Berkeley Barb, November 25, 1977: Difference between revisions
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Exactly four nights later, I'm back at the Waldorf. This time, the occasion is the initial American gig for a guy who can honestly call himself the next Elvis. Really. Elvis Costello is one of the pop singers who emerged last year from the Stiff Records stable. He made his debut on The Stiff Sampler, a British import from the small independent label that also featured cuts by Nick Lowe, the Tyla Gang, Graham Parker & the Rumour, Dave Edmunds and Wreckless Eric. Currently, Elvis is signed to Columbia Records in the U.S., and his first Stiff album has just been released in this country. | Exactly four nights later, I'm back at the Waldorf. This time, the occasion is the initial American gig for a guy who can honestly call himself the next Elvis. Really. Elvis Costello is one of the pop singers who emerged last year from the Stiff Records stable. He made his debut on The Stiff Sampler, a British import from the small independent label that also featured cuts by Nick Lowe, the Tyla Gang, Graham Parker & the Rumour, Dave Edmunds and Wreckless Eric. Currently, Elvis is signed to Columbia Records in the U.S., and his first Stiff album has just been released in this country. | ||
''My Aim Is True'' tracks the same on Columbia as it did on Stiff, except for the addition of a sneering reggae-styled tune, "Watching The Detectives." Playing guitar in front of the Attractions, a three-piece group that includes unknowns Steve Mason on keyboards, Bruce Thomas on bass and Pete Thomas on drums, Elvis performs most of the songs from the album and quite a few potent numbers that have not been recorded. The Attractions | ''My Aim Is True'' tracks the same on Columbia as it did on Stiff, except for the addition of a sneering reggae-styled tune, "Watching The Detectives." Playing guitar in front of the Attractions, a three-piece group that includes unknowns Steve Mason on keyboards, Bruce Thomas on bass and Pete Thomas on drums, Elvis performs most of the songs from the album and quite a few potent numbers that have not been recorded. The Attractions recall the English Invasion of the Sixties and groups such as the Animals, Manfred Mann and the Zombies. Simultaneously, the young singer in horn-rims, gray suit and tie literally drives the audience to frenzy. | ||
They recognize his material from FM airplay. (Elvis has been a favorite of local jocks like KSAN's astute rocker, Richard Gossett, since The Stiff Sampler.) "Less Than Zero," a droll song about alienation, and "Alison," a love ballad which is the single from ''My Aim Is True'', are acknowledged by cheers. Thankfully, the people in attendance are not as numerous as those who jammed the house for Iggy. The fire marshal had dropped in on one of Iggy's shows over the weekend, so I suppose the proprietor decided to temper his avarice. | |||
For a wimpy-looking character, Elvis can be mighty vitriolic. His biting lyrics are probably born out of his resemblance to famous dorks like Wally Cox or Freddie from Freddie and the Dreamers, rather than standard rock 'n' roll sex symbols like Presley and Jagger. Or even Buddy Holly, who wore glasses, too, but was a lot more congenial. In any case, Costello's bitterness and anger have the intensity of early Dylan, and his voice has the R&B shadings of that other angry young Englishman, Graham Parker. | |||
If we surmise from torn fabric, safety pins and cigarette burns that ugliness is beauty in fashion today, and if talent still counts, then Elvis Costello is a winner. The same cannot be said for his (and Graham Parker's) manager, Jake Riviera, downing double-shots backstage after the first set. Riviera, who is to be respected for masterminding Stiff Records, is dressed like a greasy teddy boy on the town. Maybe he thinks he's Colonel Tom Parker. With a full glass of booze in his hand, he decides to act the part. He screams about the sacrifices he's made for Elvis and the worthlessness of American media, demanding the removal of certain press representatives from the backstage area, including yours truly. | |||
Strangely enough, all of those that Jake chooses for expulsion are taller than he is. And the night before, he and Elvis had enjoyed a performance by Randy Newman at the Berkeley Community Theater. Of course, Mr. Newman sang his newest satirical tract, "Short People," poking fun at random bigotry. Then again, Randy's probably right about you little bastards, Jake. | |||
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Revision as of 05:35, 24 October 2015
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