It had to happen sooner or later.
Elvis Costello surprised his fans at the Worcester Centrum Tuesday with a passionate rendition of one of his namesake's songs. Reaching back into pop's past, Costello served up — would'ya believe? — Elvis Presley's "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame."
That wasn't the only offbeat oldie dished out by the angry-young-punk-turned-crowd-pleaser during a generous two-hour-plus show.
After taking a few verbal swipes at bluster-merchants Twisted Sister, Costello denounced MTV with his new song "Worthless Thing" ("They're going to take this cable now and stick it down your throat," spat out Costello). Then, without pausing, he slammed into a wall-of-sound treatment of The Byrds' classic put-down of manufactured rock performers, "So You Want To Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star."
It was an uplifting moment in a show that had more than a few. Backed by his spectacularly imaginative band The Attractions (Bruce Thomas, bass; Pete Thomas, drums; newcomer Maurice Worm on keyboards; and the occasional sax of Gary Barnacle), Costello hit the Centrum stage spitting fire.
Wearing a white jacket (collar turned up), his eyes hidden behind dark glasses, Elvis opened with a fiery "Green Shirt." Another old favorite from the Costello songbook — "Watching the Detectives" — soon followed.
It seemed as if Costello's plan was to open up rocking hard -- to please his rowdy old fans — and then to sneak in new songs from his not-very-well-received new album, Goodbye Cruel World.
After taking note of his two previous summer appearances in Massachusetts ("So they finally closed down the Cape Cod Coliseum," smiled Elvis. "What good news!"), he did a slowed-down, '50s-style version of his current single, "The Only Flame in Town." This was the first of numerous new, improved arrangements that perked up older songs ("Girls Talk," "Shabby Doll," "The Greatest Thing") and drastically improved brand new songs ("Sour Milk-Cow Blues," "Inch By Inch").
Costello appeared alone for his first encore, recreating his recent solo Boston date on two songs. Just when it seemed as if he would say goodbye without doing his best-loved songs, Costello was rejoined by the Attractions for 30 minutes of prime cuts such as "Alison," "Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes" and "Pump It Up." Costello proved again that he's one of today's most worthwhile attractions.
Nick Lowe and his Cowboy Outfit opened with a short but very enjoyable set highlighted by Martin Belmont's wailing guitar leads.
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