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MANSFIELD, Mass. — Elvis Costello is one of those people who might be too talented for his own good. This is the guy who wrote a whole album's worth of songs over a weekend, and then handed them to someone else, a singer named Wendy James.
In the past few years, his song cycle with the Brodsky Quartet and bristling art-rock albums like Mighty Like a Rose have confused fans who fell for the taut, angry-but-literate rockers of Costello's early years.
So it was good news for many when Costello reunited with his original, superb backup band, the Attractions, and produced his latest album, Brutal Youth.
Last night the band was in fine form, particularly keyboardist Steve Nieve, who accompanied Costello with everything from tinkly piano trills to swooping organ.
Before a crowd of 10,500 at Great Woods, Costello devoted much of the first part of his show to showcasing the new record, with nine songs from the current effort.
That was probably a couple too many as far as the show's momentum was concerned. What's more, Costello left off some of the strongest new material — like "20% Amnesia" and "Just About Glad."
Wearing a gray suit and an orange shirt, Costello said little, opening the show with a charge through a punkish "No Action" and "Waiting For the End of the World," and "Beyond Belief" before moving to some new material with "Sulky Girl" and "London's Brilliant Parade."
An early highlight was a strong, emotional performance of "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" which started off with Costello's unaccompanied voice, echoing with reverb, before the band came in.
Also impressive was "New Lace Sleeves" and one of the new songs, "Clown Strike," with a guitar solo that included a snippet of "My Favorite Things."
On the other hand, Costello seemed distracted during "Kinder Murder" and an old favorite, "Watching the Detectives" was hurried and unsatisfying.
Fortunately, the concert caught fire during the three encores, with a mother lode of superb material. By now, Costello was a little hoarse, but it didn't matter.
On "Alison," Costello walked the fine line between regret and loathing, and then threw in lines from "Tracks of My Tears" and "Tears of a Clown" before proceeding to another of his great songs, "Accidents Will Happen."
For his last encore, Costello launched a killer trio of "Say Goodbye," a fabulous, churning "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" and finally "Pump It Up" — just the sort of thing you were waiting for Costello and the Attractions to sink their teeth into.
It took a while but was worth it.
Canada's Crash Test Dummies opened the show with a dose of quirky charm, although they'd probably be much more effective in a more intimate forum.
The band's two female keyboardists lent welcome harmony support to Brad Roberts' deep, foggy voice. Roberts pondered the divine plan in "How Does a Duck Know?" and celebrated (?) the ravages of old age in "Afternoons & Coffeespoons."
He even had the nerve to change a verse in the band's oddball radio hit, "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm."
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