Tonight: Elvis Costello w/Carlene Carter at The Ryman
About two songs into his last show at the Ryman with the Imposters, after 2004’s aptly titled The Delivery Man, the ailing singer visibly realized he was going to have to put on a two-and-a-half-hour concert—including a long-awaited duet with Emmylou Harris—with a voice on the verge of cracking. The ensuing show, damaged voice and all, was as much of a marvel as watching a Hall of Famer pitch a shutout game with one arm in a sling: unstintingly generous, passionate and all the more exciting for the cool navigation of near-disaster. That skill may come in handy in escaping the music industry’s atrophied distribution model: Costello’s new album Momofuku comes out this week only on vinyl LP and digital download—a shrewd simultaneous pitch to the iPod generation and old-timers who still cherish the pre-distressed jacket of Get Happy! 7:30 p.m. at the Ryman Auditorium —JIM RIDLEY
And don't forget that tomorrow from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Grimey's, you can meet Costello in person, where he'll autograph copies of Momofuku and probably be really charming.
Comments
Good God. That was one of the best shows I've ever seen. How in hell does an artist in his mid-50s play a concert consisting of at least 50 percent new material--from an album nobody's heard yet, no less--and abso-goddamn-lutely tear the roof off the joint?
And no, the two guest guitarists were not from Kings of Leon.
Posted 04/24/2008 at 12:33:57 AMThe two guest guitarists during encores were Jonathan Rice and Jonathan Wilson, plus Farmer Dave Scher on lap steel (an instrument that seemed kind of pointless in the mix on all but one song). A fine show indeed.
Posted 04/24/2008 at 03:11:00 PMHow was Carlene Carter? I've always kind of liked her. Funny that Nick Lowe(Carter's ex) played just a couple of nights before at the Belcourt...Lowe wrote songs for both Carter and Costello.
Posted 04/24/2008 at 04:19:24 PMDidn't get there in time for Carlene, but she was really the second opening act, the first being Nick Lowe at the Belcourt on Monday. Loew's set was sublime, and his stunning acoustic "What's So Funny About PL&U" paired with Elvis's all out electric version 48 hours later made for a nifty pair of Nashville live music bookends.
Posted 04/24/2008 at 04:35:09 PMWhat was Grimey's like? I dig that Nashville hosted Costello at the Ryman and Grimey's. That's enough to make San Francisco jealous. Or at least envious.
Posted 04/24/2008 at 10:58:25 PMCarter was good--funny, self-deprecating about her recent troubles, in strong voice and rockin' spirit. Made me want to reacquaint myself with Musical Shapes and "Baby Ride Easy." What I would have given to see her and Costello rip into "Girls Talk."
Grimey's was great. I got there about an hour early, and by the time it opened there were upwards of 100 people in line. Costello looked great in black leather and polka-dot scarf, and he signed records by the armload. The only bummer: the digital download code that comes with the LP doesn't kick in until May 1, so I got two copies of a record I can't even listen to for another week. It's killing me, 'cause I really need that sha-la-la chorus on "Pardon Me Madam, I'm Eve."
Posted 04/25/2008 at 11:06:44 AMAlso, it was cool that Costello and Jim Lauderdale did "Femme Fatale," since Lou Reed probably won't.
Posted 04/25/2008 at 11:11:40 AMI was at Grimey's for the signing and Elvis was so nice a polite. The show he put on at the Ryman was the best one I have seen of his so far. He rocked the house!! He gets better everytime I see him. I will be seeing him in Knoxville, TN in a couple of weeks. I can't wait. He never disappoints. And it
Posted 04/27/2008 at 01:26:31 PMwas a dream come true to meet him.