>>Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 10:27:16 -0700
From: "Paul Myers" <pulmyears@gmail.com>
To: audities@smoe.org
Subject: In defense of Elvis Costello!
Message-ID:
<e1e617410705041027n5f554f11i939b84a3f27864d1@mail.gmail.com>

Having just returned from the Warfield in SF after seeing Elvis and the
Imposters, I have to respectfully disagree with Greg Sager, who posted
that
"Costello ... really seems to be forcing it when he straps on the guitar
and
plugs in nowadays. It's not cringe-inducing, but it's not the work of a
rocker who is still at the
top of his game."

Couldn't disagree more.  Last nights show at the Warfield with the
Imposters, basically 2/3 of the Attractions and the mighty Davey
Faragher on
bass, was 2 solid hours of flat out rock and roll. I was actually struck
by
the notion that unlike most musicians and songwriter who progress into
elevated artforms and in doing so lose their "excellent rawness", Mr
MacManus has actually managed to AVOID unlearning his Rock instincts.
The
show was a celebration of that part of his overall musical pallette.  I
would strongly argue that he is actually a better performer now than on
the
ElMocambo live album. (open to discussion).
If this tour hasn't hit your town yet, do not hesitate to attend.  He's
in
Reno tonight. (Friday).
<<

You misunderstood the point. The issue at hand is Costello's *recorded*
work, not his live work. The discussion centered around which
long-in-the-tooth artists have lost the ability to write and record
convincing rockers and which ones (Ian Hunter and Graham Parker were the
two cited) have retained that ability deep into middle age.


Greg Sager