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Still attractive
A mellower Elvis Costello woos audience with his brand of rock romance
Eden Stone
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
with Fools Face, Starlight Theatre, Kansas City
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The Elvis Costello at Starlight Theatre Sunday was a new man. Had he chosen to sing "I'm Not Angry," he would have meant it this time. The bitterness and vitriol of the early Costello is gone, but the genius is intact.
The material Mr. Costello played from Imperial Bedroom, his most recent album, proved to be the best showcase for his new, soft touch. The LP is a collection of tender vignettes of relationships gone bad. Because the relationships depicted are so common, they fall short of being tragic. Mr. Costello portrays them with uncommon concern and insight, so that John and Martha become Antony and Cleopatra.
"Pidgin English," "Shabby Doll" and "Beyond Belief" worked as well or better live as they do in the album. Mr. Costello's voice coddled the songs, and Steve Nieve's keyboards provided the quirky, lush musical accompaniment, which includes a string section on the album. Mr. Costello's change of heart was manifested in the older songs he played. "Hand in Hand" sounded more plaintive than venomous, and "Alison" was more poignant than ever.
Imperial Bedroom is a bigger step away from rock 'n' roll for Mr. Costello than last year's Almost Blue, a country 'n' western album. His live rendition of "Kid About It," from the new LP, reinforced my belief that if Mr. Costello hadn't become one of the greatest rock singers, he would have become one of the classiest and best crooners around. It's difficult to imagine Mr. Costello in a tuxedo playing Vegas, but he could probably give Frank Sinatra a run for his money in the vocal department.
Mr. Costello is still a great rock singer when he is in the mood, and he was in the mood at least once Sunday — for the three minutes it took him to do "Mystery Dance."
Fools Face, the Springfield, Mo., band, enjoyed the largest Kansas City audience it's had in playing for the 7,000 people who attended the Costello concert. Judging by their reaction, many of those present were just as happy to see Fools Face as they were to see the main attraction. It is unfortunate that the band's big gig was marred by an inadequate sound system and bad mix. However, many of the concert goers got the idea that Fools Face has more talent than its stature as a local band would indicate.
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Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Elvis Costello, vocals, guitar; Steve Nieve, keyboards, vocals; Bruce Thomas, bass guitar; Pete Thomas, drums.
With Fools Face: Jimmy Frink, guitar, vocals; Brian Coffman, guitar, vocals; Dale McCoy, keyboards, saxophone, vocals; Jim Wirt, bass guitar, vocals; Tommy Dwyer, drums.
Produced by Feyline at Starlight Theatre.
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