TORONTO -- It sure felt like summer had returned at the Air Canada Centre last night.

Especially since it was a legendary '70s country-rock group from California doing the entertaining.

"It must be summer -- The Eagles are in Toronto," said guitarist/pianist/singer Glenn Frey, 55, acknowledging the city's unseasonably warm spell.

The Eagles, whose ranks these days consist of founders Frey and drummer/singer Don Henley, 56 -- along with longtime members Joe Walsh, 55, on guitar/vocals and Timothy B. Schmit, 55 on bass/vocals -- ended up playing a long and leisurely three hours to the delight of the sold-out crowd of 16,000.

There was an emphasis on well-known tunes -- the evening began with such '70s gems as The Long Run, New Kid In Town, Wasted Time and Peaceful Easy Feeling -- which wasn't surprising given the group has a new greatest hits collection, Eagles -- The Very Best Of -- due in stores Oct. 21.

But there's also a new studio album, Hole In The World, expected to be released next year so the harmony-heavy title track made an appearance.

"Here's your chance to go the bathroom and get a beer," joked Henley, who -- along with Frey -- was in good, chatty form, not to mention great singing voice.

Henley explained the new song was written after 9/11 and released as a single back in June, with a video.

"Even though we're not exactly video material anymore," said Henley, slightly heftier than in recent years. "Anyway there's a lot more holes in peoples' lives since then. Holes in the government. Holes in the head of the cowboy in Washington. Holes in the information we're getting from the news media in America. I'll shut up now before I get in big trouble. Before I get Dixie-Chicked."

The Eagles were joined by four other touring musicians -- some from their 1994 Hell Freezes Over tour -- along with a four-person horn section, the latter who made their first appearance during the Walsh-sung In The City.

In addition, the group's tight sound was bolstered by a huge lighting rig overhead and impressive video screens both above and behind them which provided clear, crisp images.

Song highlights -- there was actually two sets divided by a half-hour break -- were too numerous to name. But clearly the years have been good to these band members with an amazing 30-year catalogue of songs to choose from, both as a group and individually.

In terms of great guitar moments, I would single out Peaceful Easy Feeling, Already Gone, In The City, One Of These Nights, Lyin' Eyes, I Can't Tell You Why, Tequila Sunrise, Hotel California, Life In The Fast Lane and Take It Easy along with two Henley solo hits The Boys Of Summer and Dirty Laundry.

And while Frey and Henley expertly and evenly divided lead vocal duties on most of the Eagles material, both Walsh and Schmit acquitted themselves nicely too.

Walsh was in top form as rock vocalist/lead guitarist on James Gang's Walk Away, and his own Turn To Stone, Life's Been Good and Rocky Mountain Way, while Schmit's lovely tenor rang out on Love Will Keep Us Alive and I Can't Tell You Why.

"Well, I was going to run for governor of California," joked Walsh.

"I decided not to at the last minute because I had a concert in Toronto. The great news is that from now I'm going to be doing all the Terminator movies." (More on The Eagles)

Set List

1st SET

Long Run

New Kid In Town

Wasted Time

Wasted Time reprise

Peaceful Easy Feeling

Hole In The World

Love Will Keep Us Alive

The Boys Of Summer

Take It To The Limit

Already Gone

In The City

One Of These Nights

2nd SET

James Dean

Lyin' Eyes

I Can't Tell You Why

Walk Away

Instrumental

Tequila Sunrise

Sunset Grill

Turn To Stone

You Belong To The City

Life's Been Good

Dirty Laundry

Funk #49

Heartache Tonight

Life In The Fastlane

Encore 1:

Hotel California

Encore 2:

Rocky Mountain Way

All She Wants To Do Is Dance

Encore 3:

Take It Easy

Desperado

JAM! Rating: 4.5 out of 5