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ELO have a history coloured by success, numerous line-up changes, internal squabbling, greater success and bitter legal disputes. In most people’s minds Jeff Lynne was the beating heart of the band and when he stopped, ELO was no more. The problem remains for lovers of ELO, that they still want to hear Lynne’s music played live. |
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“Against all medical advice” Morrissey's album of B-sides “Swords” is released next Monday. |
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Jeff Beck seems quite laid back and unassuming for a guitar god, but despite this and against the wealth of talent in his band, he cuts an imposing figure and you know that this is his show. Even the stage lay out seemed to emphasise this with bass drums and keyboards laid out in a rhythm section format very much to the right of the stage leaving a wide open space for the guitarist to exploit. |
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Tonight's outing is a curiously civilised affair, being at the Symphony Hall and all. However, the setting is a perfect fit for an artist such as Antony Hegarty. As we were being ushered to our seats, the announcement came over the tannoy that 'this evening's performance will begin in ten minutes, with a short opening act before Antony and the Johnsons take the stage.. |
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On entering the not quite sold out Symphony Hall, folk singer Nancy Elizabeth’s soft voice rang out; you could hear a pin drop. The seated audience listened intently as she sang ‘When I was in my prime’ acapella. It was a varied melancholic and dreamy set that consisted of gentle guitar picked accompaniments that gradually built up in volume such as in ‘Lay low’, followed by floating piano pieces that were soft yet dramatic. Nancy Elizabeth ended her very sweet and humbled set with the gentle, relaxing but engrossing ‘Winter Baby’. |
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So the ticket says 7:30pm. But that would be doors open, or the time for an uninspiring support act to start surely: headline artists never start at the time on the ticket.. do they? Well the PA is announcing that Elvis has entered the building and he will be on stage at 7:30. So choking on my drink at 7:27, I quickly make my way to my seat as the lights go down, and sure enough Mr Costello and the Brodsky Quartet are making their way centre stage. It is painfully clear that others too were fooled by the artists’ impeccable timekeeping, as in between the first four songs, groups of latecomers are shown to their seats. A real shame as the show was faultless from beginning to end. |
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I have limited knowledge about Grace Jones; it is restricted to two tracks from the '80's, A View to a Kill and the infamous Russell Harty incident. However, curiosity and intrigue got the better of me so I headed off to Symphony Hall last night to see what a 60 year old iconic image from the '80's can offer? |
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Cyndi Lauper is probably best known for a string of hits in the 80's, with the album "She's So Unusual" gaining her title of the first artist in history to have four top-five singles released from one album. Time after Time and Girls just wanna Have Fun were massive massive hits back then, it seemed the whole world was mad for Lauper's blend of punk and catchy dance anthems, she was even put in charge as musical director for Spielberg's The Goonies... |
