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Post by dillwyn on Apr 18, 2016 15:00:32 GMT
I thought in terms of replication, secret messages was the least proficient and would quite happily wave that and rockaria goodbye for rocknroll is king and twilight. picky I know
I think this is a last very unexpected hurrah, I can't imagine the Mike Stevens group (not sure they have this name as such but you get who I mean ) will be as available long term, given their normal Take That commitments. I'm assuming this tour has happened because TT are taking some time off. I'm guessing of course but can't imagine a tour again.
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Post by Horacewimp on Apr 18, 2016 15:36:41 GMT
I don't think we will see Jeff hit the road again, this tour will have topped up his pension pot very nicely and he will become a hermit again in Bungalow Palace LA working out how not to pay tax on his earnings.
The pent up demand to see ELO will have subsided, should he tour again I don't think such a high demand for tickets would be there, many punters would think I saw him last year I will give it a miss this time around.
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Post by fourlittlediamonds on Apr 18, 2016 18:57:53 GMT
Regarding The Feeling, I wasn't that fussed about seeing them but am really glad that I made the effort as they were very good indeed and good to see a full arena giving them a nice welcome. On the way out to the NEC on a packed train we were sat next to a Norwegian couple over from Oslo for the show and got chatting briefly. They had spent the day walking along Brum's canals, among other things,which I'm sure was highly enjoyable(!) Didn't catch their names unfortunately, but just in case you visit the forum hope you had a great time.
Alas, I have to agree with Horace that I think this really is the last outing for ELO. But then again, who would have thought 18 months ago that any of this would have happened? I suppose there is always the chance that Jeff might want to do another album if inspired to do so and some more shows, but I think the lack of a US tour, other than just those handful of dates, suggest a man who has no intention of going back on the road other than to say a last thank you and goodbye. I'll cling onto the hope that when he said "See you next time " at the end of the show, that we might just do that one day.
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Post by Timeblue on Apr 18, 2016 19:25:38 GMT
Well it's been quite a weekend. Two shows and even though I'm a confirmed teetotaller, I feel somewhat hung over this morning!
Of course I approached Saturday with a mixture of insane excitement and absolute dread. Like the rest of you it meant so much. Could he really pull it off? Was I expecting too much? Would it all end in disappointment? Not a chance. It was absolutely fantastic and it met and then exceeded every unreasonable expectation that I've formed over the past few decades as I've waited for even the remotest possibility of this moment. I managed to relax a little for last night's show and that I think, made it even better.
I feel truly privileged to have witnessed this show twice and with the third Birmingham show still to come it's going to be perhaps the greatest 'ELO year' of them all! Who would have thought that possible in 2016?
A few randomly arranged observations which you may or may not have some agreement with:
1) The Feeling were an inspired choice as a support act and Jeff was generous to them in allowing such a decent sound system. I once saw the Manic Street Preachers support Paul McCartney and their sound was awful by comparison to the main act. I know that a lot of support acts suffer this professional indignity. So well done The Feeling, they were this years Voyager (Time Tour support) and set up the evening perfectly. 2) The ELO lighting, lasers and screen projections were stunning. The clever use of lights that not just lit the band but also projected into the audience's 'space' was inspired. 3) The band around Jeff were fantastic to a man and woman. I know that there's been a lot of praise for Donavan Hepburn and he's a fine drummer but better than Bev Bevan? I really don't think so. He doesn't quite have Bev's 'tub and thump' technique that was missing on moments like Don't Bring Me Down. Talking of which.... 4) I will always have a lifelong indifference towards Discovery but I have to admit DBMD and Shine A Little Love were both fantastic!! I even danced to the latter and I just don't do that sort of thing! 5) When I Was A Boy live already sounds like an ELO Classic. 6) Rockaria! is usually an A+ live moment for me but I think they got this one wrong and reduced it to a B- in doing so. Sharing the vocals with the (admittedly more than competent) Iain Hornal lost the song its impetus, particularly that climactic ending. 7) Replacing When The Night Comes with 10538 Overture should have been done from the very start of the tour. 8) A lot of people around me on the floor last night stood for most songs but would sit down for the quieter ones. That's perfectly reasonable but they also started to sit down to the 'lesser known ones' such as Ain't It A Drag and Secret Messages which just goes to show (and I think we forget this sometimes) that a lot of people were there for the Greatest Hits and don't have our depth of knowledge of the back catalogue. In this light I think the set list was generally spot on as Jeff is obviously trying to cater for all comers and consequently, I now forgive him for omitting Standin' In The Rain and Fire On High! 9) I understand that Roy Wood was in the audience on Saturday night and last night I saw Dave Morgan. These are good signs with a view to the Barclaycard Arena show.
