Review of concert from 1999-11-15: Manchester, Palace Theatre
Guardian, 1999-11-17
- James Hopkin

 

Elvis Costello

Palace, Manchester/touring
Rating: ****

James Hopkin
Wednesday November 17, 1999

Elvis Costello has come a long way since the days when he sang his heart out as a knock-kneed punk in an ill-fitting suit and big glasses. After collaborations with the Brodsky Quartet and, more recently, Burt Bacharach, some feared that one of our finest singer-songwriters was destined to spend his mature years snuggled deep in the easy-listening category. And what was he doing in that Spiceworld movie?

But, promoting his latest Best Of package at the Palace, the crooner of domestic crisis silenced any dissenters with an energetic performance that lasted more than two and a half hours. From the moment he ran on stage and strummed his way through the fury of Alibi Factory to the closing Favourite Hour (which he sang without a microphone to a spellbound audience), Costello exhibited all the theatricality of a true entertainer.

By his side was the added Attraction of Steve Nieve, his long-time keyboardist. When not whacking the keys with lunatic conviction, Nieve twiddled the knobs on a magical music box that came up with drums, a bass-line and atmospheric soundscapes.

Together they hurled themselves through Costello's back-catalogue of darkly comic vignettes and songs of emotional protest. A tender Talking in the Dark was followed by a successful new Nieve arrangement of Temptation. A sing-along Radio Sweetheart gave way to the raw-nerve sentiments of Alison. And new compositions suggested that the balladeer of heartbreak and injustice hasn't lost his edge.

Costello may now have to stand on his toes to hit the high notes, but he still gets there. I Want You found every heart in the house. He's also a master of microphone technique: a majestic version of Shipbuilding - the best song to come out of the Thatcher years - had him singing a full 10 yards from the microphone, to haunting effect.

Now and then, however, Nieve's box of tricks got the better of him. Green Shirt suffered from what sounded like some weird psychedelic accompaniment, and the long-awaited Oliver's Army was a little lacklustre.

But there were pulsing versions of (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea and Clubland, and later Costello swapped his acoustic for a chunky lime-green Gibson for a boisterous Watching the Detectives. Nieve repeatedly slammed the piano lid, broke it, and then threw it over his shoulder as the song ended. So they haven't forgotten how to rock'n'roll after all.

• Elvis Costello plays the Apollo, Oxford (0870-606 3500), Friday, De Montfort Hall, Leicester (0116-233 3111), Saturday, then tours.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 1999