Birmingham Symphony Hall November 7.
3 hours of full-on Elvis, last night of the tour, awesome setlist, with all 11 songs off North beuatifully rendered in their original order:
1. 45
2. Brilliant Mistake
3. Alibi
4. Suit Of Lights
5. Long Honeymoon
6. Shot With His Own Gun
7. This House Is Empty Now
8. You Left Me In The Dark
9. Someone Took The Words Away
10. When Did I Stop Dreaming?
11. Home Truth
12. No Wonder (which isn't called 'That Girl Is Gone'!)
13. Toledo
14. You Turned To Me
15. Fallen
16. God's Comic
17. Either Side Of The Same Town
18. Shipbuilding
19. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
20. When It Sings
--------------------
21. Still
22. Can You Be True?
23. Little Atoms
24. All The Rage
---------------------
25. Temptation
26. Inch By Inch / Fever
27. Indoor Fireworks
28. Sweet Dreams
29. Watching The Detectives
30. I Want You
31. Almost Blue
32. Dirty Rotten Shame
33. Let Me Tell You About Her
34. I'm In The Mood Again
35. I Still Have That Other Girl
36. North
37. Couldn't Call It Unexpected no. 4 / Twist & Shout
Awesome, eh? Many notes and observations to follow!
Birmingham November 7 Setlist
-
Otis Westinghouse
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- Location: The theatre of dreams
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PlaythingOrPet
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Gillibeanz
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martinfoyle
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- Location: Dublin, Ireland
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Here's Nick Ratcliffe's review from the eclistserv
-EC began the evening in angry mood, not speaking to the audience at all
during the first six songs except to introduce Steve. His opening words to
the audience were a good example of irony "So lovely to be back in dear Old
England, and Birmingham in particular". His recent remarks arising from the
perceived "cool response" to North in the UK have been well reported. The
cancellation of the concert planned for Bournemouth on 8 November was
another ill omen. EC had on stage both electric and acoustic guitars,
perhaps feeling that what the UK audience wanted was more "rowdy rhythm".
In any case, he appeared to feel he had something to prove, which was a good
thing as it turned out. Any concerns that he had "gone soft" under the
influence of La Krall were proved unfounded. He told the story of a recent
encounter with an English music journalist, who had been concerned that EC
was singing quiet ballads. According to EC, he had told the journalist "If
you get me pissed off enough, I'm gonna get quieter and quieter." "What ?"
asked the journalist - "until you just disappear" - "No" says EC "Until you
f***ing listen".
In Birmingham the audience did listen and appreciate the new ballads.
Towards the very end of the evening, when EC was evidently having a lot of
fun, and simply choosing not to leave the stage (see above - 4 songs for the
first encore and 14 for the second encore (which lasted an hour!)) he made a
speech along these lines:
"We've been going round Europe telling people that you f***ing hate these
songs. Your kind appreciation to these songs from North has persuaded us
otherwise. We look forward to seeing you again."
It was also notable that whereas EC was throwing in sneering references to
"Brummies" (natives of Birmingham) at the start of the evening, he did not
do so during either set of encores.
You sometimes read of performers winning over a hostile audience. What we
saw in Birmingham, was the reverse - an audience winning over a hostile
performer.
Reading the set list above, you may find it hard to conceive how "CCIU#4"
sung off mic can lead into "Twist and Shout". At the end of CCIU#4, with
all the audience on their feet, EC led the audience in several rounds of the
da, da, da ending. Steve, playing keys to the far right of the keyboard to
encourage the audience to sing high. Following several seconds of sustained
high notes on the part of the audience, EC simply burst into "Well shake it
up baby now, Twist and Shout" ,and we were off into a new singalong. EC was
on stage for 3 hours, his voice held up well, particularly given his
frequent forays off-mike. He wore a dark suit, black shirt and silver and
purple patterned tie. Steve wore dark suit, dark shirt and loafers. For
one song (When did I stop Dreaming) EC began singing with the microphone in
his jacket pocket, only removing it after the first verse, so if your
recording of this features someone fumbling with a microphone, blame
Elvis....
Favourite songs from the evening - No Wonder, I want you and Still.
Nick
-EC began the evening in angry mood, not speaking to the audience at all
during the first six songs except to introduce Steve. His opening words to
the audience were a good example of irony "So lovely to be back in dear Old
England, and Birmingham in particular". His recent remarks arising from the
perceived "cool response" to North in the UK have been well reported. The
cancellation of the concert planned for Bournemouth on 8 November was
another ill omen. EC had on stage both electric and acoustic guitars,
perhaps feeling that what the UK audience wanted was more "rowdy rhythm".
