Joe Walsh is on the road promoting his new record "Analog Man."
Walsh has given the world 10 solo albums, rocked the planet with James Gang and brought the Eagles to a higher level.
Now, as part of his Analog tour, he will appear at the Seneca Allegany Casino Events Center on Saturday at 7 p.m. There he will perform a number of his classics such as "Funk #49," "Walk Away," "Life's Been Good" and "Ordinary Average Guy," a few Eagles songs and his newest material from "Analog Man."
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Pictured is the image on the cover of Joe Walsh’s new album, “Analog Man.” Walsh will perform at the Seneca Allegany Events Center on Saturday at 7 p.m.
This may be Walsh's first solo album in 20 years, but he managed to bring together a legendary collaboration of artists for the recording process. The album includes Ringo Starr of the Beatles on drums; the vocals of Graham Nash and David Crosby of Crosby, Stills and Nash; and piano and vocals of Little Richard.
It also features guitarist Tim Armstrong of Rancid and the Transplants; Joe Vitale, best known for his tour work as a drummer, on keyboards and sitar; Nashville country music songwriter Tommy Lee James on backing vocals; and producer Jeff Lynne on drums, bass, keyboard, guitar and backing vocals.
It wasn't coincidence that brought Walsh together with such a large group of talented musicians. Starr is Walsh's brother-in-law, and Walsh played on his album. So in return he played on Walsh's. Walsh also met Lynne through his wife, and he ended up playing an integral role as producer of "Analog Man." And, Crosby and Nash have been dear friends of Walsh's for many years, according to Walsh.
"This (album) came from working with people on their projects and then showing them something I had, because we all help each other out," Walsh told The Post-Journal. "I've got a song (on the album) for Crosby and Nash to relate to called 'Family' that they jumped right on. Looking back on it I do have some people who played on the album who made it special for me. I'm very grateful to have had that because the music is much better for it."
Lynne, who produced the album, is brilliant, according to Walsh.
"He took me in a direction I never would have gone," said Walsh. "You can show him bits and pieces that you have, which will eventually be a song, but he sees where you're trying to go with it, and he helps you get there."
The album features a wide variety of genres that have influenced Walsh as a musician throughout his career. He even worked in a few things that he used to do on previous albums that nobody else does anymore, he said.
"At this point I have a pretty good box of tools and a lot of knowledge, so I wanted to use it all," said Walsh. "I also looked at the way I used to make records, and I stumbled across some stuff I had forgotten about - like how much I had used acoustic guitars in electric guitar songs. What I wanted was for each song to have its own personality, its own topic and that it would be a body of work that covered all the bases."
Walsh released his first solo album in 1974. Each album he has released since then features a unique cover that illustrates Walsh's evolution as a musician. And, according to Walsh, the cover of "Analog Man" accurately represents his current persona.
"I'm in good shape, very happily married. I have a good life, I am 18 years sober and you can see on those covers that I obviously wasn't," said Walsh. "The statement with 'Analog Man,' including the cover, is that I'm back, I'm not done yet and it won't be 20 years until the next album."
In an interview with Howard Stern on June 4, in response to Stern's question regarding whether Walsh cared about his place in music history, Walsh answered that he was not done yet. According to Walsh, the reason for this statement stems from a desire to want to finish a new solo album.
"My wife's encouragement helped me when I decided to make a new solo album a main focus and get it done," said Walsh. "Finishing it is different than working on it. But, I decided to finish it. And, I have new songs I'm working on since the album came out. I really do feel that I'm not done yet. I don't feel old, and there's no reason to stop. In terms of playing live I really enjoy it, and there is a bunch of other stuff that I want to do. I hope to someday do a movie soundtrack, being on Broadway would be fun and I could write a pretty good book too."
One of the new songs, "Lucky That Way," includes the lyrics: "Sometimes I can't believe that I'm still standing, and it feels pretty good to be me. I get to live out here in California. I got a palm tree and a swimming pool. Have some fun and try to play my music, was all I really said I could do."
According to Walsh, he feels like he has had some fun and played his music too.
"I never thought about now through the '70s and '80s; the 21st century was so far away in the future," said Walsh. "We were just so 'in it' and passionate about what we were doing. We figured that we were going to do something big, that we were going to change the world, and maybe we did a tiny bit. But, I think it's important to never forget your roots because with success comes a lot of non-musical stuff. It's real easy to lose sight of what got you there in the first place. So, that line has come full circle. Having been through it all in limos, bright lights, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, gold albums and all, you know what, just to have some fun and play my music is all I really wanted to do, and it still is."
Tickets for Saturday's show start at $65. All ages are welcome, but those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The Seneca Allegany Casino Events Center is located at 777 Seneca Allegany Boulevard in Salamanca. For more information visit senecaalleganycasino.com or call 888-913-3377.