Costello delivers a high-energy attack combined with mathematical precision
The Independent (London) loved Elvis' show in Glasgow ; the Glasgow Herald and Glasgow Evening Times were less impressed.
Extracts -
The Independent
The appearance of Elvis in tight-fitting purple jacket spitting out the vitriolic title "How To Be Dumb" immediately allayed any fears. From here until the set close of "Pump It Up" and "Oliver's Army", it was a show that concentrated on the part of Elvis that is the eternal punk outsider.
The ballistic fury of drummer Pete Thomas and the seething dervishes of keyboard player Steve Nieve ensured that this was high energy attack combined with mathematical precision. From the intense claustrophobic blast of "No Action" on to the dizzyingly high speed take on "Radio Radio", he proved able to make old songs as potent and timely as new ones.
Like one of his obvious mentors, Bob Dylan, this incarnation of Costello proved able to seize on his most fertile period.
A splendid take on Leon Payne's "Psycho" showed the roots of material that makes The Delivery Man so engrossing. On the title track, Naove's melodica and Elvis's frazzled guitar captured the thick atmosphere of fear and rebuke. Miming its fantasy images of "Elvis and Jesus'' brilliantly, Costello created a curdled male fantasy. Introducing "Monkey To A Man", he described it as a gift handed to him by our Simian forbears. "We should never, on any account, in any country ... vote for anybody who is a disgrace to the theory of evolution,'' he explained.
The Evening Times
THAT "vanishing" point in the road where country, rock 'n roll and soul music meet is where Elvis Costello wants to be.
He chose the Barrowland as a step along the way - the only European gig he and The Imposters chose to play following the issue of their new album The Delivery Man.
Whether the fans are prepared to accompany him on his journey of musical salvation remains, on last night's showing, to be seen.
The gig opens at a frenetic pace in which Costello, full of attitude, takes to the stage in a purple suit and playing a pink sparkling guitar.
Fantastic keyboard player Steve Nieve sports a kilt while bassist Davey Farragher dons a pork pie hat.
Good Year for the Roses and Shipbuilding border a number of blues tracks as Costello searches for that vanishing point.
The audience however, calls for Costello classics and are left to ponder his latest venture.
The Herald
HE WAS, predictably, still playing - Oliver’s Army leading into Nick Lowe’s (What’s So Funny ‘bout) Peace, Love & Understanding — when I had to trot down the stairs. In as many ways as Costello’s unique UK “Delivery Man” gig to promote his new album was as predictable as it was special.
What it looked like was the faux cabaret of the Trust tour, back when irony was still in fashion. What it sounded like, as we ricocheted around the prodigious catalogue of the prolific EC, was much less knowing and bit more haphazard. Costello led very much from the front, Steve Naive’s keyboards were applauded whenever they had the prominence we yearned for, drummer Pete Thomas was uncharacteristically subdued and bassist Davey Farragher is a fine backing vocalist.
There were great moments and I wouldn’t have been anywhere else. But really this treat was just a bit flat.
The Evening Times ( Glasgow) Oct.7 '04
Elvis disappoints with second-class delivery
by Alex Robertson
THAT "vanishing" point in the road where country, rock 'n roll and soul music meet is where Elvis Costello wants to be.
He chose the Barrowland as a step along the way - the only European gig he and The Imposters chose to play following the issue of their new album The Delivery Man.
Whether the fans are prepared to accompany him on his journey of musical salvation remains, on last night's showing, to be seen.
The new songs, recorded in Nashville, have a country blues feel yet distract a retrospective audience who reserve their appreciation for Shipbuilding, Oliver's Army and A Good Year for the Roses.
The gig opens at a frenetic pace in which Costello, full of attitude, takes to the stage in a purple suit and playing a pink sparkling guitar.
Fantastic keyboard player Steve Nieve sports a kilt while bassist Davey Farragher dons a pork pie hat.
The first batch of songs is played quick-smart before Psycho slows things down.
Monkey Man and Country Darkness lose a bewildered crowd and after an hour Costello leaves the stage.
He returns with Nothing Clings Like Ivy, an atmospheric ballad which on the album is accompanied by Emmylou Harris.
Good Year for the Roses and Shipbuilding border a number of blues tracks as Costello searches for that vanishing point.
