The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band Headlining In The Hamptons

J.D. Kelly is a lifelong Long Island resident who graduated from Farmingdale High School. And, on Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20, he will be fronting the musical act know as Eaglemania at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. The band will be playing two one-hour sets starting at 8 p.m.

He emphasized that the band plays all the music live and loves performing the music that is the soundtrack to so many lives. “The boys play it right,” he said referring to Dennis Espantman on bass and vocals, Frank Reno on keys, guitar, and vocals, along with Jon Weiswasser on drums, Ken Darcy on vocals and guitar, and John Gaechter on guitar.

Kelly has been singing lead for Eaglemania for the last 7 ½ years and says he is “thrilled” for the opportunity to perform with such a “tight” group of talented musicians. “We love what we do,” is exactly how he phrased it.

Without giving away the song list for the shows, Kelly said Eaglemania would play the major Eagles hits, along with a few solo career songs of Don Henley and Joe Walsh. When asked which member of the Eagles his voice sounded like, Kelly said, “I believe I sound more like Don Henley then Glenn Frey…you know that just rolled out of bed sound.”

You have two chances to see Eaglemania in the Hamptons. (Courtesy Photo)

Kelly praised the beauty of Sag Harbor and is excited about playing Bay Street Theater. He has been singing for 45 years and has been voice trained to insure protecting the quality of his singing. When he was asked what was the most obscure place the band has played, he said it was a small town in Oklahoma. But he noted, “They loved us, really sweet folks!” The next day they were playing in Texas. “We play all over the United States, I mean all over. Our wives are very understanding and support us, it’s tough, but we love performing this music.”

Kelly wanted to give a special shout out to his wife, Casey, who is, “100 percent behind me and makes it all so much easier.”

According to Kelly, “Eaglemania is more than a tribute band, we are talented seasoned musicians and singers who love to entertain and share the good time we are having with our audiences – whether it’s 15 people on a cold winter’s night in a small venue or 5,000 people outdoors under the summer stars.”

Tickets to the Eaglemania concerts are $37.

Bay Street Theater is located at 1 Bay Street in Sag Harbor. For more information, visit www.baystreet.org.