There have been a myriad Elvis Costellos over the
years: vitriolic, smug, ahead of the times, behind the
times, quixotic and even simplistic. 2003's version is
perhaps the most unlikely yet: a vulnerable puppy of
love.
This latest persona is inspired by his relationship
with Canadian jazz chanteuse Diana Krall (present on
Saturday, accompanied by American actor Clint
Eastwood), which informs the second half of his new
album, North.
Having introduced the North sections as "exceedingly
quiet", Costello sang the bulk of them without his
usual prop of a guitar. Accompanied for the most part
by the piano of Attraction Steve Nieve (who, judging
by his appearance, is sleeping rough these days),
briefly by The Brodsky Quartet, but occasionally
wholly solo (at the very death without vocal
amplification), Costello shared his joy.
Indeed, as he played piano on the selfdeprecating Let
Me Tell You About Her like a gifted Richard Stillgoe,
he displayed a hitherto unheralded sense of comic
timing.
Over the course of two-and-a-quarter hours - the
encores were longer than the actual set - there was
ample room for old as well as new. The spartan format
and Nieve's adaptability meant anything was possible,
even a cover of Smokey Robinson's lovelorn You've
Really Got A Hold On Me halfway through the
bile-encrusted Dark, Deep Truthful Mirror.
Encouragingly, the more recent material, such as 45,
is ageing well, suggesting Costello's gifts have been
taken for granted of late.
The old Costellos lurked in the background. A
politicised section included the riproaring (What's So
Funny 'Bout) Peace Love And Understanding? and
Shipbuilding, which still seethes with stoic dignity.
The Brodsky Quartet provided a sinister backdrop to
the already malevolent Pills And Soap and a gorgeous
setting for You Left Me In The Dark, from North's
first half, which details the disintegration of his
marriage to Cait O'Riordan. Tellingly, this remained
unsaid.
It's tricky to see where Costello can go from here,
but predicting his next move has always been futile.
Let's just hope he's sufficiently canny to resist the
temptation of a duets album with Krall.
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