The spacecraft ELO hovered over the skies of New York City for the last time.

The legendary British band around its driving force Jeff Lynne performed last Monday and Tuesday on two consecutive nights at Madison Square Garden on their farewell tour entitled “Over and Out”. Both shows offered older and younger fans the opportunity to hear the classics of Lynne and his band live one last time.

Over the past 10 years, Lynne – the only member of the original lineup of the Electric Light Orchestra – had returned to live performances under the ELO banner after decades of working in the recording studio as a producer for artists such as George Harrison, Paul McCartney, the Traveling Wilburys, Tom Petty, the Beatles, Bryan Adams and Regina Spektor. During this period, as well as during the 1970s when the band was fully active, ELO’s music was ubiquitous not only on radio and streaming platforms, but also in films and commercials – a testament to Lynne’s genius as the group’s singer, songwriter and producer.

Monday’s show began with the driving rock song “One More Time” from 2019. Out of nowherethe “newest” ELO song in the set. From then on, the evening was a brilliant career overview, illuminating ELO’s imperial phase (1970-1980) – from the first band’s debut single “10538 Overture” to “All Over the World” from the Xanadu Soundtrack. For almost two hours, one hit followed another: “Can’t Get It Out of My Head,” “Telephone Line,” “Turn to Stone,” “Don’t Bring Me Down,” “Evil Woman,” “Strange Magic,” and more.

For this particular tour, the setlist featured a few deep cuts that had not been played live for at least many years, such as the dreamy “Steppin’ Out” (from 1977 Out of the blue) and an excerpt from the explosive and dramatic instrumental piece “Fire on High” (from the 1975 Face the music).

As he did in the recording studio, Lynne pulled out all the stops in presenting ELO’s music live. He was supported by a large supporting cast – including a three-piece string section – who all rose to the challenge. Aside from Lynne’s and the band’s spot-on performance of the hits, the show was a stunning visual spectacle with dazzling stage lights, lasers and, of course, the iconic ELO spaceship.

The show at the Garden ended appropriately with “Mr. Blue Sky,” which has become something of an ELO signature song over the years. It was the exclamation point of an entertaining evening and a memorable farewell to the band as a live unit.

List of sets (September 16, 2024):

One more time

Evil woman

Do you

Showdown

Believe me now

Exit

Last train to London

Rock garden!

10538 Overture

Strange magic

Sweet talking woman

I can’t get it out of my head

Fire on high

Living thing

Telephone line

All over the world

Turn to stone

Let a little love shine

Don’t bring me down

Encore:

Mr. Blue Sky