Elvis Costello and the Imposters live at the Royal Centre, Nottingham
Robin Hood’s merry men dressed all in Green to help them hide in Sherwood Forest. EC and the Is came on stage in the Royal Centre Nottingham clad all in black, possibly in homage to the late Johnny Cash. The one exception was EC’s tie, in the colours of Liverpool Football Club.
The show kicked off with an upbeat “Blue Chair” followed by “Uncomplicated”. Another fast song might have followed had not one of the onstage monitors malfunctioned. Whilst the stage crew wrestled with this problem, EC swapped to an acoustic guitar (with the Elvis Dollar Bill on it) for “45”. The sound (which had been muddy to begin with) improved thereafter. Whilst acoustically the Royal Centre is a good performance space, its clinical white walls, high roof and almost sunken seating with a shallow rake make it a slightly cold environment and not one conducive to dancing. EC seemed to want to work to get everyone on their feet, but ultimately despite his best efforts, it didn’t happen. The bouncer stationed stage right may have had something to do with this too.
In a rare piece of chat towards the start of the concert EC referred to the incident in Norwich the previous night where a fan threw a glass of water over him. He noted that there was a paucity of Liverpool fans in Norwich. EC seemed more amused by the incident than angry or contrite. He noted that he was used to having drinks thrown over him from his early days, but he was more used to it being a pint of mild and bitter. He mentioned his first gig in Wales (at Aberystwyth) where he also had a drink thrown over him too – as though this were some kind of battle honour. Historians may note that the Aberystwyth gig was his first and last in that town.
The set featured thirty three songs drawn from fourteen different albums, a few which didn’t make it onto an album release initially, and (of course) the B side to a Nick Lowe single (PLU). Songs from The Delivery Man are integrated into the set and there was no attempt to distinguish them from the rest of the set (or to introduce them). Four songs from Imperial Bedroom (including a rocking Man out of Time) featured in the set, which may indicate where EC is looking for material for his next tour. Hurry Down Doomsday was a surprise inclusion in the set. Apparently he started playing this on the recent American leg of this Transatlantic tour.
A number of songs, including Sulky Girl, Accidents will Happen and 45 benefited from Davey’s warm complementary backing vocals. Other highlights included Temptation (with some nice keyboard themes), Almost Blue (with some very fine brush work from Pete Thomas), Complicated Shadows and The Name of This Thing is Not Love.
When I Was Cruel (No. 2) was played with passion, particularly the Nick Kent (Seaside yob) section, where EC’s expression was angry. Steve contributed an unusual harpsichord element to this song.
The introduction to Monkey to Man now includes a narrative about a stretch
limousine that EC spotted recently on Fifth Avenue in New York with the
legend “Doggy Divas” painted on the side. It has blacked out
windows, but one is ajar (dogs die in hot cars) and a manicured paw, holding
a cigarette and wearing a Cartier bracelet is sticking out of the gap. This
is (apparently) yet another sign of the decline of Western Civilisation.
Guitars were changed every couple of songs, now with practiced efficiency.
The more settled structure to the set means that the stage crew can have
the right guitar ready at the right time, making for a smooth changeover
each time. There was no evidence of broken strings all evening, suggesting
that those Little Hands of Concrete are softening with age.
After the show at the Stage Door, fans with armfuls of vinyl for signing mixed with the audience from High Society, playing at the neighbouring Theatre Royal. Drunken youngsters, thinly dressed, spilt out of the neighbouring nightclubs and enquired as to whether we were waiting for anyone famous.
Overall, EC and the Is proved good value and gave the near capacity audience all they could ask for and more.