Look No Strings!

Last week was the sixth time I've seen Eels live, beating near contenders The Pixies and Beck for most seen artist (it might have been Pete Doherty in his various guises if he'd turned up to every show he was meant to). It was an excellent gig, as good as all the previous ones whilst, as ever, keeping it fresh.

The first time I saw him (for 'tis really him, with a constantly evolving band) was at The Dominion Theatre supporting the 'Dasies in the Galaxy album'. It was all very upbeat, big brass band, people dressed up as animals, Santa Claus etc (cf The Flaming Lips). It was here I first learnt their trick which still impresses and amuses me today, which involves doing an encore, a second encore, maybe a third encore and then the house lights come up and the music comes on ... then about five minutes later, they dash back on stage with the lights up to rattle through one or two more tracks, as people dash back in, coats half on. It feels a bit like a treat for the old fans, those in the know.

So the second time at The Forum, I was expecting a show along the same lines. Not at all ... he came on wearing a duffel coat and huge beard, looking like the Unabomber, and spent the whole show hunched over his keyboard. The show was at the time of 'Souljacker' and the mood fitted the album ... even a cover of 'Get Yr Freak On' was scary.

So the third time, at the Royal Festival Hall ('Shootenanny' era), I knew not to expect anything - what we got was a five piece, guitar heavy band dressed in red boiler suits, E starting the show at the back of the hall, winding his way down through the audience with his harmonica.

The fourth and fifth time (RHF and QEH) was flagged Eels with Strings, so for once we had an idea of what was coming - string quartet, guy on double bass and a drummer playing suitcases, a bin and other assorted items (bit like the Tiger Lillies drummer). These shows, captured on the live 'Eels with Strings' albums were sublime, beautifully showcasing the double 'Blinking Lights and Other Revelations' album, but also re-interpreting many old tracks in new ways - something that he does in each show. The shows were preceded by a wonderful 20 minute Eastern European cartoon and a short montage of footage from previous shows, cut with interviews - including a sublime moment when he was being interviewed by an American pop presenter where he espouses, with a totally straight face, the merits of Britney Spears, which culminates in him declaring her probably more important than Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Kurt Cobain combined.

This time? Well it based billed as "No Strings Attached", and I guessed after the last shows it would be a rather louder affair and so it was. A three-piece band, plus a "security guard" who would come out with one liners between tracks (E didn't speak), play the odd bit of percussion (a bell here, some steel there) and, under the direction of Mr E, give high fives or squirt cream into audience members mouths. Blinking Lights being a double album, I've only ever once listened to it straight through and have generally gone straight to the 2nd CD - this show brought out some of the other tracks not covered with strings - 'Mother Mary' really stood out, but I adore 'Railroad Man'.

I feel like an old railroad man
Getting on board at the end of an age
The station's empty and the whistle blows
Things are faster now
And this train is just too slow
And i know i can walk along the tracks
It may take a little longer
But i'll know how to find my way back

Tracks off 'Souljacker' worked particuarly well - 'Souljacker Part I' and 'That's Not Really Funny', the other track people realise they know apart from 'Novacaine for the Soul' when you tell them it's the theme from Monkey Dust (well they know the instrumental bits anyway) ... and you can usually get a reaction if you say 'My Beloved Monster', you know, that one out of Shrek - covered here in Country & Western style. There were also slower more poignant moments, usually accompanied by E on hammond organ. Only one encore this time ... well, and the extra one of course.

At the usual rate of output we should be due another album and visit early next year ... I shall be there.