Regular readers are probably as confused as I regarding my schizophrenic relationship with Elvis Costello's recent works. As a record I've slagged "North" as being both boring and lackluster. Yet each time I see him perform tracks from it live I find it to be rather transcendent. Last night large portions of the album comprised what has to be one of the five best EC shows I've ever attended.
Arriving somewhat early, I was able to meet old friends in the lobby of the Beacon. We discussed the absurd t-shirt prices ($35 for a regular shirt, $40 for the baby doll version) and our expectations of a pretty darn good show. We had no clue. I then went into the theatre expecting to take my usual place at the Beacon, fourth row stage left. Nope. Row AA, Seat 101. That, my friends, would be front row center. I was giddy beyond belief (that's not meant to be a bad pun).
The show itself was simply amazing. First up was simply Elvis and Steve. They played a few standbys ("45," "Green Shirt"), a odd surprise ("Home Truth") and then Elvis gave perhaps the most powerful vocal performance I'd ever heard him pull of on "This House Is Empty Now." At the end of the song he stepped to the edge of the stage and belted it out unamplified. Oh, and he was about 6" away from my seat at that point.
The rest of the show is a blur of fantastic performances and the Brodsky Quartet. Amazingly surreal versions of "Rocking Horse Road" and "My Mood Swings" and a cover of Randy Newman's "Real Emotional Girl" were the highlight of the Brodsky's first set with Elvis. A version of "Almost Blue" that literally choked me up (in fairness, that song often does) and a powerful surprise highlighted the second set with the quartet. I had been hoping for Brian Wilson's "God Only Knows." Instead we got Richard Rodger's and Oscar Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone." Don't laugh. I'm serious. It was simply amazing.
Elvis and Steve returned for a few more tunes including the bluesy version of "Pump It Up" and then closed an amazing cover of "Dark End of the Street."
I said goodbye to a new friend and went into the frigid night to find my old pals. They were nowhere to be found. It didn't matter, though. I smiled all the way home knowing Elvis still has it. Has it in spades...
Posted by mikewolf at February 27, 2004 10:15 AMi'm still tempted to try and go to his Chicago show in mid-March but it's so damn expensive and we're saving our nickels and dimes. i'd kill to hear EC doing a tune from Carousel, though...
Posted by: Matt on February 27, 2004 12:37 PMI wish I had known you were going. We were there and ended up having a bite to eat afterward. Would have been nice to have you join us.
Maybe another time?
Posted by: Daniella on February 27, 2004 12:48 PMSounds like a great show. I love it when he does that unamplified singing bit.
Is he touring with the Brodskys? I thought it was just him and Steve.
Posted by: Jim on February 27, 2004 08:46 PMEC is touring with Steve and the Brodskys for three shows--Nashville, New York, and Boston. But he hinted at the Nashville show that there will another swing throught the U.S. with Steve and the Brodskys later this year.
Posted by: Bruce on February 28, 2004 06:50 PMWasn't "This House is Empty Now" fantastic? Costello did that unamplified bit several times during the show I saw in Tampa, but it was most effective for that tune. One of my friends actually shed tears...real tears I tell you!
I too, am (semi) back on the Elvis wagon. Except the t-shirt prices are criminal.
I hope those hints of returning to the states w/ the Brodskys come to pass. I would love to see that show.
Posted by: Leigh Anne on March 5, 2004 04:19 AM