Welcome to The ELO Network
  • Home
  • About
  • News & Gossip 2013-25
    • News (Jan - Dec 2012)
    • News (Jan - Dec 2011)
    • News (Jan - Dec 2010)
    • News (Jan - Dec 2009)
    • News (June - Dec 2008)
    • News (July - Aug 2006)
    • News (Jan - June 2006)
    • News (July - Dec 2005)
    • News (Jan - June 2005)
    • News (July - Dec 2004)
    • News (Jan - June 2004)
    • News (Jan - June 2000)
    • News (July - Dec 2003)
    • News (Jan - June 2003)
    • News (July - Dec 2002)
    • News (Jan - June 2002)
    • News (July - Dec 2001)
    • News (Jan - June 2001)
    • News (July - Dec 2000)
    • News (July - Dec 1999)
    • News (Jan - June 1999)
    • News (July - Dec 1998)
    • News (Feb - June 1998)
  • Concert Photos
    • Concert Photos 2025
    • Concert Photos 2024
    • Concert Photos 2023
    • Concert Photos 2022
    • Concert Photos 2021
    • Concert Photos 2019
    • Concert Photos 2018
    • Concert Photos 2017
    • Concert Photos 2016
    • Concert Photos 2015
    • Radio 2 Live : Hyde Park 2014
    • Jeff Lynne Walk Of Stars 2014
    • Concert Photos 2014
    • Concert Photos 2013
    • Concert Photos 2012
    • Concert Photos 2011
    • Concert Photos 2010
    • Concert Photos 2009
    • Concert Photos 2008
    • Concert Photos 2005
    • Concert Photos 2004
    • Concert Photos 2003
    • Concert Photos 2002
    • Concert Photos 2001
    • Concert Photos 2000
    • Concert Photos 1999
    • Concert Photos 1998
    • Concert Photos 1994
    • Concert Photos 1993
    • Concert Photos 1981
  • Gigs
  • Concert Reviews
    • BBBV - The Cavern 13/03/2010
    • BBBV - Huddersfield 15/11/2009
    • Orchestra - Glasgow 03/11/2009
    • Orchestra - Newcastle 02/11/2009
    • Orchestra - Liverpool 30/10/2009
    • Orchestra - Buxton 12/10/2009
    • Orchestra - Crewe 16/05/2009
    • Kelly G Tribute - Robin 2 11/05/2009
    • Orchestra - Edinburgh 09/05/2009
    • BBBV - Huddersfield 01/03/2009
    • BBBV - The Cavern 15/11/2008
    • Orchestra - Blackpool 06/10/2008
    • Phil Bates - Tamworth 30/06/2006
    • Orchestra - Edinburgh 24/06/2006
    • Orchestra - York 21/06/2006
    • Orchestra - Manchester 21/05/2006
    • Orchestra - Guatemala 09/12/2005
    • Bev Bevans Move - Glasgow 15/10/2005
    • Phil Bates Band - Germany Sept 2003
    • Magic - Glasgow 22/02/2003
    • Magic - Redditch 15/02/2003
    • George Harrison Tribute - RAH 29/11/2002
    • Orchestra - Kansas 08/06/2002 (2)
    • Orchestra - Kansas 08/06/2002 (1)
    • Orchestra - New York 28/05/2002
    • Phil Bates - Tamworth 24/03/2002
    • Roy Wood's Army - Carlisle 30/11/2001 (2)
    • Roy Wood's Army - Carlisle 30/11/2001 (1)
    • Orchestra - October 2001 UK Tour
    • Orchestra - Nottingham 20/10/2001
    • Orchestra - Manchester 14/10/2001
    • Orchestra - Blue Ash 03/07/2001
    • ELO - CBS, Los Angeles 23 & 24/05/2001
    • ELO - VH1 'Storytellers' 20/04/2001
    • Orchestra - Copenhagen 27/10/2000
    • Orchestra - New York 02/09/2000
    • Orchestra - Irvine 24/08/2000
    • Orchestra - Madrid 21/07/2000
    • Orchestra - Costa Mesa 14/07/2000
    • Orchestra - 'Maddies', PA 06/07/2000
    • ELO Part 2 - Arlington Heights 03/07/2000 (2)
    • ELO Part 2 - Arlington Heights 03/07/2000 (1)
    • ELO Part 2 - Charleston 01/06/2000
    • ELO Part 2 - Tucson 21/05/2000
    • ELO Part 2 - Richardson 22/04/2000
    • ELO Part 2 - Toledo 20/04/2000
    • ELO Part 2 - Corpus Christi 15/01/2000
    • ELO Part 2 - Atlantic City 15/11/1999
    • ELO Part 2 - Kansas City 04/09/1999
    • ELO Part 2 - RAH, London 28/051999
    • ELO Part 2 - Carlisle 15/05/1999
    • ELO Part 2 - Blackpool 19/10/1997
  • Album Reviews
    • ELO - The Light Went On Again
    • ELO - Eldorado, Live in Japan 1978
    • ELO - Twilight, Live in Germany 1982
    • ELO - Hold On Tight, Live in London 1982
    • ELO Part 2 - Live At The Whisky 1991
    • ELO Part 2 - The Light Shines In Buenos Aires
    • ELO Part 2 - Live in Manchester 1999
    • ELO Part 2 - Time After Time
    • ELO - Live 1974, 1976 & 1978 (Record Collector)
    • ELO - Afterglow (Record Collector 1994)
    • ELO - Zoom (BBC TV Teletext)
    • ELO - Zoom (Channel 4 Teletext)
    • P Hux - Purgatory Falls
    • Various Artists - Into The Light
    • The Chads - 1964 to 1999
    • Paul McNulty - Into The Red (Mojo Magazine)
  • Video Section
  • Audio Section
  • Website Links
  • ELO Books
  • The Fan Zone
  • Tour Programmes
  • Collectors Items
  • Newspaper & Magazine Articles
    • ELO 'Look In' Article 1978
    • History of The Chads
  • 'Blast From The Past'
  • ULS Fanzine
  • The Orchestra Newsletter
  • Mr Blue Sky
    • Brumbeat Article - NME Magazine 1974
    • Roy Wood's letter - 'Melody Maker' Magazine 1974
    • Jeff Lynne Interview
    • Face The Music Album Review
    • Jeff Lynne Interview - 'Melody Maker' Magazine 1975
    • Jeff Lynne & Bev Bevan Interview 1975
    • Jeff Lynne Interview - 'Daily Express' 1976
    • ELO Article - 'Melody Maker' Magazine 1977
    • Bev Bevan - 'The ELO Story' Review
    • Jeff Lynne Interview - EQ Magazine 1991
    • Lou Clark Interview - 2nd April 1996
    • Radio 1 30th Anniversary Article 1997
    • Phil Bates - 'Sound On Sound' Magazine, May 1997
    • Phil Bates - 'Agony & Ecstasy' Review
    • Roy Wood Interview - BBC Radio 2, 5th December 1997
    • The Don Arden Story
    • Dave Morgan - 'Long Way Home' Review
    • Dave Morgan Interview - 4th March 1999
    • Richard Tandy Interview - April 1999
    • Dave Morgan - 'Reel Two' Info & Review
    • ELO Tour Dates 1972
    • ELO Tour Dates 1973
    • ELO Tour Dates 1974
    • ELO Tour Dates 1975
    • ELO Tour Dates 1976
    • ELO Tour Dates 1977
    • ELO Tour Dates 1978
    • ELO Tour Dates 1981
    • ELO Tour Dates 1982
    • ELO Tour Dates 1986
  • Contact / Disclaimer
The Orchestra : Guatemala City, Guatemala - 9th December 2005

