug Vennard, bring out elements of the Eagles music which other tributes cannot match. The Keene Sentinel reached Jeff Griffith of Boston, Massachusetts by phone recently to talk about the upcoming show at the Colonial and the enduring legacy of The Eagles (1971 – 1980). Here's an excerpt of their conversation: Victoria Chertok: Great to talk with you, Jeff! I'm a big Eagles fan and dusted off one of my favorite albums "Hell Freezes Over" (1974) which includes live versions and a longer acoustic version of "Hotel California" with an intricate and amazing acoustic guitar intro. Do you have a favorite Eagles' album and song? Jeff Griffith: My favorite Eagles album – it was blue "The Eagles Greatest Hits" and was the first album I bought with my own money. The song "Peaceful Easy Feeling" was a song that resonated with me the most. V.C.: What is your music background? J.G.: I've been composing and performing music since age five. I performed in coffee houses in upstate New York in the early 70s, where I developed a passion for music. After taking classes at Juilliard and New England Conservatory, I received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Massachusetts - Lowell where I studied composition, guitar and voice. V.C.: What do you do when not performing with Another Tequila Sunrise (ATS)? J.G.: I work as a Grip on many theater, film and television sets. I'm a proud member and former president of IATSE Local 195, IATSE Local 481 Grip Department and an active member of AFM Local 9-535 and the Recording Academy. V.C.: What was it about the Eagles music that drew you in? J.G.: The quality of their music is what it's always been for me. This is music you've heard on the radio growing up - things you heard your parents listened to, your friends listened to. The camaraderie within that musical realm just lends itself to getting everybody together and the way the world is right now; what is better than getting together and singing songs everybody knows? V.C.: Absolutely! I saw that when I attended your last show at the Colonial on 9/9/2022. Everyone in the orchestra section sang along to nearly every song! Which part do you play in ATS and which specific instruments do you use on stage? J.G.: It is a privilege to play Glenn Fry in this band. The honor of being able to present their music; we take it very seriously. I play a Gibson 335 for some of the Joe Walsh things and then I go back and forth between a Fender Telecaster '67 and a '73 Strat that I use for this show. All Takamini acoustics and a 73' Deckley double neck pedal steel. V.C.: Any final thoughts about this Saturday night's show? J.G.: We love the audiences in New Hampshire because they are so engaging and endearing. They're lively and always great. The energy is so amazing so it raises us to a different performance level. What the crowd brings is second to none! Another Tequila Sunrise plays the music of the Eagles at the Colonial Theatre, 95 Main Street in Keene on Saturday, April 27th. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit www.thecolonial.org For more information about Another Tequila Sunrise, visit https://www.eaglestribute.com/.