Jeff Lynne's ELO reveals 2018 Tour dates

I've got the Oakland show next week and can't say I'm very excited for it (my wife is a big fan) after reading this thread. I think my next arena show after that is Smashing Pumpkins (again, my wife is a big fan). Not a very inspiring duo of shows for me, but it's still live music, so how bad can it be? (Please don't tell me)

 

This is a bucket list item for me too!

People are complaining about stage announcements and it sounding too much like the records???

Bitch, please!!! I’m glad you’re not there. Let someone who will enjoy the show have that seat!

 

Stop worrying. If you like the songs he's still an incredible vocalist and the band are brilliant. Don't listen to the dullards who talk about backing tracks, midi, samples, miming ****e . There's a bloke in the band playing guitar who's a RSM Grade 8 baritone player, he's an incredible musician and baritone players don't do ********. I can assure you

Don't confuse baritone with baritone sax.

 

I’m just going to enjoy the show for what it is.

 

Just got home from the tour opener. They put on a fantastic show, even if it is just Lynne and sidemen. They sounded great, and, aside from a couple of obvious choral backing tracks, it seemed like they were the real deal. I’m just a garbage guitar player, but it seems like they were processing a lot of the backing vocals to sound close to the original recordings, but I do think that stuff was sung live.

They played all of the hits, but if you want to get a jump on the crowds leaving the venue, full disclosure that they ended their set with Mr. Blue Sky and then curiously encored with Roll Over Beethoven.

 

ELO have always encored with ROB. Great to hear you enjoyed it. Have to say last few times I've seen them Jeff is still one of the best vocalists around

 

Going to see this show soon(Aug.25) Really looking forward to it.

 

Direct quote from one of your earlier posts: "At least there's now a sense of spectacle, even if the audio seems barely live or lively." I realize this is old news but you quite literally said "barely live."

 

no Richard Tandy this time?

 

Good catch - I'm not infallible!

P.S. Can anyone confirm Richard's return?

 

The 2017 Wembley show is documented on a new Showtime film - it’s fantastic, I’ve watched the whole thing twice.

 

Nope

They had a new keyboard player so my guess is Tandy had to bow out for some reason.

 

I agree. I was happy to see that Jeff didn’t leave the cello and violin to shines and had actual players. Some incredible backing vocals. Nice to see former It Anitra bassist Lee Pomperoy on stage as well.great band.

 

No Tandy from the stage photos.

 

I knew the tease in that leaked rehearsal picture was too good to be true.

 

I'm curious to know whether Jeff mentioned anything during last night's show about Richard's absence or coming return.

 

Nope. His stage banter was minimal.

 

Ah. Good to know. First time seeing them, as you can probably guess ;-)

 

All this begs the question that, if everything on the US tour is essentially the same as the Wembley DVD show...why bother to buy tickets? I was blessed to see both the 78 and 81 tours, so it feels like there's more to lose than gain here...IMO

 

Sort of like Paul going on tour alone as the Beatles or Mick as the Stones? I still love Jeff though...

 

It's absolutely nothing like that

 

I think it would be like Paul going on tour as the Beatles and only playing the "Paul" composed Beatle songs. Near the end of the Beatles, the relationships deteriorated so that, for instance, John, George, and Ringo were essentially backing musicians on the "Paul" compositions. The difference between the Beatles and ELO, though, is that Jeff has ignored or minimized the musical contributions of his former colleagues (and friends). It never got that bad in the Beatles, IMHO.

The Beatles didn't have Don Arden either, whose "managerial talents" could be a topic all by itself! He really knew how to build a team (of one).

 

From what I've been told, Don was very supportive of Bev's plans to continue under the ELO name while there was still a possibility of this (mostly) new group keeping his Jet Records empire afloat. Unfortunately, once it became obvious that Jeff really was the band's resident talent in more ways than one, Arden soured on the whole idea of Part II, which is why they left for new management in 1993 - soon after, Kelly felt comfortable enough to plan his return as a full member once again.

 

It’s like Gerry without the Pacemakers.

 

It's like Doug Fieger without The Knack.