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The Orchestra : New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY, USA - 2nd September 2000

ELO Part II played this past weekend at the NY State fair in Syracuse NY. The show was included in the price of admission, which was $4 for adults and kids 12 & under free. My wife Tina and I, my 3 kids, Amanda 12, Erin 10 and Shannon 7 got in for a whopping $8! This was the first concert for the three of them. They know the music well (cause Dad plays it constantly) and were really psyched for the show.

The day was hot, humid, very overcast and the fair was packed. The band was giving two performances, 4:00 and 8:00. We were at the 4:00 show. It just so happened that Bill and Hillary Clinton were at the fair campaigning that day, so while my wife took the kids to see them, I strolled to the concert stage around 3:00 and staked out 5 great seats 10th row center.

The first thing I noticed was the big sign billing the band as "Electric LightOrchestra II" which surprised me because I thought they couldn't use any combo of "ELO". When Kelly came onstage for his instrument check, I went to the front of the stage and called Hi to him. As usual he came over to talk and was really great. I asked him if the band had chosen a new name. He said "Not yet". I then asked about the re-release of "Kelly" and he said "We're still re-mixing, well, not really re-mixing, but we're almost done. Should be out real soon". The last thing I got to ask was would they be playing "Over London Skies" in the set. He said, "Yes", and "The new album is almost done and should be out end of the year". I asked him other questions, but there was a drunk next to me that kept talking over my questions and Kelly gave me a shrug and said he had to go get ready for the show. Still it's always a thrill to talk to him.

The place filled up and by 4 the crowd was ready. They opened with "Fire on High". Next was "All Over The World". Eric and Kelly flubbed the verses and when the song ended, Kelly laughed and said to the audience: "We like to throw in some mistakes every now and then to prove we're really live". Next came "Evil Woman". Then they did a medley of "Livin' Thing", "I'm Alive" and "Xanadu". Medley probably isn't the right word since they did full versions of each song. Kelly introduced the next song as "The most successful single in the U.S.", "Can't Get It Out Of My Head". "Rock and Roll is King" followed and then Hux introduced the next song as "The first one off our new album that we should be finished with soon", "Over London Skies". I had heard alot about this song, but actually hearing for the first time was the hi-lite of the show. It was fantastic.

"Ma Ma Ma Belle" came next. A great rendition with Hux, Kelly and Eric each taking a turn on the vocals. Lou came out and introduced the band, and got a big cheer for Mik when he introduced him as the birthday boy. After the introductions the band played, in Kelly's words, "Probably the most recognizable ELO ballad" - "Telephone Line". "Mr. Blue Sky" came next with Kelly saying "Not much of this today". "Rockaria" and "Turned To Stone" ended the show.

Of course they came back and did "Don't Bring Me Down" with the trademark Kelly crowd coaxing. He implored us the sing 4 times and the last time said "You can't sing sitting down, that's why the band stands during the show". And then it was over. An hour and 15 minutes. Not as long as I'd hoped, but a great show none the less. The sound was excellent and the crowd was pretty good for it being 4 in the afternoon.

Looking forward to the new album and I found out that they are playing at the University of Connecticut on 9/23.

Jim Nargi - September 2000

More details of the fair can be viewed at - http://www.nysfair.org/state_fair/2000/ .