Melody Maker, February 7, 1981: Difference between revisions
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But Elvis scored his victory not at the box office but on stage, going 24 rounds (including two encores) and scoring a knockout in each one. A flurry of lyrical jabs, flash of those snarling Costello tonsils, the fancy fingerwork of Steve Nieve, the one-two rhythmic punch of Bruce and Pete Thomas; absence may make the heart grow fonder, but it was clear enough from the first song that Costello and the Attractions are as hot as, if not intensely hotter, than I'd remembered them. | But Elvis scored his victory not at the box office but on stage, going 24 rounds (including two encores) and scoring a knockout in each one. A flurry of lyrical jabs, flash of those snarling Costello tonsils, the fancy fingerwork of Steve Nieve, the one-two rhythmic punch of Bruce and Pete Thomas; absence may make the heart grow fonder, but it was clear enough from the first song that Costello and the Attractions are as hot as, if not intensely hotter, than I'd remembered them. | ||
Special guests Squeeze took quite a bit longer warming up their engines. As pop-'n'-rock tunesmiths, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford are go-go, but for the first half of their set the | Special guests Squeeze took quite a bit longer warming up their engines. As pop-'n'-rock tunesmiths, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford are go-go, but for the first half of their set the band's spirit seemed to have went-went. They had already gone through most of ''Argy Bargy'' and premiered a few new songs before hitting high gear, ripping through "Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)," "Another Nail In My Heart," and a blast of boogie woogie called "Yap, Yap, Yap" with power and panache. | ||
In fact, the only loose screw in the Squeeze hit machine is new keyboard man Paul Carrack, who could use a double shot of stage presence. In high contrast to the comic relief of the now-departed Jools Holland, Carrack was all work and no play, cracking nary a smile even during an otherwise strong take of his big hit with Ace, "How Long." | In fact, the only loose screw in the Squeeze hit machine is new keyboard man Paul Carrack, who could use a double shot of stage presence. In high contrast to the comic relief of the now-departed Jools Holland, Carrack was all work and no play, cracking nary a smile even during an otherwise strong take of his big hit with Ace, "How Long." |
Revision as of 09:58, 23 April 2020
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