Recommended: Casting Crowns

#76: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! I'm sure that most of you who know me; know that I love the music of the Electric Light Orchestra [ELO]. But you may not know that I also follow and love the music of not a few Christian contemporary artistes. Specifically Michael W. Smith, Crystal Lewis, Mercy Me and the excellent Newsboys. One of those other fave bands that I have a lot of time for are Casting Crowns. Their new album "Until The Whole World Hears" landed in the post earlier this week and, as usual, it is a great offering. Great lyrics, nice guitar work and an impressive overall package. Yours Truly KJS has bought most of their releases to date - without realizing it! I'm not always an ELOnorak you see ...

Until the Whole World Hears [2009]   Peace On Earth [2008]

The Altar and The Door Live [2008]   The Altar and The Door [2007]

Lifesong Live [2006]   Lifesong [2005]

Live From Atlanta [2004]   Casting Crowns [2003]

Some of their songs/performances have more than touched a nerve and ministered to me. The first song that got my attention was "Voice Of Truth". My suggestion: Check 'em out!

Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] Universe ... KJS ... 29-Nov-2009

Recommended: Roy Wood @ The Robin 18/12/09

#75: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Yours Truly KJS will be [once again] off to see and hear the legendary founder of The Move, the Electric Light Orchestra [ELO] and Wizzard - the one and only Roy Wood [and his Rock & Roll Band] for their annual Christmas bash at The Robin 2 in Bilston, near Wolverhampton on Friday 18th December 2009 thus:

www.therobin.co.uk/whats_on/giginfo.asp?gigid=1878

I've had the good fortune to meet Roy on a few occasions. The last timewas at Kelly Groucutt's 50th birthday party at The Press Wine Bar in Wolverhampton back in 1995. He's not only a fantastically underrated singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he's also a genuine nice guy too [who likes his curries I might add] and very approachable. It's certain to be a great night!

ELO Beatles Forever [ELOBF] recommends Roy Wood and his Rock & Roll Band to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO, Jeff Lynne, Wizzard, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes. See you there?

Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] Universe ... KJS ... 28-Nov-2009

Three Live Faves

#74: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! After having had the pleasure of seeing The Orchestra [former members of ELO & ELO Part II] thrice this year as well as The ELO Experience and The Electric Live Orchestra [two good ELO tribute bands], it crossed my mind to detail my three fave live highlights across all the ELOesque set lists that Yours Truly KJS has had the pleasure to listen to in 2009 [at the "Time" of writing, of course] and they are all first-timers for me [as far as I can remember] thus:

"Four Little Diamonds" [The Orchestra @ The Robin 2, Bilston, 13th October 2009]

"Nightrider" [Electric Live Orchestra @ The River Rooms, Stourbridge, 25th July 2009]

"Don't Walk Away" [The ELO Experience @ The Robin 2, Bilston, 20th November 2009]

Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] universe ... KJS ... 25-Nov-2009

Tonight in the City: The ELO Experience

#73: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Tonight Yours Truly KJS is venturing out with my ELO gig buddy Chris 'So Fine' Evans to go see and hear The ELO Experience at The Robin 2 in Bilston, near Wolverhampton.

They're not, of course, the real deal but they are a great tribute band. Ironically, they have also lost their bass guitarist this last year too. I am also very conscious of my lack of articles this month so please do not be alarmed ... there is more to come!

ELO Beatles Forever [ELOBF] recommends The ELO Experience to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO, Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] Universe ... KJS ... 20-Nov-2009

The Name Game: The Orchestra

#72: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Yours Truly KJS was chatting with my gig buddy Christian Evans recently about not a few items of ELO interest. The first was the fact that we will have ELO tribute bands The ELO Experience [The Robin 2, Bilston on Friday 20th November] and The Electric Live Orchestra [The River Rooms, Stourbridge on Saturday 21st November] appearing here in the West Midlands later this month.

But more importantly, we were discussing the bizarre attendances during the latest tour by The Orchestra [former members of ELO & ELO Part II]. Some venues were packed and others not. It appears that the name The Orchestra is not as promotable and marketable as ELO, ELO Part II or even OrKestra. There is massive ignorance out there in the general public; within the music industry and even within the venues themselves as to who The Orchestra really are. Some think that they ARE an orchestra or some evidently view then as just another ELO tribute act [and there are a few of those around], hence the apathy in the promotion of gigs that they themselves are hosting.

One wonders whether it's time for a re-branding of The Orchestra to a name that will get the attention of concert promoters and concert goers alike without being sued by Jeff who seemingly has no issue [so it seems] with ELO tribute acts doing the rounds and utilizing the ELO brand or versions thereof? I can think of few alternative names but can visitors to ELO Beatles Forever [ELOBF] come up with any suggestions too? Maybe we could have a bit of a poll? One thing is for sure. Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan have stitched up all the combinations between them of E, L and O legally. Hence the question: Is it time for a change?

Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] Universe ... KJS ... 06-Nov-2009

Rare ELO Part II Footage [1991]

#71: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Here is some great footage of Electric Light Orchestra Part Two promoting their two singles from their self- titled first album back in 1991 on German TV, "Honest Men" and "1000 Eyes". This is great footage - a real blast from the past - and I loved the album/single artwork too!

Yours Truly KJS [ELO purists et al] all have a lot to thank ELO Part II and The Orchestra [former members of ELO & ELO Part II] for, as mentioned in this recent article thus: 

THE ORCHESTRA [former members of ELO & ELO Part II]

Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] Universe ... KJS ... 02-Nov-2009