Elvis/The Attractions 1996 - tenth anniversery of last tour

johnfoyle · Post by **johnfoyle** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:24 pm

Today's Dublin media has been marking the tenth anniversery of the murder of a crime journalist , which reminded me of what I was doing that day. It was the start of what would turn out to be Elvis' last tour with The Attractions.

Very little of the coverage of that tour is on the 'net. Maybe others here might like to contribute memories of that tour -

http://www.elviscostello.info/gigography/all_95-99.php

1996-06-26 with the Attractions Dublin, National Stadium
1996-06-28 with the Attractions Paris, La Cigale
1996-06-29 with the Attractions Amsterdam, Carre'
1996-07-01 with the Attractions Athens/Greece, Festival
1996-07-02 with the Attractions "14. Zelt-Musik-Festival", Freiburg
1996-07-03 with the Attractions Hamburg, Grosse Freiheit 36
1996-07-05 with the Attractions London, Shepherds Bush Empire
1996-07-06 with the Attractions London, Roundhouse
1996-07-09 with the Attractions "Montreux Jazz Festival", Montreux, Miles Davis Hall
1996-07-12 with the Attractions London, Shepherds Bush Empire
1996-07-13 with the Attractions Madri, Spain, Conde Duque
1996-07-14 with the Attractions San Javier, Spain, Auditorio Municipal
1996-07-16 with the Attractions Barcelona Spain, Velodrom De Horta
1996-07-19 with the Attractions London, Shepherds Bush Empire
1996-07-20 with the Attractions Liverpool, Royal Court Theatre
1996-07-24 with the Attractions "Festival Di Musica Moderna & Contemporanea", Fano/Italy,
1996-07-26 with the Attractions London, Shepherds Bush Empire
1996-07-27 with the Attractions London, Roundhouse
1996-08-07 with the Attractions Nashville, TN, Ryman Theatre con
1996-08-09 with the Attractions Washington, DC, Capital Ballroom
1996-08-10 with the Attractions Philadelphia, PA, Mann Music Center
1996-08-12 with the Attractions New York City, NY, Beacon Theatre
1996-08-13 with the Attractions New York City, NY, Beacon Theatre
1996-08-14 with the Attractions Boston, MA, Harborlights
1996-08-16 with the Attractions Detroit, MI, Fox Theatre
1996-08-17 with the Attractions Chicago, IL, Rosemont Theater
1996-08-18 with the Attractions Minneapolis, MN, Orpheum Theatre
1996-08-20 with the Attractions Dallas, TX, Bronco Bowl
1996-08-21 with the Attractions Austin, TX, The Backyard
1996-08-23 with the Attractions Denver, CO, Paramount Theatre
1996-08-27 with the Attractions Los Angeles, CA, Universal Amphitheatre
1996-08-28 with the Attractions Los Angeles, CA, Universal Amphitheatre
1996-08-30 with the Attractions Berkeley, CA, Greek Theatre
1996-08-31 with the Attractions Portland (OR), Civic Auditorium

1996-09-01 with the Attractions Seattle, WA, Mercer Arena
1996-09-06 with the Attractions Osaka, Festival Hall
1996-09-07 with the Attractions Fukuoka, Sun Palace
1996-09-09 with the Attractions Tokyo, Kosei Nenkin Hall
1996-09-10 with the Attractions Tokyo, Kosei Nenkin Hall
1996-09-12 with the Attractions Tokyo, Kosei Nenkin Hall
1996-09-13 with the Attractions Tokyo, Kosei Nenkin Hall
1996-09-15 with the Attractions Nagoya, Aichi Kinro Kaikan ("Oris London Jazz Festival") concert

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's my comment from Beyond Belief

( back issues still available!

http://www.btinternet.com/~perrymp/bb/bbhome.htm )

, a Costello fanzine -

June 26 National Stadium-Dublin

( intro from fanzine editors )

