The Anvil, Basingstoke, Thursday and Southampton Guildhall, Friday...

IF you thought tribute bands were all bad haircuts and cringing cover versions then you obviously haven't seen the Illegal Eagles.

Led by Ray Brown, The Illegal Eagles are one of the best tribute bands on the circuit and, although don't claim to look like their American supergroup heroes,

They've certainly got their sound down to a T.The band say they are "not a tribute band, more a fine musical tribute to the Eagles and a band who have the performance skills to make it in their own right" - and they're not far wrong. The band recently changed their line-up, welcoming back original bass player Chris Childs as well as guitarist Keith Attack, who has previously worked with Bonnie Tyler and quirky Elvis impersonator The King.

During their two-hour set the band perform Eagles classics such as Take It Easy, One Of These Nights, Lyin' Eyes, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Best Of My Love, New Kid In Town and Hotel California as well as favourites from solo albums by Don Henley and Joe Walsh.

n For information for The Anvil, call 01256 844244. For the Bournemouth Pavilion, call 01202 456456.

PAUL GREEN