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Official EELS

Beautiful Freak Tour 1995/1996

eels 1996 by Ann Giordano

Band personnel

  • Mark Oliver Everett (E) - Vocals, Guitar, Keys
  • Tommy Walter - Bass, French Horn, Keys, Backing Vocals
  • Jonathan Norton (Butch) - Drums, Backing Vocals

    • On the road in 1995

    After the Los Angeles based singer-songwriter called E (real name: Mark Oliver Everett) got released from his recordcontract with Polydor Records, he and his touring drummer Jonathan Norton soon teamed up with multi-instrumentalist Tommy Walter. They met Tommy at an open mic night at The Mint in Los Angeles and together they formed a band called EELS. The trio is one of the first musical acts to get signed by the (then) new Dreamworks label. At the very end of 1995 EELS plays a couple of try-out gigs and radioshows. Nothing special. Just a way to get to know each other and to get familiar with the songs that E had already written for his third album.

    11/22/1995Santa Monica, CAKCRW Radiosetlist/more
    12/07/1995Los Angeles, CAAlligator Lounge-
    12/13/1995Los Angeles, CAJack Sugar Shag-
    12/14/1995Los Angeles,CAAlligator Lounge-

    U.S.A. 1996 - Try outs and showcases

    With the album Beautiful Freak nearly in the shops, it's time for the 'new' band to finally hit the road for real. In the meantime E does zillions of interviews. He mentions in several of those (well... almost in every interview, actually) that if the ‘band thing’ had not come along, Beautiful Freak would have been his third solo album.

    06/22/1996Hollywood, CAViper Roomreview
    08/03/1996Philadelphia, PATrocaderosetlist
    08/13/1996BEAUTIFUL FREAKreleased-
    08/16/1996Los Angeles, CAThe Largo (E solo w/ Jon Brion)setlist/more
    08/23/1996Unknown cityHurricanes-
    08/26/1996Cleveland, OHPeabody's Down Under-
    08/30/1996Washington, DC9.30 Clubsetlist

    U.S.A. and CANADA 1996 - Leg 1

    The album Beautiful Freak is received very well, especially in Europe, and features a healthy mix of intelligent pop music and intriguing lyrics. The EELS' debut single Novovaine For The Soul becomes a small Indie hit on both sides of the Atlantic. The band starts touring the U.S.A. opening for acts such as Poe and Luscious Jackson.

    09/30/1996New Haven, CTToad's Place setlist/more
    10/01/1996New York City, NYIrving Plaza-
    10/02/1996Portchester, NY7 Willow Streetsetlist/more
    10/03/1996Syracuse, NYAtlantissetlist
    10/07/1996Pittsburgh, PAMetropol-
    10/08/1996State College, PACrowbar-
    10/09/1996Pontiac, MI7th House-
    10/11/1996Grand Rapids, MIReptile House-
    10/12/1996Chicago, ILMetro-
    10/13/1996Minneapolis, MNFirst Avenue-
    10/14/1996Milwaukee, WIRave-
    10/16/1996Boulder, COFox Theatre-
    10/17/1996Salt Lake City, UTX96 Radio Showsetlist/more
    10/20/1996Tucson, AZRock-
    10/22/1996Tempe, AZGibson'sposter
    10/23/1996San Diego, CAHurricane's-
    10/24/1996Santa Ana, CAGalaxy Theatre-
    10/25/1996Santa Monica, CAKCRW Radio (interview)-
    10/25/1996Ventura, CAVentura Theatre-
    10/27/1996Hollywood, CARoxy Theatre-
    10/28/1996Santa Monica, CAKCRW Morning Becomes Eclecticsetlist/more
    10/28/1996Hollywood, CARoxy Theatre-
    10/29/1996Hollywood, CARoxy Theatre-
    11/02/1996Carmichael, CAEl Dorado-
    11/03/1996San Jose, CACactus Club-
    11/04/1996San Francisco, CABimbo's 365 Club-

    EUROPE 1996

    By the time the tour got to Europe, EELS were one of the most 'hot' new bands of 1996. In Europe, that is. So fans lined up to see them opening for artists such as Screaming Trees and to see them play at festivals like the travelling Inrock Festival in France and (broadcast live over Europe) the German Rockpalast.

    11/09/1996Lille, FRLe Festival Des Inrocks-
    11/10/1996Paris, FRLe Cigale (Festival Des Inrocks) setlist
    11/11/1996Paris, FRNulle Part D'Ailleurs (Canal+ tv)video
    11/12/1996Nantes, FRSaint Sebastien Escall (Festival Des Inrocks) setlist
    11/13/1996Toulouse, FRLe Festival Des Inrocks-
    11/15/1996Essen, GERGrugahalle setlist/more
    11/16/1996Amsterdam, NLParadiso setlist/more
    11/18/1996Hamburg, GERMojo Club setlist/more
    11/19/1996Berlin, GERunconfirmed venue-
    11/21/1996Cologne, GERE-Werk-
    11/22/1996Munich, GERStrom-
    11/23/1996Winterthur, CHAlbani Music Club-
    11/25/1996Copenhagen, DEPumpehuset-
    11/26/1996Oslo, NRSmuget-
    11/28/1996Stockholm, SWEGino-
    11/30/1996Brussels, BELVorst Nationaal-

    U.S.A. and CANADA 1996 - Leg 2

    to finish off the year a few shows are played for radiostations and some headlining shows are booked as well:

    12/03/1996Boston, MAOrpheum Theatre-
    12/06/1996Vancouver, BCStarfish Roomsetlist/more
    12/12/1996San Jose, CAEvent Center-
    12/14/1996Los Angeles, CAUniversal Ampitheatresetlist/more
    12/15/1996San Francisco, CALive 105 Green X-Mas Ballsetlist/more
    12/20/1996Dallas, TXDeep Elluminfo


    It's most likely that more shows were played in 1995 and 1996. Any info on those is much appreciated!

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