Eels have come a long way since their breakthrough 1996 album Beautiful Freak. Sinister, unsettling pop has gradually given way to vital, expertly-crafted rock; band members have come and gone, with the only ever-present the irrepressibly creative Mark Everett, known as 'E'. Their current incarnation is a five-piece band: three guitars (including E's), bass and drums. In matching Adidas tracksuits and dark glasses, and sporting fine beards of various sizes, they were light-hearted and relaxed, celebrating successful tunes with group hugs.
The set starts with a burst of five powerful guitar-driven numbers, including an energetic cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Oh well', before shifting down a gear with the lovely 'In my dreams', dedicated to 'the ladies'. The tempo gradually rises again through a range of their plentiful new material; eventually good-natured chaos starts to break out, with an impromptu detour into the Beatles' 'Let it be' and a surreal hymn to their hairy drummer, 'Go Knuckles'. The third and final cover of the night is 'Beast of burden' by the Rolling Stones, before the main set ends with the compelling 'Souljacker part 1' and 'Wonderful, glorious', which manages to live up to its name.
No fewer than 3 encores follow; but the most memorable moment is perhaps 'Mr E's Beautiful Blues' which ends the first encore. A rare nod to early material, its surreal gloom stands in marked contrast to the positive energy suffusing what had come before. E's mind seems to be a much more comfortable place these days, and he's free to get on with the serious business of rocking out.