In any case, he appeared to feel he had something to prove, which was a good
thing as it turned out. Any concerns that he had "gone soft" under the
influence of La Krall were proved unfounded. He told the story of a recent
encounter with an English music journalist, who had been concerned that EC
was singing quiet ballads. According to EC, he had told the journalist "If
you get me pissed off enough, I'm gonna get quieter and quieter." "What ?"
asked the journalist - "until you just disappear" - "No" says EC "Until you
f***ing listen".
In Birmingham the audience did listen and appreciate the new ballads.
Towards the very end of the evening, when EC was evidently having a lot of
fun, and simply choosing not to leave the stage (see above - 4 songs for the
first encore and 14 for the second encore (which lasted an hour!)) he made a
speech along these lines:
"We've been going round Europe telling people that you f***ing hate these
songs. Your kind appreciation to these songs from North has persuaded us
otherwise. We look forward to seeing you again."
It was also notable that whereas EC was throwing in sneering references to
"Brummies" (natives of Birmingham) at the start of the evening, he did not
do so during either set of encores.
You sometimes read of performers winning over a hostile audience. What we
saw in Birmingham, was the reverse - an audience winning over a hostile
performer.
Reading the set list above, you may find it hard to conceive how "CCIU#4"
sung off mic can lead into "Twist and Shout". At the end of CCIU#4, with
all the audience on their feet, EC led the audience in several rounds of the
da, da, da ending. Steve, playing keys to the far right of the keyboard to
encourage the audience to sing high. Following several seconds of sustained
high notes on the part of the audience, EC simply burst into "Well shake it
up baby now, Twist and Shout" ,and we were off into a new singalong. EC was
on stage for 3 hours, his voice held up well, particularly given his
frequent forays off-mike. He wore a dark suit, black shirt and silver and
purple patterned tie. Steve wore dark suit, dark shirt and loafers. For
one song (When did I stop Dreaming) EC began singing with the microphone in
his jacket pocket, only removing it after the first verse, so if your
recording of this features someone fumbling with a microphone, blame
Elvis....
Favourite songs from the evening - No Wonder, I want you and Still.
Nick
Sulky boy
Good to see that Birmingham seems to have pulled Elvis out his sulk on us Brits. 
I don't know the following songs. What can anyone tell me?
No Wonder
Dirty Rotten Shame
Either Side Of The Same Town sounds really good in concert and he seems to do it a lot. Elvis hasn't recorded it, has he?
I don't know the following songs. What can anyone tell me?
No Wonder
Dirty Rotten Shame
Either Side Of The Same Town sounds really good in concert and he seems to do it a lot. Elvis hasn't recorded it, has he?
-
martinfoyle
- Posts: 2502
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:24 pm
- Location: Dublin, Ireland
- Contact:
Re: Sulky boy
-No Wonder
From the Van Otter album, be curious to hear EC doing this on his own.
-Dirty Rotten Shame
Written for Ronnie Drew, who did a dreadful version of it, apparently he just did'nt get the lyric when it was first shown to him.
-Either Side Of The Same Town
Song he co-wrote for Howard Tate's comeback album. Elvis has'nt done a studio version. Italian tv and Spanish radio broadcast performances of this song by Elvis recently, so hopefully they'll surface on boots shortly. Its on boots of the Lupos shows from last summer.
From the Van Otter album, be curious to hear EC doing this on his own.
-Dirty Rotten Shame
Written for Ronnie Drew, who did a dreadful version of it, apparently he just did'nt get the lyric when it was first shown to him.
-Either Side Of The Same Town
Song he co-wrote for Howard Tate's comeback album. Elvis has'nt done a studio version. Italian tv and Spanish radio broadcast performances of this song by Elvis recently, so hopefully they'll surface on boots shortly. Its on boots of the Lupos shows from last summer.
-
Otis Westinghouse
- Posts: 8856
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:32 pm
- Location: The theatre of dreams
Thanks Martin. Hope my setlist was 100% the same as the listserv's (their 14 in the last encore included Twist and SHout, which is stretching it a bit!).
