Sounds, February 10, 1979

Bibliography   72 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 UK & Ireland weeklies UK & Ireland magazines UK & Ireland newspapers US newspapers US rock magazines US music magazines US magazines US alternative weeklies European magazines European newspapers Canada  •  Mexico  •  Asia Australia  •  New Zealand South America  •  Africa Blogs  •  Fanzines  •  Books Online publications Sounds   1974 March 30 1976 August 14 1976 November 20 1977 March 26 1977 April 9 1977 April 30 1977 May 28 1977 June 11 1977 June 25 1977 July 23 1977 July 30 1977 August 6 1977 August 13 1977 August 20 1977 September 3 1977 September 17 1977 October 15 1977 October 22 1977 November 5 1977 December 3 1977 December 10 1977 December 17 1977 December 24 1978 January 28 1978 February 18 1978 February 25 1978 March 4 1978 March 11 1978 March 18 1978 April 1 1978 April 8  1978 April 15 1978 April 22 1978 April 29 1978 June 17 1978 September 2 1978 September 9 1978 September 16 1978 September 23 1978 September 30 1978 October 21 1978 November 18 1978 November 25 1978 December 30 1979‎ January 6 1979‎ February 3 1979‎ February 10 1979‎ February 24   1979‎ April 14  1979‎ May 12 1979‎ June 2 1979‎ July 21 1979‎ December 29 1980 January 5 1980 January 19 1980 February 2 1980 February 23 1980 March 15 1980 March 22 1980 April 5 1980 April 12   1980 May 24 1980 June 7 1980 August 30 1980 September 6 1980 October 4 1980 October 11 1980 October 18 1980 December 27 1981 January 3 1981 January 17 1981 January 24 1981 February 7 1981 February 28 1981 April 4 1981 November 21 1982 January 16 1982 June 12 1982 June 26 1982 July 10 1982 July 31 1982 September 18 1982 September 25 1982 November 27 1983 January 8 1983 June 25 1983 July 2 1983 July 16 1983 July 30 1983 September 17 1983 October 29 1983 November 5  1983 December 10 1984 January 7 1984 March 31 1984 April 28 1984 June 9 1984 June 30 1984 July 14 1984 October 20 1984 December 15 1985 March 23 1985 April 20 1985 May 11 1986 February 22 1986 March 1 1986 September 13 1986 November 29 1986 December 20 1987 January 31 1987 February 7 1987 June 27 1987 December 5 1989 February 11 1989 February 18 1989 March 4 1989 May 6 1989 May 13 1989 June 24 1989 July 15 1989 October 21 1989 December 23 — An exercise in calculation Garry Bushell Elvis Costello And the Attractions Richard Hell And The Voidoids John Cooper Clarke Hammersmith Palais The hipper amongst my colleagues reckoned Elvis blew it tonight and Richard Hell made it all worthwhile. Perverse little bleeder that I am, I hated Hell and enjoyed El. Fact is the only thing that bothered me overmuch was the presence in the audience of large numbers of people with broken limbs. Not all journalists, surely. Walking dip-stick Johnny No Hyphen Clarke, resplendent in red blazer and leather railway guides, began with a hot haranguing of old faves, poems with a more discernible story line ("Kung Fu," "Salome Malone") making more impact than the more stream-of-images offerings. Newie "Twat" was an instant success that should have been dedicated to Richard Hell: "Like a recently disinfected toilet you're clean round the bend... you're like a dose of scabies, I've got you under my skin... I'd consider killing you if I thought you were alive... speaking as an outsider what d'you think of the human race?" Pure abuse. Luvly. Clark is clever, sharp and enough of a stand up comedian to make instant connections at any level of appreciation. Personally though, I'd like him to put his idea of a two section show — one with a band, one without — into practice. Variety is the spice of life, m'dears. Helloid on the other hand is, well, I s'pose he's not that bad. I liked the openers and "Blank Generation" is a minor gem but on the whole he cuts it on the big so-what scale. He interviews well but livesville I kin take him or leave him each time. Costello I can take — warts an' all — till the cows cometh home. It's the last UK gig for some time tonight and he's chirpy. Almost talkative. And miles away. Lots and lots of white men and women in 'Ammersmith Palais and I'm right at the back, as sold out as the venue. But the, uh, vibes are good, better than the pre-Xmas gigs. "Goon Squad" kicks off, the sound is good and the band on form and watchable — Steve's animated and Elvis sports a jacket based on one of J. Jackson's ties but we won't hold that against him. Calculation was the show's keynote, as inexorably the set built up to the stage managed encores. OK, so near the beginning it sagged slightly, but from the poppy uptempo newie "Opportunity" onwards it worked. Onwards through the magnificent "Green Shirt," "Two Little Hitlers," "Lipstick Vogue," "Detectives," onwards through more Armed Forces to the mighty "Oliver's Army" and if that's not Top Five... They're off. We cheer. They're on with Martin Belmont from The Rumour for group intros and "Pump It Up." They're off. We cheer. They're on with Dave Edmunds for "Mystery Dance" (and not — as some drunken hacks claimed — Van Morrison at all). They're off. We cheer. They're on for "Chelsea" and "Peace, Love And Understanding" (not funny, El, just sad that they don't work). The end. A calculated triumph from a Costello camp rife with calculations — the next single, the next album, the films, America. It's like a chess game. We're the pawns and Costello slowly but surely moves towards End Game. When my wife demands to come to a gig you know that the move from rock audiences to mass audiences is only a matter of time. Tags: Hammersmith Palais  •  London  •  The Attractions  •  Steve Nieve  •  Richard Hell & The Voidoids  •  John Cooper Clarke  •  Martin Belmont  •  The Rumour  •  Dave Edmunds  •  Goon Squad  •  Opportunity  •  Green Shirt  •  Two Little Hitlers  •  Lipstick Vogue  •  Watching The Detectives  •  Armed Forces  •  Oliver's Army  •  Pump It Up  •  Mystery Dance  •  Van Morrison  •  (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea  •  (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?  •  pre-Xmas gigs << >> Sounds, May 12, 1979‎ Garry Bushell reviews Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Richard Hell & The Voidoids and John Cooper Clarke, Tuesday, January 30, 1979, Hammersmith Palais, London, England. Images Clipping. Cover and page scan.

External links

• Wikipedia: Sounds
• Twitter: SoundsClips
• Rocksbackpages: Garry Bushell