Inauspiciously, the tour opened in a city still reeling from the shock murder of a leading crime journalist, shot dead on a Dublin street that very afternoon. Later, those arriving at the National Stadium were greeted by the sight of touts virtually giving away tickets as TV coverage of the eveningâ€™s England vs Germany football match proved a strong diversion. In fact, the football had quite an impact on proceedings, producing a late, late start and some hasty revision of the running order so that the show opened with solo and EC/Steve sections before the remaining Attractions were forced to abandon the backstage TV set. Opinion was divided on both the choice of venue and the quality ofperformance on this first night, but most people seem to have managed to have a good time... eventually!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ticket said â€œDoors 7, EC&Aâ€™s 8â€

And No Coffee Table · Post by **And No Coffee Table** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:24 pm

Did he work "Slow Down" into "Pump It Up" in Dublin, or was that only at later shows?

johnfoyle · Post by **johnfoyle** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:39 pm

From listserv -

> 1996-07-20 with the Attractions Liverpool, Royal
> Court
> Theatre

Connor -

I was at this show, which was before things went sour
with EC & Bruce. It was a great show, and I'm glad I
got the chance to see an Attractions show in a venue
small enough for me to actuall SEE the band-- my only
previous EC concert was at Tinley Park in 1994, just
one year after "discovering" EC's music, and at that
outdoor venue I was so far away I could barely see
them.

A highlight for me was hearing him debut "Far From The
Prize" a still-unrecorded original that he played solo
at the tail end of one of the songs that night. I
didn't know if it was an original or some cover I
didn't recognize, and I couldn't even get anyone to
confirm it had really happened until he finally played
it again a few weeks later and someone on the list
mentioned it. This one, a modest cousin of "Still Too
Soon To Know" will likely remain unrecorded, but it
was nice to hear a "new" song that night anyway....

It would be six years before I'd see EC with a band,
and in that lull between The Attractions and The
Imposters, I imagined I had potentially seen one of
the last EC concerts of its kind. Thankfully, I was
wrong...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brent -

I was at the Liverpool show, too! That day was quite an experience and
quite a show. I had never heard "24 Hours to Tulsa" added to
"Accidents will Happen" before so I was thrilled when he played that
and the crowd was just awesome. I had seen Elvis twice on the Brutal
Youth tour in Texas and I found it wonderful to not be the only one
singing along at these shows. The audience really responded to every
song and it was great. One of the best times ever for me.

One show that was left of the tour list that I saw- Elvis and the
Attractions played at Barrowlands in Glasgow the day after Liverpool.
I remember that show for two things: 1. He played "Psycho!" 2. I could
barely get into that song, or the show because of the constant sound
of plastic cups being trampled underfoot by the audience.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephen-

I remember that from the final London Roundhouse show in July 1996.
They played it in snippets a couple of times as an end of set/encore
theme. As well as that show, I saw one of the four nights at the
Shepherds Bush Empire too. Fave moments that I can remember are the versions
of Riot Act and It's Time at the SBE plus a (then) rare outing for
Unwanted Number. The Roundhouse show was excellent and included a great
EC/SN version of Black Sails in the Sunset followed by Olivers Army where
EC started solo and the band kicked in half way through. Great stuff.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1996-08-09 with the Attractions Washington, DC,
Capital Ballroom

Mike -

This was my first ever Elvis concert, so I was fortunate to catch the
Attractions before the dustbin of history, etc. The Capital Ballroom - a
storied DC venue - is now no more, as well.

Elvis made a Bob Dole joke (it was an election year) and we sang
happy birthday to Pete Thomas. I remember thinking the opening of "Waiting
for the End of the World" and "You Belong to Me" was a great one two
punch. Of course, since it was my first EC show, I guess just about
anything would've made a great one two punch...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tom -

1996-08-14 with the Attractions Boston, MA,
Harborlights

Was there. Great show. I think "Human Hands" was played, and someone
(Bruce?) celebrated a birthday.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lorenzo-

Indeed it was BT's birthday & EC specifically praised BT bass playing
on
"Human Hands", but things would soon turn sour.....

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herb-

I was there too & I must disagree. Not a very good show; the crowd
wasn't
into the new stuff and spent the evening conversing with one another. I
was
bummed. Elvis himself cited it in his website journal as one of the low
points of his entire performing career. (I think the reunification
vibes of
the Attractions had already turned sour as well.)