Nick R has saved me a few details I was going to report, and has nicely got down the journalist bit and the (hilarious) T & S segue, and the very amusing microphone in pocket bit, but his account of the audience winning over a hostile performer sounds like a journalist desperate to have a 'take' on things. If I recall, he said barely a word in London, apart from maybe a ref to Professor Steve Nieve until we got on to North, and it was the same in Birmingham, just that there were more pre-North songs. I think it's really effective: come out, get really stuck into a string of songs, and then once a bit of steam is built up, talk. In fact, I recall exactly the same in London Sept '02, so maybe this is a very standard Elvis approach. There was no indication of hostility at all, and the 'especially in Birmingham' dig was a gentle bit of fun.
I'd never heard of Dirty Rotten Shame either, and Doof and I wondered if it was something of a riposte to the UK critics, preceded as it was with a tale of an ageing boxer in a bar not wanting to be dragged out to fight when everyone is insisting he is, though Elvis is still very much in the ring, just that it's a wedding ring, boom boom. It's on Bespoke Songs, I noted. It was OK, not fantastic.
You should have been there, Plaything. You know it made sense.
More on all this later!
Nick R has saved me a few details I was going to report, and has nicely got down the journalist bit and the (hilarious) T & S segue, and the very amusing microphone in pocket bit, but his account of the audience winning over a hostile performer sounds like a journalist desperate to have a 'take' on things. If I recall, he said barely a word in London, apart from maybe a ref to Professor Steve Nieve until we got on to North, and it was the same in Birmingham, just that there were more pre-North songs. I think it's really effective: come out, get really stuck into a string of songs, and then once a bit of steam is built up, talk. In fact, I recall exactly the same in London Sept '02, so maybe this is a very standard Elvis approach. There was no indication of hostility at all, and the 'especially in Birmingham' dig was a gentle bit of fun.
I'd never heard of Dirty Rotten Shame either, and Doof and I wondered if it was something of a riposte to the UK critics, preceded as it was with a tale of an ageing boxer in a bar not wanting to be dragged out to fight when everyone is insisting he is, though Elvis is still very much in the ring, just that it's a wedding ring, boom boom. It's on Bespoke Songs, I noted. It was OK, not fantastic.
You should have been there, Plaything. You know it made sense.
More on all this later!
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laughingcrow
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Otis Westinghouse
- Posts: 8856
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:32 pm
- Location: The theatre of dreams
It was pretty much the regular speed, I think. I reckon it was spontaneous. After the (rather hard to sing properly) da-da-da melody at the end of CCIU 4, when he'd got everyone going up in pitch, I reckon he spontaneously thought of the early Beatles doing a high 'oooooh' and just burst into T&S. It was just a capella, with us clapping and joining in. I've always found that kind of thing embarrassing (too many years of being terrified of being singled out during the Christmas Panto), but managed to just about participate. I fared better with the finger clicks on Inch By Inch. In general, the audience were pretty feeble at all participation. Much more up for it in London. I think there were a lot of part-time, or not even that, fans there, maybe people who are members of the Symphony Hal who went out of interest. Some people were leaving early (like walking out on England at 0-0 in the recent Turkey game 10 minutes from the end - oh, that's exactly what I did, but it was in order to see Elvis at the RFH, so that's excusable).
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LessThanZero
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- Contact:
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legman open to offers
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- Location: Sweet Sweet Mesquite Texas
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bambooneedle
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- Location: a few thousand miles south east of Zanzibar
Mark Bromley writes -
Subject: Re: Birmingham set list and review
To: COSTELLO-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
After returning from a long weekend home from university, which
included a
trip to Birmingham, I thought I'd add my thoughts on Friday's concert.
After all of the press that's been going around recently, I suspected
we
might be in for some sort of half-baked greatest hits show or a re-run
of
his other UK concerts sung through gritted teeth and a forced smile.
As
you now know by now, I was nowhere near the mark on either count.
For the first 5 of 6 songs, Elvis did seem genuinely pissed-off – far
more
so than at either of the rowdy rock ‘n’ roll shows I saw last year.
When
he sang "I went to work that night and wasted my breath", he looked and
sounded like he really, really meant it.
The turning point seemed to come around the time of This House Is Empty
Now, which is not usually one of my favourite songs but I must admit
was
delivered with exceptional passion and beauty, drawing generous
applause
from the crowd. At this point the cloud of resentment lifted slightly,
and
by the time we got to When Did I Stop Dreaming? it had cleared
completely.
Elvis put everything he had into the songs from North, both vocally and
emotionally, and it paid off. The audience appreciated the effort and
responded extremely well.
