Otago Daily Times, April 19, 2014: Difference between revisions
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Elvis Costello, one of the highlights of the | Elvis Costello, one of the highlights of the Queenstown Blues and Roots Festival next [[Concert 2014-04-26 Queenstown|Saturday]], confirms Shane Gilchrist's suspicions: he's a lyricist not short of a word. | ||
Questions, questions, so many questions. Thankfully Elvis Costello is in a generous mood. | Questions, questions, so many questions. Thankfully Elvis Costello is in a generous mood. | ||
Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that, having flown 20 hours to get to | Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that, having flown 20 hours to get to Perth last weekend, he and his band, The Imposters, [[Concert 2014-04-13 Fremantle|played]] for a mere hour, meaning he had little time for extended banter and, being the accomplished wordsmith he is, had a few more tidbits he wanted to share. Perhaps. | ||
Whatever the reason, the result is a conversation that borders on stream-of-consciousness rambling (a bit like the preceding paragraph), albeit mixed with an intuitive ability, on Costello's part at least, to not so much jump as silkily glide from one topic to the next. | Whatever the reason, the result is a conversation that borders on stream-of-consciousness rambling (a bit like the preceding paragraph), albeit mixed with an intuitive ability, on Costello's part at least, to not so much jump as silkily glide from one topic to the next. | ||
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For instance, does he attempt to create a theme or evoke a mood by selecting certain songs? Costello, on the phone from Melbourne, begins succinctly enough. | For instance, does he attempt to create a theme or evoke a mood by selecting certain songs? Costello, on the phone from Melbourne, begins succinctly enough. | ||
It depends, he says, pointing out that, by their very nature, festivals | It depends, he says, pointing out that, by their very nature, festivals — such as the West Coast Blues 'n' Roots event at Fremantle last Sunday and the Queenstown Blues And Roots Festival next Saturday, [[Concert 2014-04-26 Queenstown|April 26]] — draw a range of bands and thus a range of people, many of whom might not be in the slightest interested in his material. | ||
"Not everybody is there to see you. Those festival shows tend to tip towards more widely known tunes because you are trying to make a connection with a whole field full of people. | "Not everybody is there to see you. Those festival shows tend to tip towards more widely known tunes because you are trying to make a connection with a whole field full of people. | ||
"But when you do your own concert (Costello and the Imposters perform at Auckland's | "But when you do your own concert (Costello and the Imposters perform at Auckland's Civic Theatre on Sunday, [[Concert 2014-04-27 Auckland|April 27]]), people have bought tickets specifically to see you so it's a mix of expectation and surprise. | ||
"If you save all your hits until the end, it becomes a little bit predictable and I don't think you necessarily get the best out of the songs. | "If you save all your hits until the end, it becomes a little bit predictable and I don't think you necessarily get the best out of the songs. | ||
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In short, did it leave him uneasy? | In short, did it leave him uneasy? | ||
(It did, after all, come at a time when he had just released the rather good [[When I Was Cruel]] in 2002, to be followed by [[North]] in 2003 and [[The Delivery Man]] in 2004.) | (It did, after all, come at a time when he had just released the rather good ''[[When I Was Cruel]]'' in 2002, to be followed by ''[[North]]'' in 2003 and ''[[The Delivery Man]]'' in 2004.) | ||
"I think I was taught to relax about such things, largely by the generosity of friends, who rang me when I got that news. | "I think I was taught to relax about such things, largely by the generosity of friends, who rang me when I got that news. | ||
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"All I care about is playing for people. They decide if you'll still be around. I don't care about committees." | "All I care about is playing for people. They decide if you'll still be around. I don't care about committees." | ||
