Examiner, May 23, 2011

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Examiner

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Elvis Costello at The Beacon


Jim Bessman

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From the opening moments of last night's first of three sold-out shows at The Beacon, Elvis Costello seemed to be picking up where he breathlessly left off April 1 at the Gramercy Theater.

"I Hope You're Happy Now," Nick Lowe's "Heart Of The City," "Mystery Dance" and "Radio, Radio" set a forest fire pace with no break in between. But as this show was part of his Revolver Tour — for which he's brought back The Spectacular Spinning Songbook for the first time in 25 years — he put out the blaze, if only momentarily, to begin the interactive, fun-filled evening's special agenda.

Reassuming his Napoleon Dynamite vaudeville emcee character, the beloved entertainer donned a black top hat and pointed to the immense spinning wheel with a black cane, explaining, while his band The Imposters vamped, that the 40-some songs affixed to it, to be chosen by lucky spinners plucked from the audience, would emcompass love, sex, death and dancing — though "not necessarily in that order." Indeed, the consummate showman could have been a circus ringmaster — and very well might be in his next artistic incarnation — but here he greeted his first spinner, then danced her off the stage after performing the first winning entry "Black And White World."

Incredibly, after "Flutter And Wow," the third spinner again landed on "Black And White World." "It's a good song, I grant you," Costello said modestly, "but let's say we spin it again." As if by magic, or perhaps Costello's not quite sleight of hand, she hit one of the "Jackpot" purple cards, this one simply titled "Girl" and bringing forth a triple-play of girl-themed songs: "This Year's Girl," "Girls Talk," and The Beatles' "Girl" — Costello proving to be one of the few who can credibly take on a John Lennon vocal with comparable intensity.

Another remarkable coincidence came when a brother and sister stepped up for a "double spin," she getting "Alison," he "Veronica." And a second "Jackpot" play brought forth a "Time"-sensitive set of "Strict Time," "Man Out Of Time," "Next Time Round" and the Rolling Stones' "Out Of Time" — during which Costello took the lucky girl who made the spin with him into the go-go dance cage off to the side of the stage for a little soft shoe.

Costello's voice, incidentally, showed none of the effects of the bronchitis which forced him to postpone last week's show in New Jersey. Rather, he was quite stunning vocally, most notably on songs like "The Long Honeymoon" and "God Give Me Strength," the latter songwriting collaboration with Burt Bacharach here a tour de force in which he strolled into the audience singing sans guitar, prompting Mike Myers, who had selected it, to rush to the foot of the stage to take pictures.

But the sound was such that the whole band stood out: Bassist Davey Faragher's demanding backup vocal parts were spot-on, keyboard whiz Steve Nieve's kaleidoscopic patterns were clearly heard and master drummer Pete Thomas — "the one and only," as Costello so accurately introduces him — channeled Keith Moon on The Who's "Substitute," a surprise encore choice to go with Ray Charles' "Busted" and Costello standards like "Watching The Detectives," and "Pump It Up" (though this "Pump It Up" had Costello joining Nieve at the keys and doing it in 6/8 time).

As no one had selected Costello's traditional closer "(What's So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," he and The Imposters closed the show with the same exhilarating passion of its start. There were many who had been there 25 years earlier who couldn't tell the difference.


Tags: Beacon TheatreGramercy TheatreI Hope You're Happy NowNick LoweHeart Of The CityMystery DanceRadio, RadioThe Revolver TourSpectacular Spinning SongbookNapoleon DynamiteThe ImpostersBlack And White WorldFlutter & WowJackpotGirlThis Year's GirlGirls TalkThe BeatlesGirlJohn LennonAlisonVeronicaTimeStrict TimeMan Out Of TimeNext Time 'RoundThe Rolling StonesOut Of TimeThe Long HoneymoonGod Give Me StrengthBurt BacharachMike MyersDavey FaragherSteve NievePete ThomasThe WhoSubstituteRay CharlesBustedWatching The DetectivesPump It Up(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

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Examiner.com, May 23, 2011


Jim Bessman reviews Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Sunday, May 22, 2011, Beacon Theatre, New York.

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2011-05-23 Examiner photo 01.jpg

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