In fact, from where I was standing it was difficult to imagine how he
could
have gathered together a more accommodating bunch of Brits – there was
even
a collective groan when the mandatory call of “Oliver’s Army!” came
from
one of the balconies. Towards the end, he came out with something
like ““sometimes you’ve got to look at things from the other end of the
telescope…”
Having said all of that, the entire row of 8 people in front of me
(about
6 rows back one the right flank of the stalls) decided to clear off
three
songs before the end, presumably to beat the rush in the car park.
They
appeared to be enjoying the show up to that point. This was fine with
me,
as it improved my view of the closing songs (and Elvis and Steve’s
closing
antics).
By the time we got into the third hour, EC was having great fun,
throwing
all sorts of surprises into the setlist, as well as a few choice
observations (“sometimes you look at things through the wrong end of
the
telescope”).
Personal highlights included Suit of Lights, Can You Be True?, Dirty
Rotten
Shame and Home Truth, which rivaled any of the established classics,
played
in a beautiful guitar and piano arrangement. Not forgetting CCIU of
course – being my first Costello/Nieve concert, this was a
life-affirming
experience.
As soon as I came out into the foyer I spent five minutes emptying my
pockets thinking that I’d lost my keys and would have to spend the
night
sleeping underneath the big wheel outside. Luckily, this panic was
soon
over and I celebrated by buying a mug – increasing my collection of
Costello related crockery to two items.
In short, a magical evening in which Elvis moved from revenge to
something
like guilt, while I was merely moved.
Subject: Re: Birmingham set list and review
To: COSTELLO-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
After returning from a long weekend home from university, which
included a
trip to Birmingham, I thought I'd add my thoughts on Friday's concert.
After all of the press that's been going around recently, I suspected
we
might be in for some sort of half-baked greatest hits show or a re-run
of
his other UK concerts sung through gritted teeth and a forced smile.
As
you now know by now, I was nowhere near the mark on either count.
For the first 5 of 6 songs, Elvis did seem genuinely pissed-off – far
more
so than at either of the rowdy rock ‘n’ roll shows I saw last year.
When
he sang "I went to work that night and wasted my breath", he looked and
sounded like he really, really meant it.
The turning point seemed to come around the time of This House Is Empty
Now, which is not usually one of my favourite songs but I must admit
was
delivered with exceptional passion and beauty, drawing generous
applause
from the crowd. At this point the cloud of resentment lifted slightly,
and
by the time we got to When Did I Stop Dreaming? it had cleared
completely.
Elvis put everything he had into the songs from North, both vocally and
emotionally, and it paid off. The audience appreciated the effort and
responded extremely well.
In fact, from where I was standing it was difficult to imagine how he
could
have gathered together a more accommodating bunch of Brits – there was
even
a collective groan when the mandatory call of “Oliver’s Army!” came
from
one of the balconies. Towards the end, he came out with something
like ““sometimes you’ve got to look at things from the other end of the
telescope…”
Having said all of that, the entire row of 8 people in front of me
(about
6 rows back one the right flank of the stalls) decided to clear off
three
songs before the end, presumably to beat the rush in the car park.
They
appeared to be enjoying the show up to that point. This was fine with
me,
as it improved my view of the closing songs (and Elvis and Steve’s
closing
antics).
By the time we got into the third hour, EC was having great fun,
throwing
all sorts of surprises into the setlist, as well as a few choice
observations (“sometimes you look at things through the wrong end of
the
telescope”).
Personal highlights included Suit of Lights, Can You Be True?, Dirty
Rotten
Shame and Home Truth, which rivaled any of the established classics,
played
in a beautiful guitar and piano arrangement. Not forgetting CCIU of
course – being my first Costello/Nieve concert, this was a
life-affirming
experience.
As soon as I came out into the foyer I spent five minutes emptying my
pockets thinking that I’d lost my keys and would have to spend the
night
sleeping underneath the big wheel outside. Luckily, this panic was
soon
over and I celebrated by buying a mug – increasing my collection of
Costello related crockery to two items.
In short, a magical evening in which Elvis moved from revenge to
something
like guilt, while I was merely moved.
-
Otis Westinghouse
- Posts: 8856
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:32 pm
- Location: The theatre of dreams
Maybe anger was more obvious close up, but not from where I was sitting.
The only after show contact I had was with the Doof and his missus.
I'm not sure I could handle the 'meet Elvis' routine even if he sent me a personal invitation asking me to come and have a chinwag backstage.
We did try and get a drink at the nearby Hyatt hotel (as the three hours meant it waspast normal bar closing time in wretched England), and of course were told it was for residents only. Entirely possible that Elv was staying there, but sadly the dream scenario of 'It's OK, I'm staying here, they can join me in the bar for a couple of shandies' never materialised.
