Bristol Post, February 14, 2005: Difference between revisions
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<center><h3> | <center><h3> Songcraft masterclass </h3></center> | ||
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<center> Steve Harnell </center> | <center> Steve Harnell </center> | ||
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And far from settling into comfy middle age, he's still a songwriter with formidable bite. | And far from settling into comfy middle age, he's still a songwriter with formidable bite. | ||
His voice though has matured considerably over the years | His voice though has matured considerably over the years — and a more world-weary and weathered tone suits him well. | ||
Kicking off with Blue Chair from mid-80s album ''Blood | Kicking off with "Blue Chair" from mid-80s album ''Blood & Chocolate'', he rattled through a cracking brace of openers which also included "Radio, Radio." | ||
But if any proof was needed that he's still at the very top of his game, then it arrived with the one-two punch of Button My Lip and Country Darkness, both from the new album. | But if any proof was needed that he's still at the very top of his game, then it arrived with the one-two punch of "Button My Lip" and "Country Darkness," both from the new album. | ||
The former has a rollicking, swampy feel with its lyrics positively spat out by Costello. The latter was a beautifully rich ballad that Ryan Adams would give his right arm for. | The former has a rollicking, swampy feel with its lyrics positively spat out by Costello. The latter was a beautifully rich ballad that Ryan Adams would give his right arm for. | ||
Although Costello steers clear of radical Bob Dylan-style live reinterpretations of his material, there's still a playfulness on show. Needle Time is a case in point and features a bluesy breakdown where he gets to showboat with the crowd a little. | Although Costello steers clear of radical Bob Dylan-style live reinterpretations of his material, there's still a playfulness on show. "Needle Time" is a case in point and features a bluesy breakdown where he gets to showboat with the crowd a little. | ||
He has no real reputation as a guitarist to speak of but his lead and rhythm playing was outstanding | He has no real reputation as a guitarist to speak of but his lead and rhythm playing was outstanding — his muscular, aggressive style makes for great theatre. | ||
Switching deftly between old and new material, Either Side Of The Same Town is followed by I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea (now known as the Ashley Cole Theme Tune in some quarters). | Switching deftly between old and new material, "Either Side Of The Same Town" is followed by "I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea" (now known as the Ashley Cole Theme Tune in some quarters). | ||
The alt.country acoustic strumalong of Good Year For The Roses remains a timeless gem too. | The alt.country acoustic strumalong of "Good Year For The Roses" remains a timeless gem too. | ||
Steve Nieve puts in an appearance on the mellotron for a dramatic performance of When I Was Cruel No. 2 but in the main The Imposters, despite their undoubted musicianship, remain supportive rather than obtrusive | Steve Nieve puts in an appearance on the mellotron for a dramatic performance of "When I Was Cruel No. 2" but in the main The Imposters, despite their undoubted musicianship, remain supportive rather than obtrusive — there's only one star of the show after all. | ||
Seamlessly, the song morphs into a dubby version of Watching The Detectives which pushes the reggae influences on the track well to the fore. | Seamlessly, the song morphs into a dubby version of "Watching The Detectives" which pushes the reggae influences on the track well to the fore. | ||
It's no surprise that the rocking Monkey To Man finally gets the audience on its feet | It's no surprise that the rocking "Monkey To Man" finally gets the audience on its feet — although it does take them a leisurely 90 minutes to rouse from their Saturday evening lethargy. | ||
There's A Story In Your Voice, although missing the superb vocals of Lucinda Williams which feature on the record, is another belter. | "There's A Story In Your Voice," although missing the superb vocals of Lucinda Williams which feature on the record, is another belter. | ||
By now, Costello is in top gear and rattles through more highpoints from his past | By now, Costello is in top gear and rattles through more highpoints from his past — "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down," "High Fidelity" and "Pump It Up" all feature in quick succession. | ||
Then we get Shipbuilding. Has there ever been a better British protest song written than that? I don't think so. It's a moment that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. | Then we get "Shipbuilding." Has there ever been a better British protest song written than that? I don't think so. It's a moment that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. | ||
There's more to come though as Costello rips through Oliver's Army and (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding in a final onslaught where the tunes are all from the very top drawer. | There's more to come though as Costello rips through "Oliver's Army" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding" in a final onslaught where the tunes are all from the very top drawer. | ||
He ends with the final track on the new album, "The Scarlet Tide," bringing us right up to date. Costello may be something of a musical veteran but a dinosaur he most certainly is not. What a joy to see him in such fine fettle. | |||
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{{tags}}[[ | {{tags}}[[Concert 2005-02-12 Bristol|Colston Hall]] {{-}} [[Bristol]] {{-}} [[The Imposters]] {{-}} [[Burt Bacharach]] {{-}} [[Paul McCartney]] {{-}} [[Il Sogno]] {{-}} [[The Attractions]] {{-}} [[Steve Nieve]] {{-}} [[Pete Thomas]] {{-}} [[The Delivery Man]] {{-}} [[Blue Chair]] {{-}} [[Blood & Chocolate]] {{-}} [[Radio, Radio]] {{-}} [[Button My Lip]] {{-}} [[Country Darkness]] {{-}} [[Bob Dylan]] {{-}} [[Needle Time]] {{-}} [[Either Side Of The Same Town]] {{-}} [[(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea]] {{-}} [[Good Year For The Roses]] {{-}} [[Pump It Up]] {{-}} [[Oliver's Army]] {{-}} [[Good Year For The Roses]] {{-}} [[When I Was Cruel No. 2]] {{-}} [[Watching The Detectives]] {{-}} [[Monkey To Man]] {{-}} [[There's A Story In Your Voice]] {{-}} [[Lucinda Williams]] {{-}} [[I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down]] {{-}} [[High Fidelity]] {{-}} [[Pump It Up]] {{-}} [[Shipbuilding]] {{-}} [[Oliver's Army]] {{-}} [[(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?]] {{-}} [[The Scarlet Tide]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 22:36, 23 April 2024
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