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SAN FRANCISCO — Count on the unexpected from Elvis Costello.
In his opening show Wednesday night at the sold-out Warfield Theater, Costello brought his extensive catalog of songs in a 2½-hour mixture of past hits, requests and solid new material for an enthusiastic crowd.
Costello has not performed with the Attractions in this area since 1981, and this was his first performance in a three-night stand at the Warfield. Judging by the reaction of audience, mostly in their mid-20s, it has been much too long of a departure for this prolific songwriter.
Emerging in a sharp black suit and a razor-thin tie, Costello, backed by his four-piece band, broke into the bluesy "Next Time 'Round" from the new album Blood & Chocolate, then moved right into "Red Shoes." A blistering version of "Tokyo Storm Warning" was another example of the strength of his new album.
Throughout the concert, Costello displayed confident guitar work, and his screaming vocals seemed better than ever.
This tour is known as the "Costello Sings Again" tour, and for good reason. His vocals are right on target — simultaneously rough and gentle. He was hard-edged on "Clubland," then soft on "Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head."
Its music punctuated by some mean piano work from Steve Nieve, the band rolled through "Shadow Dog," the reggae-influenced "Watching the Detectives" and an aggressive "Battered Old Bird," also from the Blood & Chocolate LP.
The show was a balanced mixture of the old and the new, with Costello the only vocalist in a rapid-fire delivery of songs. The acoustics in the intimate Warfield are perfect for Costello's vocals and the driving rhythms of the band.
"Blue Chair" was followed by an excellent rendition of "New Lace Sleeves" from the album Trust, which illustrated Costello's seemingly inexhaustible inventiveness in lyrics.
The band then ripped through several new compositions, including "I Hope You're Happy Now," and a virtual a cappella version of the love ballad "I Want You."
With a click of his foot on the stage floor, Costello hit a "request" light and said, "Request time!" Apparently this will be the pattern for the other shows, and people rushing to the stage requested the stand-bys "Alison," "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?" and a uplifting "Man Out of Time," from Imperial Bedroom.
"Pump It Up" and the old Animals classic, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," were the first two encores, and the rhythms of the music drove people to their feet. After a theatrical curtain was drawn open to reveal that bassist Cait O'Riordan of the Pogues had joined the band, Costello went into an extremely loud version of "Poor Napoleon" from the new album for a final encore.
Costello's vocals were soon drowned out by the cacophony of keyboards, drums and guitars, and the strobe lights pointed toward the audience signaled that this was indeed the final song.
It was a triumphant return for Elvis Costello to the Bay Area.
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