The Eels - Royal Festival Hall
Andy and I went along to the only London show for the latest Eels tour tonight. Touring on the back of their just released Greatest Hits and companion B-Sides/Rarities set “Useless Trinkets”, tonight’s Meet The Eels show promised to be something different again.
In fact band leader E prides himself on never repeating himself, and constantly trying to reinvent the live performance. A quick look-back over the last few Eels tours confirms he’s managed to succeed: from 2005’s Eels with Strings at The Royal Albert Hall, to 2006’s more rocking No Strings Attached at the Astoria to Mark Everett’s solo book launch in January – every show has tackled the Eels catalog in a new and interesting way.
If anything, tonights show was most reminiscent of the book launch in January, with things starting with a solo E accompanying himself on guitar for “A Magic World” and piano for “It’s A Motherfucker”.
Things quickly changed with the addition of the incredibly versatile Chet, initially on guitar, for rare early B-side “Strawberry Blonde”, but also playing pedal steel, keyboards, drums, and most interestingly a saw (which was played with a violin bow, and sounded similar to a Theremin) on “Climbing To The Moon”.
The most enjoyable part of the set was when they settled into the most rocking combination of Chet on drums and E on guitar or piano for “My Beloved Monster”, “Last Stop: This Town”, “I Want to Protect You” and my highlight for the evening “Flyswatter” – which saw E and Chet swap between drums and piano, without missing a beat, so each could take a solo.
The night was also interspersed with some comedy. A recurring routine between E and a godlike disembodied voice; E reading some mixed fan mail and live reviews; and Chet reading some selections from E’s recent autobiography.
The home stretch included a loose cover of Led Zepplin’s “Good Times, Bad Times” with Chet taking lead vocals, before the main set finished with “Somebody Loves You” and “Souljacker Part 2”.
Despite encore shenanigans for all previous tours – the one disappointment was they only played 2 quick, single song encores – firstly “I'm Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart”, before returning again to close with an excellent “PS You Rock My World”.
Full setlist:
A Magic World
It's A Motherfucker
Strawberry Blonde
Dirty Girl
Cheater's Guide
Souljacker Part I
Elizabeth On The Bathroom Floor
Climbing To The Moon
My Beloved Monster
I Like Birds
Jeannie's Diary
In The Yard, Behind The Church
Last Stop: This Town
I Want To Protect You
Flyswatter
Bus Stop Boxer
Novocaine For The Soul
Good Times, Bad Times
Somebody Loves You
Souljacker Part II
Encore 1:
I'm Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart
Encore 2:
P.S. You Rock My World
thanks to http://www.team-skinny-racing.com for the photo.
In fact band leader E prides himself on never repeating himself, and constantly trying to reinvent the live performance. A quick look-back over the last few Eels tours confirms he’s managed to succeed: from 2005’s Eels with Strings at The Royal Albert Hall, to 2006’s more rocking No Strings Attached at the Astoria to Mark Everett’s solo book launch in January – every show has tackled the Eels catalog in a new and interesting way.
If anything, tonights show was most reminiscent of the book launch in January, with things starting with a solo E accompanying himself on guitar for “A Magic World” and piano for “It’s A Motherfucker”.
Things quickly changed with the addition of the incredibly versatile Chet, initially on guitar, for rare early B-side “Strawberry Blonde”, but also playing pedal steel, keyboards, drums, and most interestingly a saw (which was played with a violin bow, and sounded similar to a Theremin) on “Climbing To The Moon”.
The most enjoyable part of the set was when they settled into the most rocking combination of Chet on drums and E on guitar or piano for “My Beloved Monster”, “Last Stop: This Town”, “I Want to Protect You” and my highlight for the evening “Flyswatter” – which saw E and Chet swap between drums and piano, without missing a beat, so each could take a solo.The night was also interspersed with some comedy. A recurring routine between E and a godlike disembodied voice; E reading some mixed fan mail and live reviews; and Chet reading some selections from E’s recent autobiography.
The home stretch included a loose cover of Led Zepplin’s “Good Times, Bad Times” with Chet taking lead vocals, before the main set finished with “Somebody Loves You” and “Souljacker Part 2”.
Despite encore shenanigans for all previous tours – the one disappointment was they only played 2 quick, single song encores – firstly “I'm Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart”, before returning again to close with an excellent “PS You Rock My World”.
Full setlist:
A Magic World
It's A Motherfucker
Strawberry Blonde
Dirty Girl
Cheater's Guide
Souljacker Part I
Elizabeth On The Bathroom Floor
Climbing To The Moon
My Beloved Monster
I Like Birds
Jeannie's Diary
In The Yard, Behind The Church
Last Stop: This Town
I Want To Protect You
Flyswatter
Bus Stop Boxer
Novocaine For The Soul
Good Times, Bad Times
Somebody Loves You
Souljacker Part II
Encore 1:
I'm Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart
Encore 2:
P.S. You Rock My World
thanks to http://www.team-skinny-racing.com for the photo.
<< Home