Brandeis University Justice, April 18, 1989: Difference between revisions
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Costello introduced "God's Comic," a song about a washed-up comedian, with an amusing rap about liberal politics. "Do you remember the word 'liberal'?" he asked. "This [song] is about the times before liberal was a swear word." After the line, ''"Wondering if I should have given the world to the monkeys,"'' Elvis launched into snippets from "I'm a Believer" and "Last Train to Clarksville," two songs from the Sixties' popular media icons, the Monkees. Get it: Monkeys and Monkees? Somehow, little ploys like this came off as funny without being too coy and cutesy in Elvis's hands. | Costello introduced "God's Comic," a song about a washed-up comedian, with an amusing rap about liberal politics. "Do you remember the word 'liberal'?" he asked. "This [song] is about the times before liberal was a swear word." After the line, ''"Wondering if I should have given the world to the monkeys,"'' Elvis launched into snippets from "I'm a Believer" and "Last Train to Clarksville," two songs from the Sixties' popular media icons, the Monkees. Get it: Monkeys and Monkees? Somehow, little ploys like this came off as funny without being too coy and cutesy in Elvis's hands. | ||
For the second set | For the second set, Elvis came out with a pitchfork, calling himself "Monsenior Napoleon Dynamite." He then unveiled a giant heart, with flags attached representing the deadly sins. A wolfman scoured the crowd for the right woman (no men were chosen) then brought her onstage with Costello. The lucky lady would pick a sin flag, then request an Elvis tune relating to the sin. Despite rumors that Elvis knew what he would play beforehand, and he was only bringing people to the audience for show, this game kept the audience excited, as we waited to see who would be chosen next. | ||
The main reason that Costello featured between-<wbr>song banter and his giant heart is that the music quality alone was not enough to carry the show Costello said in a recent ''Musician'' magazine article that he would have preferred to tour with a full band, but he could not afford to do so. By playing concerts alone, he eliminates salaries for backing musicians and the added travel expenses of taking extra people and instruments on the road. | The main reason that Costello featured between-<wbr>song banter and his giant heart is that the music quality alone was not enough to carry the show. Costello said in a recent ''Musician'' magazine article that he would have preferred to tour with a full band, but he could not afford to do so. By playing concerts alone, he eliminates salaries for backing musicians and the added travel expenses of taking extra people and instruments on the road. | ||
Elvis's sacrifice to the economic gods above showed. In some ways, we were treated to a cut-rate Elvis. Costello is not a folk musician. His best recent stuff shows a broad popular music influence within a heavily produced, more narrow rock context. A typical cut on the new ''Spike'' album, for example, features a good dozen different instruments. Of course, every musician does not play at the same time. Different, weird sounds float in and out of each song, keeping the record interesting. With Costello's rapid-fire vocals and the dense production, it is difficult to understand the lyrics. | Elvis's sacrifice to the economic gods above showed. In some ways, we were treated to a cut-rate Elvis. Costello is not a folk musician. His best recent stuff shows a broad popular music influence within a heavily produced, more narrow rock context. A typical cut on the new ''Spike'' album, for example, features a good dozen different instruments. Of course, every musician does not play at the same time. Different, weird sounds float in and out of each song, keeping the record interesting. With Costello's rapid-fire vocals and the dense production, it is difficult to understand the lyrics. | ||
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In concert Thursday. the older, simpler songs from Costello's punk/New Wave days worked best. Although he has probably performed songs like "Accidents Will Happen" and "Watching the Detectives" a thousand times, he still invests the songs with appropriate passion and righteous anger And, yes, he did close the show with the crowd favorite, "Alison." | In concert Thursday. the older, simpler songs from Costello's punk/New Wave days worked best. Although he has probably performed songs like "Accidents Will Happen" and "Watching the Detectives" a thousand times, he still invests the songs with appropriate passion and righteous anger And, yes, he did close the show with the crowd favorite, "Alison." | ||
