Recap and Gallery: Jeff Lynne’s ELO at The United Center • Chicago
Jeff Lynne’s ELO
United Center, Chicago, IL
September 28, 2024
Photos and recap by Jeff Elbel
Jeff Lynne’s ELO played the second of two nights at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday. The band’s Over and Out Tour has been promoted as Jeff Lynne’s farewell tour and the final chance for fans across North America to hear Lynne perform the music of the Electric Light Orchestra. To recreate ELO’s lush and symphonic pop sound, Lynne was supported by a dozen musicians. Seven of the core band members have been with Lynne since he rebranded the group as Jeff Lynne’s ELO in 2014 and performed a comeback concert in London’s Hyde Park. Songs performed at the United Center touched the extreme ends of ELO’s catalog, including debut single “10538 Overture” from 1971’s self-titled first album (released in the US as 1972’s No Answer) and “One More Time” from 2019’s From Out of Nowhere. The bulk of the setlist visited the run of gold and platinum albums between 1974’s Eldorado (with Top Ten single “Can’t Get it Out of My Head”) and 1979’s Discovery (including set-closer and US #4 single “Don’t Bring Me Down”). Pianist Marcus Byrne sang the synthesized vocal hooks to songs including “Believe Me Now” and “Sweet Talkin’ Woman.” Vocalists Melanie Lewis-McDonald and Iain Hornal added familiar melodies and harmonies to songs, including “Rockaria!” Violinist Jessie Murphy was featured during the instrumental “Fire on High” and 1976 single “Livin’ Thing.” The band encored with all-ages favorite “Mr. Blue Sky.”
Set List:
One More Time
Evil Woman
Do Ya
Showdown
Believe Me Now
Steppin’ Out
Last Train to London
Rockaria!
10538 Overture
Strange Magic
Sweet Talkin’ Woman
Can’t Get It Out of My Head
Fire on High
Livin’ Thing
Telephone Line
All Over the World
Turn to Stone
Shine a Little Love
Don’t Bring Me Down
Encore:
Mr. Blue Sky
Personnel:
Mike Stevens – guitar
Lee Pomeroy – bass
Donavan Hepburn – drums
Marcus Byrne – piano
Milton McDonald – guitar
Jo Webb – keyboard, guitar
Shannon Harris – keyboard, percussion
Melanie Lewis-McDonald – vocal
Iain Hornal – vocal
Amy Langley – cello
Jess Cox – cello
Jessie Murphy – violin
Set List Breakdown by Album:
No Answer (1972): 10538 Overture
ELO 2 (1973): none
On the Third Day (1973): Showdown
Eldorado (1974): Can’t Get It Out of My Head
Face the Music (1975): Fire on High, Evil Woman, Strange Magic
A New World Record (1976): Telephone Line, Rockaria!, Livin’ Thing, Do Ya
Out of the Blue (1977): Turn to Stone, Sweet Talkin’ Woman, Believe Me Now, Steppin’ Out, Mr. Blue Sky
Discovery (1979): Shine a Little Love, Last Train to London, Don’t Bring Me Down
Xanadu (1980): All Over the World
Time (1981): none
Secret Messages (1983): none
Balance of Power (1986): none
Zoom (2001): none
Alone in the Universe (2015): none
From Out of Nowhere (2019): One More Time
Category: Featured, IE Photo Gallery, Live Reviews
