Valley favorite 7 Bridges returns to amphitheater

August 21, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

Similar to a pop song that you’ve heard a million times yet remain powerless to turn off whenever it comes on the radio, the recent “History of The Eagles” documentary on Showtime is hard to click away.

There’s just something about the Don Henley and Glenn Frey-led outfit — which for more than 40 years has been providing the soundtrack of living in America— that for music fans is equally reverential and guilty pleasure.

However, instead of getting existential and looking for some deeper meaning, the answer is probably the most simple: It’s the tunes.

This also explains why 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience is bringing that “Peaceful Easy Feeling” back to Warren for a Saturday show at the Warren Community Amphitheatre.

“We’ve been playing in Warren for seven years,” said singer-guitarist Jason Manning, calling from Texas. “I don’t know, I guess we just connected with that audience through the years so they’ve had us back as many times as three shows during the summer.

“In fact, this will be our second time going back there this year. It just really works well. It’s one of our favorite places to play, for sure.”

7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience originated in Nashville as Tequila Sunrise featuring Cleveland’s own singer-guitarist Paul Sidoti, who left the act in 2008 to join a then-unknown up-and-coming country artist named Taylor Swift.

Manning said the band took about a year to regroup before changing its name to 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience. Early on, the act averaged roughly a dozen gigs, while this year the outfit will be on the road for more than 75 dates.

“We get bigger and bigger every year,” said Manning, who plays the Glenn Frey role. “We’ve moved from a Chevy Suburban and a trailer to a 40-foot tour bus and a trailer.”

What can Manning say other than there’s a hungry audience for Eagles music, with the original act seemingly on the road nonstop since its “Hell Freezes Over Tour” exactly 20 years ago.

While some artists acknowledge the role cover bands play, Manning said he’s not sure The Eagles know 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience exists.

“I don’t think we’re probably on their radar,” Manning said. “I don’t think they’ve accepted and appreciate people doing tributes to their music. For instance, Gene Simmons from KISS understands a tribute is the greatest form of flattery. It actually helps them to keep their careers alive, but I don’t think Glenn and Don feel that way. So it is what it is.”

Invariably, 7 Bridges is providing audiences oftentimes six-part harmonies on all of the hits from The Eagles, as well as a few solo tunes from Henley and Joe Walsh.

As far as the Showtime documentary, Manning admits he’s a big fan. So does that mean considering he plays Frey, who famously didn’t get along with former member Don Felder, that the two often argue onstage in character?

Manning said, laughing, “No, but that would be pretty funny.”