Backhill, April 1987: Difference between revisions
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What about content? Well, Quo played a predictable collection of their past glories, plus "In The Army Now" and "Dreaming." That is not to say that it wasn't entertaining, because here you don't need to analyse or agonise — just dance! Everyone knew the words to all the songs, every twiddly musical bit, every nuance. This does not make for boredom but for comfort ... like that slightly ragged jacket which fits just so. Eurythmics' pop/ rock/soul pastiches leave little to be desired, each one a perfectly proportioned musical package: hits and fillers all stacked neatly in a row. Elvis the Enigma, trotted out literally dozens of his extraordinary songs, the pendulum of emotion swinging wildly in all directions, covering an enourmous range of ground. Content: can't choose between them. | What about content? Well, Quo played a predictable collection of their past glories, plus "In The Army Now" and "Dreaming." That is not to say that it wasn't entertaining, because here you don't need to analyse or agonise — just dance! Everyone knew the words to all the songs, every twiddly musical bit, every nuance. This does not make for boredom but for comfort ... like that slightly ragged jacket which fits just so. Eurythmics' pop/ rock/soul pastiches leave little to be desired, each one a perfectly proportioned musical package: hits and fillers all stacked neatly in a row. Elvis the Enigma, trotted out literally dozens of his extraordinary songs, the pendulum of emotion swinging wildly in all directions, covering an enourmous range of ground. Content: can't choose between them. | ||
There was a subtle difference in the way each | There was a subtle difference in the way each act was presented, too. For Quo the aim was to get everyone happy — they wanted oldies so that was what they'd get. The line up was of course, a little different to when they "retired" 3 years ago, but what the heck, Rossi still grinned like a naughty boy, Parfitt still swaggered and staggered rhythm-a-chugging. What can a guitar band do but produce good time music for a good time audience. Sure the Stewart/Lennox goal is to have a good time, but there's just that hint of danger, just a suggestion of sleaze. And as for their band — what a bunch of extroverts! Jimmy Zavalla (harp) played a captivating series of solos on a marvellous rendition of "Missionary Man" and on "Who's That Girl?" D + A played acoustic guitar and solo vox (respectively) in a performance which had the audience eating out of their leather gloved hands. "Miracle of Love," though, was just too twee and restrained. | ||
Now, Costello, on the other hand, knows exactly what makes a love song tick. His "[[I Want You]]" was undescribably unique, he played it personally for each and every member of his transifxed audience. Suddenly the Albert Hall a very small place. Not just this, but the variety too: Costello played an extended set with the Attractions, then a shorter acoustic set with lust him on guitar, then we had the Attractions back to play The Fabulous Spinning Songbook where the songs were chosen by members of the audience turning a huge wheel, and finally a series of encores finishing with an absolutely thunderous version of "[[Poor Napoleon]]" played in total darkness. What a performer! Yes. Costello took the presentation stakes by a nose. | Now, Costello, on the other hand, knows exactly what makes a love song tick. His "[[I Want You]]" was undescribably unique, he played it personally for each and every member of his transifxed audience. Suddenly the Albert Hall a very small place. Not just this, but the variety too: Costello played an extended set with the Attractions, then a shorter acoustic set with lust him on guitar, then we had the Attractions back to play The Fabulous Spinning Songbook where the songs were chosen by members of the audience turning a huge wheel, and finally a series of encores finishing with an absolutely thunderous version of "[[Poor Napoleon]]" played in total darkness. What a performer! Yes. Costello took the presentation stakes by a nose. |
Revision as of 15:40, 22 May 2015
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