It's usual for the top-billing act to end a concert, but here was Elvis Costello saying goodnight around 10 o'clock and Ian Drury taking the stage.
As it turned out this was a more than fortuitous arrangement, for Costello was completely upstaged.
Drury's sardonic and mischievous performance illustrated the deficiency in Costello's, which for, the most part was repetitive and predictable. "Alison" could be cited as an exception, but there just wasn't enough material of that quality.
Costello is intense and serious, uninteresting as a performer and lacking presence. He seems to represent all seven-stone weaklings, fighting to get the world off his back.
Drury, on the other hand, is taking the world on, laughing at life and himself. "Clever Trevor" and "Billericay Nicky" are examples of coarse British humour at its best — pure farce and highly enjoyable.
I wish Elvis Costello would learn to smile too.
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