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LOS ANGELES — Elvis Costello, 37, once again proved he is a premiere lyricist and performer with his two-hour show at the Wiltern Theatre last week.
In a world and time filled with superficiality, Costello and The Rude 5 brought a dose of reality to the audience by singing cuts off his latest album, Mighty Like a Rose, a piece of work blending social commentary, personal philosophy and ballads.
Those, however, looking for a trip down memory lane a la Costello favorites such as "I Want You" and "Watching the Detectives" would have been disappointed with this show, as most of the stage time was devoted to the newer Costello songs. He opened with "How to Be Dumb," a song filled with biting wit and sung with venom. A sample: "Now you've got yourself a brand new occupation / Every fleeting thought is a pearl / And beautiful people stampede to the doorway of / the funniest fucker in the world."
"They're here to help you / Satisfy your desire / There's a bright future for all you professional liars."
Costello, wearing long hair and a beard, did give fans a taste of the past with "Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head" (Blood & Chocolate) and "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" (Spike).
But then he stopped and took a detour back to the present by saying, "This next song is about an unsavory character. He's a liar and a cheater. He's two-faced and he's untrustworthy. He's a man. He's a man who meets his destiny, fate in the mind of a woman. It's also a song about how a telephone can be a lethal weapon."
With that he launched into "Georgie and Her Rival," a song with classical strains with these lyrics: "Georgie grew to hate her name / It sounded like a tiny man / And the one she had said / 'I can't see you, but I'll call you whenever I can' / Sometimes the phone would ring, when she was half asleep / A voice would drag her down with its suggestions / Though she often felt cheated, she never felt cheap."
Costello's latest mix reminded me of previous works by the musician. However, some of the songs, such as "Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)," have a harder edge to them, a sound that can't be described.
But he does blend in some slower-paced songs such as "All Grown Up," about a cynical person, and "Broken," a love song written by Costello's wife, Cait O'Riordan, with these moving lyrics: "If I am frightened then I can hide it / If I am crying, I'll call it laughter / If I am haunted, I'll call it my imaginary friend / If I am bleeding, I'll call it wine."
"But if you leave me then I am broken / And if I am broken then only death remains."
Aside from the concert, and album, being laced with cynicism and a few love songs, Costello also addresses the environment with "The Other Side of Summer."
About a fourth of the way through the concert, Costello addressed a sitting crowd by saying, "Now is the time. We have reached safe cruising altitude and you can get out of your seats now."
But it wasn't until Costello bade his first goodbye that the crowd went crazy and leapt from their seats, clapping and screaming. When he came back for his first encore at about 10:40, the crowd remained standing for the rest of the show, which lasted until 11:07.
During his encores, he sang "Sweet Pear," "Alison" ("My Aim is True") and he finished the night with "Pump It Up."
The concert itself was a moving experience and I have only one complaint — the crowd. Never before have I seen so many people moving around during a performance. Everywhere I looked people were getting up and leaving and coming back. The couple next to us didn't arrive until Costello's fourth or fifth song. And while you're trying to watch a show, it's really annoying to have people climbing over you.
Also, this crowd was comatose. And for awhile I thought they were all dead. No one really moved. There were a few times when I would detect a movement here and there, a head bobbing back and forth, or a foot tapping, but that was IT until Costello said his first goodbye. And between encores, some just got up and left, as if that was it.
Sam Phillips, who opened for Costello, was faced with the same lack of enthusiasm when she came on at 8:15. Phillips, who was dressed in a long navy blue fitted skirt, white T-shirt and a jacket that made her look like a business woman, warmed up the crowd for a half hour by singing songs off her latest album, Cruel Inventions.
After her first number she addressed the crowd with her dry sense of humor, "I'm here to help you all find your seats. I hope you're taking your time enjoying the search." A little bit later some one from the crowd yelled "Elvis" at which she responded with, "Don't hurt my feelings."
Unlike many others who bob around on stage, Phillips remained close to the microphone, palms against her hips, and didn't move from that miffing position that much.
She addressed the crowd about her stage presence and then gave them some "traditions off rock." Without music she started moving, jolted movements with her hands. Then she turned around and wiggled her butt, which got laughs from the audience. She then did a Madonna impression by grabbing her genitals and after the audience reacted, she said, "That's why I don't do that."
I haven't heard of her before, but had to go out and buy the tape immediately after the concert. Her voice is strong and beautiful. Her lyrics dark and compelling.
She sings: "If I said I believe my eyes / and science can move my soul / If I said I'm not afraid to die / and I don't need you / I'd be lying."
If you haven't heard of her, I suggest you go get her latest tape. I'm sure it won't be long before her name will be murmured from many a lips.
All and all it was a good show. I'm just sorry that I have to wait another two years to see Costello perform again.
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