http://www.news.scotsman.com/index.cfm? ... DOCUMENT=2
Wed 8 Oct 2003
Elvis Costello
Fiona Shepherd
Elvis Costello ****
ROYAL CONCERT HALL, GLASGOW
ELVIS Costello’s last Scottish show was a jubilant
nostalgia trip for fans of his brittle post-punk
numbers, with the added attraction of The Attractions
to provide sharp backing. This time, he took the
stripped-down approach, with just his right-hand man,
"Professor" Steve Nieve, on piano and melodica, plus
occasional acoustic guitar strumming from Costello.
This was to be primarily a showcase of his reflective
new album, North, a gossamer collection of supper-club
ballads about the disorienting power of love, inspired
by his current partner, the jazz singer Diana Krall.
First, the dynamic duo limbered up with a fervent
Accidents Will Happen, some Van Morrison-esque Celtic
soul and emotionally incendiary playing from Nieve,
whose contribution was clearly as crucial to the soul
of this concert as Costello himself. The atmosphere
changed with a selection of tracks from North, on
which Costello’s voice took centre stage, plaintively
conveying the personal yet universal sentiments, while
Nieve offered lyrical, understated backing.
Everything about this performance was exquisitely
measured, from the stark lighting to the melancholy
but never indulgent tone.
With these songs, he has come close to tapping into
the timelessness of maestros such as Burt Bacharach, a
recent collaborator.
But there was far more to come in the course of three
juicy encores, which eventually took up more time than
the main set. To these ears, Costello has never
sounded better. Few vocalists can pull off the risky
gambit of straying from the microphone. When Costello
did, he filled the hall with his feeling, giving such
a racked performance on Shipbuilding that, at its
conclusion, it looked like it had really cost him
something.
The mood swung again. "If you’re in love, it’s time to
celebrate," he announced. While he sang about the
anatomy of a love affair, the crowd drank in the
fruits of another happy, long-term relationship - that
of these two expert players.
Having accompanied each other through an emotionally
open two hours, which was also not without dashes of
humour, they ended with a brisk manly handshake, as
though they felt bashful for having exposing
themselves so deeply.
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There`s also a great review of in The Herald - but I can`t find it on their site
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/