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Elvis Costello enhanced his growing reputation as a raconteur and wit while delivering a set of scorching rock and blues to a packed stadium audience on Saturday night. With his backing band, The Confederates, he wasted no time with early prattle. "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down" was dedicated to the English rugby team. There followed a half hour of Costello favourites with the band.
His latest performance in Dublin was a sequel to the concerts held by Elvis and his guests last December in the Olympia Theatre. The audience had a sample of the best from the Olympia concerts, along with a consummate performance from this highly experienced group of musicians.
The solo set was full of classics like "Alison," "Radio Sweetheart," "Chocolate Town" and a new song destined to be a classic, dedicated to his Irish grandfather, "Any King's Shilling."
When the band returned we were plunged straight into King of America, Costello's first album release of last year. For an encore, there was the magnificent "I Want You," probably one of the best loved ballads written since "Yesterday."
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