Nick Lowe, of "Cruel to be Kind" fame, opened the show. His thirty-minute set was filled with witty lyrics and even a hit of sell-denigrating humor. He announced from the stage. "Yes. this is certainly not folk music. You are in for a rock and roll evening with top flight, Grade A entertainment. But I'm first." One line from "And So it Goes," a song about concert-going, seemed especially prescient, ''"Security's so tight tonight. You better keep your backstage | Nick Lowe, of "Cruel to be Kind" fame, opened the show. His thirty-minute set was filled with witty lyrics and even a hit of sell-denigrating humor. He announced from the stage. "Yes. this is certainly not folk music. You are in for a rock and roll evening with top flight, Grade A entertainment. But I'm first." One line from "And So it Goes," a song about concert-going, seemed especially prescient, ''"Security's so tight tonight. You better keep your backstage passes."'' | ||
passes."'' | |||
At Costello's request the Student Events security corps was tough, keeping people from standing in the aisles until the very end, when a flood of people rushed the stage. Although it would have been better if dancing, or at least movement, was allowed in the crowd, it seemed somehow symbolic of the controlled, professional entertainment which Elvis offered throughout the night. | At Costello's request the Student Events security corps was tough, keeping people from standing in the aisles until the very end, when a flood of people rushed the stage. Although it would have been better if dancing, or at least movement, was allowed in the crowd, it seemed somehow symbolic of the controlled, professional entertainment which Elvis offered throughout the night. | ||
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{{tags}}[[Nick Lowe]] {{-}} [[Concert 1989-04-13 Waltham|Shapiro Gymnasium]] {{-}} [[Brandeis University]] {{-}} [[Waltham]] {{-}} [[MA|Massachusetts]] {{-}} [[The Beloved Entertainer]] {{-}} [[Spike]] {{-}} [[Napoleon Dynamite]] {{-}} [[13½ Deadly Sins]] {{-}} [[Mystery Dance]] {{-}} [[God's Comic]] {{-}} [[I'm A Believer]] {{-}} [[Last Train To Clarksville]] {{-}} [[The Monkees]] {{-}} [[Accidents Will Happen]] {{-}} [[Watching The Detectives]] {{-}} [[Alison]] {{-}} [[Cruel To Be Kind]] {{-}} [[The Replacements]] {{-}} [[The Bangles]] {{-}} [[Mystery Dance covers|Satisfaction]] {{-}} [[Bruce Springsteen]] {{-}} [[Bob Dylan]] | |||
{{cx}} | {{cx}} | ||
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{{Bibliography notes}} | {{Bibliography notes}} | ||
{{Bibliography next | |||
|prev = Brandeis University Justice, April 11, 1989 | |||
|next = Brandeis University Justice, February 2, 1993 | |||
}} | |||
'''The Justice, April 18, 1989 | '''The Justice, April 18, 1989 | ||
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[[David Weinstein]] reviews Elvis Costello and [[Nick Lowe]], Thursday, [[Concert 1989-04-13 Waltham|April 13, 1989]], Shapiro Gymnasium, Brandeis University, Waltham, | [[David Weinstein]] reviews Elvis Costello and [[Nick Lowe]], Thursday, [[Concert 1989-04-13 Waltham|April 13, 1989]], Shapiro Gymnasium, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts. | ||
{{Bibliography images}} | {{Bibliography images}} | ||
[[image:1989-04-18 Brandeis University Justice page 26.jpg|360px | [[image:1989-04-18 Brandeis University Justice page 26.jpg|360px]] | ||
<br><small>Page scan.</small> | <br><small>Page scan.</small> | ||
<small>Photos by [[Jane Rothstein]].</small><br> | <small>Photos by [[Jane Rothstein]].</small><br> | ||
[[image:1989-04-18 Brandeis University Justice photo 01 jr.jpg|360px | [[image:1989-04-18 Brandeis University Justice photo 01 jr.jpg|360px]] | ||
[[image:1989-04-18 Brandeis University Justice photo 02 jr.jpg|360px | [[image:1989-04-18 Brandeis University Justice photo 02 jr.jpg|360px]] | ||
<br><small>Photos by [[Jane Rothstein]].</small> | <br><small>Photos by [[Jane Rothstein]].</small> | ||
Latest revision as of 19:42, 15 April 2023
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