Live review: Eels @ Somerset House, London

When: 7th July 2011

Reviewed by: John Deering

“That was FUN!”

Not words you'd normally associate with the gruff-voiced, whiskery-faced, suicide-themed Mark “E” Everett, but there they are, hanging on the summer evening. He's enjoying himself.

Known for going through band members quicker than Mark E Smith, Everett is approaching something along the lines of consistency by bringing this line-up back to the UK for their second tour. This is the 60's garage rock 'n' roll outfit that he improbably put together to tour his recent trilogy of impossibly sad albums. Under the tutelage of his right-hand man, The Chet, the nucleus of the band had developed into a beautifully organic unit, and tonight we are treated to the addition of a nimble horn section.

The Eels' recruitment advert was very clear on one thing: must have beard. Bigger the better. Everett sails pretty close to the wind by hiring Tiny Al to play bass in place of the otherwise-engaged LA producer Kool G Murder, as the new man's beard is so vast it threatens to usurp his boss's own growth. No wonder he is made to stand at the back. Only his freakish height stops him needing to tuck it into his trousers.

The band dynamic is most expertly demonstrated on a grin-inducing version of Sly & The Family Stone's 'Hot Fun in the Summertime', where each member of the band sings a line of the memorable refrain. But it's never in doubt who this band belongs to. Eels has been a solo project for many of the 20-odd years that Everett has been recording, and we are reminded of that when a narrow opening appears in the humungous face furniture he hides behind to give us a classic such as 'Last Stop: This Town'. Tragedy follows this man like flies on a tramp's coat, as readers of his excellent autobiography will be aware. There are few better reads in the stodgy canon of rock writing than 'Things the Grandchildren Should Know' and a little insight into how someone could produce so many quietly emotional tunes is quickly gained. Which just makes it all the more surprising and uplifting when his sparkly teeth grin through the wolfman disguise and he yells “Marvellous!” after delivering the blistering simple rock 'n' roll of 'Prizefighter'.

It's a career-spanning setlist that takes in something from everything, highlights being a souped-up 'Souljacker Pt I' that sees the band silhouhetted and motionless as a howl of three sustaining guitars are backed by a simple maracas shake for what feels like a lifetime, and a sparkling rendition of the crowd-pleasing 'Novocaine for the Soul'.

The double Blinking Lights and Other Revelations album, Everett's painstaking classic, has often been entirely discarded for shows, being too rawly emotional or simply unsuitable for the rocking format of this band, and tonight looks like going the same way. But he chooses to finish the show with a spritely 'Losing Streak', confidently proclaiming, “You hear me? I said my losing streak is DONE!”

The often cynical London audience is released from the genteel courtyard of Somerset House with beaming smiles, whistling the happy jazz of 'Looking Up'. And those without beards are seriously considering a period of sustained growth.

See Eels news, events, videos and information at their Skiddle artist page here.