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Riot Fest: (Chicago, IL) - September 14-16, 2018
Elvis Costello
Jeff Elbel
extract
Costello and his trusty Imposters (keyboardist Steve Nieve, drummer Pete Thomas, and bassist Davey Faragher) made Riot Fest their comeback show following cancelled European dates this summer in order to permit Costello’s recovery from cancer treatment. “How you doing?” asked Costello to a sea of cheering festival-goers peppered with diehard fans. “I’m doing fine, thanks,” he offered as Thomas and Faragher kicked into a spirited “Pump it Up.” The set included brash favorites like “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea.” Truth be told, it wasn’t Costello’s finest vocal performance, but he dug hard into stinging solos for tracks like the sharp-tongued “Miracle Man” alongside Nieve’s jubilant electric piano. In any case, fans were justly joyful to simply have their hero back. Costello and Nieve sparred again as latin-spiked acoustic piano sparkled through “Clubland.”
“How’s about playing a little bit of that New Wave music?,” offered Costello before lashing into “Radio Radio.” Thomas showed his considerable chops with dub reggae fills during “Watching the Detectives,” decorated by Costello’s slashing spy-movie guitar and Nieve’s spookshow organ. “Waiting for the End of the World” from Costello’s 1977 debut My Aim is True was propelled by Faragher’s groovy bass.
Costello’s vocals dragged on the beat of Imperial Bedroom’s “Beyond Belief” like a nightclub jazz-man, inviting comparisons to Van Morrison as the rhythm section ran ahead. The show’s centerpiece was a deconstructed and expanded excursion through the tormented romance of Blood & Chocolate’s “I Want You.” Costello concluded in high spirits with rowdy rocker “(What’s So Funny ‘bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.”
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Photos credit: Jeff Elbel
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