Wool City Rocker, March 1980: Difference between revisions

From The Elvis Costello Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
(update format)
(formatting / fix scan errors +tags)
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Bibliography header}}
{{Bibliography header}}
{{Bibliography index}}
{{:Bibliography index}}
{{:Wool City Rocker index}}
{{:Fanzines index}}
{{Bibliography article header}}
{{Bibliography article header}}
<center><h3>Dylan continues reinventing his classics</h3></center>
<center><h3> Elvis Costello </h3></center>
<center>Sunday, September 30, 2007</center>
<center>''' Bradford University </center>
----
----
<center>RICK MASSIMO</center>
<center> Nick Toczek </center>
<center>Journal Pop Music Writer</center>
----
----
'''Multiple Grammy-Award winner Bob Dylan entertained at URI’s Ryan Center last night.
{{Bibliography text}}
The Horace Barlow Band — a late third act on a sold-out bill headlined by Rockpile (with Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe) and supported by US bluesband The Fabulous Thunderbirds — turned out to be, as rumoured, Elvis Costello & The Attractions.


SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Bob Dylan is one of the few performers who has earned the right to give the audience something other than what they expect. In his show last night at the Ryan Center, at least in the early going, he continued his seemingly lifelong tour with reinventions of classic songs, some more successful than others.
This was a try-out of the set they'd lined up for their forthcoming [[:Category:1980 UK Tour|tour]] and it featured most of the numbers from their new album ''Get Happy!!''.


Dylan played guitar for the first time in a Rhode Island show in several years, and his band came out of the box with a stomping roadhouse version of “Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat,” then went into a hoedown version of “Don’t Think Twice (It’s All Right),” with Dylan employing his now-trademark spurting of syllables in staccato, barking-style formations. In this case, he created new melodies that stood alongside the originals; at other times (“The Lonesome Ballad of Hattie Carroll”), most of the crowd didn’t get what song they were listening to until the chorus, and one had to wonder what a first-time listener would think.
They took the stage amid loud cheers and immediately launched into their first number. A good clean sound with the band really tight and sharp. Costello, not always the most cheerful of guys, was obviously in fine mood: "Hello, how are you?" (cheers) "This is Horace Barlow..." (nods towards guitarist) "...and this is a number called 'The Beat.'"


Well, one had to, but Dylan didn’t, apparently. At this point, who’s he trying to win over?
He gives brief thanks to Rockpile for this guest spot, plugs the album and they go into "Possession" which earns loud approval. They go straight on into another typical E.C. number with a powerful drums/keyboards intro and a slow build-up into a pounding rocker. Again, no announcement — it's "Less Than Zero" — a good punchy version, but I always feel it's just a bit slow.


That version of “Hattie Carroll” was a good illustration of what’s happened to Dylan’s voice, and by extension what’s happened to the songs. His fierce growl was by turns fiery and wounded, with an unusual tenderness which, along with the pretty backing by the band, made the rendition surprisingly gentle yet still affecting. On the other hand, the full-band version of “Hollis Brown” played up the ooky-spookiness of the death-laden song to the detriment of the emotional impact. As for the rockers, a menacing “Highway 61” and a train-rhythm “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” were early highlights.
"Thank you. Like to do a new song for you now. It's called '5ive Gears In Reverse.'" This could make a fine single. It's got some good guitar/keyboards work that's reminiscent of their earlier hit "Pump It Up." Good rhythm changes too.


Primarily employing an acoustic guitar that was turned up just loud enough that quiet passages were clear but loud sections were appealingly distorted, Elvis Costello ran through solo acoustic renditions of songs spanning his career.
"This is a great town!" And he jokes about ''Top of The Pops'' which he's just been watching, "...dancing away to The Nolan Sisters in my hotel room... and The Buggles... and Gary Numan... c'mon, let's hear it for Lena Martell!" (Loud cheers) "Anyway, this is for my great(!) friends The Jags —  it's called 'The Imposter!'"


Costello was far more charged up than in his last Rhode Island appearance, at the 2005 Dunkin’ Donuts Newport Folk Festival. At times, he was playful, as during a segue from “Radio Sweetheart” to Van Morrison’s “Jackie Wilson Said,” as well as the jaunty roots-country of “From Sulfur to Sugar Cane,” written with T-Bone Burnett. At others, he was politically charged, as on “The River in Reverse” (“Count your blessings when they ask permission. To rule with money and superstition”) and the closing “The Scarlet Tide” (“… that separates the widow from the bride”), with its interjected “admit you lied, and bring the boys home.”
Next up is his own version of a song he wrote for Edmunds, "Girls Talk." It's followed by the final number — their recent hit "Oliver's Army." This has been a great set with the excellent Attractions providing subtle back-up vocals as well as the immaculate instrumentation. The audience goes crazy for an encore and they're back for one number — their new single — "I Can't Stand Up For Fallin' Down." "Thank you. That's it. Good night!"


Playing without his crack band, The Imposters (formerly The Attractions), Costello was handicapped during rock songs such as “Less Than Zero” and the ballad “Alison.” On the other hand, the setting gave him room to play with vocal dynamics and range, such as on “Veronica” and a wounded “Either Side of the Same Town.” And on some songs, such as “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?,” both phenomena happened in the same song.
A great rock-song writer, Elvis Costello's rapidly becoming a star-quality singer and performer — if he can hold the pace, he'll be up there for a good few years. If you missed this one, make sure you catch him next time around.


