Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Boogying With Mr Blue Sky

by Russell Turner - 16:45 on 29 June 2017

Too much pre-gig curry and post-gig Jack Daniels combined with noisy hotel plumbing meant a bleary beginning this morning, but it was worth it to see Jeff Lynne’s ELO in action at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow last night.

There wasn’t much interaction by Mr Lynne with his enthusiastic audience – the music did the talking for him, assisted by a light and video show that would have cleared out any epileptics within the first thirty seconds.

A bonus was the presence on bass of ARW star Lee Pomeroy. Sadly, no solo for him though.

Some of the crowd must have watched the entire gig through their phones or cameras, which is fine for me as I can share some of the songs that are already springing up on YouTube. A couple of the better-recorded offerings follow.

Great as the gig was – for musicianship, presentation and the sheer number of ace tunes – ARW remains my top band this year (and probably forever), although it’s difficult to compare a gig in the intimacy of the Royal Concert Hall with one in the barn-like Hydro.

There’s a very strong possibility that Mr and Mrs Tweedy and I will return to Glasgow in October when official Genesis tribute band The Musical Box plays at the RCH. Matchgirl has been invited but we’re not holding our breath. Shame.

Before that, the music continues with four more gigs in the next six days: City Limits at Foxes on Friday and a wedding in Strathpeffer on Saturday, Hayseed Dixie in Leamington Spa on Tuesday and Mr (it should be Sir) Rick Wakeman in (just outside to be accurate) Milton Keynes on Wednesday.

Then there’s another City Limits wedding on Saturday, which should begin to replenish severely depleted coffers. Following bands is a lot more expensive than playing in them.

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