|
Elvis Costello's first Austin concert was at Armadillo World Headquarters in January 1978. Tickets were $4 or $5. Elvis' most recent Austin concert was Thursday at the Austin Opera House; tickets were $8 or $9. That's understandable because inflation's all the rage. The real contrast is that the folks at the Armadillo concert three years ago actually got to see Elvis Costello. Mr. and Mrs. Music Lover of 1981 not only got to pay more — they also had to do without the pictures.
Let's begin by blaming whoever had the bright idea of setting up hundreds of chairs on what should have been the dance floor. People ended up having to stand on the chairs to see, forcing the people behind them to stand up as well. This fact, combined with the terrible sight lines at the Opera House, ensured that no one could see anything — except for the few lucky souls who were already at the front.
This reporter caught no more than a few fleeting glimpses of Elvis' head, despite constantly prowling the hall for a good vantage point. Many of us didn't even know that Joe Ely joined the King for an encore until we were told about it after the show was over. How are we supposed to know what's happening on a stage we can't see?
As if this weren't enough, the climate in the Opera House was somewhere between a sauna and an oven, complete with a thick blanket of slowly stagnating cigarette smoke. The result of all this was one of the more unenjoyable concert environments since WKRP brought the Who to Cincinnati.
Perhaps that is unfair. The concert was probably enjoyable for all those members of the audience familiar with Zen Yoga, who could block out all sensory inputs except hearing. Such people could be free to enjoy the music itself — which was enjoyable indeed.
Elvis' band, the Attractions, are an exceptionally tight and lively unit who play as though their careers depended on it. Elvis himself has always been a wellspring of kinetic energy — as you might expect from someone who has recorded almost 100 songs in three and a half years.
On the current tour, Elvis seems to have remedied one flaw which marred some of his past shows — he used to have a tendency to fly through the material at 90 miles an hour as though he were in a mad dash to get through it all. Some of his concerts last year lasted less than 45 minutes. This time, he seemed more willing to take his time. This means more songs, not less energy — the playing was as energetic as ever, without being frenetic, and most of the songs came off even better live than on the records. Some say this man will make one hell of a live album.
And, of course, his own songs remain as topical as ever — his introduction to "Radio, Radio" indicated that he is not unfamiliar with the trouble in the airwaves of our own city.
To sum up: Elvis Costello is one hell of a performer who played a great set at the Opera House the other night. However, the sounds are only one component in a concert situation — along with the sights and the general atmosphere. Through no fault of Elvis', those two elements — or lack of them — made the whole experience markedly less enjoyable than it could have been.
| 
