Got to see Elvis Costello & the Imposters open up for The Who last night at the MusiCares Benefit for teen cancer research. The Who were great. But Elvis was on fire. Aside from a paunchy Steve Nieve looking like he just came from an all-night canasta game at Weinstein's Bungalow Colony, this band rocked like it was 1977. Truly inspired, EC knocked out one rock and roller after another, reminding me of the old, pre-fedora, pre-tortoise shell frames days. Boy do I miss Elvis Costello sometimes.
That performance also reminded me of this performance from Leicester, 1977. It's a fave and not so uncommon. But in case you've never heard it, here's your chance.
TRACKLIST
Love Comes In Spurts
No Action
Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes
Blame It On Cain
The Beat
Dr. Luther's Assistant
This Year's Girl
I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea
Less Than Zero
Whole Wide World
The Roadette Song
Neat Neat Neat
Little Triggers
Radio, Radio
You Belong To Me
Miracle Man
zip
6 comments:
Wow Sal, your report has got me so excited.
When I saw him on the Spinning Song Tour it was all a bit mediocre.
The Spinning Wheel is fun, but it's impossible to maintain a level of excitememt if you need to stop and spin every 2 songs. This was a relentless, 60 minute set.
Cool '77 show link!
Did he play "Possession" - or anything from "Get Happy" last night? He opened an ATL show with "Possession" once that I was at, and that may be my fave of all his songs; when he's on, he's really on.
First two songs-- "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" into "High Fidelity."
It happens so often that I'm at the same show as you, texting each other during the show ( you're wittier than me in those circumstances ) and I think to myself " I can't wait to see what he's gonna write on BW tomorrow about THIS one " whether it's a great show or a terrible one.
Well done Sal.
Sal--
Was at the show too (and actually got carded at the bar, which is hilarious).
Two observations.
1 the room sound for the Who was astounding; if I thought you could ever get sound at The Beacon like that I would have tried to score Beach Boys tix last year.
2. I hate to say it, as I love the guy and his albums from the early days, but the Attractions (and now the Impostors) just weren't/aren't that great live. Lots of energy, sure, but utterly monochromatic and ultimately a little dull.
I know that's heretical but there you are.
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