Saturday, May 19, 2007

Night of Nights, Show of Shows

Just got back from a fairly exhausting 24 hours (to DC and back, Elvis show, lots of drinks in lots of bars). The show was absolutely fantastic. A Geeky Fanboy's dream set, really. He played lots of songs from the deep catalog that I'd never heard live before (Strict Time, Lover's Walk, Sleep of the Just, etc.) and an absolutely KILLER cover of the Beatles rarity "Hey Bulldog". The really amazing thing though was the pace. They played for an hour without saying a word or pausing for more than five seconds between songs. These guys in their 50s (Pete Thomas might be 60!) put any young band I've seen in ages to absolute shame. The show was 2 hours and 20 minutes and I'd say that 2 hours and 17 minutes of that was music.


The real treat, especially as I was there with two ex-pat New Orleans friends, was the surprise appearance of Allen Toussaint. He guested on 3 songs, including his own Yes You Can Can. Anytime I hear or see Allen play, it takes me home again. He is an extremely elegant gentleman and he used to park his Rolls in front of my house on Mystery St. when he would visit the Whole Foods (he was always dressed as impeccably as he is in the picture above). One time I drunkenly asked him to sign my 'Spike' CD by Costello (which he had guested on). He kindly obliged and whipped a sterling silver pen from the pocket in his vest with which to sign it!


Set list:
Welcome To The Working Week

Shabby Doll

The Beat

Lovers walk

Secondary modern

Strict time

Brilliant mistake

Country Darkness

Temptation

Clubland

Beyond belief

Kinder murder

Alibi

Watching The Detectives

American gangster time

Lipstick vogue

Riot act

ENCORE 1

I hope you're happy now

No action

You belong to me

Waiting for the end of the world

High fidelity

Uncomplicated

Radio radio

Imposter

ENCORE 2

Alison (solo) (Band intros)

Sleep of the just

****** surprise guest !!!! Allan toussant!!!! ******

River in reverse

Monkey to man

Yes I can can

Hey bulldog

Pump it up

Peace love and understanding

5 comments:

Mike said...

Very nice recap, Dave thanks! How perfect, having Toussaint show up! How close were you? How much of a back-up band did he have? Wish we could all have a beer and talk about it.

Joe said...

Jeez, Dave, what an incredible show. That's one for the ages.

Dave said...

Lurker, we were fairly far back, but it was an SRO club and not very big, so I had an unobstructed view. I've also been right on the stage at these types of shows, and you have to endure a spit shower from Elvis.

The band was his usual band of the last few years, the Imposters, featuring Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve of the Attractions and Davey Faragher who has played with John Hiatt, Cracker, and numerous others. He sings harmonies, which El has never had at shows before, and it adds a whole new dimension to the songs. Steve Nieve is just an amazing wizard and played everything from piano to melodica to theramin.

Jay said...

Sounds like a show for a hardcore Costello fan. Wish I knew one of those ...

Mike said...

The vocal harmonies would be a nice touch.