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Brilliant career
Mike Burwell
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I must first thank you for your extensive coverage of the recent three-day Elvis Costello extravaganza at the Orpheum (Arts, October 28). Thanks for the carefully considered reviews of the first two nights of the stand. But the review of the third Costello show, by M. Howell, painted a bleak picture of Elvis's visit. Instead of asking us if Elvis is Mr. Misery, all Mr. Howell needs to do is look in his own mirror.
Let me speak freely for some others of us who saw clearly all three shows. As weirdly comical as the Spinning Songbook show was (Elvis's nostalgic rock 'n' roll Let's Make a Deal), and as splendidly as the Confederates night went (the country-folk-blues side of the artist), on the final night of Blood & Chocolate (a punk Blood On The Tracks but with a powerhouse band), Elvis flat-out rocked greater than ever before.
With a dazzling light show illuminated overhead and the band stripping down the rhythm blisteringly tight, Elvis cut through with a bracing combination of the most accomplished guitar playing and singing of his life. For both the album and night of Blood & Chocolate, Elvis dropped pop with an A-bomb of pure electric drama and revived the beast finally to serve strictly his own purposes. At least from where I stood that night, Elvis blasted a guitar-drenched triumph over his past mistakes while his heart-and-soul singing blazed trails of fires burning for his brilliant future.
Mike Burwell
Braintree
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Clipping.
Page scan.
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