Respect The Rock Tour 2000

BRISTOL, UK - COLSTON HALL - july 15, 2000

review:

This is the second time I have seen the EELS live, the first was at the infamous Portsmouth gig where there was trouble, and E did not enjoy the gig. After that gig we waited around for ages and eventually met E and Butch. We chatted to them for a while about guitars and the gig and E told us that he liked his gigs to be all seated as there are a lot of quiet songs where the audience can sit back and enjoy the music. We got his autographs and my mate got him to sign his packet of rizzlers where E wrote grow up!
The Bristol gig saw the EELS much happier and having more fun. Butch (wearing a skirt and bra) introduced Mark Oliver Everett at the beginning of the gig and he staggered on like an old man attached to a bodyguard (his guitar tech) A few songs in, while E was playing the piano, two lads ran up on stage and started dancing. The crowd was all laughing, but E with his back to them, was oblivious to what was going on. The lads were dragged out by security and chucked out. After the song Butch told E what had been going on and E said he heard the crowd laughing and thought his pants might have been falling down. Later on in the show he invited his dancers back on stage.

Three girls and a bloke all got up from the crowd and after a pause while they took photos on stage, the EELS played Hospital Food with some great moves (not) from the four dancers. Half way through the song they stopped playing. E and Butch had a conversation and E said "You know what, we have been playing a Tuesday set when in fact it is a Saturday... Does any one feel like a party song?" With that they played a very cool Mr. E's Beautiful Blues. After the song Butch said "Now you've played your song" to E and they carried on with Hospital Food. They departed with have a good Tuesday night! The EELS seem to come back on stage after the lights come on for a third encore if they have enjoyed the show. They came back on after about three or four minutes, (E still with his bodyguard ) played one song without saying anything, and walked straight back of again. There was about 200 people left still from the 1500 or so who saw them come back on. This was a very good EELS gig which we all enjoyed. The set was very similar as far as I can remember to previous European dates, and only a little different to the March tour.

[review sent in by Duncan]