You are correct about the particulars, though: Human Hands was played &
Happy Birthday was sung to Bruce.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marika -

I was at the Detroit, Fox Theatre show that was immortalized in the
bootleg "Legends and History Collide." The show was
awesome
- I still remember that version of "Green Shirt," and "Pump It Up" with
Pete on the toy drumkit. Also fantastic was how EC started "It's Time"
solo, and then the Attractions came back on stage just in time to hit
it
when the full band is supposed to come on.

But the most memorable thing in retrospect was the snippet of "Daddy
Can
I Turn This?" that was tacked on to the last song - it was only after I
heard the bootleg circa 2003 that I realized what I had heard! That was
a helluva long time before WIWC came out.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael -

> 1996-09-01 with the Attractions Seattle, WA, Mercer
> Arena

This was the week that the rumors of his retirement were making the
rounds, so there was most definitey something in the air that night.
Were we ever going to see him again after this show? They came on
stage right around midnight or so, headlining the day's Bumbershoot
Festival. The first two songs of the night were Man Out Of Time and
Big Tears, so we knew we were in for something different.

Riot Act concluded the main set, with Elvis leaving us on "but it
doesn't look like I'm gonna be around much anymore." Wotta friggin'
tease.

He wound down the show with the usual You Bowed Down (Bridge
version)/PLU/I Want To Vanish. "It seems like that's when the lights
should go out but that's a bit fucking corny for me." He then said
something about how they could only end on one song that night, and
played a chilling 10 minute version of I Want You that still haunts me
years later.

It now strikes me that his vocal melody for the final "I want you" is
lifted from the end of Gene Pitney's Town Without Pity:
"I.....WAAA-aaa-AAAANT.......YOO-ooooooo!"

And at 2:30 in the am, it was all over.

I've gotta find my discs of that show now. Setlist below.

Mike

Man Out Of Time
Big Tears
Clown Strike
Why Can't A Man...
Little Atoms
13 Steps Lead Down
Party Girl (C&N)
Poor Fractured Atlas (C&N)
Oliver's Army (band comes in midway)
All This Useless Beauty
Watching The Detectives
Distorted Angel/Who's That Lady (segues into...)
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
Pump It Up (Los Attracciones)
Just About Glad (Los Attracciones)
Riot Act
Beyond Belief
Accidents Will Happen
Complicated Shadows
Daddy Can I Turn This?
The Other End Of The Telescope
Green Shirt
Alison
Rocking Horse Road
You Bowed Down
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding
I Want To Vanish
I Want You

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 5:32 pm

Veronica Guerin RIP.

martinfoyle · Post by **martinfoyle** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:20 pm

Indeed it's hard to believe Veronica's dead 10 years. I served her once in the shop we run and she struck me as a very nice person who anyone could talk to. That was one of her journalistic strengths which allowed her dig up all kinds of info. While I never read the rag she wrote for I couldn't help be aware off all the exposÃ©s she managed. I also remember thinking she was taking her life in her hands with some of her writings and regret to say I wasn't surprised to hear what happened to her. Many believe her editors were also aware of this and should have protected her more.

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:39 am

I remember the Friday shows at the Shepherds Bush Empire purely because I went to each show on the Friday and then to weddings on every Saturday the day after!

I also wrote a review of all four shows for Beyond Belief and had one (hugely truncated) piece published.

I was pleased to say that the very last Attractions show I saw was fantastic and during Human Hands Elvis looked at Bruce during the line "You know I love you more than slightly". We all really cheered at that point. I was right at the front and remember it vividly.

invisible Pole · Post by **invisible Pole** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:11 am

VG, we were at the same gig !!

I went all the way from Poland to London to see Elvis in Shepherd's Bush Empire on 12 July. I thought it was a brilliant show mixing seamlessly solo acoustic renditions with EC & Steve, and with full-band performance.
One of the highlights for me was a new, beautiful song, which I only later found out was Unwanted Number. I also loved new arrangements of a couple of older songs (including Pump It Up) with Pete playing on accordion.
To top it all I waited for Elvis outside the venue, had the first of "Four July singles" signed by Steve and Elvis, and had a photo taken with the Man himself. What a great night !!

