Eels
An Evening with the Eels: Live @ Cirque Royale, Bruxelles 05.03.08

THE REVIEW

"I know why you're here tonight: because I'm the son of a famous physicist! So, is there anyone who wants to ask physics questions?" (Mr. E, addressing the audience at the beginning of the concert).

The umpteenth incarnation of the Eels live comprises only E and Chet Lyster (already with E since the 2003 tour): only two on stage, but they played like five.
Since the tour is promoting the newly released anthology "Meet the Eels," the tone was (ironically) self-celebratory: so E dedicated several minutes of the concert to reading some (supposed) fan letters (including one full of insults from an Australian fan,
with an irritated E saying to the crew "hey, what kind of letter did you hand me?") or having Chet read passages from E's newly released biography ("Things The Grandchildren Should Know") as if it were the Gospel.

Yet the art of Mark Oliver Everett is all here, in this transition from playful and sunny moments (just think of Flyswatter played only on piano and drums, during which E and Chet repeatedly exchanged instruments) to songs of such intensity that they could melt an iceberg (a particularly touching "Ugly Love", "Jeannie's Diary" or "PS You Rock My World" played as the finale).
The setlist (only note: concert a bit short, an hour and a quarter) spanned the Eels' career extensively, it's still worth remembering a robust version of "Novocaine For The Soul" (which in the end transformed into a fiery "Good Times, Bad Times" by Led Zeppelin, with Mr. E behind the drums!).

And furthermore: Chet Lyster is an incredible multi-instrumentalist (besides the guitar, he played pedal steel, xylophone, saw, drums, piano, harmonium, pump organ...) and what I could see (despite being seated in the balcony almost at the side of the stage with limited visibility) made the cold Brussels evening, caught between rain and snow, more acceptable.

I would say it can end here. I'll finish with one of the many jokes E made to the audience: "Do you like music? So have you come here for me? Ah-ah, take that dad..."