Jeff Lynne’s ELO Walks out on stage During Farewell Tour Due To…

The ELO spaceship hovered over the skies of New York City for the last time.

The legendary British band led by its driving force, Jeff Lynne, performed two consecutive nights this past Monday and Tuesday at Madison Square Garden for its farewell tour billed as ‘Over and Out.’ Both shows provided an opportunity for older and younger fans to hear the classics live from Lynne and company for the last time.

In the last 10 years, Lynne – the sole member of the original Electric Light Orchestra lineup – had resumed live performances under the ELO banner after decades of working in the recording studio as a producer for the likes of George Harrison, Paul McCartney, the Traveling Wilburys, Tom Petty, the Beatles, Bryan Adams and Regina Spektor.

During that period, as it had been in the 1970s when the band was fully active, ELO’s music has become ubiquitous not only on radio and streaming platforms but also in movies and commercials–a testament to the genius of Lynne as the group’s singer, songwriter and producer.

Monday’s show kicked off with the driving rocker “One More Time,” from the 2019’s From Out of Nowhere, the most ‘newest’ ELO song in the set. From there on, the evening was a brilliant career-spanning overview spotlighting ELO’s imperial phase (1970-1980) — from the first band’s debut single “10538 Overture” to “All Over the World” from the Xanadu soundtrack. For nearly two hours, it was hit after hit: “Can’t Get It Out of My Head,” “Telephone Line,” “Turn to Stone,” “Don’t Bring Me Down,” “Evil Woman,” “Strange Magic” and more.

For this particular tour, the setlist offered a few deep cuts that hadn’t been performed live at least in many years, such as the dreamy “Steppin’ Out” (from 1977’s Out of Blue) and a snippet of the explosive and dramatic instrumental “Fire on High” (off of 1975’s Face the Music).

As he did in the recording studio, Lynne pulled out all the stops in the live presentation of ELO’s music that featured a large cast of supporting players – including a three-piece string section–who all rose to the challenge. Aside from Lynne and the band’s spot-on performances of the hits, the show was a stunning visual display with dazzling stage lights, lasers and, of course, the iconic ELO spaceship.

The show at the Garden fittingly ended with “Mr. Blue Sky,” which has over the years become sort of ELO’s signature song. It was the exclamation point to an entertaining evening and a memorable goodbye to the band as a live entity.

Setlist (Sept. 16, 2024):

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