Jeff Lynne's ELO says goodbye to Toronto fans with rousing farewell show

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Jeff Lynne’s ELO
Scotiabank Arena
Monday night
RATING: ***1/2 (3.5 out of four)

After 54 years, it’s over and out for Jeff Lynne’s ELO — as the ‘70s symphony-pop-rock act Electric Light Orchestra is called these days.

The 76-year-old Birmingham-born Lynne has announced he’s retiring from the road with his Over and Out Tour, which means his rousing show on Monday night at a jam-packed Scotiabank Arena in Toronto was his last one ever for T.O. fans. The 27-date North American tour, which began Aug. 24, wraps up next month in Los Angeles.

“You know this is our last tour?” asked the low-key and mostly stationary Lynne, dressed in head-to-toe black.

“Thanks for sticking around all these years.”

The appreciative audience — three bros in front of me kept videotaping themselves singing along — was well aware and Lynne often seemed overwhelmed by the amount of love coming his way after every song during the fast-paced 90-minute show.

He shouldn’t have been given the enduring hits he’s produced over more than five decades.

Lynne was backed by 12 musicians, including two cellists and a violinist, all playing against a huge backdrop that was the spaceship from the double album, 1977’s Out Of the Blue.

It was major eye-candy that equalled the big, warm wall of sound coming off the stage with Lynne’s vocals aided by his great-sounding male backup singer Iain Hornal.

Opening the show with One More Time, Lynne delved into the ELO hits early with the second song Evil Woman, really hit his stride with the Beatlesque 10538 Overture and never really backed down from that moment onwards.

The gorgeous guitar intro of Strange Magic, the bounce of Sweet Talkin’ Woman, and the exquisite melancholy of Can’t Get It Out of My Head — which got everyone to light up their phones — and that was just for starters.

“Let’s see if you remember this one,” said Lynne before trotting out the catchy instrumental Fire On High, featuring those chugging acoustic guitars and violin up front.

Then it was major crowd singalongs for Living Thing, Telephone Line, All Over the World, Turn to Stone, the disco-influenced Shine A Little Love complete with hand claps, and Don’t Bring Me Down before the fitting encore of Mr. Blue Sky.

“Hey there, Mr. Blue, we’re so pleased to be with you. Look around, see what you do. Everybody smiles at you,” sang Lynne, who might as well have been singing about himself.

SET LIST

One More Time

Evil Woman

Do Ya

Showdown

Steppin’ Out

Last Train to London

Rockaria!

10538 Overture

Strange Magic

Sweet Talkin’ Woman

Can’t Get It Out of My Head

Fire on High

Livin’ Thing

Telephone Line

All Over the World

Turn to Stone

Shine a Little Love

Don’t Bring Me Down

ENCORE:

Mr. Blue Sky