Review of concert from 2002-05-18: Portland, OR, Roseland Theater - with Imposters
- Chris Mouser

 

A GOOD YEAR FOR THE ROSELAND

(Portland, Oregon – May 18, 2002)

By Chris Mouser

As Roseland filled up for the first show of the Costello & the Imps tour, I couldn’t help but notice a large bulletin board near one of the theater’s corner watering holes which advertised (ironically): COMING ATTRACTIONS. How about, two former Attractions due on stage, no Bruce this time folks. By the way, quite a diverse range of artists lined up for Portland this summer– from Neil Finn to …er, … brought to you by Charlton Heston & the National Rifle Association, …Ted Nugent.

From my vantage point overlooking the stage in the tiny horseshoe balcony, I could make out the flashlight that led the Elvis & crew very slowly along a narrow backstage corridor & carefully up a few dark stairs to the stage while Dust 2 looped away on the sound system. I found myself imagining a little backstage Spinal Tap moment – "Time to rock & roll!" Yes, it’s a rock ‘n roll creation!

They jogged onstage at the smallish Portland, Oregon venue and immediately spun into 45. The fair sprinkling of bobbing, balding pates on the main floor definitely dug the sentiment. Waiting For the End of the World was next up and an appropriately-titled pick for the post-Sept. 11 angst of doofus Dubya’s America – oh excuse me, I forgot, 80 percent approval rate for the "President" – all join the federally legislated mantra, must approve of the President … must approve…

Anyway, Elvis kept his between-tune raps brief and amusing, welcoming everyone with, "It’s good to be back in the Rose City!" He followed by saying something about admission being so difficult for this one that ticket deals were being struck outside which involved the local strip clubs. I personally witnessed several $80-per ticket "deals" made while waiting in the queue to get in.

Spooky Girlfriend received the comical intro/explanation of "It’s about a show business weasel who has an unhealthy interest in the hairstyles of German porn stars … and his protégé, she has a an entirely understandable fascination with color-coordinated shoes and credit cards." Elvis encouraged audience participation on this one, with loud choruses of "Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo…" happening in all the right spots.

The general admission crowd was packed into every corner of the club/theater – a great audience that helped to push the show along at a brisk "Saturday Night" pace. From 45 to Tear Off Your Own Head (It’s a Doll Revolution), which ended the regular set, there was very little slow down. It wasn’t a Ramones show, but after seeing a couple of (equally brilliant) Elvis & Steve tours in recent years that were chock-full of ballads, this one did feel a bit more, dare I say, 1977 – you can add a bit of ’78, ’79, ‘80, ’67 (Mina sample) and good portions of 2002+ to that. Hell, it was just good music. EC’s already told everyone he’s not going to remake "Armed Forces" get over it! "When I Was Cruel" stands on its own two dancing feet pretty damn well - no complaints here. (By the way, I didn’t hear any idiots yelling for Alison at this show as occurred when Elvis introduced When I Was Cruel No. 2 at Easy Street Records in Seattle on Wednesday).

The new songs mixed-in very well with the older material. High Fidelity and Possession raced into Tart – All the Rage, Man Out of Time and Beyond Belief arrived nicely on the doorstep of Dust 2. The Imposters made the new stuff even better than the recorded versions – Steve adding his usual remarkable flourishes on the keyboards, Pete – the consummate pro throughout and Davey bringing a welcome enthusiasm for the material which has undoubtedly boosted the band’s energy level.

EC struck a very Johnny Cash-like pose in his all-black, right down to the cowboy boots - although the pre-show warm-up tape, after youthful labelmate opener American Hi-Fi finished their energetic set, contained nothing except Elvis’s other favorite Sun Records man, Roy Orbison.

The pair of three-song encores each began with a song off the new album – Alibi & Episode Of Blonde respectively. Elvis spat out the lyrics "And you took it ‘cos you need it/Maybe Jesus wants you for a sunbeam" (Kurt Cobain-inspired alibis, alibis?) with enough venom & volume to carry to the nearby Satyricon Club where Kurt & Courtney began their sad & stormy Sid & Nancy II affair. The two encores each ended very differently – a crowd-pleasing (though not my favorite – too much sports arena play during basketball time-outs has somewhat ruined it) Pump It Up and a crowd-chilling, I Want You (spooky facial spotlight on Elvis throughout like a long-lost out-take from Lynch’s "Blue Velvet" – brilliant!).

As they waved their "goodnights" and motored north up the I-5 freeway for Seattle, Orbison’s It’s Over hit the Roseland sound system & show No. 1 of the tour was in the bag (papa’s brand new one). It was 15 Petals & a concert beyond belief for the City of Roses. Rowdy, yep…rock, roll & rhythm, uh-huh.