Tiffany's

From ElvisCostello

This gig was the day after my 19th birthday, I was in my first year at Polytechnic.

We turned up early for the sound check, EC and the Attractions were duly deposited by mini-bus about 5.30pm, breezed past our star struck hellos and we got to enjoy Red Shoes through the crack in the fire door.

We were first in when the doors opened and made for the mosh pit though as the stage was only 18 inches high it didn't really count. Clive Langer and the Boxes supported.

EC came on about 9.00pm, full tilt through a typical set, some saliva was still flying even at this post-punk stage and my knees were crushed against the Spinal Tap scaled stage.

Elvis was surly and aggressive, none of the witty chat so characteristic of his later live persona.

The band played like they were fused together, probably by a blow torch or perhaps as the result of a genetic experiment - it was almost supernatural. Bile and vitriol spilled out of the front man as expected and together with the saliva and physical crush it made for a really good night out.

At the end of the gig I managed to get a set list off the roadie.

This was the first time I saw EC and the Attractions.

I went home and my Mum made me a nice cup of tea and a slice of toast.