The audience however, calls for Costello classics and are left to ponder his latest venture.
The Independent (London) , Oct.7 '04
First Night: Costello delivers a high-energy attack combined with mathematical precision
Elvis Costello
Barrowlands, Glasgow
07 October 2004
With his best album in more than a decade, The Delivery Man, just released, it was fitting that Elvis Costello should pick Glasgow for his only UK performance of the year.
Mercury prize winners Franz Ferdinand, along with indie favourites Snow Patrol and Belle & Sebastian, have given Scotland's second city a new-found eminence. With The Delivery Man, Elvis has rediscovered the pungent alacrity of his best work. Since he emerged as the bug-eyed belligerent troubadour of punk, Costello has covered a wide stylistic territory. The worry, for those holding the tickets, must have been which Elvis would show up. Could it be the glutinous balladeer of North or the string quartet and orchestral composer of this year's other Costello album, Il Sogno.
The appearance of Elvis in tight-fitting purple jacket spitting out the vitriolic title "How To Be Dumb" immediately allayed any fears. From here until the set close of "Pump It Up" and "Oliver's Army", it was a show that concentrated on the part of Elvis that is the eternal punk outsider.
The ballistic fury of drummer Pete Thomas and the seething dervishes of keyboard player Steve Nieve ensured that this was high energy attack combined with mathematical precision. From the intense claustrophobic blast of "No Action" on to the dizzyingly high speed take on "Radio Radio", he proved able to make old songs as potent and timely as new ones.
Like one of his obvious mentors, Bob Dylan, this incarnation of Costello proved able to seize on his most fertile period.
A splendid take on Leon Payne's "Psycho" showed the roots of material that makes The Delivery Man so engrossing. On the title track, Naove's melodica and Elvis's frazzled guitar captured the thick atmosphere of fear and rebuke. Miming its fantasy images of "Elvis and Jesus'' brilliantly, Costello created a curdled male fantasy. Introducing "Monkey To A Man", he described it as a gift handed to him by our Simian forbears. "We should never, on any account, in any country ... vote for anybody who is a disgrace to the theory of evolution,'' he explained.
There were intriguing dips into his past. "High Fidelity" and "Blame It On The Cain" proved that were incendiary displays of rock'n'roll at its most euphoric. But an overlong jam on "Blood And Chocolate's Uncomplicated" loses momentum. It is an unnecessary device as, returning for his first encore, "Ivy", he delivers a marked contrast to the blitzkrieg that preceded.
Tonight, along with his band The Impostors, Costello recaptured his role as rock's perennial outsider, and it suited him just fine.
Gavin Martin
The Herald (Glasgow) , Oct.7th '04
REVIEWS
ELVIS COSTELLO, BARROWLAND, GLASGOW
KEITH BRUCE
***
HE WAS, predictably, still playing - Oliver’s Army leading into Nick Lowe’s (What’s So Funny ‘bout) Peace, Love & Understanding — when I had to trot down the stairs. In as many ways as Costello’s unique UK “Delivery Man” gig to promote his new album was as predictable as it was special.
Sufficient selections from the new album were there to justify the concert, but the presence of Country Darkness (a stand out), Needle Time (the staged climax), Delivery Man (too early in the set) and Button My Lip (too late), failed to achieve the balance. Bridget McConnell could have faulted the attempt at inclusiveness however. If the guy who has been shouting for Leon Payne’s Psycho at every Costello gig since 1980 was there tonight, he heard it. Fans of My Aim Is True got Blame It On Cain and (The Angels Want To Wear My) Red Shoes. Shipbuilding, High Fidelity, Radio Radio, Good Year For The Roses, and I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down were all present and pretty much correct.
What it looked like was the faux cabaret of the Trust tour, back when irony was still in fashion. What it sounded like, as we ricocheted around the prodigious catalogue of the prolific EC, was much less knowing and bit more haphazard. Costello led very much from the front, Steve Naive’s keyboards were applauded whenever they had the prominence we yearned for, drummer Pete Thomas was uncharacteristically subdued and bassist Davey Farragher is a fine backing vocalist.
There were great moments and I wouldn’t have been anywhere else. But really this treat was just a bit flat.
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BRIDGET McConnell, Google tells me , is the wife of the Scottish First Minister, Jack McConnell.