Review: Elvis Costello

Photos by Mike Ransdell/The Star

Elvis Costello solved the age-old problem of what to do when an artist has too many great songs for one show – he brought them all onstage with him.

Costello’s "Spectacular Spinning Songbook" tour touched down at a crowded Crossroads on Thursday night. Behind the acclaimed songwriter’s left shoulder loomed a huge multi-colored wheel adorned with three dozen of his favorite songs. One at a time, members of the audience were invited up to spin the wheel and pick the next number.

“(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding,” usually an encore, came up early. So did “Earthworms,” a song Costello wrote for singer Wendy James in the early ‘90s but never recorded himself. When the wheel landed on Bob Dylan’s “This Wheel’s On Fire,” Costello let the crowd choose between that number and his own “Human Hands.” The headliner won out.

First employed in the late ‘80s, the spinning songbook is a novel way for the performer to experience his work in a new context. On that level it was a success. The quartet was tight and energetic, clearly feeding of the energy of the fans dancing along to their selections onstage. But the wheel also killed momentum and started to feel kind of gimmicky after a while. 

That said there was indisputably some great music in between spins. A spooky “I Want You” and an extended reading of “Watching the Detectives” that played up the song’s dub roots were among the high points. 

Many of the best moments came early. Costello and his Imposters took the stage in with many favorites in a potent 15-minute romp before introducing the wheel. The extended jam on “Uncomplicated” found Costello and bass player Davey Faragher trading lines from Jr. Walker’s “Shotgun.” The Motown connection returned during “Alison,” when Costello incorporated several of the verses from Smokey Robinson’s “Tracks of My Tears.”

Keyboard wizard Steve Nieve was the driving force on many songs, adding calliope runs to “Radio Radio,” a Theremin solo on “Peace, Love and Understanding” and sneaking some Stevie Wonder clavinet on “Shabby Doll.” 

The night nearly ended with a brilliant three-song encore in which Costello and his band somehow took the jumpy “Pump It Up” straight into the reflective “Alison” before somehow ending up on a surprisingly strong version of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Costello had other plans, however, returning with two thirds of the Lovell Sisters to play some bluegrass. 

Setlist: I Hope You’re Happy Now; Heart of the City; Mystery Dance; Uncomplicated > Radio Radio; Talking in the Dark; Clubland; (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding; Earthbound; Human Hands; Watching the Detectives; (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea; Almost Blue; Shabby Doll; I Want You. Encore 1: Brilliant Mistake; Pump It Up; Alison > Purple Rain. Encore 2: Sulfur to Sugarcane; The Crooked Line; The Scarlet Tide.

| Joel Francis, Special to The Star

Comments

[Maniak Productions]

Uncomplicated is my favorite Costello song. I wish I could have been there for that long play version.

Nice write Joel.

[TrueFan]

Good review and a great show..."gimmicky" big wheel and all.

[northlander]

Nice breeze all night, comfy fresh wood chips, Elvis in full form (nearly two hours!), good opening act, one of the best shows of the year! Good review, Joel, although I loved the wheel mainly because it kept landing on stuff I wanted to hear!

[Kimbo]

Terrific show great random set list from the wheel. His pipes sounded great and his enthusiasm was genuine.

Usual "asses" in the audience talking during quiet parts and not having the courtesy to go to back of the yard near the porta potties to be with their peers.

Elvis is King!

[kmoon]

Awesome show! I just wish the wheel had landed once on "So Like Candy". "I Want You" was incredible. The wheel was a fun device for an Elvis show - I believe he said he has 347 songs and this band knows 150 of them!

[ATB]

@Kimbo, I must have been standing close to you (or the problem was pretty prevalent). Never in my life have I had to cover one ear to keep from hearing stupid people talking on one side, just so I could hear an artist sing on the other side (Thanks for almost ruining "Almost Blue" for me, loud talking morons stage left). I've heard other people comment on the phenomenon at other shows recently but this was the first time I'd experienced it. Other than that, a phenomenal show--so good to hear "Brilliant Mistake", too!

[harry mac]

My thirty third visit with The King
I stood near the lighting booth mid yard and it was delightful. Elvis is The King

[Kimbo]

Yep, same area ATB. We literally found a new place to stand. What a group of Jackasses.

[Bewlay]

We encouraged some Sex In the City chickies to leave Peter Gabriel's show due to their incessant yapping. I don't care if you won your tickets, shut your trap.

[lee]

great show . . but @ all the complainers: it's a big giant wide open space, so if someone is talking at it bothers you, go stand somewhere else! :)

[Wallofvudu]

Every song rocked! Danced into overdrive when I heard Chelsea...

[Kimbo]

Lee we did:

earlier quote "We literally found a new place to stand."

The point is why do people listening have to move? A-holes should move away from the fans.

[Clare]

Lee, reserved seating makes this impossible. The "tools" should be more respectable to others.

[ATB]

Thanks lee, never would have thought of that:). Just seems to me it would make more sense to quit talking (actually yelling) and listen to music you paid money to go see, or move elsewhere. But that's just me. To each their own though, right?

[BT]

I wasn't at this show, but feel the need to comment about the the people who show up at a concert with no apparent interest in watching the performance. Instead, they spend their time shouting at their companions over the music. Why do they waste money to attend a show when they apparently just want to yuk it up with their friends. Is it to put another name on the list of musicians they've "seen"? They want to be part of the scene? Maybe their friends talked in going to the show they're not really interested in. Or maybe they're just clueless about the purpose of attending a concert. Whatever it is, it'd be nice for the rest of us if they'd just shut the F#%K UP or stay home!

[TrueFan]

The talkers were throughout the crowd. I notice it more with the 20-somethings (though I'm sure they're not all bad).

And of course the other A holes were the ones who would randomly move in on your section and stand right in front of you when you've been in the same spot for two hours. I had to be the bigger person and just let them in.

I can't really get into a fight after I just rocked out to "Peace Love & Understanding", right? Elvis would be proud of me, I think...

[byebluemonday]

I guess we all have something to look forward to when the texting generation grows up and fills these venues with their heads down, thumbing away, not saying a word.

[gsp]

most of the folks I saw/dreaded were boomers enjoying the good life, dreaming of auditioning for "Real Housewives of Johnson County"

[Bubba]

I decided to pass on ELVIS. Main reason is I'm still (sort of) recovering from paying $102 for my ticket to the CRUE / POISON / NY DOLLS gig [maybe the true highlight of my summer]. Besides, I saw ELVIS open for the POLICE at the Sprint Center in 2008. He even performed one song with STING. Sounds like a fun show to have caught. Bubba said it.

[Dana]

Have seen Elvis for the past 30 years and I must say he has come along way from the young, angry performer he USED to be. He was very personable, funny and a great showman. His voice is still strong and true to form. However, I think the venue sucked and will not be going to anymore shows there.

[WinstonKC]

@gsp..I'm one of "the dreaded boomers" but I tell ya: I was ready to thrash a few stage left yakaholics. STFU or move away from the stage!

[Penny]

Great review, Joel!!!

[Jordan Spizike]

That was my thought,too.