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Post by BSJ on Jul 16, 2017 21:41:42 GMT
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Post by wolvesgirlgonewild on Jul 24, 2017 17:14:27 GMT
Wembley experience part 2 - In which we enjoy Jeff's support acts:
The show kicked off with The Shires who I had heard of before but I didn’t know their music. I thought they were pretty good. They seemed to be a country band and I was surprised to like them (but not because they were country!). I enjoyed their set, it was a shame that the stadium was not full yet as they deserved a good crowd. It was a bit off-putting to be trying to concentrate on the music when people kept wondering about.
The guy with the pole in the centre of the photo - we thought he was selling chickens until I put my glasses on then I realised it was bags of popcorn!
Tom Chaplin came next. Now, I wasn’t really expecting much of him. I quite liked Keane back in the early 00s but their heyday coincided with the time when I fell out of love with pop/rock music and went onto classical so Tom’s history post 2002 is a blank to me. I remembered him as the young, meek, chubby faced lad with the nice tunes.
Here at Wembley he was a revelation. Whether it was the glittery jacket (why did Jeff not wear this?) or the significance of the event I don’t know but suddenly Tom was a pop star. I really did enjoy his set and would cautiously say that I loved it more than Jeff’s. But only, ONLY because it was new and Tom was a revelation. I KNEW what to expect with Jeff but with Tom it was a totally new experience. I was amazed! He owned the stage, was comfortable with the audience and looked far more relaxed than I’d ever seen Jeff. Indeed far more relaxed than almost any band or singer I’d ever seen. I would certainly go and see him live on his own. I wonder if he is this good in a smaller venues? Because surely if you can move around a Wembley stage like it’s your home you can own a stage in a hall or arena?
Tom is the only support act I’ve ever seen who I’d pay to see live. He Tom looked as if he was really enjoying himself, really relishing the night. He was a true, true pop star and I can’t say how amazed I was. He wasn’t the chubby, meek young lad anymore. He’d grown up and I really wish that a lot of other singers and bands would follow suit. I can’t think of many singers who have developed so well. He had real confidence. I loved the fact that he had strings too (I really hope they filmed some of his set for the dvd).
Jeff should take a tip from Tom and wear a jacket like that. Tom knew people would have difficulty seeing him so used his noggin for his attire. Jeff may look good in black but it's he who should dress in glitter!
Part three coming soon, in which Jeff takes to the stage!
As someone who has seen Tom at a small venue (Birmingham Symphony Hall), yes he is very good in that type of venue! His voice is fantastic, it sounded exactly like the album, I may be biased but he's got probably one of the best voices ever!
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Post by queenofthehours on Jul 28, 2017 21:00:48 GMT
After an unscheduled break I am back with more photos. This time featuring the man, the myth, the legend - Mr Jeff Lynne!
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The first thought I had the moment I saw Jeff on that big screen was “Oh my God he’s so beautiful!”
He really did look good and so, so much younger than ever. He looked so fresh and happy and full of energy. I was shocked. 'Standin' In the Rain' - I never really loved that song until now. It's a real epic live. I liked it but never appreciated it for the aural drama it creates until I heard it live.
The only real issue I had with where I was sat was that people never stopped walking about. I was on the first row so had nobody sat in front but this also meant that anybody who went for a drink or to the toilet had to walk right in front of me! In fact throughout the night even when Jeff was on there was nobody sitting totally still. I don't know if this is normal for stadiums but I'm used to people sitting and enjoying a show and waiting for the interval. I don't know what type of person would prefer a beer to Jeff Lynne! At least most of them did suitable little dances to the ELO songs that were playing as they walked.
