Jeff Lynne’s ELO at the Hollywood Bowl in 2016
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Jeff Lynne (in his trademark sunglasses) with Richard Tandy at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 9, 2016
The spaceship touched down in Los Angeles on September 9, 2016 and by all accounts the Electric Light Orchestra—or Jeff Lynne’s ELO as they are now billed—enjoyed a triumphant return to U.S. shores for the first of just five American concerts following an extensive U.K. and European tour earlier in the year.
Lynne and his large ensemble—it is an orchestra, after all—wowed the Hollywood Bowl’s Friday night crowd with well over a dozen of ELO’s classic rock hits plus two songs from his splendid 2015 album, Alone in the Universe. (See complete set list below.)
For these shows, Lynne and company were joined by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and his longtime ELO bandmate Richard Tandy, whose distinctive keyboards are so crucial to their sound.
Here’s “All Over the World,” which has grown in popularity in the ELO canon since it was originally included in 1980’s ill-fated Xanadu soundtrack, as well as what’s being billed as the world premiere of “Love and Rain” from the new album. As Lynne noted, “This is a fantastic place for us to play. We’ve never played here before; it’s so beautiful.”
Watch them perform an ELO favorite, “Livin’ Thing”
Watch one of the group’s underrated classics, “10538 Overture”
You want more? The forecast calls for blue skies…
Related: Our review of the concert that took place one week later at New York’s Radio City Music Hall
A huge comeback event before 50,000 in London’s Hyde Park in September 2014 gave Lynne the confidence that the public interest was not only there, it was insatiable. He recorded Alone In The Universe and signed a worldwide deal with Columbia Records.
Related: Review of Alone in the Universe
Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Hollywood Bowl, September 9, 2016 Setlist
1. Tightrope
2. Evil Woman
3. Showdown
4. All Over the World
5. Love and Rain
6. Livin’ Thing
7. When I Was a Boy
8. Rockaria!
9. 10538 Overture
10. Can’t Get it Out of My Head
11. Shine a Little Love
12. Wild West Hero
13. Telephone Line
14. Turn to Stone
15. Sweet Talkin’ Woman
16. Don’t Bring Me Down
17. Mr. Blue Sky
Encore
18. Roll Over Beethoven
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationHe only played “Love and Rain” on Friday. We went Saturday and loved every second but desperately wanted that song!
I was there, along with my girlfriend! Such a great show ✨