Elo Concert Review 2019 How Long Does It Take
Lynne and an impressive rock ensemble unfurled a high-tech spectacle Tuesday at Grand Rapids Van Andel Loonshit filled with cornball hits. The Local Spins review, photos, fix list.
Rock Spectacle: Jeff Lynne'southward ELO delivered sonically and visually at Van Andel Arena. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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Bated from the robust rendition of "Scroll Over Beethoven" that rattled the radio airwaves in early 1973 and put Electric Calorie-free Orchestra on the musical map, my real introduction to this British band led past Jeff Lynne came with the album, "On the Third Day," which spawned what I still consider ane of rock'south truly underrated classics, "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle."
Sadly, Jeff Lynne'south ELO – equally his touring ring is now dubbed – didn't unearth this gem during its tour stop Tuesday night at Thou Rapids' Van Andel Arena, though Lynne did ringlet out the nearly-as-wonderful "Showdown" from the same album.
Simply that may have been one of the simply, and admittedly small-scale, disappointments in what can only be described equally a thoroughly mesmerizing evening of symphonic rock and pop-stone nostalgia from a ring that'south unique in the rock pantheon.
Mastermind: Jeff Lynne led the ensemble through 21 songs. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
This was a near not-stop, i-hr-and-xl-infinitesimal blast of catchy songs from the '70s and '80s that probable left many like-minded with Lynne in their post-concert glow, "I tin can't get it out of my head."
From "Standin' in the Rain" that got things started in loftier-tech-calorie-free-and-video-festooned fashion to "Mr. Bluish Sky" that closed out the master gear up (followed by the as-expected "Gyre Over Beethoven" encore), Lynne, his prodigiously talented 7-piece ring, a string trio and ii backing vocalists delivered a 21-vocal retrospective that was role pop spectacle, office eye processed and function stone extravaganza led by a 71-year-erstwhile guitarist and singer who can however agree his own.
Of form, owing to Lynne's longstanding reputation as a producer extraordinaire, the stage production was impeccable, from the visuals – 5 vertical video screens behind the band with imaginative, colorful imagery, lasers and stellar lighting – to the lush sound itself.
DHANI HARRISON IMPRESSES WITH OPENING Gear up, TRAVELING WILBURYS TRIBUTE
Now, before proceeding further, let's go a few things out of the style:
• Dhani Harrison opened the evening every bit part of a riveting v-piece band, unfurling a heavy, atmospheric, somewhat melancholy and thoroughly dandy 40-minute opening set that impressed the heck out of me. Yes, in the apple-doesn't-fall-far-from-the-tree section, Dhani resembles his famous Beatle father, George, and even sounds similar him at times, with a few Beatlesque moments thrown into the mix. Merely make no mistake, Dhani'south music is his own fetching slice of stone worthy of deeper investigation.
Opener: Dhani Harrison and band. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
• There was a jarring glitch as Lynne and band kicked into the second vocal of the dark, 1975'southward "Evil Woman," with the sound completely cutting out for a few seconds. Fortunately for everyone involved, it all speedily kicked back into gear and Lynne didn't miss a beat.
• Proving that there's just 1 minor step from symphonic rock to disco, the evening did include two songs from 1979, "Last Railroad train to London" and "Shine a Little Love," that could accept been jettisoned in favor of the aforementioned "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle," "Strange Magic" or simply about anything else from the ELO catalog. Just, and then once again, perhaps that's merely me.
Back to the main thrust of things: Honestly, for those who grew upward with ELO's hit machine (more combined Superlative xl hits in the United States and Great britain than any other band from 1972 to 1986), at that place were more highlights in Tuesday's show than you could shake a drumstick at.
HIGHLIGHTS GALORE, ON-POINT VOCALS
"Do Ya," "Livin' Thing," "Can't Go it Out of My Caput," "10538 Overture," "Don't Bring Me Downwards," "Turn to Stone" and "Mr. Blueish Sky" not but revved up the near-capacity arena crowd, but delivered on-betoken instrumentals, vocals and dynamics with the requisite visual pageantry. (Band members and backing vocalists also demonstrated a fair amount of fun campiness throughout the evening.)
Striking Visuals: The video properties on Tuesday nighttime. (Photograph/Anthony Norkus)
With rare exception, Lynne carried his vocals splendidly and tore it up on guitar when required. And while he didn't banter with the oversupply much at all, he was gracious and didn't resort to stone star posturing – non fifty-fifty once.
Indeed, that graciousness extended to the moment a tertiary of the way into the set when he brought Dhani Harrison back on stage to help sing a non-ELO tune: 1988's "Handle with Care," by The Traveling Wilburys super-group which featured Lynne, Bob Dylan and the belatedly George Harrison, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison.
With images of George, Tom and Roy behind them, it was a performance that oozed poignancy every bit Dhani shared lead song duties and the ring delivered a Wilburys-like vibe paying homage to some of rock'southward most important heroes.
Count Lynne among those heroes, a guy whose touring version of ELO does nothing merely fortify and elevate the legacy of an extraordinary rock 'due north' roll project.
PHOTO GALLERY: Jeff Lynne's ELO, Dhani Harrison at Van Andel Loonshit
Photos by Anthony Norkus
Prepare List: Jeff Lynne's ELO at Van Andel Arena
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