I couldn’t believe the audience would give Jeff such little attention. I know people need toilet breaks and drinks as it was a warm night but I would be wiling to suffer for Jeff, I couldn’t bear to miss a moment of him! Maybe it’s the line between the walker-abouters that sitters that proved the true fans ? I don’t know. But the good thing at least was seeing all the little dances people did. During 'Last Train to London' one chap to our right did a little jig! Almost everyone who I saw walk past during ELO's music did so in a groovy manner. As if hearing ELO affects the body so you cannot move in a normal fashion. I must mention one particular woman who was in an ELO top right in front of us in the middle at the end of a row, she danced all night to every song and looked to be having the time of her life, it was as if she was at a religious meeting and Jeff was her own personal god. Jeff will heal us all!
Here is the sunset reflected on the stadium, isn't it magical? Plus the lovely rainbow. I think other than seeing Jeffrey this was the most beautiful moment of the night -
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Richard Tandy was looking young! Sadly the real one had been replaced by a false one. The false Richard Tandy looked like he was having a good time. He made up in energy what he lacked in the gravitas of the real RT. He knew he was privileged to be up there and you could see it in his work and in the delight he took in his performance. He seemed to know what he was doing and did it well but his 'please turn me over' on the vocoder was somewhat lacking and not quite right.
He really made an effort. I was very sorry the real Richard Tandy wasn't there but I didn't seem to miss him until I thought about him, is that bad? The false Tandy looked as if he was squeezing every bit of enjoyment out of the show. He gave it 100% and looked as if he knew what he had to live up to. He did well considering people didn't want to see him (in the nicest possible way). He proved himself and did a good job. He looked happy and glad to be there, he did well and played well.
Sadly on 'Evil Woman' Jeff could not say "take it Richard" as usual . It was very sad Richard was not there. I hope he's well. Jeff said he'sd be back for the next tour but it's so unlike Jeff to look to the future with such certainty! I'm sad Richard will not be on the dvd as it's such a big important concert, he really should have been there for posterity.
'All Over the World' - I don't know how because it's an electronic device but you could just tell that it wasn't Richard Tandy on the vocoder for this.
Here's another photo of Jeff taken as the sun was setting -
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Post by unomusette on Jul 29, 2017 20:44:49 GMT
Another atmospheric write-up from queenofthehours, love it. Must agree about the way people can't stay in one place for a couple of hours without needing a drink or the toilet though, it's SO annoying when they walk in front of you. Can't they sort themselves out before it starts? I've been at gigs where people are on the move during the first song and it just never stops, the O2 in London was the worst. If I'm paying the kind of prices tickets go for these days I want to see the whole show, not the inside of the toilets or the back of peoples' heads at the bar.
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Post by queenofthehours on Jul 31, 2017 19:27:22 GMT
Another atmospheric write-up from queenofthehours , love it. Must agree about the way people can't stay in one place for a couple of hours without needing a drink or the toilet though, it's SO annoying when they walk in front of you. Can't they sort themselves out before it starts? I've been at gigs where people are on the move during the first song and it just never stops, the O2 in London was the worst. If I'm paying the kind of prices tickets go for these days I want to see the whole show, not the inside of the toilets or the back of peoples' heads at the bar. Too true.
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Post by queenofthehours on Aug 8, 2017 19:08:40 GMT
More from Wembley -
If there was one song I was most looking forward to hearing it was 'Handle With Care'. I was so pleased beyond measure to hear 'Twilight' but 'HWC' is more meaningful. Here is a screen shot from my video of it, with Jeff looking down on us all like some kind of benevolent giant:
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Jeff looked so happy singing 'HWC'. Mike Stevens played the harmonica really well and was startlingly accurate to the recorded song with it.
'Last Train to London' was great. There was some really good dancing to this as people went out for their beer refills. Jeff played 'Xanadu'! It was great to hear him sing it himself instead of the ONJ version. Jeff has such a different voice - the song made me feel like crying, it was so beautiful. I think Jeff could tell the audience were enjoying the song. There seemed to be a great feeling of "Finally! We get to hear the composer sing his own song!" I was sorry that Richard wasn't there to play piano on it.
