A giant spaceship, pyrotechnics, lasers and big screen visuals all add to the experience of a concert setlist strong on melody and close attention to musical detail. Lynne, now 69 but looking essentially unchanged since ELO's 70s heyday with his curly hair, beard and aviator sunglasses, leeds his 12-piece band through a gentle opening with "Standin' In The Rain" before upping the ante with the clavinet-powered "Evil Woman".
From thereon in, it is a full two hours of hits plucked from an extensive catalogue that includes nods to Lynne's earliest work with Roy Wood - the propulsive "Do Ya" (originally written for The Move) and "10538 Overture" (from the 1971 album: The Electric Light Orchestra) - a well received "Handle With Care", from the singer and guitarist's time with The Traveling Wilburys, the 80s supergroup that gathered the talents of Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Tom Petty, and as Jeff himself states: "perhaps one you might not expect," "Xanadu", a UK chart-topper first recorded by Olivia Newton-John.
Violinist Rosie Langley and cellists Amy Langley and Jess Cox come into their own in the string-laden "Livin' Thing" while backing vocalist Melanie Lewis-McDonald demonstrates her impressive soprano range during "Rockaria"!
After an introduction to the band by musical director Mike Stevens, long-time associate of Take That, the stadium becomes illuminated by mobile phone lights during the ballad "Can't Get It Out Of My Head".
The standout moment visually comes during "Twilight", with lasers dancing on the stadium roof while footage of spaceships floating through a futuristic cityscape plays on giant video screens high above the band and keyboard player Marcus Bryne croons into a vocoder.
"Ma-Ma-Ma Belle reveals Lynne's rockier side, its guitar licks seemingly inspired by Keith Richards and Marc Bolan, before we are back in crowd-pleasing disco territory with "Shine A Little Love".
"Wild West Hero" is inevitably accompanied by images of vast open American landscapes before the scintillating sequence of "Sweet Talkin' Woman," "Telephone Line," "Turn To Stone" and "Don't Bring Me Down" provide a potent reminder of what a master craftsman Lynne is when it comes to creating memorable hooks and layered harmonies.
Fittingly the night culminates with a mass singalong to "Mr Blue Sky," a superior pop/classical crossover that could brighten any day.
If the encore "Roll Over Beethoven" allows Lynne and lead guitarist Milton McDonald to indulge their inner Chuck Berry then they've undoubtedly earned it.
But before we get to the main feature, let's enjoy...
The Pre-Show:
Before we join our generation (loved to see that the people dancing in the aisles of Wembley Stadium - were in their 50s-60s) singing and hopping along to those wonderful tunes of days gone by but forever young in our hearts, let's get to know the man. Four are the documentaries / videos that will highlight and shed some light (being that Mr Lynne is a very secluded man) on Jeff and his music.
The most important one, which could no doubt have figured in The Main Feature (so we could say there's two for the price of one) is: Mr Blue Sky (The Story of Jeff Lynne And ELO). Don't miss it! You'll understand the man. And if you're a Beatle fan, you've got to see it! You won't regret it.
The Main Feature:
Title: Jeff Lynne's ELO - Wembley Or Bust
Director: Paul Dugdale
Cast: Jeff Lynne and ELO
Release Date: 2017
On Your Way Out:
One of the major pleasures of "attending" this concert is how "alive" one ends after so much fun (dancing, singing - I practically remembered all the words!!). I'm sure you've gone through the same process. Ok, before you go, and hoping you've had a great time this evening, please feel free to grab some goodies on your way out.
Cheers, Shade.
Note: Password for all files: Shade'sVintageRadio
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