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Concert Reviews
 

 
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.

 
         
 

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