Gig of the Year!Terry Kelly
Published Date: 01 July 2010
THE other Elvis launched last night's brilliant musical cocktail with a Sun Records classic by The King.
Looking dapper in grey suit and tie, with a white hat perched on his head, Costello shouted "How are you?" to his Tyneside fans before tearing into Mystery Train.
The former Declan Patrick MacManus, who was clearly up for it, took the audience on a brilliant journey through the vast and highly varied Costello canon.
Backed by his peerless six-piece country band The Sugarcanes, Costello covered the waterfront, from Beatles to blues, cabaret to country, music hall to Motown.
Breathing new life into old favourites like Everyday I Write the Book, (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes and Oliver's Army, Costello sweated like James Brown and performed with grace and 100 per cent passion.
New songs Jimmie Standing In The Rain and Slow Drag With Josephine revealed his muse is alive and kicking during a two-hour show studded with musical highlights too various to mention.
Costello left the stage after an inspired version of the Stones' Happy, and the screaming, clapping audience were more than that.
Gig of the year? No contest.
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/livereview/Elvis-Costello-The-Sage-Gateshead.6395732.jp
Went to see Costello at the New Theatre in Oxford-no backing band, just Costello on his own. He was on for a couple of hours, Good year for the roses, Shipbuilding, Everyday I write the book, Watching the Detectives were great as well as some new material. Nice hat as well! Rick O'Shea.
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