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As the week passed and Sept. 15 arrived, so did the true talent.
While the Missing Persons were quite a let-down, Elvis Costello and The Attractions were like a breath of fresh air.
The crowd, a mixture of teenyboppers and sophisticates, immediately responded to Costello's simple appearance.
Dressed casually, yet with a touch of class, Costello's outfit consisted of a pink jacket, red shoes, and a pair of black pants with a black shirt. Nothing fancy, but very effective.
Combining old favorites such as "Watching the Detectives" with new releases such as "The Only Flame in Town," Costello kept the audience entranced with his song variety.
Although the stage remained simple, electricity was generated through the crowd.
Demonstrating true talent, Costello had no need for extravagant costumes, brilliant lights or complex, electronic equipment. He kept it simple, and the audience seemed to love him for it.
Returning to the stage for his first encore, Costello performed two songs without his backup band.
Accompanied only by the music from his own guitar, he sang "Peace in Our Time," a song from his new album Goodbye Cruel World, without the slightest falter in his crystal-clear voice.
As the evening progressed, the crowd became more attached to the performer and did not want him to leave.
So, Costello continued to rock the Meadows until just before midnight.
Proving that there is a way to adapt to the changing needs of an audience, while still retaining originality and quality, Elvis Costello is a master.
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