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Pinning down Elvis Costello, musical-genre-wise, is like herding a pack of rutting cats.
He's restless and curious like no other and has bored into everything from classical to country, not to mention the singular, punk-inflected rock he first served up in the '70s as a pigeon-toed New Waver with the oversized Buddy Holly glasses.
Ever able to meld his caustic wit with a silken voice, Costello — born Declan MacManus — seems to revel in contradiction. It's part of the charm, really.
And of course, he's something of a local boy now, what with his marriage to Nanaimo's Diana Krall in 2003 and owning a house here in Vancouver.
I was only slightly shocked to see him coming out of a washroom at the airport a few months ago.
And now it turns out Costello is an excellent TV presenter, hosting the fascinating Spectacle, wherein he interviews and performs with the likes of Elton John and Tony Bennett.
So, Monday night at the Malkin Bowl was something of a homecoming for Costello, who turns 55 today.
He's touring behind his current, T Bone Burnett-produced Secret, Profane & Sugarcane album, available at a Starbucks near you.
Reminiscent of the rootsy, country feel of King of America from 1986, the songs on the new album call out for acoustic instrumentation and that's what was supplied last night, just a back-porch jam for a few thousand.
His touring, six-piece band, The Sugarcanes, are all acoustic A-listers, including Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Jerry Douglas on the dobro and singer/writer Jim Lauderdale in the sky-blue suit handling harmonies.
They opened with a rousing "Mystery Train" — Costello dressed in a black fedora, grey suit and a crimson handkerchief tucked nattily into his breast pocket.
Before dipping into the new album with a nicely walking, slightly ragged "My All Time Doll," he called out: "It's good to be home."
Letting everybody know about his deep country roots, he launched into a classic shuffle take on Merle Haggard's "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down." Douglas's dobro break was a stunner.
Then it was down to the new "Down Among the Wines and Spirits" and "Hidden Shame," before rolling out a great cover of The Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil." Big crowd-pleaser, that one. And his "Everyday I Write the Book" was amazingly fresh.
He may be 55 today, but Costello is in great voice and comes off as vital as ever. It'll be a shame to see this group of fabulous players disbanded at tour's end. A highlight of the summer.
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