Billboard, September 23, 2003: Difference between revisions
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{{:Bibliography index}} | {{:Bibliography index}} | ||
{{:Billboard index}} | {{:Billboard index}} | ||
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<center><h3> Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve</h3></center> | <center><h3> Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve </h3></center> | ||
<center> | <center> '''New York Town Hall </center> | ||
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<center>Barry A. Jeckell</center> | <center> Barry A. Jeckell </center> | ||
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{{Bibliography text}} | {{Bibliography text}} | ||
Accompanied only by longtime collaborator/pianist | Accompanied only by longtime collaborator/pianist Steve Nieve, Elvis Costello took to the stage at New York's Town Hall last night (Sept. 22) to introduce ''[[North]]''. The new album of ballads, in stores today via Deutsche Grammophon, is a departure from the wry, often bitter material for which the artist is so well known, and he wisely couched the material within selections spanning his career. | ||
Costello performed nearly the whole of the new album, plus the title track (only available to buyers via free download) throughout the more than two-hour exhibition to an overly eager audience in the pristine theater. And while sparse arrangements of such beloved songs as "[[Accidents Will Happen]]," "[[Man Out Of Time|Man Out of Time]]" and "[[All The Rage|All the Rage]]" met the new ballads on a musically even field, differences between old and new were easily notable. | Costello performed nearly the whole of the new album, plus the title track (only available to buyers via free download) throughout the more than two-hour exhibition to an overly eager audience in the pristine theater. And while sparse arrangements of such beloved songs as "[[Accidents Will Happen]]," "[[Man Out Of Time|Man Out of Time]]" and "[[All The Rage|All the Rage]]" met the new ballads on a musically even field, differences between old and new were easily notable. | ||
The new material is passionate traditional pop in the vein of George and Ira Gershwin or Costello's one-time collaborator, | The new material is passionate traditional pop in the vein of George and Ira Gershwin or Costello's one-time collaborator, Burt Bacharach and his songwriting partner, Hal David. The lyrics are direct, devoid of clever-clever wordplay and cheeky humor, instead laying matters of the heart out in the open. And it's mostly a startling success; sophisticated, not syrupy, and seemingly screaming for an ancillary narrative for which to frame it for a long life on Broadway. | ||
Selling it to last night's crowd was easy, although hardcore fans frothing in anticipation of an intimate evening with Costello at times detracted as much from the experience as the occasional ringing cellular phone. Anxious applause broke out as the quietest moments of these unfamiliar and subdued songs were mistaken for the songs' end. Tittering sometimes | Selling it to last night's crowd was easy, although hardcore fans frothing in anticipation of an intimate evening with Costello at times detracted as much from the experience as the occasional ringing cellular phone. Anxious applause broke out as the quietest moments of these unfamiliar and subdued songs were mistaken for the songs' end. Tittering sometimes | ||
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"It's the first time we've incorporated so many of these works into a full length concert," Costello said, admitting that he and Nieve "appreciate your appreciation." | "It's the first time we've incorporated so many of these works into a full length concert," Costello said, admitting that he and Nieve "appreciate your appreciation." | ||
Aside from the | Aside from the ''North'' selections, the crowd was also treated to such gems as "[[Indoor Fireworks]]," a mid-tempo version of "[[(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?|(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding]]" and "[[God's Comic]]," as well as a poignant rendition of Johnny Cash's "[[I Still Miss Someone]]" by Costello alone at the piano. Only "[[45]]" and "[[Tart]]," both from last year's ''When I Was Cruel'' (Island), belied the majority of the set with caustic distortion wailing from his acoustic guitar. | ||
Nieve's astounding abilities at the piano aside, the charm of | Nieve's astounding abilities at the piano aside, the charm of ''North'' and its performance lay in Costello's vocal abilities and limitations. Emotional camouflage and lyrical conventions stripped away, the pain of betrayal and loss feels alarmingly real, and by the same token, the fragility of the first steps of finding love again is relived with hesitation and excitement. | ||
As such, fans who have indulged Costello's seemingly constant exploration of music's varied landscapes with an open mind will be rewarded if they follow him | As such, fans who have indulged Costello's seemingly constant exploration of music's varied landscapes with an open mind will be rewarded if they follow him ''North''. | ||
Costello & Nieve play Town Hall again on [[Concert 2003-09-24 New York| | Costello & Nieve play Town Hall again on Wednesday ([[Concert 2003-09-24 New York|Sept. 24]]) and will spend October and early November visiting Japan and Europe. | ||
Here is the set list: | Here is the set list: | ||
{{cx}} | {{cx}} | ||
Accidents Will Happen <br> | |||
45 <br> | |||
Rocking Horse Road <br> | |||
Shot With His Own Gun <br> | |||
You Left Me in the Dark <br> | |||
Someone Took the Words Away <br> | |||
When Did I Stop Dreaming? <br> | |||
You Turned to Me <br> | |||
Fallen <br> | |||
God's Comic<br> | |||
Indoor Fireworks<br> | |||
Either Side of the Same Town <br> | |||
Man Out of Time <br> | |||
In the Darkest Place<br> | |||
'''Encore:<br> | |||
When It Sings<br> | |||
Still <br> | |||
Can You Be True?<br> | |||
All the Rage <br> | |||
Tart <br> | |||
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding <br> | |||
Shipbuilding <br> | |||
Radio Silence <br> | |||
'''Encore two: <br> | |||
North <br> | |||
Almost Blue<br> | |||
I Still Miss Someone<br> | |||
Let Me Tell You About Her<br> | |||
I'm in the Mood Again <br> | |||
Couldn't Call it Unexpected, No. 4 <br> | |||
{{Bibliography notes header}} | {{Bibliography notes header}} | ||
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{{Bibliography notes}} | {{Bibliography notes}} | ||
{{Bibliography next | {{Bibliography next | ||
|prev = Billboard, | |prev = Billboard, July 26, 2003 | ||
|next = Billboard, | |next = Billboard, October 4, 2003 | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Billboard, September 23, 2003 | '''Billboard, September 23, 2003 | ||
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[[Barry A. Jeckell]] reviews | [[Barry A. Jeckell]] reviews Elvis Costello & [[Steve Nieve]], Monday, [[Concert 2003-09-22 New York|September 22, 2003]], Town Hall, New York. | ||
{{Bibliography no images}} | {{Bibliography no images}} | ||
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*[http://www.billboard.com/ Billboard.com] | *[http://www.billboard.com/ Billboard.com] | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine) Wikipedia: Billboard] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine) Wikipedia: Billboard] | ||
*[http://www.elviscostello.info/articles/a-c/billboard.030923a.html elviscostello.info] | |||
*[http://www.elviscostellofans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=694 Elvis Costello Fan Forum] | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Billboard 2003-09-23}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Billboard 2003-09-23}} |
Latest revision as of 02:35, 10 June 2017
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