Review of concert from 2002-09-02: Dublin, National Stadium
- with Imposters
Irish Independent, 2002-09-03
- Niamh Hooper
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Elvis Costello: jamming |
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Acoustic Costello switches on the fans
Elvis Costello
Review: Niamh Hooper
AT TIMES at last night's Elvis Costello gig it felt that we had intruded
on a jamming session.
The 48-year-old London-born, Liverpool-raised, Irish resident was at
the National Stadium with The Imposters and it was only after two and
a half hours, three encores and a standing ovation that he left the
stage.
The man born as Declan McManus was in great voice and loving every
minute of the performance, though detractors could accuse him of being
a bit on the self-indulgent side with his long heavy guitar solos.
Early on in the evening his monitor wasn't working and, after an acoustic
interlude, the band took a break and came back on 10 minutes later and
gave it everything.
Passion, emotion, and enthusiasm as always.
"It's good to be back home," he told a crowd of about 5,000
mostly in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
Much of the material in Costello's set came from his current album,
entitled When I was Cruel. However. he also dipped back into his 11
albums and 300-plus song catalogue for the evening's entertainment.
Favourites included Indoor Fireworks, Diving for Pearls and You Little
Fool. Many of the hits he played were re-interpreted with a heavier
rock edge.
There is no doubting Elvis Costello's wonderful talent and voice but
he seemed last night to be a man indulging in a final fling of some
sort.