Apologies for the length of this post. If you are awaiting a show at some point on the rest of the tour - it's going to be a night to remember.
....and finally an apology to horacewimp. I saw you on Saturday in Block 2 - I was in the row behind with my wife but I just couldn't get to you to say hello. I even left my seat before the show when you did but you were quickly lost in the masses! Another time I hope. Sorry, but I need to take issue with this. Bev Bevan isn't 10% the drummer that Donovan Hepburn is. Bev was right for ELO back in the day, but he really is a very poor technical drummer.
Conversely, I agree wholeheartedly with you regarding the Secret Messages/Aint it a drag choices. I suspect that 75% of the audience have attended for the hits, and to be fair, whilst I love Secret Messages, it's not going to get me up dancing.... unlike Shine a little love, Rockaria etc.
I'm hoping it's not his swansong and it's re-invigorated his desire to play live, but I fear it might be the last time. If it is, he's certainly gone out with a bang. There's thousands of facebook messages/tweets/reviews etc about just how fantastic the gigs have been.
I don't think I've ever been to gigs where there's such a feelgood factor about the whole event. Everyone leaves with a smile on their face. I just need to work out whether I can get tickets for Manchester in June.
Just what have you got against Bev? You seem to pull him down at every opportunity. Ok, so he isn't the greatest drummer that ever picked up drumsticks but he was 1/3 of a group that we all love and adore not just some journeyman scraping a living. Without Bev I doubt that ELO would have been as successful as they were in the 70's plus the fact that he was basically the bands spokesperson. We are all entitled to our opinion but every time someone mentions Bev,you have to put a disparaging remark about him on here.
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Post by Chippa on Apr 18, 2016 19:26:55 GMT
Sounds fantastic. Ya'll are so lucky.
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Post by Horacewimp on Apr 18, 2016 19:40:43 GMT
Sounds fantastic. Ya'll are so lucky. Are you going to NYC Chippa I'm sure you said you were considering it?
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Post by jackpunch on Apr 18, 2016 19:42:29 GMT
Sorry, but I need to take issue with this. Bev Bevan isn't 10% the drummer that Donovan Hepburn is. Bev was right for ELO back in the day, but he really is a very poor technical drummer.
Conversely, I agree wholeheartedly with you regarding the Secret Messages/Aint it a drag choices. I suspect that 75% of the audience have attended for the hits, and to be fair, whilst I love Secret Messages, it's not going to get me up dancing.... unlike Shine a little love, Rockaria etc.
I'm hoping it's not his swansong and it's re-invigorated his desire to play live, but I fear it might be the last time. If it is, he's certainly gone out with a bang. There's thousands of facebook messages/tweets/reviews etc about just how fantastic the gigs have been.
I don't think I've ever been to gigs where there's such a feelgood factor about the whole event. Everyone leaves with a smile on their face. I just need to work out whether I can get tickets for Manchester in June.
Just what have you got against Bev? You seem to pull him down at every opportunity. Ok, so he isn't the greatest drummer that ever picked up drumsticks but he was 1/3 of a group that we all love and adore not just some journeyman scraping a living. Without Bev I doubt that ELO would have been as successful as they were in the 70's plus the fact that he was basically the bands spokesperson. We are all entitled to our opinion but every time someone mentions Bev,you have to put a disparaging remark about him on here. Absolutely, and my opinion is no more important or valid than anyone else's. However, from a musical point of view he's technically very poor. His live work is clumsy and lacks any touch. I maintain that he was absolutely in the right place at the right time, and whilst he is fundamentally very much a part of the ELO sound, I feel a lot of that is down to the production. However, I appreciate some may find my views offensive and I'd hate to upset anyone, so I'll keep my trap shut on the subject from now on. Please accept my apologies if I've upset or offended you, I can assure you that wasn't my intention.