We then flip the concept of validation around. Forget applause or accolades, the chart success of early singles [[Watching The Detectives]], [[Oliver's Army]] and [[(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea]] or, later, [[Veronica]], co-written with | We then flip the concept of validation around. Forget applause or accolades, the chart success of early singles "[[Watching The Detectives]]," "[[Oliver's Army]]" and "[[(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea]]" or, later, "[[Veronica]]," co-written with Paul McCartney. | ||
"Isn't the very act of writing a song a valid enough exercise, perhaps even if that song doesn't reach an audience?' | "Isn't the very act of writing a song a valid enough exercise, perhaps even if that song doesn't reach an audience?' | ||
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"So when people ask me, 'why don't you make another record like that one?', the answer is easy: 'I've already done that'. | "So when people ask me, 'why don't you make another record like that one?', the answer is easy: 'I've already done that'. | ||
"You can go into a room with four guys and just start to play and create something brilliant. But you go and do it another time in your life | "You can go into a room with four guys and just start to play and create something brilliant. But you go and do it another time in your life — with the same people — and it will sound quite different." | ||
Costello is referring to drummer [[Pete Thomas]] and keyboardist [[Steve Nieve]], both of whom have often been by his side, on stage and in the studio, since his 1977 debut album, [[My Aim Is True]]. | Costello is referring to drummer [[Pete Thomas]] and keyboardist [[Steve Nieve]], both of whom have often been by his side, on stage and in the studio, since his 1977 debut album, ''[[My Aim Is True]]''. | ||
Back then they were The Attractions; since 2001, along with bass player [[Davey Faragher|David Faragher]], they've been [[The Imposters]]. As Costello says, the same, but different. | Back then they were The Attractions; since 2001, along with bass player [[Davey Faragher|David Faragher]], they've been [[The Imposters]]. As Costello says, the same, but different. | ||
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There have been solo projects and various other dalliances, including performing with symphony and jazz orchestras. | There have been solo projects and various other dalliances, including performing with symphony and jazz orchestras. | ||
Last year, Costello released an album, [[Wise Up Ghost]] with New York hip-hop/funk outfit [[The Roots]] that had some critics raving. | Last year, Costello released an album, ''[[Wise Up Ghost]]'' with New York hip-hop/funk outfit [[The Roots]] that had some critics raving. | ||
He has also been working with producer [[T-Bone Burnett]] on an album inspired by [[Bob Dylan]] lyrics. Due to be released in spring here, [[Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes]] involves [[Rhiannon Giddens]] (Carolina Chocolate Drops), [[Taylor Goldsmith]] (Dawes), [[Jim James]] (My Morning Jacket) and [[Marcus Mumford]] (Mumford & Sons). | He has also been working with producer [[T-Bone Burnett]] on an album inspired by [[Bob Dylan]] lyrics. Due to be released in spring here, ''[[Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes]]'' involves [[Rhiannon Giddens]] (Carolina Chocolate Drops), [[Taylor Goldsmith]] (Dawes), [[Jim James]] (My Morning Jacket) and [[Marcus Mumford]] (Mumford & Sons). | ||
In reviewing his wide-ranging collaborations, Costello says most are simply the result of an invitation or friendship: such as his 1993 album with [[the Brodsky Quartet]], [[The Juliet Letters]], and, more significantly, his 1998 release with [[Burt Bacharach]], [[Painted From Memory|Painted from Memory]], which resulted in a Grammy (for the song [[I Still Have That Other Girl|I Still Have The Other Girl]].) | In reviewing his wide-ranging collaborations, Costello says most are simply the result of an invitation or friendship: such as his 1993 album with [[the Brodsky Quartet]], ''[[The Juliet Letters]]'', and, more significantly, his 1998 release with [[Burt Bacharach]], ''[[Painted From Memory|Painted from Memory]]'', which resulted in a Grammy (for the song "[[I Still Have That Other Girl|I Still Have The Other Girl]].") | ||
It could also result in a stage musical. | It could also result in a stage musical. | ||
