Elvis (solo) plays Singapore, 5 Oct. '09

[Ypsilanti]

Hey! I just noticed--the mustache is gone!

[johnfoyle]

http://criesandwhispers.wordpress.com/



October 10, 2009

Tertia posts -

(extract)


After being absolutely gutted for missing out on Bloc Party (it was actually Matt Tong’s DJ Set, but stillll!!) AND Handsome Furs (superhero husband+wife by day, superstar band duo by night), I was thrilled and bloody ack-cited to catch Elvis Costello earlier this week!

The demographic profile of the audience must have been overweight caucasians in their late-30s, so initially we felt highly awkward being two singaporeans at half their age, weight and height. Nevertheless, Costello pulled an awesome gig! I’m slightly embarrassed to admit I dozed off half-way through because I was fuckin tired from one too many late nights. My point: Costello is brilliant – if you enjoy classic rock + johnny cash with a tinge of jazz, soul and folk.

[johnfoyle]

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009 ... ryone.html

A good night for everyone

Felix Dass , Contributor , Singapore

Sun, 10/11/2009

Elvis Presley might have died years ago. But Elvis Costello is still alive and kicking.

There's always a rush of adrenalin when people see a legendary musician performing live, and it was no different when Elvis arrived on stage.

Elvis gave a fantastic performance to more than 2,000 people at the Singapore Sun Festival 2009 held at Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore.

The festival holds a combination of music, literature, film, visual arts, cuisine and wellbeing events, branched together under the umbrella, "The Art of Living Well".

In its third year, the festival committee chose Elvis Costello to perform, believing he fit in with the theme, and audiences love him. And they did. He gave a remarkable performance.

With more than 30 albums to his name and more than three decades in the industry, it's no surprise Costello delivered a mind-blowing performance.

During his career, he has worked with other notable performers such as Jimmy Cliff, Sir Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach. He has also collaborated with an orchestra, which has since been made into a record.

But importantly are his lyrics, which have had a lasting impact. His lyrics have been heard right around the globe, inspiring millions of people for more than 30 years.

Elvis' audience in Singapore was no different. Music-goers in the concert hall enjoyed his performance backed by his support band, composed of five guitars, bass and drums.(huh?)

"I don't know what you want to hear so I'm just gonna play them all," he told his audience at the show's start, before he launched into playing some of his greatest hits.

He opened the set with his 1979 single, "Accidents Will Happen", which his Singaporean audience cheered enthusiastically.

Some would say his performance was as good as hearing all your favorite jukebox songs in the one evening.

He played almost all his hit songs: 1981's "A Good Year for the Roses", "Everyday I Write a Book", and even his first chart single, "Watching the Detectives" from his 1977 debut album My Aim is True. You name it, he played it.

He entertained from start to finish. His charismatic personality, along with a live performance's "raw" element, kept the audience's attention for the entire duration.

He also shared his impression of Singapore with his audience, saying he admired the Esplanade Concert Hall's grandeur.

"I've never performed in a more beautiful building than this," he said, which made the crowd go crazy, making everyone who attended feel special.

"A few years ago, I stopped over in Singapore on my way to perform in New Zealand," he said. "And now I can't believe I am back here to perform in this very beautiful venue."

An extraordinary day for his audience and just another day "in the office" for him, Costello looked as if he was having a ball. He finished the show with "Alison", another well-known hit from his 1977 debut album, which the audience joined in.

After wearing their voices thin, clapping and stamping, he came back onto the stage and grabbed his guitar. He finished with a finale including "She", his pop hit from 1999's Notting Hill soundtrack, and "Oliver's Army".

It seemed the concert had ended, but he surprised the audience with another encore, much to their delight.

The audience's enthusiastic applause was a good indicator he'd put on a good performance. He showed his audience the art of living well.

Mission completed.

[Otis Westinghouse]

After Singapore, Costello flies to Australia for eight more performances. Then he's off to Europe, where he takes over family duties from his wife, Canadian singer Diana Krall, as she embarks on a European tour.

Elvis finally gets to tour Europe... as the childminder.

[johnfoyle]

Unless someone is telling fibs/fantasising , Elvis appears to have got from Austin TX to Singapore in one day ;

http://bigwampum.blogspot.com/2009/10/t ... -more.html

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Joe blogs -

(extract)



Last weekend, I turned 40.

The big Four OH. We went to Austin, Texas.

On Sunday, I got on an elevator in the Omni Hotel in downtown Austin. It is a glass elevator, overlooking a fifteen story atrium.The elevator was full. I had to slide in sideways, with my back right up against the buttons.

Elvis Costello was wedged into the opposite corner.

The door closed, and Elvis looks at me and says, "Who are you seeing today?"

"Pearl Jam.

( Pearl Jam did play there that day - http://www.pearljam.com/tour/show/austi ... ct-04-2009 )


I'm here for my fortieth birthday.

Are ... you.... Elvis Costello?

(Who else could it be?)

"Yes, yes, I am Elvis Costello."

He lunges across the elevator, through a few people, shakes me hand...

"Happy Birthday, mate."

That's a true story, and a pretty damn good way to start the day.

[Ypsilanti]

Unless someone is telling fibs/fantasising , Elvis appears to have got from Austin TX to Singapore in one day

...or, perhaps there are actually two "Elvi" (clone? cyborg? doppelganger?), which would explain a lot and make that punishing, super-human work schedule seem more realistic. Also very useful for the baby-sitting, I would imagine.

[Otis Westinghouse]

And Singapore is 14 hours ahead of Austin, so he would probably have travelled on the 3rd to arrive on the 4th and be ready and rested for the 5th.

[Ypsilanti]

I can't stop laughing about this! It's hilarious--there's a guy in Texas who probably gets mistaken for Elvis often enough that he just goes with it--calls the birthday boy "mate" and everything. Love that! Probably much simpler than trying to convince people he's not Elvis. I imagine he's even cultivated the accent...

[scielle]

After Singapore, Costello flies to Australia for eight more performances. Then he's off to Europe, where he takes over family duties from his wife, Canadian singer Diana Krall, as she embarks on a European tour.

Elvis finally gets to tour Europe... as the childminder.

Maybe this means we'll get a taping or two of Spectacle (Macca?) while they're in the UK.

[Man out of Time]

A set list has finally surfaced, via the not always entirely reliable, but occasionally indispensible, Setlist FM:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elvis-cos ... 7f97e.html

01. Accidents Will Happen
02. Complicated Shadows
03. Either Side Of The Same Town
04. Down Among The Wines And Spirits
05. Veronica
06. Good Year For The Roses
07. Alison
08. My Three Sons
09. Radio Sweetheart
10. Sulphur To Sugarcane
11. Condemned Man
12. Watching The Detectives
13. God's Comic
14. All Or Nothing At All
15. Toledo
16. Oliver's Army
Encore 1
17. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
18. Pump It Up

Also reportedly performed (order uncertain):
Everyday I Write The Book
She

MOOT