“We’re going to have big old time tonight” – so said the one-time Beloved Entertainer and great musical survivor Elvis Costello.
The formerly skinny sneering songwriter launched The Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello tour at a packed out Brighton Dome on June 12.
An adoring Friday night crowd had nostalgia and snarling power-pop in mind as the gold-booted 71-year-old took the stage with two-thirds of the Attractions and a couple more cracking musicians.
Old chestnuts Mystery Dance and Lipstick Vogue sounded great powered by Seaford’ s own Pete Thomas familiar brawny beat and with Steve Nieve’s keys nicely upfront in the mix.
Texan musician, singer song-writer and long-time Dylan band member Charlie Sexton also brought plenty to the party.
Looking like David Lynch’s idea of a cool bar-room strummer, his electric guitar provided some extra clout to the trad Attractions/Imposter’s sound.
Sadly, and understandably, Costello’s voice is not quite the indestructible force it once was.
A few years ago it was still in amazing shape, and fans will remember him continuing to sing it loud after the plug was pulled on him at a memorable Brighton Centre show.
But this time around it wasn’t quite as robust and little sketchy for part of the show.
Particularly so on a song which was a proto-version Accidents Will Happen, which should have stayed in the shadows of the Seventies.
And some rearrangements worked better than others, best of was the partial transformation of I Can’t Stand Up from a Motown stomper into a Stonesy blues-gospel beauty which would have brought a tear to the late Jimmy Miller’s eye.
A mid-set jazz-tinged slowdown gave us a chilling and sparse version of Almost Blue and a reminder of Costello’s ability to metaphorically shrink the biggest of venues into something that feels almost intimate.
It also provided valuable recovery time for all concerned, ahead of a barrage of big tunes.
Kicked off by a spirited charge through High Fidelity, and crowd-pleasers of Oliver’s Army, Alison, Pump it Up, and What’s so Funny ‘bout Peace Love and Understanding, all brilliantly delivered and some reassurance to all convened on Church Street.
