|
Elvis Costello is one of the most imaginative lyricists around — and he pens some natty tunes, too — but at the Tuesday show of his pre-Christmas stint at the Dominion Theatre, the man found it difficult to get the audience on their feet.
Costello worked hard through an impressive one hour and ten minute set mixing old favourites such as "Red Shoes" with newer numbers from his latest album, Armed Forces, but poor sound mixing made it almost impossible to assess these previously unheard songs.
Consequently it was the old classics such as "Watching the Detectives," which was linked with impressive lighting, "Pump it Up," "Lipstick Vogue," "This Year's Girl" and "Chelsea" which got the best response.
John Cooper Clarke opened proceedings with a selection of poems punctuated with moments of savage vision and periods of mediocrity. Clarke has the eye and the wit, but his staccato style is limiting and it may be worthwhile him trying his hand at narrative humour as often the introductions were better than the poetry.
Second back-up artists, Richard Hell and the Voidoids from America, took time to get into the swing of things, but provided an interesting set.
| 
