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E.L.O. Part 2 : Corpus Christi, Texas - 15th January 2000

The following extract is taken from the Corpus Christi Caller Times at http://www.caller.com Friday, January 14, 2000.

"'Xanadu' to Corpus Christi - ELO has teamed up with numerous orchestras, and Olivia Newton-John"  By Paige Ross.

"A lone rocker with a blue violin dances out of a blaze of lights while precise vocal harmonies rise, voices enjoining the audience: "Don't bring me down." It's the Electric Light Orchestra Part II, rocking the Corpus Christi Symphony this weekend at Selena Auditorium, performing hits from  the late 1970s and early 1980s like "Don't Bring Me Down", "Strange Magic" and the title track to the film "Xanadu", which they recorded with Olivia Newton-John.

The British band does a lot of work with orchestras around the country, vocalist Eric Troyer said, with the rockers lending a little pop-culture  cache to symphonic proceedings and efforts to build broader audiences. "The show works really well with orchestras", Troyer said. "Now, with the  technology available, it makes it a lot easier to mic up an orchestra."

During the early 1980s ELO was known for elaborate stage shows, including  spaceship sets that opened to reveal the band. An elaborate light show that became something of a trademark for the group. However, the Saturday  performance with the Corpus Christi Symphony is their only Texas date and the band is flying in, as opposed to bringing in a caravan of trucks full of stage equipment.

"We're actually touring with a cut-down section. We're not bringing a huge lighting rig", Troyer said. Although the band won't be accompanied by the multiple tractor-trailers of their regular touring entourage, concertgoers can still expect a fair amount of spectacle. "The lighting is coming from San Antonio and Houston and possibly as far as Washington state", said Lee Gwodz, executive director of the symphony. "They're using intelligent lighting, computer-driven lights. "They're going to take the bulk of the stage with the orchestra behind them, elevated on risers", said Gwozdz. "We'll have a 45-piece orchestra, all volunteering for this performance."

Rock and roll, part 2

Over the years ELO has seen some changes. Original bandleader Jeff Lynne and co-founder Bev Bevan shut the act down by the late 1980s after more than 17 Top 40 hits, including "Ma Ma Ma Belle", "Can't Get It Out of My Head", and their remake of "Roll Over Beethoven." Roy Wood, the other founder, had left the band in the early 1970s to form Wizzard.

In 1988 Bevan launched a revived ELO, known as ELO Part II, with the assistance of Mik Kaminski, wielding his trademark blue electric violin, and bassist/vocalist Kelly Groucutt of the earlier group. They drafted Louis Clark, ELO's conductor, keyboardist and orchestral arranger, who had worked with the band since their 1974 recording, "Eldorado."

Vocalist Troyer, a New York session musician who did studio work with John Lennon, Celine Dion and Billy Joel - his is the first voice heard on Joel's "Uptown Girl", he says - was brought in to sing some of Lynne's songs and to augment Clark's keyboard work.

The revamped band had some radio success with new songs in Europe, where they still tour extensively, and along the way they added guitarist Parthenon Huxley. Last November, drummer Bevan retired, with Gordon Thompson stepping in behind the skins.

"The atmosphere of the concert will be more casual than most local symphony events", Gwozdz said, with Selena Auditorium bars open both before the show and during intermission.

"Drinks will be allowed inside", Gwozdz said. "We want it to be a relaxed atmosphere. People are not expected to dress." ELO will rip through a set of rock hits at 8 p.m. before the orchestra joins them onstage for the remainder of the evening.

(c) 2000 Corpus Christi Caller Times


The following extract is taken from the Corpus Christi Caller Times at http://www.caller.com  Sunday, January 16, 2000.

ELO meets CCSO for a night filled with rock and symphony By Ricardo Baca.

"How often will you see a symphony audience yelling and begging for more rock 'n' roll? Whether they were dressed to the hilt or proudly displaying their Moody Blues T-shirt, the people of Corpus Christi packed the Selena Auditorium Saturday night for the Electric Light Orchestra Part II concert, a flashback of late 1970s and early 1980s Brit-pop backed by the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra.

Mik Kaminski prowled the stage with his blue violin, and the rest of the players were in energetic form. The Part II tagline is the result of a lawsuit brought on by former ELO front man Jeff Lynne, but the fact that only three of the six players Saturday night were originals didn't dampen the performance for the nostalgic - and rowdier than usual - symphony audience.

The group opened with "All Over the World," warming up the crowd with its distinctive chorus and post-disco vocals. The shared vocals of "Ma Ma Belle" and the digitized "Turn to Stone" closed out their nine-song set, and it helped the crowd remember a time when white tuxedos were hip and falsetto Bee Gee-esque voices were groovy.

With the addition of the symphony after the intermission came a melodic juxtaposition of orchestra and rock. The ballad "Can't Get It Out of my Head" benefited from the rich symphonic backbone. Sadly, the symphony didn't have a chance at being heard amid the blaring rock riffs of "I'm Alive" and "Twilight," but they fit nicely together for the most part, especially in "Telephone Line."

ELO's trademark vocal dips pleased the house in songs such as "Livin' Thing" and "Xanadu," originally sung by Olivia Newton-John. And a few lighters even went up during "Strange Magic," and the wild stage lights made both orchestras look like rock stars."

(c)2000 Corpus Christi Caller Times


The set-list for the gig was as follows....

(Lights go down approx. at 8:15pm)
Overture
All Over the World
Evil Woman
Rock & Roll Is King
Over London Skies
Ma Ma Ma Belle
Showdown

(Intermission at 8:45pm)

(With Corpus Christi Symphony at 9:00pm)
Turn To Stone
Can't Get It Out Of My Head
Livin' Thing
I'm Alive
Xanadu
Midnight Blue
Strange Magic
Sweet Talkin' Woman
Nightrider
Standin' In The Rain
Mr. Blue Sky
Telephone Line
Twilight
Last Train To London
Diary of Horace Wimp
Do Ya?
Don't Bring Me Down
Roll Over Beethoven

(Show ended at 10:30pm)


** EXCLUSIVE **


The following review of the concert performed by ELO2 in front of a sell-out 3,500 audience at the Selena Auditorium, Corpus Christi, Texas on Saturday January 15th 2000 is provided exclusively by Lee Gwozdz who is the executive musical director for the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra who were performing alongside the band at this gig.

"The concert WAS a sell-out! The new drummer, Gordon Townsend fit like a  glove, he was terrific!! The group got a terrific review. 90% of the  crowd was in the 30-40 age group and all were extremely active during the  concert (ie: clapping in place / standing-dancing to the music and even singing along). The first half of the concert was ELO2 alone without the symphony - the  highlight of course was Evil Woman. After the intermission, our symphony came on - WOW! - the combined sounds of both ELO2 and a Full Symphony Orchestra were magnificent!!! Don't Bring Me Down was a smash, Kelly involved the audience - in fact they allowed the audience to sing a major part of the piece and  their encore, Roll Over Beethoven with the symphony and it just blew us all  into extreme oblivion! The crowd went crazy going home as if experiencing a real huge HIGH!

Everyone was very pleased with the vocals of the group, especially the close harmonies associated with the original ELO group - not to knock the original  members.... this ensemble vocally lived up to the ELO reputation and I dare say, even surpassed the original!! THIS GROUP NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE HEARD ALL OVER THE WORLD!!"

Lee Gwozdz - 16th January 2000