Manchester concert

martinfoyle · Post by **martinfoyle** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 9:21 am

Here's an interesting review on the google list
http://groups.google.ie/groups?dq=&hl=e ... google.com

-I went along to the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Friday night
with, I confess, a little trepidation. It was to be the fifth time I
had seen Elvis, but the first time in over 20 years. Also, I kind of
lost touch with his work after Imperial Bedroom, apart from a few
tracks at the end of a "Very best of" CD, so there was likely to be
quite a bit of the show which I just wouldn't recognize.

Elvis Costello is a performer I grew up with. Unusually for me, I was
there from the early days, right from the first record. I bought "This
Year's Model" on the day it came out, loved it on first listen, and
still rate it as one of the greatest ever rock albums ever, and with
The Clash's "London Calling", the greatest album to come out of the
Punk era.

So I've grown up and Elvis has grown up, and I was kind of worried
that seeing him again 20-odd years later might it some way spoil my
memories of him.

What kind of show was I hoping for? Well I didn't want it to be a
greatest hits show, because I always think that's a bit sad, but yes I
was hoping for a few of the classics mixed in with some new stuff. Of
course new stuff for me, might be something released 15 years ago.
King of America is new to me!

So he walked on stage, just himself and Steve Nieve, and wow, I was
taken back in time. The guy had barely changed. Sure a receding
hairline was in evidence, but he was dressed more or less the same,
and when he opened with "Accidents will happen", it felt like I'd
never been away. I thought his voice started a little shakily, but
half way through the song he seemed to gain confidence and opened up,
and for the rest of the show, even if I didn't like a particular song,
I couldn't fault his voice. A truly great singer, with awesome power.
Occasionally, usually when singing a slower song, he would stand back
from the microphone, something I've not seen other performers do
before, giving his voice a distant but still powerful sound. Ten out
of ten for his singing.

As it turned out, "Accidents will happen" was the only song (as far as
I can recall) from the first 3 albums, which was slightly
disappointing for me. He did sing "Peace Love and Under standing", but
it was probably the biggest disappointment of the show, lacking the
power I expected of the song. Perhaps that was due to the lack of a
band, and maybe he shouldn't have attempted it with just an acoustic
guitar and piano.

The highlight of the show for me was "Man out of time", which was sung
and performed superbly. Other songs from the early years which I can
remember now, included "Club land", "Shot with his own gun", "Good
Year for the roses", "I'm your Toy" and "Almost Blue". All performed
well, but although all great songs, I'd only count "Shot with his own
Gun" as a classic. I didn't expect him to play all old stuff, and I
would have been disappointed if he had, I just wish that when he did
play the old numbers, he could have played a better selection. I
suppose the lack of a band limited what he could play.

So what about the "new" songs? I thought they were pretty good on the
whole, but there were times when I was desperate for him to speed
things up a bit. Five or six of his "love" songs on the bounce was a
bit much I thought. I'd have to say I preferred him when he hated
everything and everybody. Still, his voice and the performance kept me
interested.

In total he played about 27 songs I think, about 4 encores, 3 songs
per encore. I went away well pleased with the night. His reputation
was undiminished in my eyes, he is a superb singer and great
performer, and although I might not see eye to eye with him in the
style of music he plays these days, hasn't that always been the case,
and what sets him apart from the riff raff. Who would have thought he
would have released "Almost Blue" when he did? The guys a genius.

Colin

laughingcrow · Post by **laughingcrow** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 11:15 am

That's the most perceptive and honest review I've read yet.

All Hail Colin.

John · Post by **John** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 6:00 pm

Thanks Emotional and Plaything for correcting me on Indoor Fireworks. He definitely didn't do it. I had put a cd together of all non-North tracks he has been doing in concert recently and must have brainwashed myself with it.
The highlight of the concert for me was Sleep Of The Just.
Favourite North tracks are Still, Fallen and Let Me Tell You About Her.
I notice North entered the Begium album chart at no. 12 and has stayed in the top 20 for 3 weeks. Seems to have done OK In Japan but struggled everywhere else.

PlaythingOrPet · Post by **PlaythingOrPet** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 6:35 pm

I'm with Colin here. We both agree on EC's dodgy voice at the beginning, EC's fantastic voice for the rest of the night; the very lacklustre PL+U but amazing MOOT and too many North songs in one go. Go Colin!

