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Review of concert from 2003-10-07: Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall - with Steve Nieve
Scotsman, 2003-10-08
- Fiona Shepherd

 

Elvis Costello

Fiona Shepherd

Elvis Costello ****
ROYAL CONCERT HALL, GLASGOW

ELVIS Costello’s last Scottish show was a jubilant nostalgia trip for fans of his brittle post-punk numbers, with the added attraction of The Attractions to provide sharp backing. This time, he took the stripped-down approach, with just his right-hand man, "Professor" Steve Nieve, on piano and melodica, plus occasional acoustic guitar strumming from Costello.

This was to be primarily a showcase of his reflective new album, North, a gossamer collection of supper-club ballads about the disorienting power of love, inspired by his current partner, the jazz singer Diana Krall.

First, the dynamic duo limbered up with a fervent Accidents Will Happen, some Van Morrison-esque Celtic soul and emotionally incendiary playing from Nieve, whose contribution was clearly as crucial to the soul of this concert as Costello himself. The atmosphere changed with a selection of tracks from North, on which Costello’s voice took centre stage, plaintively conveying the personal yet universal sentiments, while Nieve offered lyrical, understated backing.

Everything about this performance was exquisitely measured, from the stark lighting to the melancholy but never indulgent tone.

With these songs, he has come close to tapping into the timelessness of maestros such as Burt Bacharach, a recent collaborator.

But there was far more to come in the course of three juicy encores, which eventually took up more time than the main set. To these ears, Costello has never sounded better. Few vocalists can pull off the risky gambit of straying from the microphone. When Costello did, he filled the hall with his feeling, giving such a racked performance on Shipbuilding that, at its conclusion, it looked like it had really cost him something.

The mood swung again. "If you’re in love, it’s time to celebrate," he announced. While he sang about the anatomy of a love affair, the crowd drank in the fruits of another happy, long-term relationship - that of these two expert players.

Having accompanied each other through an emotionally open two hours, which was also not without dashes of humour, they ended with a brisk manly handshake, as though they felt bashful for having exposing themselves so deeply.

 
         
 

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