The only after show contact I had was with the Doof and his missus.
I'm not sure I could handle the 'meet Elvis' routine even if he sent me a personal invitation asking me to come and have a chinwag backstage.
We did try and get a drink at the nearby Hyatt hotel (as the three hours meant it waspast normal bar closing time in wretched England), and of course were told it was for residents only. Entirely possible that Elv was staying there, but sadly the dream scenario of 'It's OK, I'm staying here, they can join me in the bar for a couple of shandies' never materialised.
-
Copenhagen Fan
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- Location: København, DK
- Contact:
-
Kristin from Boston
- Posts: 4
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- Location: Cambridge, MA
Official Set List from Birmingham
Otis gave us the actual list, now here's the intended one, taken from the stage...
Alibi
Greenshirt
45
Brilliant Mistake/All The Rage
Long Honeymoon
Shot With His Own Gun
This House Is Empty Now
You Left Me Standing In The Dark
Someone Took The Words Away
When Did I Stop Dreaming?
Home Truth
No Wonder/Toledo
You Turned To Me
Fallen
God's Comic
Spooky Girlfriend
Either Side Of The Same Town
Man Out Of Time
In The Darkest Place
Shipbuilding
Peace Love And Understanding
-----------------------------
When It Sings
Still
Can You Be True?
Poor Napoleon
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
-----------------------------
When Green Eyes Turn Blue
Inch By Inch/Watching The Detectives/Almost Blue
Let Me Tell You About Her/I'm In The Mood Again
That Other Girl/Birds/Unexpected
Alibi
Greenshirt
45
Brilliant Mistake/All The Rage
Long Honeymoon
Shot With His Own Gun
This House Is Empty Now
You Left Me Standing In The Dark
Someone Took The Words Away
When Did I Stop Dreaming?
Home Truth
No Wonder/Toledo
You Turned To Me
Fallen
God's Comic
Spooky Girlfriend
Either Side Of The Same Town
Man Out Of Time
In The Darkest Place
Shipbuilding
Peace Love And Understanding
-----------------------------
When It Sings
Still
Can You Be True?
Poor Napoleon
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
-----------------------------
When Green Eyes Turn Blue
Inch By Inch/Watching The Detectives/Almost Blue
Let Me Tell You About Her/I'm In The Mood Again
That Other Girl/Birds/Unexpected
"My Favorite Things" are playing again and again
But it's by Julie Andrews and not by John Coltrane...
But it's by Julie Andrews and not by John Coltrane...
-
Altruistic bum
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2003 10:51 am
I can't really add much to the very good reviews and thoughts here.
I thought it was the best Elvis concert i've ever been to. His voice sounded better than ever and i've got to admit these days I prefer the Elvis and Steve Nieve shows to those of Elvis and the Imposters.
A friend came along who had only ever heard a couple of Elvis hits from way back and I was concerned beforehand that she might find it a bit tough going, listening to a long set of unfamiliar songs , but I was really delighted that she loved it and said afterwards that it was the best concert she'd been to in years !
I thought the songs from North and the Painted From Memory
songs in particular were brilliant.
Was it just me who felt that despite it being a 3 hour plus set , he would have actually come back on for another encore but for the fact too many people had got up to leave by then ?
Re :The sneering comments about Birmingham/ Brummies- I didn't feel they were that at all. He usually has a playful dig about the Birmingham accent , if you know the Birmingham accent you'll understand why and if you don't know the accent .... consider yourself lucky
( It's a cross I have to bear myself ... loike )
I thought it was the best Elvis concert i've ever been to. His voice sounded better than ever and i've got to admit these days I prefer the Elvis and Steve Nieve shows to those of Elvis and the Imposters.
A friend came along who had only ever heard a couple of Elvis hits from way back and I was concerned beforehand that she might find it a bit tough going, listening to a long set of unfamiliar songs , but I was really delighted that she loved it and said afterwards that it was the best concert she'd been to in years !
I thought the songs from North and the Painted From Memory
songs in particular were brilliant.
Was it just me who felt that despite it being a 3 hour plus set , he would have actually come back on for another encore but for the fact too many people had got up to leave by then ?
Re :The sneering comments about Birmingham/ Brummies- I didn't feel they were that at all. He usually has a playful dig about the Birmingham accent , if you know the Birmingham accent you'll understand why and if you don't know the accent .... consider yourself lucky
( It's a cross I have to bear myself ... loike )