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 6:35 pm

Colin's got lots of shopping to do. Glad he got reconnected. Still tedious to read him wanting to hate everyone (does Colin live alone with his cat?). And I don't agree about PLU, it's a classic singalong song, perfect done accoustically, just right for the camp fire, or, as we saw earlier, for a solo performance on TFI Friday. It just sounds so strong like that, I think.

I have no criticisms of Elvis right now, every thing he does and says is perfect, and I'm deeply in love with him.

PlaythingOrPet · Post by **PlaythingOrPet** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 6:39 pm

And what does Dame David think of you being so much in love with Elvis right now?

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 6:58 pm

He's not jealous, he knows my heart will be his come Nov 26.

so lacklustre · Post by **so lacklustre** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 3:57 am

Nice review there by Colin. Agree with OW that the London performance od PL&U was pretty good but made memorable by the up/down episode of the dancers.

laughingcrow · Post by **laughingcrow** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 11:18 am

Found this whilst trawling ebay...

FOR COLLECTORS ONLY (Misha, this means you)... ONLY 99 OF YOUR BRITISH PENCE...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=29885

How do you get a backstage pass anyway? Do you have to be sleeping with the bouncers or something?

Post by **spooky girlfriend** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 11:31 am

There's got to be a better way than having to sleep with the bouncers.

I wonder if flashing them would work?

PlaythingOrPet · Post by **PlaythingOrPet** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 11:34 am

Look at their name - he/she probably did sleep with a bouncer!

laughingcrow · Post by **laughingcrow** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 11:47 am

Wow..what a weird collection of stuff they've sold...VHS of Alfie, Harold and Maude and Cul de Sac...and get this, they sold a menu off of Concorde for 28 quid!!!!!!!! They've bought for themselves a cameraphone Nokia and a Casio blood pressure monitor wrist watch!

http://cgi2.ebay.co.uk/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI ... pforcoffee

WOW...I love this ebay thing...it's like nosing through someones draws!

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 8:18 am

Can't I just pay for my coffee, please?

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:22 am

laughingcrow wrote:How do you get a backstage pass anyway? Do you have to be sleeping with the bouncers or something?

My mate goes to almost EVERY Elvis show in the UK. In 1999 he asked Elvis to sign his tickets and Elvis said to him "See you in Glasgow". My mate said he couldn't get a ticket and Elvis put him on his guest list. I swear this is true. My mate got to the show, picked up his ticket AND Elvis had sorted him out a backstage pass courtesy of Steve. My admiration for Elvis went up considerably.

When we went to the Festival Hall show my mate asked Steve if we could get onto his guest list. Steve took our names and said he'd see what he could do.

We're going to the show anyway but if we got on Steve's guest list that would be fantastic. I would then have to tease Pip and Plaything considerably...

...although after the Festival Hall show I consider Elvis and Steve as close personal friends anyway!

Post by **spooky girlfriend** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:25 am

Who needs to sleep with the bouncers when we've got Verbal to pull strings for us?

PlaythingOrPet · Post by **PlaythingOrPet** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:41 am

VG - You are making that detour so I can catch a lift when you go to Bournmouth, aren't you? I'll give you some of this apple pie I'm "cooking" if you dooOooo

.

Oh yeah I'll be at my sister's then. Even better!

pip_52 · Post by **pip_52** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:06 am

Yeah, um, think you could stop off at the States on your way?

Would that be too far?

miss buenos aires · Post by **miss buenos aires** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:19 am

spooky girlfriend wrote:Who needs to sleep with the bouncers when we've got Verbal to pull strings for us?

Who needs to sleep with bouncers when sleeping with Verbal would probably be far more pleasant and effective?

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:20 am

pip_52 wrote:Yeah, um, think you could stop off at the States on your way?

Would that be too far?

Meet me on the Corner.

(Sorry - couldn't resist!)

Post by **spooky girlfriend** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:25 am

I know Miss BA, I was just trying to be discreet since I know Verbal is a happily married newlywed.

I'd be happy enough for Verbal to put in a good word with Elvis to come to the southern US, even if he has to bring jazz princess with him.