Irish Press, December 2, 1994

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Irish Press

UK & Ireland newspapers

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Slick Costello in top form


Paul Byrne

Mature singer-songwriters don't tend to pay much heed to showbiz tactics, and so it was with Elvis Costello at The Point last night, a night where, unlike his namesake, the songs were King, not the singer.

Back where he belongs, with Steve Nieve, Pete and Bruce Thomas — aka The Attractions — Costello joked and bantered with the largely adoring (and almost full-house) crowd, alternating the night's songs between old favourites and new contenders.

The crowd was well-mannered (no pushing at the bar with Costello fans) and, save for the flock of fanatics pushed against the stage from the very outset, a notably mild-mannered bunch too (Bono and Gavin Friday were free to stroll aimlessly around the venue without much fear of approach or molestation).

At all stages you aware of listening to a master craftsman at work, weaving songs of intense passion and calculated cool. You didn't necessarily enjoy each song, but you always knew that you should.

There was a reverence here that meant Elvis could play whatever he liked, the people having followed him through many years of artistic exploration, and he hadn't let them down yet.

Costello's game plan has always been decidedly more Born To Run than Never Mind The Bullocks, even if the punk era did inspire the young Declan MacManus to change his name and strut his stuff.

Each song was played with slick professionalism, Costello spiking his set with the occasional hit until eventually letting the floodgates open on his back catalogue.

Nobody left disappointed.


Tags: Point TheatreDublinIrelandThe AttractionsSteve NievePete ThomasBruce ThomasBorn To RunNever Mind The BollocksBonoDeclan MacManus

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Irish Press, December 2, 1994


Paul Byrne reviews Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Thursday, December 1, 1994, Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland.

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1994-12-02 Irish Press page 15 clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.

Page scan.
1994-12-02 Irish Press page 15.jpg

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