UC Santa Barbara Daily Nexus, May 11, 1978

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The countdown to Costello


Ben Kamhi

Just two days before the Grateful Dead's stadium concert, rock fiends will have the opportunity to witness a concert which truly promises to be remembered among the most exciting events ever staged on campus.

Elvis Costello, Mink Deville and Nick Lowe will appear in Robertson Gym on Friday, June 2 to reassure fans that rock 'n' roll is not Dead. Each of the acts already ranks as a top contender in rock's new wave, though it is generally understood that Elvis is King. Together, they comprise the most impressive package of new wave artists to tour the States.

In some ways the concert is likely to reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen's powerful 1975 appearance in Robertson Gym, rated by Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn as one of the top five performances of the year. The concert remains the most exciting show staged in the gym to-date. Though Springsteen and the E Street Band played with no supporting act, that date featured the finest premiere talent available on the market, just as the upcoming bill does — only more so. Both artists — Springsteen and Costello — are pioneers of punkish street rock in the seventies, a sorely needed element in the Santa Barbara concert market.

While they do perform in the same vein, and Costello's approach was quickly assessed by many as the British equivalent to Springsteen, the two are entirely different species of the rock animal. Both combine explosive, hard-edged music to deliver potent lyrics. But Springsteen has always been an incurable romantic who portrays low-life with sweeping panavision imagery. In contrast, Elvis is a hardened cynic devoted to punk pop and a terse, abbreviated delivery. Springsteen's stance maintains the theory that rock is art, and Costello rejects it ..

Costello too has captured Hilburn's attention.

"...Costello's music lives up to the classic rock 'n' roll pulse. His songs and vocals bristle with a purity and conviction that is rare in the seventies,” he reported in the Times on April 23. He continued with a glowing assessment of his two-album career, "Costello's My Aim Is True was one of the 10 best albums of 1977, and the new This Year's Model is even stronger." And in last Sunday's "Disc Derby" (a rare competition, since there were no losers rated this time), Hilburn awarded Costello's second LP the first place. Nick Lowe, Costello's producer and co-hort, also placed, in a tie with Patti Smith for third for His own LP, Pure Pop for Now People.

So if Costello's so hot, why is he playing in the gym? Maybe it's because he sold out his three performances in LA — at Hollywood High, Millikan High in Long Beach and the Santa Monica Civic Center — in a matter of hours, and he doesn't think people have heard enough. Neither do I.

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Daily Nexus, May 11, 1978


Ben Kamhi profiles Elvis Costello ahead of the concert, Friday, June 2, 1978, Robertson Gym, University Of California, Santa Barbara, CA.

Images

1978-05-11 UC Santa Barbara Daily Nexus page 10 clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.

1978-05-11 UC Santa Barbara Daily Nexus page 10.jpg
Page scan.

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