Review: Elvis Costello and the Imposters at Leeds University Union.

This review almost did not happen. I had travelled from Scunthorpe to Leeds to cover it thinking I had permission but there was an issue with the accreditation. However, after a bit of persuasion with the door staff, I managed to get the prized photo pass. I only had a Canon digital compact camera at the time but it just shows you can get usable shots without pro gear – you just need access and an eye for a shot. Having said that there were certain limitations such as a reduced ISO sensitivity range for low light conditions.

I DEFINITELY felt old wandering through the crowd and it was good to see some people had even brought their kids along to see Elvis Costello and the Imposters.

I even spotted a tour shirt promoting the 1989 album Spike, one of my favourite albums, and one or two people were wearing Clash T-shirts, who probably weren’t even born until after Joe Strummer’s band split up.

As soon as Elvis Costello stepped on the stage he looked sharp, suited and booted, but then he always did when compared to his punk and new wave contemporaries.

I had never thought of him as a guitar hero but some of the sounds coming from his Fender Telecaster were mind-blowing to say the least.

Uncomplicated, a cut from 1986’s Blood and Chocolate, was transformed into a whirlwind of distortion and feedback and it was fantastic.

All this was solidly backed by the Imposters especially the psychedelic keyboard swirls from long-time band mate Steve Nieve. If you think of the Doors crossed with Crazy Horse I think you get somewhere near the sound.

It was good to hear vintage material, such as Radio Radio and (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea, alongside tracks from the new album The Delivery Man.

In one song, Needle Time, Costello got into character and locked the audience with a manic 1,000-yard stare, momentarily stopping mid-track, when he laughed out loud we knew he was clearly enjoying himself.

This was confirmed by the banter with crowd when he explained why Nieve had included a snatch of I Feel Pretty, from West Side Story, in a keyboard solo.

Apparently Nieve had allowed his fingers to wander into Leonard Bernstein territory for one-and-a half seconds and it had cost the band $300,000!

After Watching The Detectives, we were treated to the title track of the recent album The Delivery Man.

It was a dark, bluesy tale which, like Detectives, read like a 1950s B-movie script and showed his songwriting could truly conjure up a brooding and atmospheric feel.

The mood slowed with his cover of Robert Wyatt’s Shipbuilding and the hall took on an almost jazz club feel which was very mellow.

And with (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding the band performed another false ending by stopping, the audience applauded, and then they picked up the song again.

They then launched into the instantly recognisable Oliver’s Army which really got the crowd jumping and even pogo-ing.

You would have thought it was a good point to finish, but the band played on – and with tracks such as Pump It Up, I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down and High Fidelity, it was the perfect end to a two-and-a-half hour set.

Throw in a few classic tracks, stir in a liberal sprinkling of obscure album tracks and top off with fresh material and you have the perfect recipe for good night out.

From the Scunthorpe Telegraph on Thursday, June 2, 2005.