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Elvis Costello continues to evolve as a live performer.
In the fall of 1986 his tour consisted of a series of three to five shows in one venue. One show featured Costello and his long-time back-up band, the Attractions, playing their greatest hits. He played solo other nights and, on another show, he featured special guests. All of this was quite a switch from the Angry Young Man of 10 years ago, when Costello's hostile shows lasted no more than 45 minutes.
Now, Costello has returned to America for a brief college tour. At San Diego State University's Open Air Theater, audience anticipation was visible when roadies began outfitting the bare stage with a variety of strange props — a portable bar and bar stools, television set. Victrola, slide projector and screen, and a junior drum kit. Costello used the projector to show slides of his "vacation," but many of the other props remained unused.
Despite a moderate case of laryngitis, Costello proved to be a warm and witty showman, performing old favorites like "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" and "Green Shirt." For "Uncomplicated," he pretended to turn on the Victrola and a synthesized drum beat came out. But on the jazzy "Inch By Inch," he relied on the audience's hand claps for rhythm.
Because his laryngitis seemed to worsen as the show progressed, it wasn't surprising when the show ended after only 50 minutes. The audience understood and even sympathized with his discomfort. But they were happily surprised to find that his departure from the stage was temporary as the real show began when he returned.
Sporting a goofy top hat, Costello came out, re-introducing himself as "Napoleon Dynamite" and (opening act) Nick Lowe as his co-host, "Xavier Valentine." But the real star of the proceedings was the Spectacular Spinning Songbook: a huge wheel emblazoned with 38 different song titles. Costello invited three girls from the audience to spin the giant wheel He also invited an enthusiastic female fan up to pound on the junior drum kit. Her accompaniment was so surprisingly competent on three songs, "Honey, Are You Straight Or Are You Blind," "Alison" and "Everyday I Write The Book," that the audience gave her a standing ovation.
While the "Napoleon Dynamite" persona was part carnival huckster and part game-show host, he became the consummate entertainer when he metamorphosed back to Costello. He held the audience transfixed with the chilling treatise of sexual obsession, "I Want You." Conversely, he was the gentle balladeer at the piano when he previewed a wistful new song, "Taxi."
Perhaps the most exhilarating moments came when Costello combined his own compositions with cover versions of personal favorites. The results were sometimes surprising. It seemed like a natural progression when he segued from his waltz-flavored "New Amsterdam" to the Beatles' "Hide Your Love Away." But it was quite unexpected when he followed his country-ish "Radio Sweetheart" with Van Morrison's soulful "Jackie Wilson Said."
Closing the show, perennial favorite "Pump It Up" was slowed to a reggae-fied beat. Within the song's perimeters, Costello cleverly incorporated Chuck Berry's "Too Much Monkey Business," Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" an even Prince's latest single, "Sign 'O' The Times."
Opening for Costello, old friend Nick Lowe performed an 11-song acoustic set that featured hits like "Cruel To Be Kind," "So It Goes" and "I Knew The Bride," as well as songs he has rarely performed live, like "Heart" and "Too Many Teardrops." Ironically, he was much more appealing as a solo act than when he is with his band, the Cowboy Outfit.
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