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Elvis Costello
Washington Star
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
McDonough Arena, Washington, DC
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New Wave crested on the Tidal Basin last night as Elvis Costello leered lyrics and strident song in Georgetown's McDonough Arena.
Granted, the sell-out crowd was on its feet even before Costello appeared unannounced onstage. And the poor acoustics all but swallowed the finer subleties of the carefully defined rock 'n' roll tunes, which the Attractions, Costello's band, deftly played.
The energy was unmistakable, though the playing was uninspired. Costello's songs send home the convoluted vindictiveness that makes New Wave today's musical prophecy.
He relied primarily on material from his newest album, Armed Forces. Particularly powerful were his renditions of "Green Shirt," "Two Little Hitlers" and "Goon Squad," the titles of which suggest the anarchistic nature of Costello's music.
Gangly and ludicrous in spectacles and brush cut, Elvis Costello remained detached from his impassioned lyrics. One suspects that his passion is bug-eyed and his hatred feigned. But who cares?
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The Washington Star, April 7, 1979
The Washington Star reviews Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Friday, April 6, 1979, McDonough Arena, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
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Clipping.
Page scan.
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External links
