Sounds, May 13, 1989

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Sounds

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Good year for the oldies


David Cavanagh

Elvis Costello
London Palladium

Sunday night at the Palladium. The "funny Nazis" from Allo Allo were taking a well-earned rest from their labours, leaving the way clear for our man Costello to hypnotise friends, followers and freeloaders alike with a consistently intense and often blisteringly violent two-and-a-half-hour acoustic set.

In front of a stage set that rivalled the Tate bricks for sheer artistic uselessness, he warmed up with "Accidents Will Happen" and "Blue Chair." Then came two memorable moments of stuttering vitriol. "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror," one of a hefty whack of songs from the LP, Spike, and the legendary "Watching The Detectives" were so astounding that Costello himself seemed intrigued. He had to go to the piano to have a quick ballad, "Almost Blue."

By now songs from the vaults were mixing it audaciously with newer classics. "God's Comic," lengthy and poignant, somehow managed to include an anecdote about Swedish game shows, while the failed single "Veronica" was delivered as a shifty "Peggy Sue"-type shuffle. One of the evening's exemplary medleys took in "Radio Sweetheart" and "Jackie Wilson Said."

Returning with Nick Lowe, the by now seriously affable Costello considered "Indoor Fireworks," as well as Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?" A solo howl through "I Want You" fair removed the roof.

He'd done the full 90 plus extra time, but still he wasn't satisfied. Dragging on a huge, stuffed broken heart, he invited audience members up to choose their own highlights from his colossal back-catalogue. "Good Year For The Roses" and the much appealed for "Alison" scarcely prepared the assembled for an almost demented version of "Tramp The Dirt Down" — from where did all that energy come?

Oh, and just one more thing. The final, final, that-really-is-all-folks jaunt through "Pump It Up," accompanied by a sizzling and spitting beatbox, just may have been the most wilful display of composer perversity since Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music. The last "goodnight," after all the feedback, heartbreak and anguish, could just as well have been the sound of the stars going out.


Baby Plays Around / My Brave Face

Elvis Costello / Paul McCartney

Keith Cameron

1989-05-13 Sounds page 45 clipping composite.jpg

The point of the Costello record is elusive. On its own terms, "Baby Plays Around" is preferable to the irritating "Veronica" but when was the last time a superior acoustic ballad got the jocks jumping?

Still, the curious EP format — three old songs available elsewhere — is worth it to hear his ten-year-old "My Funny Valentine."

Macca returns with a Costello (nee MacManus) co-composition from what is widely being trumpeted as his finest solo album for some time. By "widely" I mean Q are preparing the front cover story and Radio 1 intend to celebrate with a week of Beatles hits.

Bah, humbug! "My Brave Face" is pleasant enough uptempo Costello-pop it's hardly "Helter Skelter."



Tags: London PalladiumLondonNick LoweAccidents Will HappenBlue ChairDeep Dark Truthful MirrorSpikeWatching The DetectivesAlmost BlueGod's ComicVeronicaRadio SweetheartJackie Wilson Said(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?Indoor FireworksI Want YouGood Year For The RosesAlisonTramp The Dirt DownPump It UpLou ReedBaby Plays AroundPaul McCartneyMy Brave FaceFlowers In The DirtMy Funny ValentineDeclan MacManusThe Beatles

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Sounds, May 13, 1989


David Cavanagh reviews Elvis Costello, solo and with Nick Lowe, Sunday, May 7, 1989, Palladium, London, England.


Keith Cameron reviews the singles for "Baby Plays Around" and "My Brave Face."


Also includes a full page ad for the Glastonbury Festival, June 16-18, 1989.

Images

1989-05-13 Sounds page 31 clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.


Photo by Ed Sirrs.
1989-05-13 Sounds photo 01 es.jpg


Page scan and advertisement.
1989-05-13 Sounds page 45.jpg 1989-05-13 Sounds page 33 advertisement.jpg


Cover and page scan.
1989-05-13 Sounds cover.jpg 1989-05-13 Sounds page 31.jpg


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