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Elvis Costello strolled onto the Ritchie Coliseum stage with a smirk and a brief announcement: "When we came to Washington I didn't know we would be this close to Hollywood." He went directly into a new ballad and was off and running.
The same man who once confessed a distaste for American audiences and played 50 minute shows, came equipped with a new attitude. He smiled occasionally, performed confidently and gave the crowd a solid 90 minutes of rock 'n' roll.
He even signed autographs outside after the show.
Concrete evidence of Costello's change appeared during the encore when he meshed Stevie Wonder's current hit "Jammin'" with his own reggae flavored "Watching The Detectives." This minor salute was apparently an attempt at amending his controversial remarks about Ray Charles from two years ago.
The songs were evenly distributed from all his records, including Trust, released the day before the show. Although unfamiliar to the audience, his new songs were well received and included a couple of Bo Diddley-influenced rockers.
The performance of Elvis and the Attractions was crisp despite acoustical deficiencies of the hall. Each band member appeared to be immersed in his instrument without missing a beat.
The musicians' balanced talent complemented each other, giving full color sound to Elvis' arrangements. The band works together, not playing as individuals, but as a rock 'n' roll unit.
What makes this show stand out is the Elvis Costello mystic. He is an imposing figure on stage. Sporting red tinted glasses and quite a bit of new-found poundage, Elvis strikes an awesome pose, but once he begins moving, his herky-jerky rhythm becomes almost comical.
He dances like a combination between a decrepit old man and a perky little kid, stiff and slow with shades of exuberance.
When he returns to the mike, his powerful voice and biting lyrics confirm seriousness.
Elvis' set overflowed with energy, something the opening band Squeeze lacked. Going through personal changes in the band, mainly the loss of keyboard player and ringleader Jools Holland, may have contributed to their lackluster showing.
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