I never knew it was such a sad song - a bit like 'Wild West Hero' - maybe it's just the way Jeff sings it. Jeff's voice was so gorgeous it made me want to cry. He has such a gentle, quite singing voice which you miss on the records as he is in charge of production so boosts his voice. In reality his voice is really very sweet and gentle which is the Jeff-voice I prefer and which you can only hear live as I assume Jeff doesn't like it himself hence the post production boost he gives to it. When ELO played 'Can't Get It Out Of My Head' everyone had their phones aloft. Had smoking been allowed it would have been a cigarette-lighter song. The effect of all the lights was rather emotional and really atmospheric.
'Shine A Little Love' was great as always and had really good lights and lasers. If I remember correctly this photo is of 'Shine' but to be honest I'm not 100% sure:
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'Wild West Hero' was as lovely as ever and also included mobile-lights waving, it looked like fairyland. So pretty. Jeff's vocal here was one of his best and I think he enjoyed this song as much as we did. He did a thumbs up at the end to rival Ringo or Macca!
'Telephone Line' was wonderful as always and Jeff's voice was again so sweet. He has the best voice for interpretation as it's so emotional. My mum's favourite songs of the night were 'Telephone Line' and 'Wild West Hero'.
My song highlights of the night were 'Xanandu', 'Handle with Care' and 'Twilight'. Everybody enjoyed 'Don't Bring Me Down' including me and Jeff seemed pleased with it as he did an extra big thumbs up at the end.
Here's a screen shot of my film of 'Telephone Line' with the lights being waved. You can't get the full effect but you get the idea:
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If there was an image of the night for me, that didn't involve Jeff's face, this would be it.
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Post by eloneen on Aug 8, 2017 19:36:47 GMT
Thanks so much for that queenofthehours. It sounds like it was quite a beautiful evening!
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Post by BSJ on Aug 8, 2017 19:56:13 GMT
Great write-ups queenofthehours! "...looking down on us all like some kind of benevolent giant"
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Post by unomusette on Aug 8, 2017 20:43:03 GMT
Must agree, queenofthehours's account brings all the atmosphere back. Great pics too
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Post by BSJ on Aug 8, 2017 21:20:50 GMT
Queen is a thoughtful writer.
{Spoiler} When I do my write-up of the old man, I'm going to plagiarize Queen.
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Post by tightrope on Aug 9, 2017 1:32:00 GMT
I feel you, brother. I was a member when I ran ELO Forever, but then "Der Fuhrer" kicked me out for sharing news and info that she deemed exclusive to her mailing list. She really is a power hungry, sad little person. Back on topic, the stadium show is a huge deal. Just not sure it's Jeff's element. Let's face it, he's not Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury , Bruce Springsteen, or Bono. Those guys could take a crowd of that size and own them for 2 plus hours. Jeff, as much of a musical genius as he is, just isn't a dynamic frontman. Thank goodness he isn't Jagger or any of the others. Its about the music with Jeff as it should be and it is why I love him above all others. Trust me guys Jeff will have the crowd in the palm of his hand. Question for the people who attended, was I right?
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Post by queenofthehours on Aug 9, 2017 17:07:53 GMT
Thank goodness he isn't Jagger or any of the others. Its about the music with Jeff as it should be and it is why I love him above all others. Trust me guys Jeff will have the crowd in the palm of his hand. Question for the people who attended, was I right? If Jeff had told us to take off one shoe and do the Birdie Dance I think we'd have done it. But Jeff doesn't need cheap stunts to get our attention, everyone was just transfixed with the man in black on stage.
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Post by tightrope on Aug 9, 2017 20:04:20 GMT
Question for the people who attended, was I right? If Jeff had told us to take off one shoe and do the Birdie Dance I think we'd have done it. But Jeff doesn't need cheap stunts to get our attention, everyone was just transfixed with the man in black on stage. With the video, the lasers, all the great musicians, the crowd and especially the beautiful ladies, that is quite an accomplishment!
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