EELS at the Astoria
Went to see Eels on their 'No Strings Attached' Tour last night. They were probably the best I have ever seen them. Eccentric as ever they chose 2 12 year old girls called Smoosh as their support band. They were a little samey but not as awful as you'd expect.
Eels came on to a wall of distorted sound and played the rockiest set I have heard them do. They were pretty heavy at times. Bizarrely they chose to wear flying helmets and goggles and to dress Crazy Al as a security guard. He introduced each song with a very odd random quote such as ' I know the deal when I see it and this is the deal', or just an odd sound. They were very funny and got the crowd really going.
Crazy al donned rubber gloves and forayed into the pit to touch members of the crowd selected by E and later to give out mouthfuls of squirty cream from a can. I got one thanks to Giles standing behind me and gesturing like mad over me. It was very strange but amusing.
They haven't yet sold out for Tuesday next week and i am sorely tempted to go again. The Astoria is a different shape but similar size to the Zodiac (downstairs) but has a balcony with seating.
Here is the set list:
The Other Shoe
Rock Show [Iggy Pop cover]
Crazy Love [Willy Dixon cover]
Old Shit/New Shit
Eyes Down
Dirty Girl
After The Operation
Jesus Gonna Be Here [Tom Waits cover]
Mother Mary
That's Not Really Funny
My Beloved Monster
A Magic World
Rags To Rags
I'm Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart
Last Stop: This Town
Not Ready Yet
Railroad Man
Dog Faced Boy
Souljacker Pt.1
I Put A Spell On You [Screamin' Jay Hawkins cover]
That's Life [Frank Sinatra cover]- was bloody fantastic incidentally
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I Like Birds
Mr. E's Beautiful Blues
Cancer For The Cure [with Smoosh back on stage]
You Are The Quack [with Smoosh back on stage]
-------------------------------------
Saturday Morning
I may have missed a couple out but that was the main deal.
OK he still hasn't played PS You Rock My World for me and I am going to have to get stern about that before long.
Having typed this I am even more seriously considering a return visit on Tuesday.....as long as I do not suffer the travel sickness I had last night - got dumped at the roadside in Shepherds Bush until the green ebbed away. Giles just stopped and said 'I think you should get out for a bit!' Apparently having got quieter and quieter, which is in itself uncharacteristic, a tide of green then washed over me and he has just had his car cleaned lol.
Anyway it was a great night and as I said, probably the best I have seen them.
Eels came on to a wall of distorted sound and played the rockiest set I have heard them do. They were pretty heavy at times. Bizarrely they chose to wear flying helmets and goggles and to dress Crazy Al as a security guard. He introduced each song with a very odd random quote such as ' I know the deal when I see it and this is the deal', or just an odd sound. They were very funny and got the crowd really going.
Crazy al donned rubber gloves and forayed into the pit to touch members of the crowd selected by E and later to give out mouthfuls of squirty cream from a can. I got one thanks to Giles standing behind me and gesturing like mad over me. It was very strange but amusing.
They haven't yet sold out for Tuesday next week and i am sorely tempted to go again. The Astoria is a different shape but similar size to the Zodiac (downstairs) but has a balcony with seating.
Here is the set list:
The Other Shoe
Rock Show [Iggy Pop cover]
Crazy Love [Willy Dixon cover]
Old Shit/New Shit
Eyes Down
Dirty Girl
After The Operation
Jesus Gonna Be Here [Tom Waits cover]
Mother Mary
That's Not Really Funny
My Beloved Monster
A Magic World
Rags To Rags
I'm Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart
Last Stop: This Town
Not Ready Yet
Railroad Man
Dog Faced Boy
Souljacker Pt.1
I Put A Spell On You [Screamin' Jay Hawkins cover]
That's Life [Frank Sinatra cover]- was bloody fantastic incidentally
-------------------------------------
I Like Birds
Mr. E's Beautiful Blues
Cancer For The Cure [with Smoosh back on stage]
You Are The Quack [with Smoosh back on stage]
-------------------------------------
Saturday Morning
I may have missed a couple out but that was the main deal.
OK he still hasn't played PS You Rock My World for me and I am going to have to get stern about that before long.
Having typed this I am even more seriously considering a return visit on Tuesday.....as long as I do not suffer the travel sickness I had last night - got dumped at the roadside in Shepherds Bush until the green ebbed away. Giles just stopped and said 'I think you should get out for a bit!' Apparently having got quieter and quieter, which is in itself uncharacteristic, a tide of green then washed over me and he has just had his car cleaned lol.
Anyway it was a great night and as I said, probably the best I have seen them.