Jeff Lynne didn’t need there to be any confusion over what we have been witnessing because the Over and Out Tour kicked off Aug. 23 at Acrisure Area. “That is our final tour ever,” insisted the Electrical Mild Orchestra legend, coming throughout like one of many few traditional rockers who truly imply it once they say they’re calling it quits. “So, I’m actually glad you’re having fun with it.”
The 9,000-plus followers at this Palm Desert-area venue have been having a blast as Jeff Lynne’s ELO soared by a 100-minute present that includes a number of the finest pop/rock tunes of the ‘70s. The 13-piece ensemble, led by the 76-year-old Lynne on vocals and guitar, sounded mighty robust because it reawakened one former triumph after one other throughout a hit-filled, 21-song setlist.
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Certain, there have been a number of tough edges — notably Lynne’s personal vocal flubs, which often needed to do with him coming in a bit late on the lyrics. But, they have been ones that one may count on to listen to on the opening night time of an enormous tour and may hopefully be all smoothed out over the subsequent few exhibits.
And the followers positively didn’t let a number of minor errors impression their enjoyment of what could be their final night with Jeff Lynne’s ELO. After a strong opening set from Robert (brother of Jason) Schwartzman and his Rooney bandmates, the headliners took the stage simply after 9 p.m.. They acquired the occasion began with, appropriately sufficient, “One Extra Time.”
It was the only real choice from the group’s most up-to-date outing, 2019’s From Out of Nowhere. Apart from that, probably the most up to date variety of the night time was “Calling America,” which hails from 1986’s Stability of Energy and stands as the ultimate Electrical Mild Orchestra tune to make it into the U.S. Prime 40.
Primarily, they simply hovered across the ‘70s, pulling from some of the unbelievable runs of albums in pop music historical past — 1974’s Eldorado to 1979’s Discovery (and, actually, the next yr’s Xanadu soundtrack as nicely), earlier than Time broke that streak of greatness in such convincing trend in 1981.
The group loaded up the primary half of the set with a number of the most beloved songs of their profession — the groovy “Evil Girl,” the ominous-sounding “Showdown,” the all the time enjoyable “Candy Talkin’ Girl,” the beautiful “Unusual Magic” — and each prompted a serious sing-along from the gang.
Day One followers beloved when Lynne took us again to the eponymous first Electrical Mild Orchestra (recognized within the U.S. as No Reply) from 1971 to conjure up the towering “10538 Overture.” That led immediately into “Can’t Get It Out of My Head,” the Eldorado showstopper that stands as probably the most stunning ballad within the ELO songbook.
Lynne’s backing band – guitarist/musical director Mike Stevens, bassist Lee Pomeroy, drummer Donavan Hepburn, pianist Marcus Byrne, lead guitarist Milton McDonald, keyboardists Jo Webb and Shannon Harris, backing vocalists Melanie Lewis-McDonald and Iain Hornal, and a string part consisting Amy Langley, Jess Murphy and Jess Cox – was completely terrific and did a spot-on job recreating the ornate ELO studio sounds on the reside stage.
Particular point out must be given to Hornal, who did excellent work shadowing Lynne and saved a number of songs by being able to step in on lead for him when he faltered with the lyrics.
The manufacturing parts have been each bit as spectacular because the music, with the band members standing in entrance of an oval video display screen – mimicking the form of the famed ELO spaceship – which displayed an array of graphics that properly matched the vibe of every track. The visuals ranged from Tolkien-esque worlds (“Unusual Magic”) to a roll name of U.S. cities (“Calling America”) to loads of spacey ELO flying saucer stuff.
There was additionally an unbelievable laser-light show that actually appeared to launch into overdrive after the troupe completed up the principle set with a blockbuster “Don’t Carry Me Down” after which returned for a extremely satisfying two-song encore consisting of “Phone Line” and “Mr. Blue Sky,” the latter being the track that launched the band to a complete new era of listeners by way of the terrific opening scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
After which it was certainly over and out for Jeff Lynne’s ELO, because the band left the desert to proceed this spherical of goodbyes with followers in North America by October.
Right here is Jeff Lynne’s ELO’s setlist:
1. “One Extra Time”
2. “Evil Girl”
3. “Showdown”
4. “Do Ya”
5. “Candy Talkin’ Girl”
6. “Unusual Magic”
7. “10538 Overture”
8. “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”
9. “Twilight”
10. “Rockaria!”
11. “Final Practice To London”
12. “Calling America”
13. “Steppin’ Out”
14. “Hearth on Excessive”
15. “Livin’ Factor”
16. “All Over The World”
17. “Flip to Stone”
18. “Shine a Little Love”
19. “Don’t Carry Me Down”
Encore:
20. “Phone Line”
21. “Mr. Blue Sky”
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