It was Friday night December 9th, 2005. We have been awaiting this day because The Orchestra had arrived in Guatemala City.

Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala, Central America. It was the first time the band have performed in our town and a local radio station, “FM Fama” sponsored the event and made a big promotion including various jingles advertising the concert and playing ELO music.

The concert was at the Grand Tikal Futura Hotel, the biggest hotel on the south side of the city. There are two building towers, one is the commercial and shopping mall and the other one the hotel.  In the commercial area on the second floor is the Convention Center, which was built for music concerts and special events.

The Convention Center is a hall about 300 by 130 feet. At one side there is a special platform about 15 feet high which provides a good viewing area from almost every angle of the room.

The audio is incredibly good especially prepared for music. There were prepared tables with ten seats, little tables just enough for some food and drink from the hotel service.

The first five table rows cost 400 Quetzales (local currency), about 50 Dollars. The other tables from row six to the last one were priced 200 Quetzales. The far third of the hall had seating only. The concert hall was of course sold out, about 3000 people. There is a bilateral area as a second floor mezzanine type with special guests and sponsors.

The concert was scheduled to start at 8 pm and normally there is about an hour of music from a local band. But this time there was only music videos and restaurant service.

The musical instruments were in place and about 9.30 the music began. The platform was dark when we heard the first notes of Evil Woman and the scenario get brilliantly illuminated with wonderful coloured lights. All the people started to sing the songs, jump, smile and expressing the joy of music in their faces.

There was a non stop music show. Kelly Groucutt and Parthenon Huxley were in front. In our left side back were Louis Clark and Eric Troyer. Mik Kaminski was always walking around. At the back on drums wasGordon Towsend. In the middle of the concert Kelly presented Louis as the 'senior member'. Lou comes to the front with his white jacket and did the formal presentations of the group.  

The public reaction to the ELO classic hits was great and the members of The Orchestra enjoyed the crowd reaction. Kelly said they were happy to be in Guatemala, to notice that the people know them, can sing the songs and they have a new country in their visiting list. Because there were tables with food and drinks Kelly said that looks like a Christmas Celebration. The reaction to the new songs was not so loud, with the exception of Twist and Shout because this is a well known song.

After more than two hours of music,  mostly ELO hits they ended with Last Train To London the greatest hit in Guatemala. They said goodbye and went away but the crowd was in standing ovation about three minutes and widely screaming “Otra, Otra” meaning 'Another Song, Another Song'. And of course they came back with Don’t Bring Me Down with Kelly making the crowd sing 'I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor Don't Bring Me Down'. It was very exciting and we sang it so many times until we got tired. That was definitively goodbye and the end of the show. 

I went with my wife and two daughters (24 and 21) and for us it was a wonderful experience to see The Orchestra live!!!

Review & photos by Sergio Marroquin, Guatemala - January 2006