"I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE ATHENS..."
Elvis Costello & The Imposters take time out from "The Monkey Speaks His Mind Tour" to play three unique dates, billed as "Elvis Costello and the Pick-Ups" with special guest Dave Hidalgo
*Rhino Records will reissue Costello's album KING OF AMERICA on April 26, featuring his first collaboration with Hidalgo*
Elvis Costello & The Imposters will take time out from "The Monkey Speaks His Mind" tour to play three special dates billed as "Elvis Costello and the Pick-Ups," featuring Pete Thomas, Dave Faragher and special guest Dave Hidalgo from Los Lobos. The dates are :
April 24th - ANNAPOLIS,MD, Rams Head Live
April 26th - NORFOLK, VA, The Norva
April 27th - ATHENS, GA, Classic Center
The Imposters' keyboard player Steve Nieve will be absent from these shows as he has to travel to London for the initial recording sessions of his opera, "Welcome to the Voice." Costello explains, "Steve was only able to schedule several key singers on these particular days and I know how tricky the process of realizing something like this can be. We wish him well with the sessions." Costello appeared in the World Premiere of "Welcome to the Voice" at Town Hall, New York in 2000.
Speaking of the shows with The Pick-Ups, Costello said, "Rather than stand the rest of the band and crew down for that week, I decided to have a little adventure. We were delighted when David accepted our invitation to join us for these three shows. I've always wanted to see Athens. I hear that they have some great ruins."
"It is the first time that I have played in a two-guitar line-up since 1980 and it will give us an opportunity to play some different songs. In addition to being a great guitar player, David is a terrific singer and songwriter. He also plays a number of other instruments, so the show should contain plenty of surprises".
David Hildalgo first collaborated with Costello, as a harmony vocalist, on the 1986 album, "King of America." On April 26, Rhino Records will release a two CD version of "King of America", containing many unreleased outtakes and alternate versions plus excerpts from a live concert.
In 2004, Costello contributed a version of the Hildago/Perez song, "Matter of Time" to Los Lobos' collaborative collection, "The Ride". The song has been in Costello's repertoire since 1985. Los Lobos recorded Costello's "Uncomplicated" on their recent "Ride This: The Covers" E.P.
Steve Nieve will return to the U.S for Elvis Costello and the Imposters appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on April 30 and the Beale St. Festival in Memphis on May 1.