Singer-songwriter [[Amos Lee]] opened the show with songs that fell into classic templates, usually at the intersection of blues and the ballad side of Southern rock. The stately ballads “Careless” and the new “What’s Been Going On?” were highlights, as was a loose, sinister “Black River,” with malleted drums.
{{cx}}


{{tags}}[[University of Bradford|Bradford University]] {{-}} [[The Horace Barlow Experience]] {{-}} [[Rockpile]] {{-}} [[Dave Edmunds]] {{-}} [[Nick Lowe]] {{-}} [[The Fabulous Thunderbirds]] {{-}} [[The Attractions]] {{-}} [[1980 UK Tour]] {{-}} [[Get Happy!!]] {{-}} [[The Beat]] {{-}} [[Possession]] {{-}} [[Less Than Zero]] {{-}} [[5ive Gears In Reverse]] {{-}} [[Pump It Up]] {{-}} [[Top Of The Pops]] {{-}} [[The Imposter]] {{-}} [[Girls Talk]] {{-}} [[Oliver's Army]] {{-}} [[I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down]]
{{cx}}


{{Bibliography notes header}}
{{Bibliography notes header}}


{{Bibliography notes}}
{{Bibliography notes}}
'''The Providence Journal, September 30, 2007'''
'''The Wool City Rocker, No, 4, March 1980
----
----
Rick Massimo reviews Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and Amos Lee, [[Concert 2007-09-29 Kingston|September 29, 2007]], Ryan Center, University Of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI.
[[Nick Toczek]] reviews Elvis Costello & [[The Attractions]] (billed as [[The Horace Barlow Experience]]), Thursday, [[Concert 1980-02-07 Bradford|February 7, 1980]], University of Bradford, England.


{{Bibliography images}}
{{Bibliography images}}


[[image:1980-03-00 Wool City Rocker page 14.jpg|380px|border]]
<br><small>Page scan.</small>
<small>Cover.</small><br>
[[image:1980-03-00 Wool City Rocker cover.jpg|x120px|border]]


{{Bibliography notes footer}}
{{Bibliography notes footer}}
Line 42: Line 51:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.providencejournal.com/ ProvidenceJournal.com]
*[http://si-site-nogsy.blogspot.com/2010/08/were-from-bradford.html si-site-nogsy.blogspot.com]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Toczek Wikipedia: Nick Toczek]


[[Category:Bibliography|Providence Journal 2007]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wool City Rocker 1980}}
[[Category:Bibliography 1980|Providence Journal 2007]]
[[Category:Bibliography]]
[[Category:Newspaper articles|Providence Journal 2007]]
[[Category:Bibliography 1980]]
[[Category:Concert reviews|Providence Journal 2007]]
[[Category:Wool City Rocker| Wool City Rocker 1980]]
[[Category:Fanzine articles]]
[[Category:1980 concert reviews]]

Latest revision as of 14:53, 23 September 2019

  ... 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
Wool City Rocker  
Fanzines 
—
-

Elvis Costello

Bradford University
Nick Toczek

The Horace Barlow Band — a late third act on a sold-out bill headlined by Rockpile (with Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe) and supported by US bluesband The Fabulous Thunderbirds — turned out to be, as rumoured, Elvis Costello & The Attractions.

This was a try-out of the set they'd lined up for their forthcoming tour and it featured most of the numbers from their new album Get Happy!!.

They took the stage amid loud cheers and immediately launched into their first number. A good clean sound with the band really tight and sharp. Costello, not always the most cheerful of guys, was obviously in fine mood: "Hello, how are you?" (cheers) "This is Horace Barlow..." (nods towards guitarist) "...and this is a number called 'The Beat.'"

He gives brief thanks to Rockpile for this guest spot, plugs the album and they go into "Possession" which earns loud approval. They go straight on into another typical E.C. number with a powerful drums/keyboards intro and a slow build-up into a pounding rocker. Again, no announcement — it's "Less Than Zero" — a good punchy version, but I always feel it's just a bit slow.

"Thank you. Like to do a new song for you now. It's called '5ive Gears In Reverse.'" This could make a fine single. It's got some good guitar/keyboards work that's reminiscent of their earlier hit "Pump It Up." Good rhythm changes too.

"This is a great town!" And he jokes about Top of The Pops which he's just been watching, "...dancing away to The Nolan Sisters in my hotel room... and The Buggles... and Gary Numan... c'mon, let's hear it for Lena Martell!" (Loud cheers) "Anyway, this is for my great(!) friends The Jags — it's called 'The Imposter!'"

Next up is his own version of a song he wrote for Edmunds, "Girls Talk." It's followed by the final number — their recent hit "Oliver's Army." This has been a great set with the excellent Attractions providing subtle back-up vocals as well as the immaculate instrumentation. The audience goes crazy for an encore and they're back for one number — their new single — "I Can't Stand Up For Fallin' Down." "Thank you. That's it. Good night!"

A great rock-song writer, Elvis Costello's rapidly becoming a star-quality singer and performer — if he can hold the pace, he'll be up there for a good few years. If you missed this one, make sure you catch him next time around.


Tags: Bradford University  •  The Horace Barlow Experience  •  Rockpile  •  Dave Edmunds  •  Nick Lowe  •  The Fabulous Thunderbirds  •  The Attractions  •  1980 UK Tour  •  Get Happy!!  •  The Beat  •  Possession  •  Less Than Zero  •  5ive Gears In Reverse  •  Pump It Up  •  Top Of The Pops  •  The Imposter  •  Girls Talk  •  Oliver's Army  •  I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down

-

The Wool City Rocker, No, 4, March 1980

Nick Toczek reviews Elvis Costello & The Attractions (billed as The Horace Barlow Experience), Thursday, February 7, 1980, University of Bradford, England.

Images

1980-03-00 Wool City Rocker page 14.jpg
Page scan.

Cover.
1980-03-00 Wool City Rocker cover.jpg

-


Back to top

External links

Retrieved from "http://elviscostello.info//wiki/index.php?title=Wool_City_Rocker,_March_1980&oldid=17405304"