Reviews
The Orchestra – Greatest Hits Tour, The Anvil, Basingstoke
FROM the moment former Electric
Light Orchestra (ELO) musician
Kelly Groucutt took the stage, the
audience knew they were in for a
real treat of symphonic rock
fusion.
Joined by his original musical
mates violinist Mik Kaminski, conductor/
arranger Louis Clark and
three equally talented musicians,
The Orchestra struck up its
unique sound.
Fans at The Anvil were not disappointed
as they belted out a
string of hits including Evil
Woman, Turn To Stone, Livin'
Thing, Telephone Line and, of
course, chart-topping Mr Blue Sky.
Making a welcome return to the
Basingstoke venue after two
years, the band is currently on its
world tour and back in Britain by
popular demand.
The six-piece combo returned to
their real rock'n'roll roots with
numbers such as Do Ya. And there
was an amazing version of Twist
and Shout which started with a
haunting violin solo only to build
into the foot-tapping rocker we all
know.
If Internet encyclopaedia
Wikipedia is anything to go by, it
is indeed a miracle that, after
alleged group naming spats over
the years, the musicians could
take to the stage at all. But they
have, and it is the fans that are the
true winners.
Tracks from the band's own No
Rewind album and other material
such as Standin'
in the Rain, Sweet Talkin' Woman
and Wild West Hero from the now
31-year-old Out of the Blue double
album completed the brilliant twoand-
a-half hour set.
The fans demanded an encore
and finally went away happy with
rock anthem Don't Bring Me
Down.
*Incidentally, in dusting my old
33rpm vinyl I discovered I still
have the cardboard space ship in
its perforated format from the
iconic Out Of the Blue album
sleeve. Any takers before I try and
flog it on Internet auction site Ebay?
Seriously though, it's not for
sale. There are far too many
teenage memories!
12:53pm Monday 31st March 2008
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