Jeff Lynne's ELO, June 2016 review: Birmingham

From Birmingham Mail

London, Hamburg, Paris, Rome; Rio, Hong Kong, Tokyo; L.A., New York, Amsterdam; Monte Carlo, Shard End and.... spot the odd one out!

The lyrics to All Over The World name check some of the glamorous cities that writer, singer and producer Jeff Lynne must have visited while fronting the Electric Light Orchestra in the 1970s and 1980s.

But Jeff also, somewhat tongue in cheek, included the Birmingham suburb where he grew up - and how he must have relished singing the line just a few miles from his old stomping ground.

Back in the 70s, when ELO’s brand of modern rock and pop with a classical twist was never out of the charts, Jeff, who now lives Los Angeles, also sang about having the ‘’Birmingham Blues’’.

So it was always surprising that until last April he hadn’t performed in the city for 30 years. Those two nights at the NEC’s Genting Arena sold out so quickly that this third show was added.

And the unassuming 68-year-old couldn’t have been happier to have been home.

Jeff, a man of few words who has always felt more comfortable in a recording studio than on stage, said: ‘’Hello Brummagem! It’s so good to be back... for a third time! Can you believe it? I can’t.’’

His 10-strong band included a glamorous string section, a drummer from Saltley and keyboardist Richard Tandy, the only survivor from ELO’s early days. It was led by Take That’s musical director, Mike Stevens, who studied at the Birmingham School of Music.

They played hit after hit, with Livin’ Thing, Rockaria, 10538 Overture, Shine a Little Love, Turn to Stone, Don’t Bring Me Down and Sweet Talkin’ Woman, in particular, getting the capacity crowd on their feet.

Jeff’s effortless delivery sounded better than ever during the 95-minute show.

There was also room for a couple of tracks from Jeff’s new album, Alone In The Universe, his first collection of original material in 15 years.

The Beatles-esque When I Was A Boy, in which Jeff sings about growing up in Birmingham (‘’don’t want to work on the milk or the bread, I just want to play my guitar instead’’) held its own in such esteemed company.

Ever the perfectionist, Jeff made the songs sound richer than ever, although, if you were being picky, you could say they were too polished and not different enough from the original recordings.

The slightly miserly length of the concert meant there was no room for Showdown, Confusion, Ma-Ma-Belle, I’m Alive, Hold On Tight, Don’t Walk Away and The Diary of Horace Wimp to name but a few.

I was also disappointed Jeff didn’t reprise Handle With Care, the gorgeous song he recorded with the supergroup Traveling Wilburys and which he performed at his Hyde Park comeback show in 2014.

But these minor quibbles were forgotten when the pounding bassline of signature tune Mr. Blue Sky kicked in. For five glorious minutes, the uplifting classic blew away our concerns about Britain’s economy.

The song has become an anthem for Birmingham City and a Blues badge was projected on to the stage, which must have pleased the watching Trevor Francis and Jasper Carrott, both friends of Jeff.

It would have been a perfect finale but Jeff returned for ELO’s traditional encore, putting the Beethoven into his epic version of Chuck Berry song Roll Over Beethoven.

The applause was thunderous and Brum is clearly still very proud of one it’s most legendary sons. Mr. Blue, you did it right.

Set list:

Tightrope
Evil Woman
Showdown
All Over the World
When I was a Boy
Livin’ Thing
Strange Magic
Rockaria!
10538 Overture
Secret Messages
When the Night Comes
Shine a Little Love
Wild West Hero
Telephone Line
Turn to Stone
Don’t Bring Me Down
Sweet Talkin’ Woman
Mr. Blue Sky
Roll Over Beethoven