Six guitars, horn-rimmed glasses and hat
Pleasant evening with old punk icon.
English via Google Translate...
There is not much more than a little over a year ago Elvis Costello almost filled Røkeriet at USF along with his band The Imposters. On Wednesday night, he was back in Bergen - this time completely alone sold out house at mation scene with just guitar. Or six copies to be exact.
Last year, Costello said that he was going to give himself as a recording artist and just play the occasional gig when he needed money. Now it has still not been difficult to spot the English artist in recent days. Friday night he was on Skavlan on NRK, and Tuesday he asked as Kapellmeister in the live TV show to the brothers Ylvisåker on TVNorge. Maybe soon we can call him Ylvis Costello.
23 albums have Declan MacManus, that he was baptised 60 years ago, released in assorted musical genres. From a successful career as an alternative punk artist in the 70s, through country songs, jazz and collaboration with Burt Bacharach. Tonight's concert was an assorted selection of songs and stories from the man's nearly 40-year musical career.
There was still no public courtship with all the most famous. On the contrary. Based on audience response was far from all that attracted immediate recognition. Without making the Peerless receipt. From the time he started with "Jack Of All Trades" via an exclusive selection from his nearly 40 years in the pop industry.
As a singer he is easily recognizable. Both the special voice and his distinctive phrasing. A voice that has held up surprisingly well, and possibly better now than ever.
Most of the songs were backing the effective acoustic guitar. You should be very well versed in his contribution to recognize all the songs. But of course there were also many of the most popular. "She" was this evening completed in its entirety. In contrast to the four or five unsuccessful attempts he had made on the same song on Ylvis the night before. "Watching The Detectives" was Jarle Bernhoft treatment with echoes and loops on electric guitar. While "Allison" as the last song was performed without microphones. Thanks to an attentive and devout audience they worked like a dream.
The evening was easily mixed with small stories. Costello talked about their sons in seven years that liked to hear him sing "Walking My Baby Back Home" when they came home from school. He delivered a long and funny story about the time he made his debut as a 17-year-old on stage in the seaside town of Blackpool with his father.
Additional numbers of course. First half an hour in which he was backed by the American Larkin Poe. A duo consisting of sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell on backing vocals, mandolin and slide guitar. Truly magnificent and showed Elvis Costello enough from one side. Then probably a set of additional numbers alone. Among other things, an intense version of Robert Wyatt's "Shipbuilding" with electric piano.
A quite different tonight than it Røkeriet last year. But at least as good. Let us hope that he will soon need money and come back.
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