There are reports producer Chuck Lorre, whose credits include Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and Mike and Molly is working on a Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of I Still Have The Other Girl. | There are reports producer Chuck Lorre, whose credits include ''Two and a Half Men'', ''The Big Bang Theory'' and ''Mike and Molly'' is working on a Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of "I Still Have The Other Girl." | ||
"As always with these things, it takes a tremendous amount of time to get things to the stage. I'm not a kid (Costello turns 60 later this year) and Bacharach (85) isn't either. | "As always with these things, it takes a tremendous amount of time to get things to the stage. I'm not a kid (Costello turns 60 later this year) and Bacharach (85) isn't either. | ||
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"But he's the guy ringing me at midnight asking if I've finished the lyrics yet. You have to say, there is something about this music game." | "But he's the guy ringing me at midnight asking if I've finished the lyrics yet. You have to say, there is something about this music game." | ||
That brings us to yet another project, the Costello-hosted live-to-television chat show, [[Spectacle]], which enjoyed two seasons on the Sundance Channel in the US (and elsewhere) between 2008-2010. | That brings us to yet another project, the Costello-hosted live-to-television chat show, ''[[Spectacle]],'' which enjoyed two seasons on the Sundance Channel in the US (and elsewhere) between 2008-2010. | ||
Featuring interviews and performances, including duets with guests, the show revealed another side of Costello: a music fan who seeks a deeper understanding of what drives other artists. | Featuring interviews and performances, including duets with guests, the show revealed another side of Costello: a music fan who seeks a deeper understanding of what drives other artists. | ||
"Unfortunately, a few people who were guests on the show have passed away: [[Levon Helm]], [[Lou Reed]], [[Jesse Winchester|Jessie Winchester]], who was an incredible songwriter, a voice of modesty and economy in songwriting | "Unfortunately, a few people who were guests on the show have passed away: [[Levon Helm]], [[Lou Reed]], [[Jesse Winchester|Jessie Winchester]], who was an incredible songwriter, a voice of modesty and economy in songwriting — all the things I'm not particularly famous for. | ||
"I insisted Jessie be on the show. Well, when he sang Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding, the whole show stopped. The crew were in tears (as was fellow guest [[Neko Case]]). I couldn't speak; it was so lovely. | "I insisted Jessie be on the show. Well, when he sang "Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding," the whole show stopped. The crew were in tears (as was fellow guest [[Neko Case]]). I couldn't speak; it was so lovely. | ||
"I don't mean to be sentimental. But it's not all about being in the headlines. It's about doing what you do. Jessie was a good example of that. He wrote songs that people will return to for years to come." | "I don't mean to be sentimental. But it's not all about being in the headlines. It's about doing what you do. Jessie was a good example of that. He wrote songs that people will return to for years to come." | ||
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"I don't want music to be some sad ritual. It needs to be alive. Otherwise, what's the point?" | "I don't want music to be some sad ritual. It needs to be alive. Otherwise, what's the point?" | ||
{{cx}} | {{cx}} | ||
Playing - Elvis Costello and The Imposters perform at the Queenstown Blues and Roots Festival next Saturday, April 26, from 4.30pm, to be followed by the [[The Doobie Brothers|Doobie Brothers]] at 7pm. | |||
{{Bibliography notes header}} | {{Bibliography notes header}} | ||
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otago_Daily_Times Wikipedia: Otago Daily Times] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otago_Daily_Times Wikipedia: Otago Daily Times] | ||
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[[Category:Bibliography 2014 | [[Category:Bibliography]] | ||
[[Category:Bibliography 2014]] | |||
[[Category:Otago Daily Times| Otago Daily Times 2014-04-19]] | [[Category:Otago Daily Times| Otago Daily Times 2014-04-19]] | ||
[[Category:Newspaper articles | [[Category:Newspaper articles]] | ||
[[Category:Interviews | [[Category:Interviews]] | ||
[[Category:2014 interviews]] |
Revision as of 02:32, 11 May 2014
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