Elvis Costello burst onto the music scene in the late seventies, riding on the wave of punk & new wave that took over the world at the same time. His political lyrics and ability to fly in the face of the establishment earned him a place in the punk genre. His refusal to be censored when he defied NBC and performed Radio Radio on Saturday Night Live, rightfully earned him a place in the punk fold. The aforementioned song was a scathing indictment of the commercialism of radio and the music industry in general.
Although Costello’s music appeals to mostly upwardly mobile music lovers now, he is still defying tradition and dong his own thing. His songs reach across all musical genres and he breaks down all musical boundaries. Elvis Costello cannot be restricted to punk, easy listening, country, folk, blues, etc. He mixes them all and does so extremely well. His versatility is what gives him his wide appeal and has contributed to his longevity in the music world when so many others have come and gone.
The only time I saw Costello live was at Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival in 2005. It was an outdoor show over Labor Day weekend and it was raining. The fact that he attracted a huge crowd, who were willing to stand in the rain to watch his entire set, speaks volumes. It was just him and an acoustic guitar and I was one of those who sat and listened with rapt attention in the rain.
Elvis Costello plays Seattle’s legendary Paramount Theatre on April 12th, Portland’s Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on April 14th and Vancouver, B.C.’s Orpheum Theatre on 4/10, along with many other US tour dates.
