Review of concert from 2002-10-28: Newark, NJ, New Jersey Performing Arts Center - with Imposters
- Matthew Conroy

 

Elvis Performs a Miracle

As I crossed the street to the sleek new New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), I felt under-dressed. NJPAC is normally home to opera companies, classical musicians and orchestras. The enormous Prudential Hall, where Elvis and the Imposters were to perform, boasts state-of-the-art acoustics, a three-tiered balcony with side boxes, polite ushers and none of the burly security staff seen at the New York and Pittsburgh shows. Elvis seemed to be amused by the size of the place, giving a "shout out" to the fans in the third balcony. I was worried that the evening might be a bit of a snooze. I couldn't have been more wrong.

EC and the Imposters emerged to their now familiar yodeled William Tell Overture, then tore into "I Hope You're Happy Now" and "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)". Elvis gave the hyperactive Steve Nieve (who sported a NO WAR t-shirt) an assist with the theremin at the conclusion of "TOYOH", using the neck of his guitar. Throughout the evening, Nieve jumped from keyboard to keyboard like a mad scientist, drawing out new sounds and textures.

A pair of tunes from Armed Forces followed (a powerful "Party Girl" and "Accidents Will Happen"). The close of Party Girl, with its echoes of The Beatles "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", was enormously powerful.

By far the biggest surprise of the main set was the inclusion of the much-maligned "I Wanna Be Loved". Elvis performed a kind of miracle, transforming it from the overproduced, synth-driven concoction heard on Goodbye Cruel World into an Al Green-style soul tune. "The Judgment" and "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" also owed a lot to Elvis' singing, which was consistently great. A poignant "Still Too Soon To Know", sung solo and without microphone, brought the crowd to its feet, where they remained for the rest of the evening. It was followed by a galloping "Girls Talk". "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror", coupled with "You Really Got A Hold On Me" wound up the main set, with the crowd participating in a call-and-response.

The first set of encores included a rousing "Mystery Dance" and a fun, trashy romp through "Leave My Kitten Alone". Elvis broke out the old standbys for the final set of encores -- "Radio Radio", "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" and "Pump It Up" (with band intro) -- all delivered with great energy and commitment. The crowd was silenced by the demonic "I Want You/Almost Blue", Elvis lit from below, desperately strangling the microphone. Steve Nieve closed "Almost Blue" with a lonely and barren melodica solo, bringing the curtain down on a great show.