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Post by Timeblue on Apr 18, 2016 19:52:42 GMT
Just what have you got against Bev? You seem to pull him down at every opportunity. Ok, so he isn't the greatest drummer that ever picked up drumsticks but he was 1/3 of a group that we all love and adore not just some journeyman scraping a living. Without Bev I doubt that ELO would have been as successful as they were in the 70's plus the fact that he was basically the bands spokesperson. We are all entitled to our opinion but every time someone mentions Bev,you have to put a disparaging remark about him on here. Absolutely, and my opinion is no more important or valid than anyone else's. However, from a musical point of view he's technically very poor. His live work is clumsy and lacks any touch. I maintain that he was absolutely in the right place at the right time, and whilst he is fundamentally very much a part of the ELO sound, I feel a lot of that is down to the production. However, I appreciate some may find my views offensive and I'd hate to upset anyone, so I'll keep my trap shut on the subject from now on. Please accept my apologies if I've upset or offended you, I can assure you that wasn't my intention. Like I said, everyone is entitled to an opinion but you pull him down at every opportunity, if he was that poor why hasn't anyone else posted similar remarks? You haven't upset me and I don't want you to think that and apologies are not needed.
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Post by Chippa on Apr 18, 2016 19:52:56 GMT
Sounds fantastic. Ya'll are so lucky. Are you going to NYC Chippa I'm sure you said you were considering it? I'll know soon. Depends on my work schedule. We're currently restructuring, so vacation time is tentative, at best.
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Post by unomusette on Apr 18, 2016 20:31:33 GMT
Best things about last night: The sound was excellent, even for The Feeling (good to read that they impressed people, they are much better live than you'd think on hearing their singles on the radio). Jeff and the band hardly put a foot wrong, and he must have worn his thumbs out with all his happy gestures between songs They all looked like they were having a terrific time, this always adds a sparkle to a performance. Jeff's voice sounded amazing, this long rest since he last toured has preserved it for us Bit of a shame he had to hand over to the backing guy now and then, but if it keeps him on top form for the whole tour I forgive him. Good range of songs on show, he had to balance the hard core with the casual admirer and did a pretty good job of it. The car parking was really well organised, fifteen minutes after Jeff left the stage we were speeding up the motorway, top marks to Genting Arena for this. The light show appeared to be fab, speaking of which... Not-so-good things about last night: Our top priced seats, bought at the presale and supposedly in a premium position, were to be frank rubbish. We were at 90 degrees to the stage so that the effect of the light show was mostly lost. It is obviously designed to be viewed from head on, you got the idea from the side but none of the wow factor. Instead of seeing the band with a mind expanding backdrop you had a kind of deconstructed view of all the layers from side on. It was lucky Jeff's position was out in front on his own, otherwise we'd only have seen him on the screen hanging to our right. Plus our seats were directly above where people emerged from outside the arena, so there was constant distraction as people seemed unable to sit still while the show was on and had to come and go getting drinks, going to the loo, who knows what else, all lit up from below and sometimes helped along by the stewards' torches. These seats cost upwards of £100 each, the whole of Block 2 should never have been sold at this level, £50 would have been a lot more realistic. Same goes for any seats overlooking the entrances. I felt pretty much swindled. Luckily this was offset to an extent by the good points but it came darned close to properly spoiling the event for me. All in all it was a treat to see Jeff tread the boards again, I agree it's probably for the last time as has been suggested above. But talk about going out on a high, I'm so glad he was persuaded to do this because the amazing feedback he's been getting is probably the only way to truly prove to him how much he is loved and admired. And in return he's produced a show which has been pronounced a winner from all who see it (properly )
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Post by dillwyn on Apr 18, 2016 20:37:29 GMT
At the risk of prolonging the pointless debate, i think the whole unit is better. Of course there are 6 more of them. I particularly the vocal blending (mr hornal is an excellent and supportive artist)..10538 is mainly sung by him
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Post by Horacewimp on Apr 18, 2016 20:46:36 GMT
unomusette my original seats were in block C down on the flat floor in front of the stage, however Mrs Wimps friend wanted to come along and so I had to give those up and swop with my brother and so that meant we were in block 2 on Saturday sounds like exactly were you were seated. I know what you mean about the side view and not seeing the effects from the light show, I would of been well pissed off had I not already had a front of stage view at Nottingham last week. The side view did provide an alternative take on the gig but I think it would have been better to be on the side further down the arena. The reason I bought tickets for the extra Brum date in June was due to this swop of tickets, we are again on the flat floor facing the stage at the NIA. Never mind we can see Jeff in close up on the TV at Glastonbury and hopefully on the DVD.
