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The deep dark truth is that Elvis Costello, even after more than 40 years in show business, can send shivers down your spine.
Symphony Hall's acoustics are some of the best and he showed the audience what a powerful voice and talented musician is capable of without the help of technological advances.
Audience participation was the name of the game with a spinning songbook of 37 songs and fans selecting hits ranging from "Beyond Belief" to "Watch Your Step."
After a swift swing at the Hammer of Songs test-of-strength machine, a father and daughter duo chose "Bedlam" as the next track.
As expected, big cheers came when Elvis announced that he would be playing songs from King of America and soon "Poisoned Rose" and "Suit of Lights" had people rocking in their seats.
During the show Costello shared a few anecdotes, including one about a literary award where he had to play Chuck Berry's "Ridin Along In My Automobile" on his Gibson Super 400 in a different time signature to the original. The audience at the JFK Library in Boston included many dignitaries such as Leonard Cohen and Chuck Berry who were up for an award.
Elvis said the moment he worried about was when he saw Keith Richards in the crowd and remembered that both Richards and Berry had come to blows over rock 'n' roll. But as he said: "The rest is history."
The band continued to churn out hits. Costello came into the crowd to serenade his fans with "I've Been Wrong Before" and the hall was turned red for a very seductive "I Want You." Then came the time for the acoustic set which saw him perform "A Slow Drag With Josephine" and "Jimmie Standing In The Rain."
The topic turned political as the Imposters returned to the stage and began playing "Tramp The Dirt Down" followed by the likes of "Shipbuilding," "Watching The Detectives," "Chelsea" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" to bring the show to a rapturous end.
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