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The concept of Costello’s Revolver Tour is that punters are invited to spin a giant wheel of fortune and the band plays whichever of the 40-odd tracks the arrow indicates.
The reality is that there’s a fair amount of jiggery pokery going on and we end up hearing the majority of the music we have come to know and love in a near three-hour show.
And it was all fantastic entertainment, with Elvis on fine form, occasionally in a top hat and with a cane, and acting as a cross between an emcee and a circus barker.
The stage of ill-repute was dressed with the giant wheel, a bar, a strongman striker and a go-go cage occasionally filled by the delectable Dixie De La Fontaine.
The Imposters – the incomparable Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher – kicked off with a cracking "I Hope You’re Happy Now," "Heart Of The City," "Mystery Dance" and "Radio Radio" blitz.
Then the spinning started.
We had "Alison," "Please Please Me," "Harry Worth" and a "This Wheel’s On Fire"/"Be My Baby" medley, but some of the lesser known (to me) songs such as "Country Darkness" and the old B side "You Belong To Me" really stood out.
Highlights included a lovingly extended "Watching The Detectives "(with Elvis walking through the auditorium), "Every Day I Write The Book," "Chelsea," "Pump It Up," a perfectly, beautifully performed "Shipbuilding" and the stomping set closer "(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace Love and Understanding."
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