ElvisCostello.info, May 24, 2002

From The Elvis Costello Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
... Bibliography ...
727677787980818283
848586878889909192
939495969798990001
020304050607080910
111213141516171819
202122232425 26 27 28


ElvisCostello.info

Blogs

-

A good year for the Roseland


Chris Mouser

Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Roseland Theater, Portland

As Roseland filled up for the first show of the Costello & the Imposters tour, I couldn't help but notice a large bulletin board near one of the theater's corner watering holes which advertised (ironically): COMING ATTRACTIONS. How about, two former Attractions due on stage, no Bruce this time folks. By the way, quite a diverse range of artists lined up for Portland this summer — from Neil Finn to …er, …brought to you by Charlton Heston and the National Rifle Association, …Ted Nugent.

From my vantage point overlooking the stage in the tiny horseshoe balcony, I could make out the flashlight that led the Elvis and crew very slowly along a narrow backstage corridor and carefully up a few dark stairs to the stage while "Dust 2" looped away on the sound system. I found myself imagining a little backstage Spinal Tap moment – "Time to rock 'n' roll!" Yes, it's a rock 'n' roll creation!

They jogged onstage at the smallish Portland, Oregon venue and immediately spun into "45." The fair sprinkling of bobbing, balding pates on the main floor definitely dug the sentiment. "Waiting For the End of the World" was next up and an appropriately-titled pick for the post-Sept. 11 angst of doofus Dubya's America – oh excuse me, I forgot, 80 percent approval rate for the "President" – all join the federally legislated mantra, must approve of the President… must approve…

Anyway, Elvis kept his between-tune raps brief and amusing, welcoming everyone with, "It's good to be back in the Rose City!" He followed by saying something about admission being so difficult for this one that ticket deals were being struck outside which involved the local strip clubs. I personally witnessed several $80-per ticket "deals" made while waiting in the queue to get in.

"Spooky Girlfriend" received the comical intro/explanation of "It's about a show business weasel who has an unhealthy interest in the hairstyles of German porn stars … and his protégé, she has a an entirely understandable fascination with color-coordinated shoes and credit cards." Elvis encouraged audience participation on this one, with loud choruses of "Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo…" happening in all the right spots.

The general admission crowd was packed into every corner of the club/theater – a great audience that helped to push the show along at a brisk "Saturday Night" pace. From "45" to "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)," which ended the regular set, there was very little slow down. It wasn't a Ramones show, but after seeing a couple of (equally brilliant) Elvis and Steve tours in recent years that were chock-full of ballads, this one did feel a bit more, dare I say, 1977 – you can add a bit of '78, '79, '80, '67 (Mina sample) and good portions of 2002+ to that. Hell, it was just good music.

EC's already told everyone he's not going to remake Armed Forces get over it! When I Was Cruel stands on its own two dancing feet pretty damn well — no complaints here. (By the way, I didn't hear any idiots yelling for "Alison" at this show as occurred when Elvis introduced "When I Was Cruel No. 2" at Easy Street Records in Seattle on Wednesday).

The new songs mixed-in very well with the older material. "High Fidelity" and "Possession" raced into "Tart" – "All the Rage," "Man Out of Time" and "Beyond Belief" arrived nicely on the doorstep of "Dust 2." The Imposters made the new stuff even better than the recorded versions – Steve adding his usual remarkable flourishes on the keyboards, Pete – the consummate pro throughout and Davey bringing a welcome enthusiasm for the material which has undoubtedly boosted the band's energy level.

EC struck a very Johnny Cash-like pose in his all-black, right down to the cowboy boots — although the pre-show warm-up tape, after youthful labelmate opener American Hi-Fi finished their energetic set, contained nothing except Elvis's other favorite Sun Records man, Roy Orbison.

The pair of three-song encores each began with a song off the new album – "Alibi" and "Episode Of Blonde" respectively. Elvis spat out the lyrics "And you took it 'cos you need it / Maybe Jesus wants you for a sunbeam" (Kurt Cobain-inspired alibis, alibis?) with enough venom and volume to carry to the nearby Satyricon Club where Kurt and Courtney began their sad and stormy Sid and Nancy II affair. The two encores each ended very differently – a crowd-pleasing (though not my favorite – too much sports arena play during basketball time-outs has somewhat ruined it) "Pump It Up" and a crowd-chilling, "I Want You" (spooky facial spotlight on Elvis throughout like a long-lost out-take from Lynch's Blue Velvet – brilliant!).

As they waved their "good-nights" and motored north up the I-5 freeway for Seattle, Orbison's "It's Over" hit the Roseland sound system and show No. 1 of the tour was in the bag (papa's brand new one). It was "15 Petals" and a concert beyond belief for the City of Roses. Rowdy, yep…rock, roll & rhythm, uh-huh.


Tags: Roseland TheaterPortlandOregonThe ImpostersSteve NievePete ThomasDavey FaragherAmerican Hi-FiWhen I Was Cruel45Waiting For The End Of The WorldTear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)Dust 2... ...DustWhen I Was Cruel No. 2MinaSpooky GirlfriendEpisode Of BlondeHigh FidelityPossessionTartAll The RageMan Out Of TimeBeyond BeliefJohnny CashAlibiPump It UpI Want You15 PetalsWatching The DetectivesAll This Useless Beauty tourArmed ForcesThis Year's ModelGet Happy!!Imperial BedroomNeil FinnAlisonRoy OrbisonSeattleEasy Street Records

-
<< >>

ElvisCostello.info, May 24, 2002


Chris Mouser and Matt Ragozzino review Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Saturday, May 18, 2002, Roseland Theater, Portland, Oregon.






Elvis Costello

Roseland Theater, Portland

Matt Ragozzino

Elvis Costello and the Imposters opened their US tour May 18 at the Roseland Theater, a certified dive in Portland's Old Town. It was a suitable venue for his return to loud. The standing-only main floor in the shabby 1400-seat theater must have looked to him like the old days as he opened by saying "you must have sold your grandmothers to get in here."

The show included half of When I Was Cruel and vintage songs played in their original form. After opening with "45," Elvis stabbed out "Waiting For The End Of The World" and "Watching The Detectives," ending any speculation about what he had come to play.

This was the classic Elvis and he seemed glad to be back. He charged through the two-hour concert, stopping only long enough for brief intros and frequent guitar changes.

The setlist included four songs from This Year's Model, two from Get Happy!!, two from Imperial Bedroom, and a handful of later songs. "Alibi" had a hotter fire than on the CD. "I love you just as much as I hate your guts" sounded like a man facing his accused.

"Dust 2..." drifted into "Dust" and back. Throughout the show Elvis punched guitar pedals, a tape echo, and a sampler, ending the Mina backing in "When I Was Cruel No. 2" with a dramatic button-push. The finale, "I Want You," had him backing out of the spotlight as he showed the anatomy of obsession.

Steve Naive and Pete Thomas were as right as they always are. Davey Faragher ably filled Bruce Thomas's large shadow and added his skills as backing vocalist.

Elvis's stories and banter were mostly absent compared to the All This Useless Beauty tour. He signalled the audience to sing the do do do's on "Spooky Girlfriend" but he needn't have bothered; the crowd was singing the whole show. Elvis came to play, and he sounded like he had a lot to get off his chest.

-



Back to top

|}

External links