Review of concert from 2003-10-11: London, Royal Festival Hall - with Steve Nieve
- Nick Ratcliffe

 

EC, SN and the Brodsky Quartet at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 11 October 2003.

I set out for the concert, wearing my green shirt, passing the Hoover Factory en route but choosing not to go across Hungerford Bridge (especially at twilight), preferring Westminster Bridge instead.

EC wore a dark brown suit with a reddish brown tie. He played an acoustic guitar and drank three or four mugs of a steaming hot drink (possibly honey and lemon). Elvis's voice is suffering a little already from the rigours of the tour. The off mike stuff can't be helping. You can tell when his voice is suffering (particularly on some of the North songs) when he goes big on audience singalongs like Gods' Comic and the "Do do do" bits at the end of CCIU #4. Personally, I could have done without God's comic, even if the "narrative" section has been updated to include references to Sex in the City and Pop Idol. Interesting comment within the narrative on right wing politicians. Oh, and God is now female. Pills and Soap also had some new lyrics, with a reference to Bombay Gin and German spite. Has anyone else picked this up ?

The Brodsky Quartet made a welcome "surprise" entrance for the second round of encores. It would have been more of a surprise if their music stands (and the cellist's stool) had not been on stage from the very start. Their version of "my mood swings" worked very well. They also performed this for the "sold on song" recording, and I hope this forms part of next Saturday's BBC Radio 2 broadcast. Their version of "Almost Blue" worked less well - as soon as the strings came in, the piano stopped and vice versa. It seems that EC has been relistening to the album "Almost Blue" judging by recent set lists.

For the third set of encores EC accompanied himself on the grand piano, and did so pretty well. His style is less complicated that Steve's, but certainly more accomplished than you might guess from watching the North DVD. Two fingered it ain't.

The new material was generally well received. The songs featuring the Brodsky Quartet were particularly applauded. Maestro Steve Naive was on good form, albeit working from sheet music for some numbers. As well as the concert grand piano, he played a small wind instrument, with a short piano style keyboard, which produced a sound not unlike an accordian. No idea what is is called - any offers? (Ed - melodica)

Finally - celebrity spotting. In alphabetical order - Chris Difford, Clint Eastwood, Ross MacManus. Ross was sporting a bottle green v neck sweater with the words "London Irish RFC" on it. The only other person I know who supports London Irish is one Terry Wogan. Hmmm. Ross was with Elvis's son Matthew, who looks a lot like his dad (without glasses) and even sports his own sideburns.

If you'd asked me to pick an A list Hollywood celebrity to turn up unexpected at an Elvis concert in London, the former mayor of Carmel would not have been my first choice. Clint made a late appearance in the stalls with several "minders", and had an OK seat (behind mine and Pete's), but I'm guessing he would have liked more leg room. He sat throughout the concert and stayed behind for about an hour to chat to Elvis. He and Elvis left the theatre more or less together. The "paparazzi" outside, focused on Clint in preference to Elvis. There was no sign of Diana Krall.

Note to any Italian listers - expect to see the Brodsky Quartet on the forthcoming Italian dates (based on a conversation with one of the quartet in the car park after the show).

Note to European Listers generally - lost of merchandising coming your way - T shirts with four or five different designs and mugs with the North flower logo on them (white or black). No posters though.