Elvis Costello Reviews

Joey from Boston

INAUDIBLE. INCONSISTENT. UNINSPIRED.

I have seen Elvis many times and last night's show was the most disappointing by far. My first time at Providence Performing Arts, I was wowed by the beauty of the place. But the sound system was awful. Over 1/2 the concert was just one loud bass thud with the vocals often inaudible. I don't know whether it was because of the sound or monitors but it was the least energetic I have ever seen him. His voice was often pitchy and his timing was consistently behind the band's playing. I felt he was just going through the motions with a few exceptions....King of America and I Want You come to mind. And the poor guy must be so bored playing Pumping it Up, Watching the Detectives, and Peace Loving and Understanding as his encore (I think it was every other time I've seen him, too). I can't help but wonder if he takes it easy in smaller cities so he can rock harder in bigger ones. Such a mediocre way to experience a beautiful concert hall. Is the sound there always that bad?

Symon from Providence, Rhode Island

MADE IT THROUGH TEN SONGS

This may be an unfair review because I did not see the entire performance. I was excited to see Elvis after about 20 years (I first saw him at Brown University in 1978). Charlie Sexton's inclusion in the band was also a huge plus. I have always loved his work. At about 7:40 the show started. The sound quality was terrible! (to the point where it took half a minute to figure out what song Elvis was singing ("Is that Green Shirt?")). The band was lost in a muddy mix with some sort of bass fog permeating it. This improved somewhat over the next few songs but I then was treated to a run of four songs that left me cold. Either Side of the Same Town, Hetty O'Hara Confidential, Hey Clockface / How Can You Face Me? &The Death of Magic Thinking. The crowd seemed to appreciate them which I found baffling. This was followed by (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes. An excellent early song! Elvis was off key and his timing was off. This was followed by Stations of the Cross and my departure. Perhaps my feelings were exaggerated after seeing Midge Ure play a flawless solo acoustic set to about 75 people in Boston the night before. Perfect vocals, an excellent set list & great in between song insight into the songs. The contrast to that event and what took place at the PPAC last night was immense.

from Providence, Rhode Island

VERY UNEVEN PERFORMANCE

I've seen Elvis Costello more times than I can remember since the 70's, starting at Rhode Island College, and traveling back and forth to venues in every decade since. I've seen him play angry (even though he isn't any more..) I've seen him play drunk, not feeling well from illness, and everything in between. This performance, in my opinion was a moody, VooDooish , Halloweenie kinda vibe and very difficult to get into. Something more than acoustics was in play here. At times he could barely warble a sentence, other times he sounded like he did in his 20's. I get it...We're much older now. It doesn't excuse poor, sound adjustments, rambling songs just wandering into who knows where, and vilifying great songs and turning them into throw away's I've never accepted the" tired of playing them" excuse. With a catalog as large and varied as the band has that doesn't cut it. He was very engaging, the extra guitar was great but It was the first time I ever left a Costello show before it was over.

Cheryl from Frankfort Kentucky

DISAPPOINTED

I LOVE Elvis but the sound was so horrible i walked out hoping he would fire the sound man. Doesnt someone walk around to see if the sound is clear. We litterally had zero clear songs

Toby from Kansas City, Missouri

GLAD I WENT!

Saw Elvis Costello yesterday (8/27/21) at the Uptown Theatre. I am not sure what I thought of it. It started at 7:15 and got over at 9:20. The normal lead guitar player was not able to be with them so Charlie Sexton. He is a great guitar player, but not sure how much of the songs were new to him. The timing seemed off - but I can understand that. He played a half dozen of his hits and they were well received. Elvis made a comment that he normally won't do Allison because he can't do the guitar work, "But Charlie can..." and then they launched into it. They changed the name of the band from the Imposters to the Layabouts because of Charlie. Elvis told a story about his dad, Ross McManus, used the name of the Layabouts because he couldn't recording obligations. I am glad I went. I do wish he would have played the Kansas City song he knows - Liberty Street from The New Basement Tapes. He probably doesn't have much opportunity to play a KC song in KC. I also would have liked to hear songs like Ship Building, Motel Matches, but he played others that were very good to hear. The big tour starts in over a month so this and Omaha were more warm up concerts (I am guessing).

Deb from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

SOUND WAS HORRIBLE

Was quite excited to see Elvis Costello live for the 1st time. Sound quality was so bad we left half way through. It was like trying to understand Dylan, muffled, garbled, and difficult to understand. But his guitar shined through most of it.

Andrew from Baltimore, Maryland

ELVIS COSTELLO @ THE PALLADIUM, CARMEL, IN ~ SAT. NOV. 16, 2019

We drove from Maryland to see EC in the Indianapolis area. We saw him earlier this summer at The Majestic theater in Gettysburg, PA. He toured with Blondie during the summer, mostly playing amphitheaters. That show was a night 'off' between dates with Blondie. We felt lucky to get tickets to the show in such an intimate space. That show would get 5 plus stars. Great sound, presentation and set list. The above-mentioned show was so good, and knowing that this end-of-year solo tour was coming up we searched for a show/date that we could get to. The Palladium show fit the bill. The show started just after 8pm and went straight through without an encore. The songs of the encore that we saw in Gettysburg were incorporated into the end of this Palladium show. The backup singers were a pleasant and welcome surprise in Gettysburg and we were glad to see them again here. The Imposters seemingly can play any song as they displayed through more than twenty songs.

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