To Sheffield City Hall to see Eels. The weather across the Snake Pass was interesting: snow flurries, hail storms, and the sunset behind me. I stopped at the Ladybower reservoir for a bit of a walk and a photo, which I might upload in the morning.

Instead of support, there was an hour-long showing of the BBC documentary "Parallel Lives, Parallel Worlds", made by Everett about his quest to understand his father, Hugh Everett III, the originator of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. This was interesting, and used a lot of Eels as incidental music, but it gave an unusual feel to the whole gig. As did the venue, which is a classical concert hall/theatre, all seated. Very proper, the carpet not at all sticky. The first gig I've been to for a very long time at which nobody danced (with the exception of a couple of drunks, who were nearly turfed out by security).

The gig was quite minimal. Just E and The Chet on stage. E on electric guitar, piano, drums. The Chet on electric guitar, slide guitar, saw, piano, keyboard, drums. There were a couple of readings from E's book "Things The Grandchildren Should Know". Nonexistent light show (eight gels, I think). The whole thing was a bit more like an audience with a poet than a rock gig.

A good mix of newer and older material. Several tracks from Electro-Shock Blues, which is the album I know best, and a scattershot from other albums, plus several songs I have had to Google since getting back.

Both E and The Chet are quite accomplished on their instruments, and they showed off a bit during a terrific rendition of Flyswatter by swapping places (from drums to piano) without missing a beat. But someone who's seen (say) Sextet live is entertained rather than blown away. Eels is about simplicity, not flair. The songs are brilliant nuggets of feeling, intelligent explorations of life and love and loss stripped down to fifty words and a few riffs,
conveying a huge amount with very little.

I think he should get together with Sufjan Stevens.

Sound quality was excellent, and showed the way to amp rock gigs. Play your quiet songs quietly, your loud songs LOUD, and always leave dynamic room for the kick drum. The whole thing could have been louder, but it was fine. See my report on the Maroon 5 gig back in December for how to screw it up.

The way back over Snake Pass was happily uneventful, although I was following a gritter for several miles.

Setlist:

After the Operation
It's a Motherfucker
Strawberry Blonde
Dirty Girl
Cheater's Guide
Souljacker Pt I
Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor
Dogs Life
My Beloved Monster
I Like Birds
(book reading)
Jeannie's Diary
The Sound of Fear
(book reading)
Last Stop: This Town
I Want to Protect You
Flyswatter
Bus Stop Boxer
Novocaine For The Soul
Good Times, Bad Times (Led Zeppelin cover)
Somebody Loves You
Souljacker Pt II
--- encore:
Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis cover)
PS You Rock my World