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The last time he was in town, Elvis Costello brought only his pianist, Steve Nieve, a few guitars and a truckload of songs. At the end of that long night of unplugged rock and piano-lounge balladry, he promised his appreciative crowd at the Midland Theatre he would return.
Wednesday night, three years later — to the very date — he redeemed his promise, returning to the Midland, this time with a three-piece band. For a very lively and rock-solid two hours, he showcased some of the finest material from his stellar 25-year career.
Unlike his previous tour, which was ideal for a sit-down, laid-back after-dinner crowd, this rowdy show felt slightly out of place in the refined Midland, where dancing isn't illegal, it's just impractical. (On top of that, the sound was off — a little trebly and thin-bottomed.)
Still Costello had no trouble stirring up his roomful of admirers, most of whom appeared to be between the ages of 30 and 50 (and some of whom sat and rocked in their comfy seats all night).
He opened what would be a 29-song show with "I Hope You're Happy Now," a bitter valentine from his 16-year-old Blood & Chocolate album. He followed that with "Tear Off Your Own Head...," one of six cuts he would pull from his new record, When I Was Cruel.
The audience this evening was obviously in the mood for his older, classic songs — "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" drew the first big roar — but Costello deftly shuffled his setlist enough so that the new material fit in seamlessly around the vintage stuff.
Backed by former Attractions Pete Thomas on drums and Nieve on an array of instruments (keyboards, melodica, theremin) plus bassist Davey Faragher, Costello, 48, easily revived the energy and acerbic vibe that made him one of Britain's angry, young rock stars back in the late 1970s. Yes, he's balding and pudgy now and his glasses are fashionable, not geek-chic, but he can still tear through some of his most raucous material without compromising his dignity.
The highlights: "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down," a gem from his Get Happy!! album; a solemn, dusky rendition of "Love Field"; both versions of the title track from his new record; and — one of the evening's best moments — a true rendition of "Man Out of Time" from his dazzling Imperial Bedroom album.
He took his first bow 17 songs and 70 minutes after he started. His encores would be nearly as long. His first was a loud, sweet blast — "Radio, Radio." He followed that with "Clubland" and then his contribution to The Big Lebowski soundtrack, "My Mood Swings."
He then fused a lovely rendition of "Alison" with a verse from Jim Reeves' "He'll Have to Go" and a few reconstructed verses of "Suspicious Minds."
As good as that set was, the second encore was even better. He refashioned "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" (from Spike) into a gothic rock ballad that included a slice of Smokey Robinson's "You've Really Got A Hold On Me."
Next: The best new song of the evening, "Episode of Blonde," which featured some delicious instrumental sorties from Nieve. After another new one, "15 Petals," he delivered a two-song wallop: "Watching the Detectives" and then a hyperkinetic, double-time rendition of "Pump It Up" that gave Thomas a chance to unleash his inner John Bonham.
That seemed like the perfect ending to an energetic, nostalgic evening, but Costello had one more moment up his sleeve: a long, dramatic, nearly Shakespearean rendition of "I Want You," which ended with him howling in pain and grinding some dissonance out of his guitar.
When that was done, he reintroduced the band, bowed and said good night. This time he didn't promise to return, but he didn't have to. By then it felt like he'd never gone anywhere.
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