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09/01/2024

Electric Light Orchestra LIVE at the Moda Center in Portland, OR on 08/30/24

By Brent Angelo //  Electric Light Orchestra says good-bye to the road with one last rocking Over and Out tour 

The English rock band, Electric Light Orchestra (aka ELO) was first formed Birmingham, England in 1970. Their brand of music blends rock n’ roll, pop and classical music. At the band’s core is its original cofounder, Jeff Lynne. With one of rock’s most recognizable voices, he has been ELO’s driving force since the very beginning. Throughout Jeff’s career, he would write, arrange and produce fifteen albums for Electric Light Orchestra. Some of Electric Light Orchestra's most successful songs include “Mr. Blue Sky”, “Don’t Bring Me Down”, and “Evil Woman” to name a few.

With the Electric Light Orchestra being a rock n’ roll fan favorite, it’s a real treat when a band like ELO comes to town. This 2024 Over and Out tour is extra special being that it will be the band’s farewell to touring. Portland’s Moda Center thankfully got one of the last twenty-seven stops in North America.

Electric Light Orchestra’s recorded music is timeless and distinctive especially with its big vocal sound. These songs played by Jeff Lynne’s ELO shined in concert. At the Moda Center show, Jeff Lynne was accompanied on this farewell tour with musical director and guitarist Mike Stevens, bassist Lee Pomeroy, drummer Donavan Hepburn, pianist Marcus Byrne, lead guitar player Milton McDonald, keyboard players Jo Webb and Shannon Harris, backing vocalists Melanie Lewis-McDonald and Iain Hornal, and the string section consisting of Amy Langley, Jess Murphy and Jess Cox. This collaboration of talent really honored ELO’s legacy during the show’s nineteen song concert.

The show kicked off strong with the rocking “One More Time” from Jeff Lynne's ELO 2019 release From Out of Nowhere. The music was heightened by an impressive stage show production. At the stage’s center was the infamous ELO spaceship, which was the focal point of the show’s dreamy visuals, lights and lasers. ELO showed they are a band that truly cares about the show just as much as they care about the music.

It was great hearing the rock classics like “Evil Woman”, “Strange Magic” and “Sweet Talkin’ Woman” in concert. This show had some special concert moments and highlights. Background vocalist, Melanie Lewis-McDonald’s fine opera style vocals kicked off a fun and rocking version of “Rockaria!”. Jeff Lynne’s vocals were simply beautiful on “Can’t Get It Out of My Head”. “All Over the World” was pure ELO, sounding even bigger and better live. “Don’t Bring Me Down” really got the crowd going. They were singing loudly along (ooh-ooh-hoo), clapping and some could be seen dancing in the aisles. Musically and visually, this song live was live music at its best. The show’s encore included a magical laser driven version of “Telephone Line” and the show concluded with the ELO hit, “Mr. Blue Sky”. The band gave its final bow, and the spaceship left for the last time.

Jeff Lynne is truly the definition of a rock legend. He is a talented songwriter, respected music producer and great live performer in and out of ELO. As a Beatles fan, he showed that very influence in his own music and his own talents would later help some of the Beatles in their own works. As a producer, Jeff Lynne would be the cornerstone of George Harrison's Cloud Nine success, and he was the go-to with the three surviving Beatles on its 1994 Anthology release. That’s big. Jeff’s work with George Harrison would lead to the formation of the Traveling Wilburys, a true supergroup which included Jeff, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison. Jeff would also co-produce some of Tom Petty’s best including Full Moon Fever. Jeff Lynne is a Rock N’ Roll Hall of Famer for good reason.

Electric Light Orchestra has thrilled its fans for over 50 years. This Over and Out tour may have an element of sadness with Jeff Lynne saying goodbye to the road, but for those of us who witnessed it, we got to see his greatness one last time and see the man go out on a high note. We will all miss Jeff Lynne on the road, miss that singing voice in concert, but we will always have the good memories, and we will always have those great records to listen to over and over.

For more info on Jeff Lynne's ELO - Click Here (Official Site)

Jeff Lynne's ELO - One More Time (Official Audio)

ELO "Don't Bring Me Down" Moda Center, Portland 08/30/24

Electric Light Orchestra

Over and Out Tour 2024

Portland, Oregon

08/30/24

Setlist
One More Time
Evil Woman
Do Ya
Sweet Talkin' Woman
Strange Magic
10538 Overture
Showdown
Can't Get It Out of My Head
Rockaria!
Steppin' Out (with band introductions)
Fire on High
Livin' Thing
Last Train to London
All Over the World
Turn to Stone
Shine a Little Love
Don't Bring Me Down
Encore:
Telephone Line
Mr. Blue Sky

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