Elvis and the Imposters Charlotte NC July 16, 2011

[sweetest punch]

God Give Me Strength: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sQkAErdq04

[FAVEHOUR]

That's right, there weren't a lot of greatest hits coming up on the Wheel. And there were a lot of long songs.

But the longest song for me, personally, was "Bedlam". Allow me to explain....

At the end of the great This Wheel's On Fire medley, I was shocked to find Katerina at my shoulder. She said, "Can I grab you?" I said, "Sure." And there I was being escorted onstage. So much for "we only want the pretty ones." Elvis put his arm around me and made some remarks about my blue and orange outfit (I was wearing an orange T shirt, blue jeans, and a jean jacket) and how it interacted with the wheel color scheme. I spun the wheel to "Bedlam", and then zipped over to the lounge to sit and watch the action. Katerina brought me a cocktail (it's lemonade), and I was all set. Then Dixie De La Fontaine leapt into the go-go cage, and entreated me to join her. Oh, no. No, no. No thanks.

My wife and I had said, in the event we somehow ended up onstage, we would NEVER go in the cage. We would sit in the Society Lounge as a nice couple. Because, speaking for myself, uh, I can't dance. Unfortunately, my wife didn't accompany me to this show.

Dixie asked me again, with outstretched arms. No, no, I couldn't. Really.

Here, the crowd started to egg me on. I could hear forceful encouragement from the audience. And then, I went into the cage.

So much for lecturing my son about resisting peer pressure.

The rest of the song is a blur. I have no idea what I did in there. Dixie gyrated all around me, smiling and encouraging me. She took my hands several times and got me moving, or let me twirl her around. She really was a sweetheart. I managed not to fall out of the cage, and it was a lot of fun. I just pray there's no YouTube footage of my "dancing."

After that, I got to sit on the stool, catch my breath, and watch them play "Needle Time". Then I exited stage right, said goodbye and thanks to Dixie, and headed back to my seat.

Now that is an experience I won't forget. So thanks to Katerina for grabbing me, Dixie for putting up with me, and of course Elvis, especially for shouting "Dave!" at the end of my performance.

Never thought it would happen.

Dave

[bronxapostle]

GTFO Dave...good on you!!! yeah, i HOPE to see you on youtube!!!! you WERE wearing a dungaree jacket??? cool, ba

[Top balcony]

Wow ... respect

Made up for you

Colin ToP Balcony

[sulky lad]

Brilliant Dave,

So much for lecturing my son about resisting peer pressure.

I hope young Mr (A) Favehour has had a right dig at you about this
To make my experience complete, I just need Verbal to be called up on the UK shows to demonstrate the nimble footedness renowned in the soccer world of Kent

[docinwestchester]

Damn Dave, that's fucking awesome. Too bad you didn't have a camcorder in hand! You HAD to go in the cage, you know that, right? I would have done the same, without a doubt. This has got to show up on YouTube sooner than later. When it does, I'll make a torrent of it....(just kidding).

[migdd]

Dave, I have pictures. Blackmail is in order.

[sulky lad]

We ALL want to see this !!

[FAVEHOUR]

Dave, I have pictures. Blackmail is in order.

UH oh.

When you say "pictures", migdd, do you mean moving or still?

Still photos might be no so bad. Maybe.

Hmm. What's your price?

Actually, my family is dying to see evidence of this.

I was thinking about it and I think maybe my "dancing" may resemble Elvis in the promo video for "Love For Tender", when the Attractions are slowly running up the mountain toward him, and Elvis is swinging his arms to and fro....

Or maybe I'm flattering myself!

[bronxapostle]

Dave, I have pictures. Blackmail is in order.

UH oh.

When you say "pictures", migdd, do you mean moving or still?

Still photos might be no so bad. Maybe.

Hmm. What's your price?

Actually, my family is dying to see evidence of this.

I was thinking about it and I think maybe my "dancing" may resemble Elvis in the promo video for "Love For Tender", when the Attractions are slowly running up the mountain toward him, and Elvis is swinging his arms to and fro....

