Elvis Costello injured his shoulder in a fight in a Columbus bar last week, he told fans while he was attending Monday night's Nicolette Larson concert at the Cleveland Agora.
But Tuesday night he substituted a guitar strap for his arm sling and gave the best concert he has given in this area.
The short, slight Englishman with the dark, curly hair, small face and big black-rimmed glasses came on like a computerized Howitzer, assaulting your senses with almost non-stop intensity for a full hour.
Even his first song, "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" had more power than most rockers wind up with.
But his show was much more varied, more sophisticated than previous ones, especially his Kent State show last year. What's more, Costello was less uptight.
True, there is a dark similarity in his themes — stool pigeons, murder squads, torture tables and "Two Little Hitlers" who are "bobbing and squinting just like a nitwit." Emotional fascism, he wrote on the album sleeve of his latest Columbia record, Armed Forces.
Yet when the grim grind was almost overpowering, he deftly introduced his "Alison" song, the love song and single from his first My Aim Is True LP. Another show-slower was "Accidents Will Happen," in which he sings that you're "a victim and you're not the only one." This is the new single and it's catchy, although it doesn't have the subtleties and the beauty of "Alison."
But his best power play was the ominous "Green Shirt" from his last LP. Green lights shone on Costello's face. Pete Thomas' drums rolled like sudden mortar fire or a knock on the door in the middle of the night.
"Watching the Detectives" was a strong, foreboding piece that built up to a sizzling climax and a sudden turning off of the lights.
Costello, who took the first name of his childhood idol, is humorless, given to staring at the audience with his mouth open, like one who has been accidentally hypnotized by a computer.
In other shows Costello has eliminated encores. He not only came back twice for ones here, but came back the second time after the taped music had begun, signalling the end of the concert.
Pianist Steve Naive moved up and down on the keys and bassist Bruce Thomas sang along in the finale, a rousing "Pump It Up." The audience didn't have to be asked to stand up. It had stood through the entire concert, making it difficult for many to see.
It also made it difficult for the opening act, the Rubinoos, by calling "Elvis, Elvis," frequently throughout the set. But the young Beserkley Records quartet scored with its own power-packed songs.
Lead singer Jon Rubin was often drowned out by the volume. But the band showed an engaging spoof side that should be encouraged.
Incidentally, Costello told fans that singer Bonnie Bramlett had taken a swing at him, then he fell in the scuffle.
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