Review of concert at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 1999-04-16
Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve
- Theo Wright [theo.wright@virgin.net]

 

Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 1999-04-16

The set list was clearly very similar to the Albert Hall gig the previous night. Elvis was on stage for 2 hours 30 minutes, and the sound quality was excellent (the acoustics at this venue always seem to be good). Standing ovations followed both Peace, Love and Understanding and God Give Me Strength. The audience seemed appreciative throughout and Elvis was in good humour.

The heckling theme for tonight was feline – starting with a ‘Miaow’ during Pads, Paws and Claws, several more later on, and the odd confused ‘Woof’. There was also the suggestion that the reference in God’s Comic to ‘Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem’ be replaced with ‘Cats’.

I was unbelievably fortunate in getting front row seats to this concert, but would have counted myself lucky to be anywhere in the hall.