Music is a window into the soul. Guitar solos, drum beats and a well-written lyric will open up emotions that many other things are incapable of doing.
On Thursday evening, August 1, Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra shared some of their classic music with an eager-to-listen Pittsburgh crowd at PPG Paints Arena. It was the first appearance by ELO in Pittsburgh since 1981, so it was considered a must-see concert in my mind. For me, the good memories of the ’70’s and ’80’s came back like a flood as the band boldly opened with Standing in the Rain. Violins and cellos so beautifully combined with the electric instruments that defines ELO, the band that basically wrote the soundtrack of my life. Songs like Telephone Line, Turn To Stone and Mr. Blue Sky took me back to a more simple time, before cell phones, before social media, before adult responsibilities. The creative genius in Jeff Lynne pounding out one rock and roll hit after another, making millions of people so happy over decades, standing on the stage directly in front of me.
After the show, I stood along the railing at the end of the row where our seats were, near the stage. I knew I’d get a chance to see Jeff Lynne fairly close and so I waited until he was escorted backstage. He looked worn out. But it was the last show of a long US tour and he’s over 70 now. Not to mention, he’d just put 100% into giving us all the best performance that he was capable of, and no one left disappointed. He passed within 10 feet of me and I was able to capture his undivided attention for a split second. “Thank you Jeff, for all the great music over the years”. He gave me a big smile and a thumbs up, which meant so much to me, being a huge fan for so long.
Establish my footsteps in Your Word ~ Psalm 119:133 
Leave a comment