From: jgordonb@aol.com X-Mailer: America Online Mailer Sender: "jgordonb" To: costello@gnu.ai.mit.edu Subject: SPOILER: WEEKEND CONCERTS REVIEW SPOILER/WARNING-CONCERT REVIEW FOLLOWS: Saw EC and the Boys at Shoreline and Concord this past weekend. Two knock 'em out and drag 'em out shows - very energetic and intense. I've seen Elvis over fifteen times and these two were among the best - lots of early stuff and most of BY. The first four songs reminded me of the opening tracks of El Macambo - one scorcher after another, no stopping for banter, just a frenzied no let-up attack. By then, EC was dripping sweat and he doesn't take a break - the hits just keep on coming. For me, the highlights were...the sweet vocal on London's Brilliant Parade...Watching the Detectives and You Belong to Me back-to-back...his guitar work at the end of Party Girl and 13 Steps...the drum part of Rocking Horse Road...all of the My Aim Is True and This Year's Model renditions...the overall skill and committment by the band. Puppet Girl was a surprise - I trust that few in the crowd were familiar with the tune, but the "CUT IT" and the end was killer. Kinder Murder kicked butt...Clown Strike was played differently both nights...Hand In Hand, another surprise that worked... Temptation never sounded better...the new songs seemed very much in-place and and on-the-level with the old ones. At Shoreline EC blew the first line of 13 Steps, singing "lies in splendor" instead of "meadow," but he recovered and restarted the song without missing a beat - demonstrating what a true veteran and professional he is. At Concord, he introduced 20% Amnesia by mentioning that Steve would be singing his first vocal in 17 years - and I might guess that this was their first ever public performance of that particular number. Yes, the Mighty Nieve did provide a competent back-up vocal. You could tell be his facial expressions that EC truly enjoyed performing this song live, especially the Gorbachev/Cinderella verse. He also smiled all through Sulky Girl - these songs are very fresh in concert at this time, but the reason the shows were so great was that even the older songs seemed fresh and invigorating. If you are reading this and planning on attending a concert on this tour, strap on your seatbelt, and prepare to be blown away. Close to 30 songs over two hours, played at blinding speed and with uncomprimised conviction. If you come to rock, you won't be disappointed. All-in-all two classic shows that were very memorable as they brought back the memories.