ELO

Electric Light Orchestra played first full concert in 28 years (video, setlist), hint at world tour

ELO at Hyde Park last weekend
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ELO, apart from reluctant frontman Lynne, were never about the individual faces. Instead, they were represented by that neon flying saucer logo (based on the rainbow arc of a Wurlitzer jukebox). And, as it turns out, this incarnation does feature pianist Richard Tandy from the classic 70s line-ups, and the BBC Concert Orchestra do an extraordinary job of nailing the majesty of the original recordings. This is, in so many senses, as good as it’s going to get, and it’s good enough for me.

By showtime, There Ain’t A Cloud In Sight has triumphed over It’s Raining All Over The World, and even the landgrabs by the territorial picnickers, stalking their little squares of turf with checked blankets, can’t kill the buzz. When Jeff Lynne – who couldn’t look more like Jeff Lynne if he tried – steps out and strikes up ‘All Over The World’ (the only pop song ever to mention the Birmingham district of Shard End) and that logo appears, I completely lose my shit, and almost start crying. Suddenly, I am that kid who bought the blue vinyl 10 inch from Kelly’s in Cardiff indoor market, all the troublesome, tricky, awkward, angsty stuff that music and life threw at me subsequently is erased, and I’m basking in the eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. – [The Quietus]

Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra played their first proper gig in 28 years on Sunday (9/14) in London’s Hyde Park, part of BBC Radio 2’s Festival In A Day. Backed by a real orchestra, Lynne trotted out ELO hit after hit, like “Evil Woman,” “Livin’ Thing,” “Telephone Line,” “Mr. Blue Sky,” plus The Travelling Wilbury’s “Handle with Care” and more. Setlist is and video of the entire telecast is below.

The performance also doubled as a tease for a possible 2015 world tour. BBC2 presenter Chris Evans told the crowd if the show went well, “this will no longer be the headlining moment of our festival in a day, but the beginning of a world tour” and Lynne himself said later in the concert, “We’ll do this again.”

ELO Hyde Park video and setlist below…

Jeff Lynne’s ELO at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2014

SETLIST: Electric Light Orchestra @ Hyde Park 9/14/2014
All Over the World
Evil Woman
Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
Showdown
Livin’ Thing
Strange Magic
10538 Overture
Can’t Get It Out of My Head
Sweet Talkin’ Woman
Turn to Stone
Steppin’ Out
Handle with Care (Traveling Wilburys) (Live debut)
Don’t Bring Me Down
Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King
Telephone Line
Mr. Blue Sky

Encore:
Roll Over Beethoven