Lights Out! Jeff Lynne Closes Final US Tour With a Magical Set: Concert Review
by Greg Brodsky
Jeff Lynne (2nd from L) with lead guitarist Milton McDonald, musical director Mike Stevens and bassist Lee Pomeroy, Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 29, 2024 (Photo © Greg Brodsky; used with permission)
Jeff Lynne ended the U.S. leg of his “Over and Out” tour on Tuesday (October 29, 2024) at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., the final concert of a 31-date North American run that began two months earlier, on August 24. (What became the final performance was the result of a postponement from the previous week due to an illness within the band.) And it wasn’t until earlier this month that the legendary musician announced that Jeff Lynne’s ELO—as he’s called the most recent edition of the Electric Light Orchestra for some years now—would also, fittingly, be doing dates in his native U.K., in 2025. He initially revealed the group’s final concert at London’s Hyde Park for next July—the very site where he began his stage comeback in 2014. (Additional shows have just been announced for his hometown, Birmingham, as well as Manchester, to precede the big outdoor concert. It’s anyone’s guess but it’s likely a few more dates will be added.) Since the maestro sat out not only the pandemic but also the years that followed, the “Over and Out” tour is thus his first tour in five years.
Lynne had made his first stage performance in four years when he played a 10-song set at Joe Walsh’s VetsAid benefit concert on November 12, 2023.
Lynne has played a hits-driven 20-song setlist on the North American tour and tonight’s magical concert was no exception, with such crowd pleasers as “Evil Woman,” “Livin’ Thing,” “All Over the World” and “Don’t Bring Me Down” all leading up to the inevitable encore, “Mr. Blue Sky.” (By coincidence, Best Classic Bands was in Phoenix and managed to score a seat in the arena’s eighth row. Most of the videos you’ll see are from that vantage point.)
When the tour began two months earlier, Lynne seemed tentative while singing. As the run continued, his voice seemingly improved, as it did on this night.
Lynne traditionally performs while wearing his trademark sunglasses and rarely speaks to the audience during his concerts, generally offering no more than a few “thank you”‘s and giving the thumbs up sign.
Thumbs Up! (Photo © Greg Brodsky; used with permission)
ELO’s debut single, from 1972, was “10538 Overture” and it reminds audiences that the “O” in the band’s original name stands for Orchestra.
You’re not at a Jeff Lynne’s ELO show for storytelling; the hits are the thing. And while he still gamely tries to hit the high notes, he now leaves most of them to other members of his longtime band, notably backup singers Iain Hornal and Melanie-Lewis McDonald. (Lynne turned 76 last Dec. 30.)
Lynne’s musical director for his tours is Mike Stevens, who leads the very tight band. The rhythm section is drummer Donavan Hepburn and in-demand bassist Lee Pomeroy. The accomplished keyboardist is Marcus Byrne. Milton McDonald is the lead guitarist; Jo Webb also plays guitar and keyboards. Jeff Lynne’s ELO employs two cellists, Amy Langley and Jess Cox, and a violinist, Jessie Murphy, who gets to solo on “Fire on High” and “Livin’ Thing.”
Watch the thunderous applause Lynne received from the Phoenix audience when he was introduced by Stevens, followed by “Fire on High”
The set capped off with a string of favorites including “All Over the World” (the best thing to come from the soundtrack to the 1980 box-office dud, Xanadu), and crowd favorite “Don’t Bring Me Down.”
Related: Our story on the latter song’s frequently misheard word
Watch the last performance of the final U.S. tour, fittingly “Mr. Blue Sky”
Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ, October 29, 2024, Setlist
One More Time
Evil Woman
Do Ya
Showdown
Last Train to London
Believe Me Now
Steppin’ Out
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
Take a well-deserved bow, maestro! Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 29, 2024 (Photo © Greg Brodsky; used with permission)
The U.K. dates take place in July 2025. Tickets are available here and here. ELO recordings are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
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