Rocking it to Classics in Newark New Jersey

Starting mid-July, as the next semester of school creeps in, finding out what to do to finish out the Summer becomes harder and harder to do. Lucky for me many bands of the classic 70s and 80s genre are notorious for going on tour right about this time. So, when I heard that the iconic Electric Light Orchestra or ELO for short performed by Jeff Lynne would be playing July 16th in the Prudential Center in Newark New Jersey, I took full advantage of the situation. The experience was once in a lifetime not only with the performance but where in Jersey it was performed.


Starting off the evening, crowds became visibly hectic as swarms of people entered the heavily themed Prudential indoor arena Center in Newark New Jersey. Lights and sounds representing ELO could be seen from outside prompting the memorable night to come. The Prudential Center, being a multi-purpose indoor arena, not only hosts a grandeur of live performances and events but is also home to the New Jersey Devils Hockey Team and the Seton Hall Pirates. Flags could be seen outside the Center representing these teams.


Entering the Center, people wandered around trying to find where there seats were. Many were asking, including us, when the performance would start. Merchandise could be purchased before the show and as I bought my ELO best hits CD, I was finally funneled into the arena show floor.


As we took our seats, we were treated to the visual effects of the iconic UFO used on ELO's merchandise and CD's. This instantly consumed us to the futuristic iconography and Beatles aesthetic that ELO is known for. So, even before the show had begun, I was instantly transported back to the late 70s. Multiple instruments could be seen on stage including violins and cellos, instruments used to create the intoxicating and catchy tunes I would soon be hearing.


As the lead singer Jeff Lynne appeared on stage, hit after hit of ELO's greatest hits began to play. Songs including Evil Women, Livin' Thing, and the infamous Mr. Blue Sky were being performed in front of our eyes with the crowds cheers at the end of every song. The lighting effects and use of techno on stage emphasized what it truly means to be an Electric Light Orchestra and this experience could only be felt be seeing them live.


Just as the concert was about to close, a surprise performance by George Harrison's son Dhani Harrison was treated to us. George Harrison was the lead guitarist to the famous Beatles and Dhani Harrison continues his fathers legacy by continuing music and performing in his own group in front of live audiences. This was especially a treat considering how it ties into the 70s aesthetic and continued our immersion even nearing the end of the show.

Watching Electric Light Orchestra live made me even more of a fan of Jeff Lynne's work and made me want to see them again live in concert again soon. Fans of the 70s and 80s style of music would do themselves a disservice to miss an opportunity to see them and if possible to see them in the home of the New Jersey Devils. For a start of the Mid-July Summer slow down, this was a very great and memorable experience to start with

-Aaron Petit 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Legacy of Good Food in Downtown New Brunswick

Image
In my fathers line of work of real estate, meeting new and different kinds of people has always been the norm. Whether they be his fellow co-workers in Newark New Jersey or football players trying to make it in the industry, each person has their own story to tell. This is best known in my father knowing the managers of the fine dining Italian restaurant Catherine Lombardi which nightly offers an exquisite dinner experience for a perfect family night out. https://www.catherinelombardi.com/ Catherine Lombardi is located on 3 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick New Jersey and is right next to Stage Left Steakhouse. The story of how the restaurant Catherine Lombardi was formed heavily involves the passion that the owners, Mark Pascal and Francis Schott, had for Mark's late grandmother and the love for the emerging city of New Brunswick. Catherine Lombardi's family had initially arrived to Brooklyn from Naples and cooking was heavily engrossed into their lives. The traditions ...
Read more

Old Nostalgia at the County Fair

Image
As if visiting home was not enough, being home insists on family outings to relive the memories of the past before I began college. Although sounding negative, it honestly is a feeling of joy to attempt things that may not have been as good as you can remember. For every August in my hometown, the perfect example of this would have to be the County Fair. http://middlesexcountyfair.com/ At the beginning of every August, my hometown of East Brunswick hosts the Middlesex County Fair located on 655 Cranbury Road. As a child, me and my friends would attend this fair annually but as our lives became more involved, times to do this became harder and harder to do. For 80 long years, it has been a tradition to bring families and thousands of residents together for the fair and it promises to bring a final week of "summer fun" to the community. This is inherently true, for the most part, and to see this fair again with my family was a treat to behold once again. Swarms of pe...
Read more