Elvis Costello - 2022-06-16 Oxford (area51GM)

Elvis Costello And The Imposters, with Charlie Sexton
New Theatre
Oxford, England
16 June 2022


01. Surrender To The Rhythm (playback)
02. Accidents Will Happen
03. Green Shirt
04. Either Side Of The Same Town
05. Hetty O'Hara Confidential
06. The Death Of Magic Thinking
07. Watching The Detectives - including Invisible Lady
08. The Difference
09. Big Stars Have Tumbled
10. Maybe Just This Once
11. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
12. Mystery Dance
13. Tipsy Woman
14. Penelope Halfpenny
15. What If I Can't Give You Anything But Love?
16. Newspaper Pane
17. Mr. Crescent
18. The Man You Love To Hate
19. Good Year For The Roses
20. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
21. Magnificent Hurt
22. Pump It Up
23. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
24. Mr. & Mrs. Hush
25. Alison - including I'm Gonna Make You Love Me


Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards, backing vocals,
Davey Farragher - electric bass, double bass, backing vocals
Pete Thomas - drums
Charlie Sexton - lead guitar, backing vocals


Recorder: area51GM
Lineage: Sounds Professional cardioid microphones > Marantz PMD 620 Mk II - 16 bit settings > wav > Nero Platinum for track separation > TLH > FLAC


Comments by area51GM:

This was the penultimate gig before I returned home for a brief break before travelling to Portsmouth and Swansea but, as it turned out, Pete Thomas' incapacity meant a longer gap between gigs at the end of this particular marathon. I had driven the short distance from Birminhgam to Oxford on a clear sunny day and used my time to work on the sound files from previous shows at various service stations and will not forget watching red kites swoop and glide over me as I prepared the Leicester file marking tracks from Newspaper Pane to the end.
After all my expenditure, I was treated to the "Champagne Experience" at the New Theatre in Oxford so after meeting up with friends from both sides of the Atlantic, I made my way into the Ambassador Lounge where I was seated almost a respectable distance from other fans trying desperately not to look too keen for an Elvis show, handed my glass of bubbly and offered a small glass bowl filled wih crisps. We Brits know how to over indulge when the opportunity arises!
Fortunately I spied a few more friends and nipped out to chat with them, no doubt losing out on the exotic ambience which surely must have pervaded the Suite to ensure an unmissable experience as promised.
We made our way in and I was seated 2 rows back just to Elvis' left and waited for the lights to dim and "Surrender to the Rhythm" by Rusty to be played over the P.A. As the tour went on, Elvis and the band made their appearance closer and closer to the end of the song but Elvis sang along to the closing lines before launching into "Accidents Will Happen" which appeared to have taken over from "Heart Of The City". I think early in the tour Elvis joined in the intro of "green Shirt" and played a chord a fret down and since then Steve plays the descending chord of "C" but hits E-flat rather than E at the end deliberately - it's enjoyable from a creatve point of view but a bit jarring at the same time. He makes up for it with the wonderful ending sequnce played on a mini synth from what I can see .
"The Difference" again makes an appearance and has a special feel live though the srama is somewhat lost compared to the studio version much as happens with "The Man You Love To Hate" especially with Elvis' hesitant rhythmic intro. Davey's backing vocals on this are sublime and Steve plays the piano with gusto and perfect understanding of what is needed to make this sound like a musical number. davey's bass playing has grown and grown over the years but he's now a complete master and his double bass playing has been a revelation. Again he bows the introduction to the "Barking Song" before they return to the song but only ater some skat vocals from Elvis and a gentle swinging solo from Davey - a truly spine tingling song and one I'll treasure especially
Lineage: Sounds Professional cardioid microphones > Marantz PMD 620 Mk II - 16 bit settings >wav > Nero Platinum for track separation > TLH > FLAC >you