Review of concert from 2002-10-19: Pittsburgh, PA, AJ Palumbo Centre - with Imposters
- Matthew Conroy

 

"Fucking Gym" Does Not Do Justice To Sound of Elvis

Elvis noted at the outset of the show that he had not performed in Pittsburgh since 1989. If he keeps the promise he gave at the end of the evening to return again soon, one can only hope he will be able to find a more sonically pleasing venue than the A.J. Palumbo Center, a basketball gym more suited to a pep rally than a rock concert. The venue also boasts the most unnecessarily aggressive event staff I have ever encountered. Concertgoers standing in the aisle were quickly accosted, asked for their tickets and ordered to return promptly to their seats, even after Elvis had motioned to the crowd to get closer to the stage. Concentration camps had less stringent security.

Laura Cantrell opened the evening with renditions of tunes from her new disc "When the Roses Bloom Again" and her debut, "Not the Tremblin' Kind." Between songs, she noted that this was the seventh show her band had played with EC and the Imposters on the Cruel tour and that she was well aware that the crowd was anxious to hear the boys "Pump it up." Her rather sedate set gave no indication of the aural assault to come.

Elvis and the Imposters appeared onstage at the conclusion of a yodeled version of Rossini's "William Tell" overture -- marvelous, wacky stuff. As the band tore through blistering versions of "I Hope You're Happy Now" and "Revolution Doll," it became apparent that the acoustics of what Elvis would later call a "fucking gym" could simply not do justice to sound of EC and the Imposters at full tilt. Steve Nieve's keyboards were almost completely lost in the mix, which was dominated by bass and drums. At several points during the set, Elvis motioned to the stage crew, finally resulting in a change of microphones between numbers.

The highlights of the first part of the set were The Judgment (passionately sung and introduced by Elvis with an amusing anecdote of a man on trial in the "Court of Love" confronted by a jury of "eight women and.... four women"), a lovely "Indoor Fireworks" and a soulful pairing of "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" and "You've Really Got A Hold On Me." "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down" was a welcome and unexpected addition.

The first group of encores concluded with "Alison", segueing into "He'll Have to Go" and "Suspicious Minds." It was beautifully sung and is an interesting way of injecting new life into a familiar favorite.

The final grouping was a sort of "greatest hits" package, including "Watching the Detectives," "Radio Radio," and "Pump It Up." All were played with amazing energy and commitment, considering the number of times the band has played them, and Elvis can be forgiven for giving the "good people of Pittsburgh," as he called them, the hits they have waited thirteen years to hear again. The evening closed with a theatrical and frankly chilling rendition of "I Want You." The woman seated next to me walked out with her husband half way through the song, looking mortified.

As has been his custom on this leg of the tour, Elvis took time to sign autographs and pose for photos at the conclusion of the show. When asked about the venue, he confirmed his disappointment with the acoustics. It's scary to think how good the band will sound in a proper concert hall. Thankfully, I'll get two more chances to find out.