Review: Eels, Manchester Academy

Eels: Beautiful freaks.

Few self-respecting rockers would take to the stage draped in blue tracksuits but that’s exactly what Eels did at Sunday’s Manchester Academy gig.

The band’s attempt to blend in with the Manc crowd certainly worked; the audience was fizzing with excitement from start to finish.  If Mark ‘E’ Everett had stood on the spot for 90 minutes, nobody would’ve minded.

While time may have taken its toll on the band – the lineup has changed several times over the years, leaving singer, E, as the only original member – it certainly doesn’t show.  All five members boogied and gyrated with an energy that would make younger bands blush.  There was a lot of love too, each band member got a hug between songs and there was even an onstage wedding between E, and drummer, Knuckles.

Hecklers beware

E is not one to suffer fools gladly.  An irritating and obnoxious Scottish heckler – who had been shouting out incomprehensible rubbish since the support act – was put firmly in his place.  “Douchebag,” E retorted, “get the fuck out of my gig”, and get he did.

Summer E

The band, who released their 11^th album earlier this year, has been touring since the 1990s, and has an extensive back catalogue. The set included tracks from 1996 debut, Beautiful Freak, and 2012 long-player, Wonderful, Glorious – and a little bit of everything in between.  The first half of the gig was dominated by songs from Wonderful, Glorious, a smart move by a band who could so easily rest on their laurels.  The nostalgia trip kicked-in towards the end though, with and by the third encore, we were treated to Dog-Faced Boy and Fresh Feeling, from Souljacker, and a mash-up of Mr E’s Beautiful Blues and My Beloved Monster.  Covers The Small Faces Ithcycoo Park” of Oh Well by Fleetwood Mac, played at a tinnitus inducing volume, appeared to reflect E’s various states of being, but suggest things are looking up for him.  The depression and misanthropy present in his earlier work has now been usurped by something more positive – though never soppy or sentimental.

Overall, the evening was wholly enjoyable, an experience no other current band could give. After nearly 20 years, Eels are still going strong, and swimming against the tide of the mainstream.

The above is a review of the Eels gig I attended earlier this week, which blew me away.  There has been a delay in adding it to the site, but I thought I may as well, as it would otherwise be a waste.  The video is the band’s surprise third encore.