Review of concert
from 2002-05-18: Portland, OR, Roseland Theater - with Imposters
- Matt Ragozzino
2002-05-18: Portland, OR, Roseland Theater
Elvis Costello with Imposters
Elvis Costello and the Imposters opened their US tour May 18 at the
Roseland theater, a certified dive in Portland's Old Town. It was a
suitable venue for his return to loud. The standing-only main floor
in the shabby 1400-seat theater must have looked to him like the old
days as he opened by saying "you must have sold your grandmothers
to get in here." The show included half of the When I was Cruel
CD and vintage songs played in their original form. After opening with
45, Elvis stabbed out Waiting For The End Of The World and Watching
The Detectives, ending any speculation about what he had come to play.
This was the classic Elvis and he seemed glad to be back. He charged
through the 2-hour concert, stopping only long enough for brief intros
and frequent guitar changes. The setlist included 4 songs from This
Year's Model, 2 from Get Happy!, 2 from Imperial Bedroom, and a handful
of later songs. Alibi had a hotter fire than on the CD. "I love
you just as much as I hate your guts" sounded like a man facing
his accused. Dust 2... drifted into Dust and back. Throughout the show
Elvis punched guitar pedals, a tape echo, and a sampler, ending the
Mina backing in When I Was Cruel No. 2 with a dramatic button-push.
The finale, I Want You, had him backing out of the spotlight as he showed
the anatomy of obsession.
Steve Naive and Pete Thomas were as right as they always are. Davey
Faragher ably filled Bruce Thomas's large shadow and added his skills
as backing vocalist. Elvis's stories and banter were mostly absent compared
to the Useless Beauty tour. He signalled the audience to sing the do
do do's on Spooky Girlfriend but he needn't have bothered; the crowd
was singing the whole show. Elvis came to play, and he sounded like
he had a lot to get off his chest.