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Post by unomusette on Apr 18, 2016 20:55:36 GMT
Ew, bad luck Horacewimp, I'd not wish those seats on anyone. I also noticed that the first row of the front centre floor block had a man with a camera on a track going back and forth between them and the stage, obviously filming the show. It looked like he was entirely blocking their view when he stopped, not to mention being hugely annoying as he kept sailing past. This is not what you expect for the prime viewing spot in the arena, appalling.
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Post by fourlittlediamonds on Apr 18, 2016 21:46:04 GMT
unomusette my original seats were in block C down on the flat floor in front of the stage, however Mrs Wimps friend wanted to come along and so I had to give those up and swop with my brother and so that meant we were in block 2 on Saturday sounds like exactly were you were seated. I know what you mean about the side view and not seeing the effects from the light show, I would of been well pissed off had I not already had a front of stage view at Nottingham last week. The side view did provide an alternative take on the gig but I think it would have been better to be on the side further down the arena. The reason I bought tickets for the extra Brum date in June was due to this swop of tickets, we are again on the flat floor facing the stage at the NIA. Never mind we can see Jeff in close up on the TV at Glastonbury and hopefully on the DVD. I was further down the side in block 5 and that was perfect for a view of the lights and front projection as well as an overall view of the stage. I could see how being much c!oser and side on to the stage could really have ruined the show in many ways and I would always avoid tickets where your are virtually 90 degrees to the stage! Those seats should always be the cheapest as an arena show like this is all about the presentation- both audio and visual. Within about 2O mins, two guys in front of me were up fumbling their way along the row, blocking everyone's view while they had a chat with the people they were getting past and didn't come back for about 15 or 20 minutes with their pints of (overpriced) beer. I really can't understand the attitude where you pay a small fortune for a ticket but getting the beer in is more important than watching the show you've waited 30 years for. Oh well!
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Post by fourlittlediamonds on Apr 18, 2016 22:24:26 GMT
Roy Wood did not appear as rumoured! I should have been more specific, but the plan was for a Move reunion as the opening act before the June 24th show, which is also the concert I believe was going to be professionally filmed (or at least that was the case until Jeff was given the "legends" slot at Glastonbury - we'll have to see if he doesn't just release this instead, as it's easily going to be his single biggest audience ever). I doubt very much if the Glastonbury show will be the one to be released commercially for several reasons. It's a one off show fora festival and they will not be able to set up the full AITU concert there and will have to rely on the festival's own lighting and sound. Also it's going out mid afternoon so the lighting and projection effects would be lost even if they could set up the full show. The Hyde Park show has already been released and as far as I know, no Glastonbury act has ever released their performance commercially as recorded by the BBC as there could be plenty of rights issues there too to sort out. In fact Leonard Cohen prevented the BBC from broadcasting his legends slot a few years back, and there is no official recording of it. I'd also assume that Jeff and his people would want full artistic control over how the AITU tour is shot and presented and not rely on generic BBC television coverage like Hyde Park. Therefore, if there is to be an official concert film of AITU tour it will probably be shot in Brum in June. Although doing it on just one show is a bit risky if there are any technical problems on the night, as they are often shot over several nights to minimise those risks and to get the best performances possible.
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