Current:Home > StocksIs there a better live sonic feast than Jeff Lynne's ELO? Not a chance.-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Is there a better live sonic feast than Jeff Lynne's ELO? Not a chance.
View Date:2024-12-23 14:27:29
WASHINGTON – Six years ago, Jeff Lynne delighted fans when he brought his Electric Light Orchestra to the U.S. for the first time in decades.
Never one to tiptoe out of his preferred studio confines with any regularity, Lynne nonetheless crafted an absolutely dazzling production stocked with gripping visuals (in a pre-Sphere world) and perhaps the most pristine sound ever heard at a rock show.
Guess who’s back and as aurally flawless as ever?
This Over and Out Tour – a believable farewell given his age (76) and the reality that he isn’t a road dog – is in the middle of its 31 dates and will wrap Oct. 26 in Los Angeles. At Capital One Arena in D.C. Wednesday, Lynne, still shaggy, sporting tinted glasses and mostly in supple voice, didn’t have much to say other than many humble acknowledgements of the crowd’s affection. But who needs to blather on when there is a brisk 90-minute set of lush ‘70s and ‘80s classics to administer?
More:The Eagles deploy pristine sound, dazzling visuals at Vegas Sphere kickoff concert: Review
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
ELO dropped a setlist that romped through '70s classics
Aside from the opening “One More Time” – obviously chosen for its literalness – from ELO’s 2019 album “From Out of Nowhere,” the sonic feast concentrated on the band’s ‘70s output, seesawing from Top 10 rock smashes (“Don’t Bring Me Down”) to deep cuts (“Showdown”).
Complementing these impeccably recreated gems was a slew of eye candy. Lasers and videos and spaceships (oh my) buttressed each offering in the 20-song set, with an animated witch morphing into a creepy eyeball (“Evil Woman”) and green lasers enveloping the arena like ribbons in the sky (“Telephone Line”).
Lynne’s band was loaded with familiar names from the previous tour, including the rich string section of Jessie Murphy (violin) and Amy Langley and Jess Cox (cello) and standout vocalists – really more than mere backup singers – Iain Hornal and Melanie Lewis-McDonald, who handled the heavy lifting on the giddy “Rockaria!”
One unexpected offering, “Believe Me Now,” was added to the setlist a couple of weeks ago. An instrumental album track from ELO’s 1977 mega-selling double album, “Out of the Blue,” the song, an intro to the equally moving "Steppin' Out," exhales chord changes so sumptuous, they’ll make your eyes water.
More:Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band still rock, quake and shake after 50 years
Jeff Lynne and ELO say goodbye with a smile
But that’s a feeling frequently evoked during the show, coupled with the joy of hearing these sculpted beauties one final time.
The crisp opening guitar riff of “Do Ya,” the disco-fied “Last Train to London,” the wistful dreamscape “Strange Magic,” all unfurled with precision, but not sterility.
A sea of phone lights held aloft accented “Can’t Get it Out of My Head,” a technological illumination replacing the lighters that reigned 50 years ago when the song was released.
But that all preceded the standout in a show stuffed with them – the musical masterpiece “Turn to Stone.” Between the rapid-fire vocal breakdown nailed by Hornal and Lewis-McDonald – which earned its own ovation – and the furious, frenetic build to a musical climax, the orchestral pop dazzler electrified the arena.
Close to the bliss of that corker was show closer “Mr. Blue Sky,” an anthem of optimism that still sounds like sunshine. Bassist Lee Pomeroy high-stepped through its Beatles-esque bouncy rhythm while Lynne and the band traded layered harmonies on the pop treasure.
It was as obvious a closer as “One More Time” was the opener, but really, how else could Lynne leave a multigenerational throng of fans other than with a smile?
veryGood! (564)
Related
- Steelers' Mike Tomlin shuts down Jayden Daniels Lamar comparison: 'That's Mr. Jackson'
- Biden administration announces nearly $11B for renewable energy in rural communities
- Why Kylie Jenner Thinks It's Time for Her Family to Address the Beauty Standards They're Setting
- More than half of the world's largest lakes are shrinking. Here's why that matters
- Sean Diddy Combs' Lawyers File New Motion for Bail, Claiming Evidence Depicts a Consensual Relationship
- These New Photos of Gigi Hadid and Her Daughter Prove Khai Is Already Her Mini-Me
- JoJo Siwa Mourns Death of Her Puppy After He Suffers Fatal Accident
- Shop Our Favorite Festival Fashion Trends That Dominated Coachella 2023
- Lunchables get early dismissal: Kraft Heinz pulls the iconic snack from school lunches
- Sydney Sweeney Makes Rare Appearance With Fiancé Jonathan Davino
Ranking
- Jerry Jones lashes out at question about sun's glare at AT&T Stadium after Cowboys' loss
- California is still at risk of flooding. Maybe rivers just need some space
- Kate Middleton Makes Rare Comments About Princess Diana
- This week has had several days of the hottest temperatures on record
- DWTS’ Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten Have the Best Reaction to Fans Hoping for a Romance
- What Chilli's Son Tron Thinks of Her Romance With Matthew Lawrence
- Adele and Rich Paul Dress Comfy for Date Night at Lakers Game
- Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song Step Out Hand-in-Hand After Welcoming Baby No. 2
Recommendation
-
13 escaped monkeys still on the loose in South Carolina after 30 were recaptured
-
Proof Lizzo Is Feeling Good As Hell on the Met Gala 2023 Red Carpet
-
Feast Your Ocean Eyes on Billie Eilish’s Met Gala 2023 Attire
-
Brittney Griner and Wife Cherelle Are the True MVPs With Jaw-Dropping Met Gala 2023 Debut
-
Can I take on 2 separate jobs in the same company? Ask HR
-
This Affordable Amazon Tank Top Is the Perfect Cottagecore Look for Spring
-
Nordstrom Limited Time Beauty Deals: Drybar, St. Tropez, MAC, It Cosmetics, Giorgio Armani, and More
-
Blake Lively Shares Hilariously Relatable Glimpse Into Her At-Home Met Gala 2023 Celebration