Review of concert from 2002-07-10: Sydney, Enmore Theatre - with Imposters
Sydney Morning Herald, 2002-07-12
- Bernard Zuel

 

Relentless revue ... Elvis Costello. Photo: Domino Postiglione

This time around, Elvis really rocks

Elvis Costello and the Imposters
Reviewed by Bernard Zuel
Enmore Theatre, July 10

Key moment no. 1: Spooky Girlfriend. Here was a slice of warped dance music - slinky, sly and not at all slight - coming across as virtuoso R&B producer Timbaland's running head first into a seaside brass band. You could see why Elvis Costello wants Destiny's Child to record the song. And why they should hire the Imposters for grunt.

The last time Elvis Costello was here, backed only by pianist Steve Nieve, the nights were deconstructions or at least reductions with songs pared to their essential elements of melody and hook. Those were nights for sitting down.

This tour, with the fluid, light fingered Davey Faragher more than capably replacing long-time bass player Bruce Thomas, alongside original Attractions drummer Pete Thomas and Nieve, is as far from quiet and polite as can be.

This is a rock 'n' roll show with relative subtlety traded in for plenty of volume, consistent hustle and a seesawing balance between visceral and intellectual.

Key moment no. 2: Tart seguing into Beyond Belief seguing into Accidents Will Happen. The Imposters shimmied from the Costa del Sol-flavoured angular ballad Tart into a nervy, bustling ithat chased itself all the way into Accidents Will Happen. The underlying theme was bristling power. You shouldn't be sitting for this.

While being at their core what Costello has called "beat music" and therefore seen by some as a return to his roots, the new songs are intriguing variations on regulation Costello. Thrown together into the relentless revue style show the old and new didn't merge so much as bounce off each other, sparking different angles.

Key moment no 3: When I Was Cruel. Coming out of the barrelling '50s style rocker Honey Are You Straight Or Are You Blind?, the mood almost naturally turned to '50s noir. With a sampled voice intoning one word and a drum loop repeating on itself we were in a macabre dance that seemed the perfect soundtrack to a David Lynch ballroom scene.

No radical change in arrangements this tour. But that wasnt a loss, not when delivered with the kind of energy typified by the windmilling arms of Thomas who drove Radio Radio with pounding toms and the duelling guitars and keyboards of (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea.

Key moment no. 4: I Want You. In the fourth encore, the exuberant power-pop double from 1978 of You Belong To Me and Pump It Up looked like the obvious way to end the show: the room bouncing, the energy levels peaking. But a sharp right turn took us into I Want You, the darkest and disturbing of obsessive tales. With the lights turned to blue, the Imposters holding themselves back and Costello almost maniacally repeating key phrases, the song now had a real murderous edge. It was what you expected but more; traditional but twisted. A lot like the night. Impressive. Very impressive.