Bridgewater Courier-News, May 8, 1978

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Bridgewater Courier-News

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Costello's aim is disappointing at Capitol concert


Kenneth Best

PASSAIC — Elvis Costello was arrogant, Nick Lowe was too loud and Willy DeVille's vocals stole the show at the Capitol Theatre's new wave bill Friday night.

Costello roared through a 45-minute set of nonstop music, barely stopping to say more than 10 words to the audience who wanted more than a single encore from the headliner but didn't get it.

Although he comes across as more temperate on his albums, Costello in concert projects the kind of raw energy his new wave background is supposed to have.

Working with a modest band of keyboards, drums, bass and his own guitar, Costello managed to lose the pop quality of his album tracks for most of his songs. It was only during "Alison" that he came close to that level.

It may just be that Costello's style is to push his band forward by almost running one song into another, with no pause except for a count-off, but it seemed he wanted to get the show over with as soon as possible.

Overall, Costello in concert was disappointing.

Nick Lowe, Costello's producer, opened the bill with an interesting set that was difficult to comprehend because of the sheer volume.

From the opening strains, Lowe and his band Rockpile presented a wall of sound that didn't do justice to the Capitol's excellent sound system. Every so often the tight vocals and guitar riffs, mostly by Dave Edmunds, would sift through, but not often enough.

It was the kind of performance that left you shell shocked and unappreciative of what had happened.

Mink DeVille, fronted by Willy DeVille, was sandwiched between Costello and Lowe as a welcome change of pace.

DeVille also offered something close to punk toward the end of his set, which included an encore, but seemed most at ease crooning ballads in the style of the Drifters and other 1950s and 1960s rhythm and blues groups.

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The Courier-News, May 5, 1978


Kenneth Best reviews Elvis Costello & The Attractions and opening acts Mink DeVille and Nick Lowe with Rockpile, Friday, May 5, 1978, Capitol Theatre, Passaic, New Jersey.

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1978-05-08 Bridgewater Courier-News page A-12 clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.

Page scan.
1978-05-08 Bridgewater Courier-News page A-12.jpg

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