Fans had been waiting for decades for it to happen.
And, at last, it did and these fans could finally say:
Hello, ELO.
No, it wasn’t an illusion or some kind of “Strange Magic.” It was indeed Jeff Lynne’s ELO, kicking off its first North American tour in more than 35 years on Thursday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
The band’s 20-song set proved to be well worth the long wait, as the 70-year-old Lynne led his band through some 90 minutes of glorious Electric Light Orchestra classics in front of a sold-out crowd of roughly 13,000 happy fans.
Now, the last time Lynne’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame troupe performed in the Bay Area was — we kid you not — way back in 1981. And it was at the very same venue.
The set lists for the two shows, spaced 37 years apart, shared a dozen tunes — including, of course, such classics as “Telephone Line” and “Mr. Blue Sky.” (No, we weren’t there at the earlier show, but we did find the information about it on the always helpful setlist.fm site.)
Following a strong set by opening act Dawes, Lynne and his soundly versatile 12-piece band kicked off their headlining show with a great take on “Standin’ in the Rain,” from the 1977 commercial blockbuster “Out of the Blue,” and then quickly followed with the fan favorite “Evil Woman” off ELO’s fifth album, 1975’s “Face the Music.”
The kick-off of @JeffLynnesELO tour! @jimthecritic pic.twitter.com/DOyrgAHmwh
— Miguel Rodriguez (@ThatsSoMiguel) August 3, 2018
As the evening progressed, and the setlist continued through such gems as “Showdown” and “Livin’ Thing,” it was hard not to marvel at how innovative this music was for its era. The band was just so far ahead of its time in the ’70s and ’80s, peddling a heady mix of rock, pop and classical that was both artsy and radio friendly.
Yet, that was decades ago, right?
How does the music come across in 2018?
Um, have you heard Maroon 5?
In other words, yes, ELO’s music still sounds light years ahead of most of the bands you hear played on pop music radio today.
That was definitely the case with “Can’t Get It Out of My Head,” a gorgeous ballad that mixes symphonic flourishes, rich pop sensibilities and a prog-rock feel in breathtaking ways.
The group would also play “Xanadu” and — well, OK, so not everything ELO has done has aged incredibly well. Still, it was fun to hear the title track to this beloved camp classic from 1980 starring Olivia Newton-John.
And sometimes being fun is enough.
Xanadu anyone? @JeffLynnesELO @olivianj pic.twitter.com/ooaWS110ag
— Miguel Rodriguez (@ThatsSoMiguel) August 3, 2018
The night was, of course, rich with nostalgia for the ’70s and ’80s, as thousands of fans with grey hair — or, in my case, no hair — sang along with gusto to such blasts from the past as “Rockaria!” and “Do Ya,” which was originally recorded by Lynne’s earlier band, The Move.
Ah…one of my favorites. @iammatthewsweet did a great cover, but @JeffLynnesELO still does it best! pic.twitter.com/3s0pvsX1Vs
— Miguel Rodriguez (@ThatsSoMiguel) August 3, 2018
Yet, Lynne and company also took time to showcase what they’ve been up too more recently, performing “When I Was a Boy” from the band’s most recent (and 13th overall) studio full-length, 2015’s “Alone in the Universe.” It’s a strong offering, which finds Lynne at his most McCartney-like to date — which is really saying something for an artist who has been channeling the Fab Four for basically his whole career.
The vocalist-guitarist also turned the spotlight on his other band, the Traveling Wilburys, crooning through a spot-on take of “Handle With Care” while images of his fellow Wilburys — Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty — were shown on the screens at the back of the stage.
Handle With Care. @JeffLynnesELO pays tribute to @tompetty @GeorgeHarrison @ROYORBISON pic.twitter.com/RZmTyVlqxh
— Miguel Rodriguez (@ThatsSoMiguel) August 3, 2018
The last third of the show was simply magical, as the group rolled out one smash after another, rocking and rolling through the likes of “Sweet Talkin’ Woman,” “Turn to Stone” and, perhaps best of all, “Don’t Bring Me Down.”
Don’t bring me down?
Not a chance. Not on this night. Not when Jeff Lynne’s ELO are kicking off their first North American tour in over 35 years in Oakland..
Last one, I promise – @JeffLynnesELO Dont Bring Me Down! pic.twitter.com/Q1bMooVEJo
— Miguel Rodriguez (@ThatsSoMiguel) August 3, 2018
Jeff Lynne’s ELO Setlist Aug. 2, 2018:
1 “Standin’ in the Rain”
2 “Evil Woman”
3 “All Over the World”
4 “Showdown”
5 “Do Ya”
6 “When I Was a Boy”
7 “Livin’ Thing”
8 “Handle With Care”
9 “Rockaria!”
10 “Can’t Get It Out of My Head”
11 “10538 Overture”
12 “Xanadu”
13 “Shine a Little Love”
14 “Wild West Hero”
15 “Sweet Talkin’ Woman”
16 “Telephone Line”
17 “Don’t Bring Me Down”
18 “Turn to Stone”
19 “Mr Blue Sky”
Encore:
20 “Roll Over Beethoven”