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:22 pm

I was at the Roundhouse gig (was there just one). Also July, I recall. I enjoyed the ATUB songs live a lot, and heard and loved black Sails for the first time. Elvis was wearing a black shirt with white polka dots, as I recall. I liked the venue for the sense of history.

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:02 am

IP - I'm glad I brought the memory back for you

johnfoyle · Post by **johnfoyle** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:57 am

Oooops- missed it by a day or two ; it's now the anniversery of the North American leg of this tour - anymore memories?

Neil. · Post by **Neil.** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:03 am

I was at one of the Shepherd's Bush Empire ones - turned up to the sold-out gig without a ticket, and bought one off a fan who's friend hadn't turned up! She wanted to sell to a fan, not a tout.

I remember it as a real stonker of a gig, with great sound, and Elvis's voice filling the room, even though he apologised for having a sore throat at the start of the gig. I think they opened with a quieter song to get Elvis's voice in gear.

The highlights that stick in my mind was the Merseybeat version of Every Day I Write The Book, which I'd never heard before, and which I loved instantly over the rather tepid Punch The Clock single.

And he played "God Give Me Strength", I think solo with acoustic guitar (though was Steve adding piano touches? Can't remember!). It blew me away, and the melody instantly hit home. It'd be great to hear a recording of that acoustic version sometime. He explained the Burt Bacharach fax machine songwriting sessions beforehand, which became a familiar story in magazine pieces later on.

Don't remember much more about it, except that I think he did Clown Strike, which always works really well live, even though it's not a standout on the album.

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:31 am

That's foxed me! I've seen every show he's done at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

I remember a show in 1995 when his voice was messed up and he played God Give Me Strength solo - in fact he started the show by playing a few songs solo to get his voice loosened. This was the show with the Attractions, Marc Ribot and James Burton.

I don't think he played God Give Me Strength at the November shows in 1994 (as I don't think it hadn't been written at that time) and I don't think it was played at the shows in July 1996.

The Merseybeat version of Everyday I Write The Book was played at Shepherds Bush on 18th November 1994.

I don't think these two songs featured in the same setlist though.

I am open to correction!

And No Coffee Table · Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:49 am

verbal gymnastics wrote:I don't think he played God Give Me Strength at the November shows in 1994 (as I don't think it hadn't been written at that time) and I don't think it was played at the shows in July 1996.

The Merseybeat version of Everyday I Write The Book was played at Shepherds Bush on 18th November 1994.

I don't think these two songs featured in the same setlist though.

I am open to correction!

I suspect this is the show Neil saw:

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... 1996-07-19

And you're correct that "Everyday I Write The Book" is not in the setlist. As far as I know, it wasn't played at all on the 1996 tour, although it was played in 1994.

(Nearly every setlist from both of those tours can be found on the wiki site, by the way.)

Neil. · Post by **Neil.** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:13 am

Guys, you're right! I've seen Elvis at Shepherd's Bush Empire twice - once for Brutal Youth Tour and the other for ATYB. I'm getting the buggers mixed up!

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:52 am

And No Coffee Table wrote:
verbal gymnastics wrote:I don't think he played God Give Me Strength at the November shows in 1994 (as I don't think it hadn't been written at that time) and I don't think it was played at the shows in July 1996.

The Merseybeat version of Everyday I Write The Book was played at Shepherds Bush on 18th November 1994.

I don't think these two songs featured in the same setlist though.

I am open to correction!
I suspect this is the show Neil saw:

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... 1996-07-19

And you're correct that "Everyday I Write The Book" is not in the setlist. As far as I know, it wasn't played at all on the 1996 tour, although it was played in 1994.

(Nearly every setlist from both of those tours can be found on the wiki site, by the way.)

This is where I cross referenced. As you can appreciate I can't remember the setlists of all the shows I've been to. But I referenced the setlists on the wiki site although these can contain errors. My memory was that these two songs didn't feature in the same setlist because of the timing.

But it seems that all has been answered! It's all Neil's fault