Jeff Lynne is the brainchild behind a musical movement that is so unique it has a genre all to itself.  Call it ELO and it moves from a tall hill into a valley and back we all have heard it resonate whether we like or not.  I like it.

Be it in a coffee commercial that features Ken Anderson the old Bengals quarterback sipping at a cup whilst watching game film with the ELO song Hold On Tight To Your Dreams playing or listening to the song Sweet Talkin’ Woman and looking at the one next to you and you both say, “That was a pool song when we were kids!” ELO tunes are never too far away.

Two great things my dear wife, Carrie, and I will probably never see again happen this past Wednesday.  And it almost did not happen.  One, we stood in the middle of Nashville’s iconic Broadway packed with music venues and honky tonks.

I have seen this road closed during the NFL Draft and during the Music City Bowl Parade of Bands, though only on television.  I was shocked we got to walk down the middle of the thing.

The other was seeing Jeff Lynne’s ELO at a sold out and rocking Bridgestone Arena.

No, I did not take this picture.

I took these.

It was a wonderful show that nearly did not happen for us.

I had a facebook post ready to go.  This it was in front of me along with a short narrative explaining that Carrie and I would not be going.

I was going to offer these tickets as a Merry Christmas to the first to contact me.  When I made the would be post I was talking to my Mother on the Telephone Line.  As I was about to press “Share” I told my Mom to hang on.  The stereo speakers I had turned down in an obligatory manner before I called my Mom had a faint sound I needed to turn up for some reason.  The song playing was ELO’s  Don’t Bring Me Down.  That was that.

A weakness from British Rockers is in my soul.  Listening to Jeff Lynne and his merry men and women play the tightest most precise music I have ever heard in my life was a pure joy.  Carrie and I both agreed it was one of those soundtrack of you life concerts like a Billy Joel or Elton John show.

Lending to the 71 year-old Jeff Lynne’s modest stage presence, the 18,000 or so in attendance gave polite applause and never went too crazy with it.  The English gent never asked for anything.  He just delivered the goods and humbly stepped up to the mic on occasion to say thank you.  That was refreshing.

Jeff Lynne’s ELO Nashville setlist

Standin’ in the Rain

Evil Woman

All Over the World

Showdown

Do Ya

When I Was a Boy

Handle With Care (with Dhani Harrison)

Rockaria!

Last Train to London

Xanadu

10538 Overture

Shine a Little Love

Wild West Hero

Sweet Talkin’ Woman

Telephone Line

Don’t Bring Me Down

Turn to Stone

Mr. Blue Sky

Roll Over Beethoven

Yes, listening to George Harrison’s son sing lead on The Traveling Wilbury’s song Handle With Care was nice.  Dhani Harrison, who was the show’s opening act, did a great job.

My favorite song was not played.  I was not disappointed.  Too much goodness for that.

Each time I walk along mid-calf deep in a piece of the Atlantic Ocean that is special to Carrie and me I sing it to myself: