Even before I got my ticket scanned, entered Little Caesars Arena and sat in row eight on Oct. 9 for Jeff Lyne’s Electric Light Orchestra’s final performance in Detroit, I knew that I stuck out like a sore thumb — I was the youngest person in the audience by a whole generation.
It’s not typical for a 17-year-old girl to attend a concert for a band that debuted in 1971. Upon finding my seat and sitting down, the kind woman beside me bluntly asked if kids my age listened to older musicians. Despite her initial surprise, it was evident that she was pleased that at least some people of the younger generations could latch on to the music of her youth. Our interaction was cut off, however, as the lights turned down, lasers began to flash and Rooney, the opener, began to play their set.
Despite never hearing of Rooney before, the Californian band of college friends were successful in rallying the crowd and even complimenting the city of Detroit, since it was immediately following the Tigers’ Game three win against the Cleveland Guardians.
However, a wave of anxiety hit me as the crew quickly replaced the instruments for ELO to perform with. After touring for 55 years, was 76-year-old Jeff Lynne going to sound the same as his recordings and did he have the stamina to perform each song as I imagined?
My fears were quickly eased. As soon as the lights dimmed the 16.5-ton spaceship set piece came to life and the opening notes of “One More Time”– a fitting song for a farewell tour– blared, I knew that I was in for the show of a lifetime.
Living up to their name, ELO had all of LCA scream-singing along as lasers streamed down and violins and cellos plucked their greatest hits alongside the Rock and Roll instruments and vocals.
What has to be the coolest and most interesting part of their concert has to be that spaceship which took up most of the stage. I found myself mesmerized by the lights emanating from it and the continuously morphing images that appeared on its screen. With what must have been artificial intelligence-generated art, the spaceship was able to mirror the song lyrics, for example, depicting a mysterious dark-haired, glaring woman as the song “Evil Woman” played. This created a more immersive concert experience.
Shamelessly, I will admit that the reason I know about ELO is because of their recent resurgence due to the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 soundtrack. So, when their final song, which also happened to be one of my favorites, “Telephone Line,” ended and the stage lights turned dark, it felt like there was a gaping hole in their setlist.
After screams of “I love you, Jeff,” and relentless clapping from the crowd, Jeff Lynne and ELO returned on stage in the city of Detroit with a send-off of “Mr. Blue Sky,” arguably their most popular and recognizable song. I couldn’t help but stand up from my seat and dance along to their most feel-good song, perfectly content while also dreading it to be over.
ELO filled the crowd with palpable electricity through their seamless effects and Jeff Lynne’s voice, sounding just as it did in the heyday of the 70s. While putting on a rocking show, ELO managed to transcend both age and space, as all members of the audience, no matter their walk of life were able to enjoy. Undoubtedly and deservingly, these Rock legends get a stellar 5/5 stars.
