First of a currently scheduled 7 in a packed and stacked gig month of March, and this one is pretty much solely down to my Boston friend Dennis... during my visit to "The Hub" last November, Denny was kind enough to offer me accommodation, putting me up in his "Elvis Room", a veritable shrine to Mr, Costello with framed and signed posters and art prints adorning all walls. Denny's enthusiasm for Elvis - who he'd apparently seen "live" north of 80 times - was contagious, and he persuaded me to check out this tour. Costello, New Wave's bespectacled and be-suited snarling, angry young man, latterly turned genre-straddling musical chameleon, hall-of-fame singer/songwriter and near-National Treasure, had been a 70's Punk/New Wave icon who had largely eluded me, a clutch of skinny-tie, herky-jerky 7-inchers and a fine "Greatest Hits" collection notwithstanding. So, after picking up tix for this one (persuading old friend Ben to join me along the way), I also picked up Costello's first 3, punky and reactionary yet well-crafted and eminently tuneful albums, enjoying them immensely, and immediately appreciating why Costello is held in such high esteem not only by Dennis, but also by many of my Boston rock friends (The Gravel Pit being an obvious one here). Why haven't I done this before?
I texted Dennis back to inform him that I'd sorted tix for Elvis' Southampton gig, receiving the response, "I may well see you there David!" And he wasn't joking, Denny making the reverse of one of my Boston rock pilgrimages to catch a couple of the UK tour dates! So we made dinner plans beforehand, Ben and I meeting Dennis after a leisurely mid-afternoon run down to the South Coast, thence joining his friends Jillian and Claire (like Dennis, both veteran Elvis fans, both also having seen the man 80-90 times - although Jillian also claimed to have seen the Rolling Stones 250 times!) in the Mayflower's restaurant. Fine food, good company and rock banter passed the time convivially, until a helpful bell heralded the countdown to showtime, so Ben and I took our splendid front stalls seats, house right, as support Ian Prowse took the stage at 7.30, accompanied by a violinist and keyboardist to provide accompaniment to his easily melodic, Irish folk- inflected indie-acoustica. Opening with a jolly rendition of his old band Pele's "Fireworks" and continuing that vein with "Taking On The World", Prowse again impressed, the stripped-back treatment proving just as effective as his band set at Shiiine On in 2017. A couple of slower, windswept and evocative ballads also showcased his near-virtuoso backing wingmen (wing-people?), and this endearing vignette of a set was concluded with "Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?", dedicated, "to the people who refuse to read "The Sun"!"
I lost Ben in the foyer (he'd headed back to the restaurant for dessert!), so took the chance for some time with Mr. Prowse, manning the merch stand as promised. Got a pic and reminded him of our "Shiiine On" conversation (wherein he'd responded to my lack of familiarity with his work with the immortal phrase, "that, sir, makes you a cunt!") to general hilarity and sincere (but totally unnecessary) apologies from the man. Back in at the bell, so I was in place as the lights fell dead on 8.30, Elvis taking the stage last in an iridescent black jacket, and kicking into the swinging honky tonk blare of strident opener "Strict Time".
Thence followed a perfectly chosen set for a relative Costello virgin such as myself, a veritable "Greatest Hits" run- through, thankfully (for me at least) relatively free of the Man's latter-day excursions into easy listening, traditional blues and jazz, genres mostly meaningless to my narrow-arsed guitar rock musical tastes. So from the get-go, I completely enjoyed this set, I really did... that said, and despite his affable enthusiasm and easy, witty between-song banter ("I was in this venue 30 years ago... up on the balcony with Kia Ora; at least that's what she said her name was...") Elvis initially sounded low in a cluttered and busy-sounding mix, that oh-so distinctive voice a little buried, and his occasional predilection for singing behind the melody line also made certain numbers feel a little disjointed. An early, synth pulse and voice only "Green Shirt" was however great, bucking this initial trend, although I'd have done without the swathes of wah-wah feedback over "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea". Less is more!
The flamboyant trad-bluesy rock'n'roll of "Mystery Dance" steered things in a clearer-sounding direction, although a subsequent "American Without Tears", a part of a piano-led triad, sounded badly off-key. Thereafter, however, it was like the clouds parting, the set suddenly sounding utterly spot on, and Elvis' voice taking flight on the stunning, heart-cracking ballad "Good Year For The Roses". Back off the piano stool, "Beyond Belief" was a rambunctious rocker, a highlight as the set really gathered momentum, and set closer "Alison", despite again slowing the pace, was plaintive and excellent.
However, if the set was variable, from sound-affected okay to excellent and all points between, the encores were all utterly brilliant, splendidly chosen and superbly executed. A lengthy "Everyday I Write The Book" showcased the virtuoso band and backing singers; "Oliver's Army" (pretty much my 3rd Year Senior class anthem, back in 1979!) was a wonderful, emotive memory-jogger; but the man saved easily the best until last, a rattling and rocking rendition of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding", over 40 years old but still as relevant as ever, a manifesto for these troubled and divided times. A perfect way to end an ultimately totally worthwhile 2 hours in the company of a musical icon.
No list though - a friendly roadie confirmed they're not allowed to hand them out ("orders from the boss!"), but Ben and I bumped into Dennis on our way out, and joined him for a short wait in slight drizzle, eventually being rewarded with pics and brief chats with Elvis and a more voluble keyboardist Steve Nieve . Nice one! A swift hammer home saw us hit the 'don and home just after 12.30, after an overall very fine start to a busy March. Dennis, thanks for the push; glad I took your advice to see Elvis, and now I'm only 89 times behind you...!
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