Or maybe I'm flattering myself!

i already heard it made the cut for the official DVD release; right between THE BANGLES and EDDIE VEDDER!!!

[migdd]

Well, I just looked at the (still) pictures I took last night and I'm afraid to say I have only two shots of FAVEHOUR in the cage and neither of them came out very well. In one shot, our intrepid reporter is obscured by the lovely Dixie De La Fontaine and the other is a shot of his back as he impresses the audience with his Get Happy moves. But the denim jacket is unmistakeable and should serve as proof that Dave was actually in the cage.

Dave, I've never posted any images here but with your permission I would be willing to give it a try.

[EarlManchester]

I was hoping that this was Dave:

• 

[migdd]

Nope, not Dave. Great picture, though.

[And No Coffee Table]

Mini Review: Elvis Costello & the Imposters at Belk Theater
by Courtney Devores



When I think of Elvis Costello I often think of the serious musician that’s spent his career exploring different genres, working with disparate artists, and writing and covering an incredible catalog of songs. I tend to forget about the personality and humor that he’s not only revealed through lyrics, but as temporary host of “Late Night with David Letterman” (when Dave was having heart surgery) and on his Sundance channel talk show “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…” He brought that and more, donning the jokey character of Napoleon Dynamite as game show host of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook tour, which made a stop at Belk Theater Saturday, July 16.

The stage set up (pictured from afar above) was part Austin Powers, part `60s game show with a giant old TV as backdrop, a beaded cage for dancing, a small bar (called the Society Lounge), and the colorful two story wheel that was over twice as tall as the band. The five-song intro seemed kind of chaotic with the lights, the lithe dancer (Dixie Le Fontaine) in white boots and a sequin mini dress shimmying in the cage, and Costello & the Imposters blasting punkily through “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” “Heart of the City,” “Mystery Dance,” “Uncomplicated,” and “Radio Radio.” The shaky, raw sound, which wasn’t quite tweaked at that point, added to that fast, loose and loud feel and the vintage stage set. The song selection and arrangements were a reminder how rooted in that era of rock n’ roll much of Costello’s work is.

Throughout the night Costello invited members of the crowd on stage to spin the wheel, which featured over forty songs. The first spin landed on “God Give Me Strength,” which got Costello crooning out in the crowd where he grabbed the next two “contestants,” a presumably mother/daughter team from Cincinnati. His voice isn’t the kind sullied by age. The strength of those pipes (pardon the pun) was even more evident during that slow, torchy number.

A stunning statuesque hostess wearing a dress much like Marilyn Monroe’s famous white one combed the crowd for spinners then nudged them into the cage to groove as the Imposters played their selections (the entire set list is available at Costello’s website). The spins seemed to land in the same area of the wheel – making one revolution I presume. Few were hits, but none (“Bedlam,” “Earthbound” for instance) were disappointing. After hearing them it would have been hard to trade them for something else.

Costello’s version of Bob Dylan’s “This Wheel’s On Fire” took a long journey into three other songs and was quite different from the original (or the Siouxsie & the Banshees or “Absolutely Fabulous” versions I know well). I was curious about his version of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” which he’s played at many shows, but the “Rainbow” jackpot was not in the cards for Charlotte.

Costello ventured into the crowd close enough for some fans to touch during “Episode of Blonde” (when I snapped the above photo). Luckily he didn’t rely solely on the wheel to determine the set list. He chose as well, dedicating “Either Side of the Same Town” to songwriter/producer Jerry Ragovoy who died at age 80 earlier this week.

He wasn’t above cheating either. He nudged the wheel a notch in favor of “Peace Love & Understanding,” which got the entire crowd to its feet and followed that up with “Substitute” by the Who and an extended version of my favorite “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea” (thank you, thank you, thank you Mr. Costello). With a catalog so vast and strong it’s impossible to guarantee that your favorite will make the cut (unless it’s “Alison” maybe). I felt lucky. The folks behind me got their request as well in “I Want You,” another song that benefited from Costello’s wheel manipulation.

