Review of concert from 2002-05-29: San Diego, CA, Copley Symphony Hall - with Imposters
- Joyce Awramik

 

I Felt Tears Running Down My Cheeks

Last night we went to the Elvis show at Symphony Hall.  Show was OK, but the venue was weird....weird.  Next time Elvis plays San Diego, I'm going to suggest he play at 4th and B.  Then there will be plenty of beer and room to dance.  Elvis, you do read this web-site don't you?
 
Stupid Symphony Hall only had 4 bartenders for the whole joint, they were s-l-o-o-o-o-w and stupid.  Even at that they ran out of beer(!!!!!!!!!!) by the 4th song of the set and closed the bars soon after. No wonder the tickets cost $75, they have to make up for all the lost revenue from their concessions!
 
The opening act was some nameless numb-buddies who sucked.  Played for 40 minutes while the faithful bailed out of the theatre to stand in endless lines for alcohol.
 
Then at last it was time for Mr. Costello.  He opened with my current favorite off the new album: "45".  I adore the word-play and the theme: the weave of years and record speeds and caliber of handgun.  Delicious!
 
Bunches of old rockers: Watching the Detectives, Waiting for the End of the World, Chelsea, Beyond Belief.  I would have liked to have heard "Indoor Fireworks" and something off "Useless Beauty," but you can't have everything.  That's why we have CD collections.
 
Elvis was in fine form and good voice!  From my vantage near the front row, one could appreciate the force of his delivery by the enthusiastic amount of aerosolized saliva that was spat out with the lyrics.  Sort of like damp machine-gun bullets?
 
We did have a bit of an audience sing-along on "Tart" and "Alibi." 
Tame crowd though, tame.  Perhaps sedated by all the velvet and ormolu?
 
Best part was near the end when Elvis invited us (such a well-behaved crowd, no fear of a riot, how things have changed since 1980!) down to the edge of the stage to boogie, sing along and watch the encores.
 
He ended the show with "I Want You."  I thought back to all the years and how Elvis and his music and his anger and his energy have been like a constant thread running through my life.  He's been with me longer than lovers, or most friends, or any cars I've owned.  And I mouthed the words and sang along and felt happy/sad/anguished/nostalgic warm tears running down my cheeks.  That was the best part.