Entertainment For Lively Minds
Elvis Costello
Posted by Specs_Beard on 20 June 2010 - 11:59pm.
When:
20 June 2010
Where:
Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
Comments:
The Beloved Entertainer, indeed. Maybe EC went to see Leonard Cohen, because he too is in a hat, and running onto the stage. A slightly self-indulgent set (must be irresistible when you're playing solo) - plenty of 'new' and with a catalogue that vast even the crowdpleasers aren't necessarily the ones you'd expect ('Bedlam', 'Brilliant Mistake'). The crucial thing - which really came across tonight - is that he's a genuinely superb vocalist, even carrying off the 'doing a number without the mic' spot with some panache. And when Richard Thompson comes on and we get 'Shipbuilding'... just lovely. Which is good because...
The Audience:
...were a complete pain in the arse. Behind me: talking non-stop. Left: singing tunelessly and saying things like 'Live music - there's nothing better'. Right: eating CRISPS. CRISPS!
Food & Drink:
CRISPS! (Although I got a sandwich in a riverside cafe downstairs, having been fortified earlier by a Mrs Specs_Beard luncheon.)
It Made Me Think...:
While I'm old enough now to enjoy the odd sit-down gig, they are a mixed blessing. I felt like I was trapped amid the 15 most inconsiderate people in London. Almost - almost - spoilt the gig.
The audience
Hang on, I've seen two "My Night Out With"s and two completely different audiences referred to. We need a deciding vote.
I was upstairs
and I thought the crowd was quiet and attentive...
Was in the side stalls
and as i said, could have heard a pin drop during the songs and even in between. No iphone paparazzi either. Hoping for same tonight in Birmingham* as i love that Symphony Hall
A couple of wazzocks can easily spoil a gig like that thou.
* (hey, i booked it before he announced the London date, ok?!)
The setlist, if anyone is interested
What he actually played.
1. 45
2. Either Side of the Same Town
3. Brilliant Mistake
4. Veronica (played both)
5. Down Among The Wine And Spirits
6. Condemned Man
7. Good Year For The Roses
8. Everyday I Write The Book
9. Bedlam
10. The Stations of the Cross
11. Jimmie Standing In The Rain
12. A Slow Drag With Josephine
13. Watching the Detectives
14. Radio Sweetheart/Jackie Wilson Said
15. God's Comic
16. Alison/Wind Cries Mary
FIRST ENCORE
17. Sulphur to Sugarcane
18. My Three Sons
19. End of the Rainbow (w/ Richard Thompson on his daughters Strat)
20. Shipbuilding (w/ Richard Thompson)
SECOND ENCORE
21. All Or Nothing At All
22. One Bell Ringing
23. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (w/ Richard Thompson)
And stuff that was on his setlist but he didn't play
Indoor Fireworks
She's Pulling Out The Pin
The River In Reverse
I Hope You're Happy Now
In Another Room
Oliver's Army
Man Out Of Time
I Want You
He obviously judged we wanted new over old.
I had tickets to this
and forgot to go. Balls
EC inspires my best idea today.
I've seen EC way too many times to remember, from 77 onwards but haven't seen him in the last 10 years, for some reason. Last night was just how I remembered him. A great showman - energy, holds the audience (but a home crowd), surprises, disappointments and gives me an over all feeling of satisfaction. I have seen him better and worse but he still has it and in this day and age- that's more than enough.
The best idea I have had today -Maybe The Word massive should go to gigs with helium balloons on stings tied to them declaring "The Word" or "The Word Massive." The strings should be at least 6 feet long so as not to spoil other's views but it would be good to see how many of us look alike. We wouldn't have to speak, just nod or wave like VW Beetle owners - or people on the Norfolk broads! Then again, maybe not.
Explanation please
"19. End of the Rainbow (w/ Richard Thompson on his daughters Strat)"
His daughter's strat? What's the story here...?
His daughter Kamila
was supporting EC last nite and the old man borrowed her guitar for his guest spot
Farkin excellent gig. Best I
Farkin excellent gig. Best I have seen EC in a very long time. I reckon it really benefited from the stripped down approach. No clattering band with dodgy arrangements. And best of all, none of the vocal affectations which have marred previous gigs - ie no pretence at being a crooner, or a classical singer. Just Elvis with his own voice, and what a fine natural voice it proved to be - from a whisper to a scream, impassioned, raging, tender and rocking. With a huge catalogue to choose from, he blended new and old pretty well. Songs like Everyday I Write the Book were rescued from the 80's production and stood their ground as clever, literate great pop songs. Shipbuilding and What's So Funny were just sublime. I hope he has rediscovered what's good about what he does, because unlike many his age, he still has a lot to offer. Top gig.
PS
PS Respectful and appreciative audience all around me
Birmingham setlist
01. 45
02. Either Side Of The Same Town
03. Veronica
04. Down Among The Wines And Spirits
05. I Hope You're Happy Now
06. Condemned Man
07. Good Year For The Roses
08. Everyday I Write The Book
09. Bedlam
10. All Or Nothing At All
11. Slow Drag With Josephine
12. Jimmie Standing In The Rain
13. Watching The Detectives
14. Radio Sweetheart / Jackie Wilson Said
15. God's Comic
16. Hope
Encore 1
17. My Three Sons
18. Sulphur To Sugarcane
19. Alison
20. The Spell That You Cast
21. Shipbuilding
22. Bullets For The New-Born King
23. High Fidelity
24. Man Out Of Time
25. King Of Confidence
26. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
27. One Bell Ringing
thanks for that!
It was a cracking gig, respectful audience, and I'm sure there won't be such a long gap for me in seeing him again - my last Costello gig was a long time ago.
I'm quite sure...
...that the miscreants gathered round me, perhaps deliberately, as if to contain the damage in an enclosed space and leave the rest of you alone!
I think I was particularly unlucky here, and I was right at the back - I'm sure it's largely true that the more the punters have paid for their tickets, the more attentive they're likely to be.
I certainly don't want to take anything away from EC's performance, which was - as everyone agrees - top-notch. And thanks so much for the set-list, by the way - I was racking my brains a few times on the night.
Ah, Specs, that explains it.
Ah, Specs, that explains it. The back of the RFH is a terrible place to see a gig I have found. You feel so remote from the stage that I am not surprised that people around you lose interest and start chatting and mucking around. The sound is not great either. I heartily recommend going upstairs if that is all that is left. You need to be out from under the balcony if at all possible. Even an act I really wanted to see I wouldn't bother if the only tickets left were are at the rear of the stalls.
Ooh, I am so jealous the Brum audience got two of my favourite tracks: High Fidelity and Man out of Time.
roll on Liverpool
thanks for the info on the London and Birmingham shows - looking forward to seeing EC with the Sugarcanes next Monday!
My recording
of the Birmingham show is up here
http://bigozine2.com/roio/?p=529