Word: costelloe
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...FIRST part of Costello's show was anything but innocent and simple. This section was a true fan's delight, focusing on bitter songs from King Of America and lesser known chestnuts from such overlooked albums as Taking Liberties and Get Happy. More animated than at previous concerts on his college tour, Costello virtually spat out the words to "Brilliant Mistake" and "Suit of Lights," two songs from America which deal with the ups and downs of his career. These songs gave the audience a glimpse behind his pop chameleon posturing. The pain on his face was genuine when...
Avoiding his hits, Costello made few mistakes indeed. The show was highlighted by some well-chosen medleys, combining Costello originals and covers, with the latter enhancing and illuminating the former. The attachment of "Not Face Away" to "Uncomplicated" revealed Costello as a latter-day Buddy Holly who goes to meet Peggy Sue with lexicon in hand. His interpretation of Van Morrison's "Jackie Wilson Said" gave an easy swing to its companion, "Radio Sweetheart." And the way that the Beatles' "Hide Your Love Away" flowed out of "New Amsterdam" clearly displayed the desperation that inspired the Costello original...
WHAT WAS not tremendous was the show biz gimmickry, from stupid patter about Jim and Tammy Bakker to the vastly overrated spinning song wheel. This business detracted from the music itself--and for no apparent purpose. It is strange that someone like Costello, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest lyricists in music, resorts to pat jokes about the Beastie Boys, CNN News and Oliver North. It's almost as if he wants to start a second career as Jay Leno...
Part of the problem is that almost everybody picked wants to hear "Alison" and "Pump It Up," and Costello fixes the wheel to their tastes, destroying whatever suspense might arise from a truly random selection. True to form, the wheel at Bright yielded uninspired versions of Costello "classics"--a lot of dead time with no music and almost no surprises...
...problem seems to be that Costello wishes to be regarded as the voice of a generation in the way that Sinatra is, but he can't resist making a silly joke out of the whole process. As the beginning of his concert proved, Costello does not need the usual rock and roll trickery to be effective. He comes across most powerfully as a serious singer-songwriter with an arresting voice and a seemingly bottomless well of creative ideas. As his fans, we should demand that our voice come without all the Vegas bullshit...