Irish Times, April 22, 1999

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Irish Times

UK & Ireland newspapers

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Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve

National Concert Hall

Kevin Courtney

"Why can't a man stand alone?" asks Declan MacManus in the opening bars of his almost-solo Irish appearance. It's a rhetorical question: Costello's music can certainly stand up for itself, aided only by Elvis's acoustic guitar and Steve Nieve's strident piano playing. The pair performed this stripped-down set for more than two hours, gleefully reinterpreting Costello's back catalogue, and cheerfully exploring the darker side of the Elvis sheen.

1999-04-22 Irish Times clipping 01.jpg

Shorn of its punky guitars and clipped beats, "Accidents Will Happen" turns out by happy accident to be an accomplished composition. It's apparent that Costello has progressed in the 20 years since Armed Forces; his Grammy-winning collaboration with Burt Bacharach sees Costello gliding gracefully into middle-age, holding his notes while others his age would simply hold in their beer bellies. "Toledo," "Tears At The Birthday Party" and "This House Is Empty Now" are little librettos which seem perfectly suited to the Concert Hall's classical setting; Costello delivers the readings with all the pomp of a punk tenor, commanding centre stage with just a few hand gestures and displaying a masterful control over his vocal technique.

Sometimes, however, Elvis can't resist showing off his new-found range, adding unnecessary flourishes and holding his notes too long when he really should have just tossed them aside. When he goes back to the simple joys of "God's Comic," the naïve passion of "Alison" or the noble melancholy of "Shipbuilding," then Costello is truly entertaining.


Tags: National Concert HallDublinSteve NieveAccidents Will HappenArmed ForcesPainted From MemoryBurt BacharachGrammy AwardsToledoTears At The Birthday PartyThis House Is Empty NowGod's ComicAlisonShipbuilding(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red ShoesDeclan MacManusFootball

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The Irish Times, April 22, 1999


Kevin Courtney reviews Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve, Wednesday, April 21, 1999, National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland.


Johnny Watterson posts some additional, football-releated concert notes.






Irish Times, April 26, 1999

Elvis Costello

National Concert Hall

Johnny Watterson

Some Manchester United fans who couldn't bear to watch the match on Wednesday might have instead gone to the Elvis Costello concert in Dublin to blank out the torture.

The gig started shortly after United went 2-0 down to Inzhagi's early goals, leaving punters in the pub with a gut-feeling that the European dream was in tatters.

However, towards the end of the concert and after the third encore from Costello, he asked the audience whether anyone wanted to hear the result of the match and started strumming on his guitar.

No it wasn't "Tramp The Dirt Down," but a clever little run through the match with his own nimble fingers plucking on the guitar for the backing track.

Strumming to the crowd and taking them through the game, from Inzaghi's opening goals to Keane's counter and United's remarkable comeback, Costello clearly rose to the occasion. He then, of course, finished off the gig with "Red Shoes."


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