He appeared solo to begin a quieter, rootsier run of songs that included “Sulphur to Sugarcane” then encored looking fittingly `70s movie thug in a shiny copper leather jacket and leopard print hat for “Watching the Detectives.” After nearly three hours he ended the set with “Everyday I Write the Book” and “Pump It Up.” The latter bookended the wild, punky feel of the beginning.

What’s so great about the Spinning Songbook is that you can bet aside from a few repeats that the sets in Charleston Monday, July 18, or in Asheville on Tuesday, July 19, will likely be quite different. I wouldn’t mind doing it all over again when he stops in Durham September 22.

[FAVEHOUR]

Well, I just looked at the (still) pictures I took last night and I'm afraid to say I have only two shots of FAVEHOUR in the cage and neither of them came out very well. In one shot, our intrepid reporter is obscured by the lovely Dixie De La Fontaine and the other is a shot of his back as he impresses the audience with his Get Happy moves. But the denim jacket is unmistakeable and should serve as proof that Dave was actually in the cage.

Dave, I've never posted any images here but with your permission I would be willing to give it a try.

Sounds good. Go right ahead!

Dave

[johnfoyle]

obscured by the lovely Dixie De La Fontaine

Lucky Devil!

[FAVEHOUR]

Well here is proof positive....guess I didn't imagine this!

Hope this link works

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lunahzon/with/5947757362/


thanks to Jeremy at lunahzon for helping me out

Dave

[jillbeast]

Wahoo Dave!! I'm so excited for you! North Carolina's a great place to see a show, and I'm happy they made it special for you!

[The Gentleman]

That's a great photo of you, Dave. Regardless of how you may have felt, you look like one cool customer, totally at ease in the cage!

I assume he didn't ask what song you were hoping to hear. What would have been your request if you'd had the chance?

[pophead2k]

Absolutely awesome. I'll be at the Durham show in September but I presume my balcony location will preclude me from being able to have this experience as well!

[FAVEHOUR]

That's a great photo of you, Dave. Regardless of how you may have felt, you look like one cool customer, totally at ease in the cage!

I assume he didn't ask what song you were hoping to hear. What would have been your request if you'd had the chance?

I wonder what I would have said if asked. Maybe "Church Underground".
Or maybe I'd have said, "where's the numbers jackpot? I wanna hear Two Little Hitlers!"

Dave

[sulky lad]

Dave Favehour - the new (old) Billy Elliott !

[The Gentleman]

That's a great photo of you, Dave. Regardless of how you may have felt, you look like one cool customer, totally at ease in the cage!

I assume he didn't ask what song you were hoping to hear. What would have been your request if you'd had the chance?

I wonder what I would have said if asked. Maybe "Church Underground".
Or maybe I'd have said, "where's the numbers jackpot? I wanna hear Two Little Hitlers!"

Dave

Yeah, I'm thinking the Numbers jackpot might be EC having fun at his fan's expense. I'm not getting my hopes up for a reprise of "Room With No Number" anytime soon.

On the other hand, I had previously assumed "Hoover Factory vs Detectives" was just EC making something a straw man argument to his hard core fans who are always requesting songs like "Hoover Factory," by setting up a circumstance to say "see?!? *that's* why I never play [insert your favorite concert rarity]-- I just proved that everyone who isn't a hopeless trainspotter wants to hear [insert your most dreaded setlist mainstay]." So imagine my surprise when it finally got it's turn (though, sadly, not at either of the shows I attended).

[FAVEHOUR]

At Charlotte, he came out for the encore and played Detectives/Help Me. Then the next spin was Detectives vs. Hoover Factory! He gave us the choice of playing Detectives again, playing Hoover, or spinning again. The wheel was spun again.

Dave

[blureu]

Question on Earthbound...I know the Elvis version was never officially released. Is the demo part of a set of songs recorded for a particular LP? I've never heard the demo. Hopefully it's "out there".