South Wales Echo, June 18, 2018: Difference between revisions

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It's ironic then that some of the near two hour show's best moments came from just him and keyboard player Steve Nieve sharing a spotlight, both men treating a packed Wales Millennium Centre to pared down reinventions of post-punk favourites such as "Accidents Will Happen" and "Oliver's Army."
It's ironic then that some of the near two hour show's best moments came from just him and keyboard player Steve Nieve sharing a spotlight, both men treating a packed Wales Millennium Centre to pared down reinventions of post-punk favourites such as "Accidents Will Happen" and "Oliver's Army."


"Tears in your beer" classic "Alison" was also reduced to just Costello — flanked by impressive backing singers Brianna Lee and Kitten Kuroi — standing at the lip of the stage, his keening voice all breathy and broken.
"Tears in your beer" classic "Alison" was also reduced to just Costello — flanked by impressive backing singers Briana Lee and Kitten Kuroi — standing at the lip of the stage, his keening voice all breathy and broken.


At 63 what's actually amazing is how well those instantly recognisable tones of his have held up, albeit boasting a huskier, lower register from those adenoidal New Wave vocalisations that made early albums like ''My Aim is True'' and ''This Year's Model'' such classics.
At 63 what's actually amazing is how well those instantly recognisable tones of his have held up, albeit boasting a huskier, lower register from those adenoidal New Wave vocalisations that made early albums like ''My Aim is True'' and ''This Year's Model'' such classics.

Revision as of 16:55, 17 October 2021

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South Wales Echo

UK & Ireland newspapers

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Elvis Costello in Cardiff

The new wave legend's aim is still true, but only just

Nathan Bevan

The rock icon closed Wales Millennium Centre's Festival of Voice with a mixed bag set full of surprises
3 stars (out of 5) reviews3 stars (out of 5) reviews3 stars (out of 5) reviews3 stars (out of 5) reviews3 stars (out of 5) reviews

When Elvis Costello played Cardiff in 2010 — alone, with just an array of guitars for company — he remarked how he fancied doing it again, "but with a full band."

Flash forward eight years and he's done just that, closing this year's Festival of Voice extravaganza on Sunday night with long-time backing band The Imposters in tow.

It's ironic then that some of the near two hour show's best moments came from just him and keyboard player Steve Nieve sharing a spotlight, both men treating a packed Wales Millennium Centre to pared down reinventions of post-punk favourites such as "Accidents Will Happen" and "Oliver's Army."

"Tears in your beer" classic "Alison" was also reduced to just Costello — flanked by impressive backing singers Briana Lee and Kitten Kuroi — standing at the lip of the stage, his keening voice all breathy and broken.

At 63 what's actually amazing is how well those instantly recognisable tones of his have held up, albeit boasting a huskier, lower register from those adenoidal New Wave vocalisations that made early albums like My Aim is True and This Year's Model such classics.

"Cardiff loves you, Elvis," came a shout from the crowd at one point.

"I'm sorry," he laughed back, clearly not having heard properly. "I still need to brush up on my Welsh."

Those hoping for a Greatest Hits compendium may have been a little disappointed though, because, aside from the likes of "Watching The Detectives" and "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" — both of which suffered from a slightly muddy sound — there were a fair few lesser heard numbers pulled from the Costello cannon on the night.

"King Horse" from 1980's Get Happy! had plenty of requisite kick, but "Tears Before Bedtime" and "Shabby Doll" — both taken from most Elvis fans' least favourite album, Imperial Bedroom — only served to dampen the buzz built up elsewhere.

Similarly, I could have done without the rendition of "Adieu Paris" — an unreleased track "recorded for the late Johnny Hallyday" — and the mawkish "My Three Sons," even if the gig did happen to fall on Father's Day.

There were plenty of highlights, however, Costello's smokey take on Robert Wyatt's still incredibly poignant anti-war song "Shipbuilding" proving as powerful as ever, while "Less Than Zero" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" finally succeeded in rousing the appreciative crowd to its feet.

Strange then that Elvis elected to end the evening with "I Want You," from '86's Blood & Chocolate album, a break-up song so raw it's akin to open heart surgery with a rusty spoon.

That said, Costello threw himself into it 100% — clawing at the mic stand, his legs buckling as his voice soared — leaving us feeling wrung out by the time the house lights came up.

"Anyone here remember the Top Rank, Sophia Gardens or St David's Hall?" he'd asked earlier in the show, reeling out the venues in the capital he'd played over the years.

Well, let's hope there's not too long a wait before he returns here again and we can add more names to that list.


Tags: CardiffWales Millennium CentreFestival of VoiceThe ImpostersSteve NieveAccidents Will HappenOliver's ArmyAlisonBriana LeeKitten KuroiMy Aim Is TrueThis Year's ModelWatching The Detectives(I Don't Want To Go To) ChelseaKing HorseGet Happy!!Tears Before BedtimeShabby DollImperial BedroomAdieu Paris (L'Envie Des Etoiles)Johnny HallydayMy Three SonsRobert WyattShipbuildingLess Than Zero(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?I Want YouBlood & ChocolateTop RankSophia GardensSt David's Hall

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South Wales Echo, June 18, 2018


Nathan Bevan reviews Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Kitten Kuroi and Briana Lee, Sunday, June 17, 2018, St David's Hall, Cardiff, Wales.

Images

2018-06-17 Cardiff photo 04 rg.jpg
Photo by Raquel Garcia.


Photo by Matt Wright.
2018-06-17 Cardiff photo 03.jpg


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