Elvis Costello’s long career has spanned 33 studio albums, 6 live albums, 17 compilations, 6 tribute albums and 4 box sets. ‘Prolific’ is one of many descriptors of an artist who has held many job titles. Among them, Declan MacManus is or has been a singer/songwriter, record producer, author, actor, TV host, mainframe computer operator, and Officer of the Order of the British Empire. But on the recording artist side, between the years of 1977 and 1986, Costello released 11 albums. Some say these were the strongest of his overall output, which is a sentiment Costello may share based on the brief of his current tour. This year’s Radio Soul tour has Costello and his Imposters focusing on this stretch of the Liverpudlian’s career. Starting at his 1977 debut with My Aim is True and bookended by Blood and Chocolate, released in 1986, the bounty of hits and fan favourites offers an enormous selection.
On his eighth return to Massey Hall in Toronto (his first early in his career in 1978), the night began with the usual opening run of songs for the tour with Mystery Dance, Watching The Detectives and Green Shirt. While the start and end of the setlist have been static so far, Elvis has been mixing up the middle on Radio Soul. The twist of the tour was first revealed prior to Little Triggers when the band headed to a section of the stage Elvis called the ringmaster’s circle. Seated with an acoustic guitar, the night turned into a blend of story and song, not unusual at an Elvis Costello concert. Introducing the song by saying, “If you understand what this song is about, you weren’t raised right,” Costello set the tone for the segment. Keyboardist Steve Nieve, with Elvis since album one, played a lovely intro. The circle brought in another former Attraction, the grossly underrated drummer Pete Thomas, playing a small, quiet kit. Davey Faragher brought an upright bass to the B-stage, while featured player with the band, Austin hotshot Charlie Sexton, kept his electric strapped on but lowered his volume.
Another interesting twist to the tour has been the reimaginings of many of these songs. Lover’s Walk had the audience providing extra percussion with a clap-along and gave Elvis a guitar solo. Man Out of Time sounded a bit more like Man Out of Tune as Elvis’s voice was flagging flat with some pitch issues. The normally upbeat (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes sounded both new and vintage performed acoustically. Another song that took a delightful turn in a new arrangement was Sam and Dave’s I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down. As a song that many attribute to Costello, this gospel-tinged version made it even more Elvis’s own as he stalked the stage, mic in hand. A roaring version of Radio Radio came next, briefly getting the crowd of buzzed boomers on their feet. Costello’s voice was fully warmed up as he started into a straight-ahead rock version of Everyday I Write The Book.
Alison finally made her appearance when Elvis moved behind a Fender Rhodes piano to sing his best-known hit. Most of Massey Hall instinctively began to sing the song, unprompted, author included, and finished it alongside Costello to a collective cheer. Charlie Sexton copped all the lovely licks originally performed by John McFee from the studio recording on My Aim Is True. Each member got a couple of measures of highlight as Elvis Costello introduced The Imposters, with Charlie Sexton, during (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea. This began the end of the night, which closed with the one-two punch of Pump It Up and (What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding. Expected and appreciated, the night was a worthy and refreshed run-through of the early catalogue of one of music’s great songwriters. While age has diminished some of the power and breath of the 71-year-old, the beauty and relevance of his songs are ageless, even in their redefinition.
Costello spends October in the U.S. Midwest before the Radio Soul tour concludes its current run in North America. November sees Costello in Europe with three shows in Germany as he meets the WDR Big Band, arranged and conducted by Michael Leonhart. More info here.
Aron Harris
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