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He's master of many musical genres, but Elvis Costello can put on a blazing, crowd-pleasing rock 'n' roll show.
The Costello back catalogue shows he's no stranger to politics — and in a time of post-referendum political upset we may have expected Elvis to have come out in crusading mood. But he was at the festival to party.
"You're a mighty find bunch of good-looking people," he told Henley, and he wasn't wrong.
Taking to the stage with the Imposters, he got the snappily dressed crowd bouncing to "Pump It Up," looking more energetic and youthful than his 61 years. With his band — including keyboard genius Steve Nieve looking like a Clockwork Orange droog and acting like the "mad professor" — they churned out hit after hit: "Radio, Radio," "High Fidelity," and "Watching The Detectives" were just for starters.
Security staff had their work cut out in keeping festivalgoers seated and eventually gave in to the crowd's irresistible urge to dance. From faithfully delivered classics to the romantic section: the swoonsome "Everyday I Write The Book" and "Alison," where he wandered into the crowd and whipped up a frenzy and serenaded us with a snippet of Smokey Robinson's "Tears Of A Clown" for extra heart-melting effect. And of course "She" had the couples smooching.
He also belted out songs that were less well known to casual fans but just as perfectly crafted: "Wild Honey," "The Other Side of Summer," "Moods for Moderns" and the waltzy "Sunday's Best." Elvis had everybody swaying. Even the hip hop track he recorded with The Roots got a dirty rock makeover, and along with the Bob Dylan track "Lost on the River" and the scuzzy guitar solo from Elvis on "Bedlam," the hardcore fans were happy with such treasures.
As for the encore, a thunderous crowd stamping for more got a tender "Shipbuilding," a rousing "Oliver's Army" and an upbeat take on the Nick Lowe-penned "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding."
The living legend left the talking to the songs and came to have a ball. Henley was only to happy to bend to his will.
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