Let’s go back 40 odd years. Marie and I are in the upstairs bar in Newcastle Polytechnic Students Union. With us is Captain Sensible of the Damned and a young guy named Elvis Costello. The occasion is, I think (my memory is hazy these days), the first Stiff Tour. The Captain is holding court, telling tales of the Damned on the road and how his favourite band is ABBA. He demolishes a packet of crisps in one go including the plastic pack itself! Elvis is quiet, drinking his pint. I’m not sure why the Captain was there, as he wasn’t appearing that night; I guess he must just have come along for the ride. This was the second time I had seen Elvis Costello live and I must admit I was very impressed, particularly by his second single “Alison”.
I had seen Elvis C a few weeks earlier at Middlesbrough Town Hall, again on the Stiff tour, which also featured (I think) Ian Drury, Wreckless Eric, Nick Lowe and others. I think it must have been around November 5th and Guy Fawkes night, as I recall we were waiting outside the venue and some young kids had their “guy” against the wall and asked Elvis “Penny for the Guy?” as he passed them on his way into the Town Hall. He threw them a few coppers. “That’s Elvis Costello” I told my mates. At the time I wondered how a young guy dared call himself “Elvis”. I was soon to find out. A few months later he was in the charts with “Watching the Detectives”. A few years ago, but I saw him in my hometown of Sunderland, at the Empire. I’ve seen him many times in between. And yet after all the years, I still remember those early, rocking, concert performances by an angry young Elvis who spat out the lyrics.
Roll forward a few years from the Sunderland Empire performance and here I was again, waiting to see Elvis Costello and his long-time keyboard player Steve Nieve at the Glasshouse. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Which Elvis would we get? The angry rocker, the middle-of-the-road crooner, or perhaps a mix? This time there was no band, the Imposters just Elvis and Steve. What sort of performance would they deliver?
The Glasshouse website described the concert as: “Masterful. Captivating. 50 years of peerless songs. Music legends Elvis Costello and long-time collaborator Steve Nieve embark on a 15-date UK & Ireland tour in September 2024, revisiting a profound 50-year songbook. From 1977’s “Watching the Detectives” to 2022’s “The Boy Named If”. Following a run of small theatre shows unearthing over 230 songs, this iconic duo is ready to rediscover and reimagine selections from Costello’s vast catalogue once more. Audiences can expect intimate interpretations and new connections shining light on both familiar favourites and rarely played gems spanning decades of peerless song writing.”
“Costello’s unique singing is of astonishing quality, the voice is always powerful, as is the piano.” Luzerner Zeitung, Lucerne, Switzerland – October 3rd, 2023.
So, as described this was a very different Elvis performance. No band, just Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve performing classics old and new in a dark, acoustic manner. This stage was set in dark lighting and the pair delivered some hits, some old favourites and also did not sing some of the rockier Elvis style songs. If you went along expecting a “normal” Elvis Costello performance you would be disappointed, as indeed my carer Elaine was. I also didn’t realise how dark (both in terms of lighting, and in the way the songs were performed) the concert would be. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the show, and it was great to hear old songs such as “Alison” and “Red Shoes” again. And Elvis’ performance of “She” is truly magnificent. Similarly, “Shipbuilding”, was performed extremely well.
Another great night spent with a true unique talent. Many thanks to Elaine for the photographs and Atalanta for manipulating the site for me.
Setlist: Watch Your Step; Waiting for the End of the World; Black Sails in the Sunset; Still Too Soon to Know; The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes; Mystery Dance; Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy; Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood; Suit of Lights; A Face in the Crowd; Watching the Detectives; Dio, come ti amo / Almost Blue; She; Hey Clockface; Shot With His Own Gun; Come the Meantimes; Alison; Oliver’s Army; Shipbuilding; Indoor Fireworks; What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding
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Posted by TerriersFan on October 4, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Whilst I have always loved his album, ‘My Aim Is True’, I’ve never been a huge fan of his other material. I don’t think that I could sit through an evening, but I could easily be wrong! I know that I am in a definite minority, and I’m glad that you enjoyed your evening.
Roger 🤘👍
Posted by vintagerock on October 4, 2024 at 4:51 pm
Yes Roger Elvis was fantastic! 🙂 Peter
Posted by ciarant1step on October 4, 2024 at 9:18 pm
Thanks for another good one. Extraordinary to think that go back so far with Elvis Costello – all of 40 years. Enjoyed your story about drinking with Elvis and Captain Sensible too. Great memories to have and to share.
Posted by vintagerock on October 5, 2024 at 11:32 am
Many thanks Ciaran yes Elvis and I go back a long way 🙂 Peter
Posted by annelambton on October 5, 2024 at 8:22 pm
Shipbuilding is one of my favourite songs: I love Costello’s version and Robert Wyatt’s – I think Wyatt’s has such a vulnerability about it. Oliver’s Army is a classic and another favourite. Hope you are keeping well Peter 🙂
Posted by annelambton on October 5, 2024 at 8:25 pm
Shipbuilding is one of my favourite songs – both Costello’s version and the beautifully vulnerable version by Robert Wyatt. Oliver’s Army is a clever singalong too. Hope you are keeping well Peter 🙂
Posted by vintagerock on October 6, 2024 at 10:07 am
Hi Anne I once saw Robert Wyatt sing Shipbuilding as a guest of David Gilmore at The Royal Albert Hall and it was very moving. I am fine I hope you are well too Peter
Posted by Bryan Neighbour on October 10, 2024 at 12:10 am
We attended the 2nd night in London at the Palladium. Quite a let down for us unfortunately. Never seen him live before and a bit of a bucket list for me. I’m not an Elvis fanatic but I’m up to speed with a lot of his material. As soon as we saw his band was four violins we knew the game was up. Only recognised one track in the first part of the show. His voice at times let him down and his rambling monologues in between songs reminded me of Joe Biden sadly. Only gig in 40 years I have walked out of. Gutted really. I guess we were never going to get what we expected he is 70 after all. But reinterpreting classics with violins? Y&T, Squeeze and Massive Wagons in the coming weeks will fix me 😉
Posted by vintagerock on October 10, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Sorry that you didn’t enjoy it Bryan. It was a bit of a departure for Elvis. Stick with him, his next tour may see him return to his normal format. Cheers Peter
Posted by DaveW on November 18, 2024 at 8:15 am
Saw Elvis at The University of East Anglia, 2005, with The Imposters. It was the same night as his beloved Liverpool were playing in The European Cup Final. It didn’t start well, when the guy on the door told us that Elvis had demanded a television in the changing room to watch the match. Hence we were part of an audience who became increasingly restless as we waited from 7 30pm till 9 30pm for him to honour us with his presence! Apparently he came on when Liverpool were 3 0 down at half time. Got booed by several people and had a pint thrown over him by an angry young man. With no apology he played a loud, aggressive, punky set, where one song just ran into another without comment. Actually, really energetic and enjoyable, but as a man he went down in my estimation. Ironically Liverpool came back from 3 0 down and won!
Posted by vintagerock on November 18, 2024 at 11:14 am
Great story Dave and thank you for sharing Peter