Elvis & Imposters, Rama (ON), April 19, 2012

[sweetest punch]

http://www.toronto.com/blog/post/710981 ... s-costello

And and a British buzz act from a different era, Elvis Costello, brings his band the Imposters to Casino Rama on April 19. Tickets ($70-$80) on sale as of noon Jan. 28 via the casino box office, TicketMaster locations, calling toll free 1-877-599-RAMA or online at http://www.casinorama.com .

[bronxapostle]

NOT a wheel show...okay, there's still hope that he'll add SOMETHING near me before May! otherwise, i will wait. maybe we'll get summer shows?

[Man out of Time]

Press release from the venue:

Elvis Costello and The Imposters

Thursday, April 19

SHOWTIME: 8 PM, DOORS OPEN: 7 PM

Tickets are $70/$80

For the past four decades, this Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter has created some of music’s most iconic hits spanning musical genres from punk to jazz, from pop to rock. He is best known for songs: “She”, “Everyday I Write the Book”, “Alison” &“Veronica”.

Exclusive advanced ticket purchase for Players Passport™ Club Members begins Thursday, January 26 at 12 noon in-person only at the Casino Rama Box Office, Facebook Fans & Club Members on Friday, January 27 at 12 noon in person at the Box Office and online at http://www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling toll free 1-877-599-RAMA (7262). Special code required for Friday’s advance purchase period.

Tickets go on-sale to the general public on Saturday, January 28 at 12 noon and will be available in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office, at all TicketMaster locations, by calling toll free 1-877-599-RAMA (7262) and online at http://www.casinorama.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable taxes or service charges.

https://www.casinorama.com/news-details ... age_id=131

Chances of EC singing "She" on this tour??

MOOT

[johnfoyle]

Who's going?

[Man out of Time]

Are we sure this is not a Wheel show?

I can see that ferrying the wheel all the way North from California to Ontario and on to Windsor, then back South to Florida again would be costly. However, the publicity for the show two days later in Windsor (ON) suggests that there will be a Wheel show there.

http://www.caesarswindsor.com/casinos/c ... etail.html

It seems odd to ship the Wheel all the way to Canada, then only use it for one show.

Is there an issue with the size of the stage at Rana, or the height available?

MOOT

[Azmuda]

Are we sure this is not a Wheel show?

The entry on elviscostello.com says: "This Is Not A Wheel Show"

[heyhermano]

I'll be there. Casino Rama is out of the way for me and I don't have a car, but a friend got his hands on a pair of free tickets and is willing to drive. I've never seen a casino show before, not sure what to expect...

[bronxapostle]

Are we sure this is not a Wheel show?

The entry on elviscostello.com says: "This Is Not A Wheel Show"

because the fookin casino makes the artist rush through their show. got to get the people back out there gambling ASAP. but, the IMPOSTERS will KICK ASS for NINETY MINUTES!!!!

[And No Coffee Table]

Twitter:

No "spectacular spinning songbook"wheel at Elvis Costello @CasinoRamaLive gig 2nite. Who cares? He just launched w/ Hope You're Happy Now.

Elvis Costello is moving at a clip @CasinoRamaLive with 4 songs in first 5 mins in front of 3,000 fans including the classic Mystery Dance.

Elvis Costello doing Red Shoes http://pic.twitter.com/KXK0QWB9

Elvis Costello just did a Leonard Cohen impression during his @CasinoRamaLive show although he said he couldn't quite get "low enough."

Elvis just gave the best tribute to Chuck Berry and Leonard Cohen.

After Chuck Berry's No Particular Place To Go, Elvis Costello followed w/1 of his best songs, Every Day I Write The Book @CasinoRamaLive

Elvis Costello is delivering some serious electrical guitar flourish now on I Don't Want To Go to Chelsea during his @CasinoRamaLive show.

The hits just keep coming at Elvis Costello at @CasinoRamaLive - now he's onto Watching the Detectives. His aim IS true.

"And I would rather be anywhere else but here today!" Another Elvis Costello highlight, Oliver's Army, as he plays @CasinoRamaLive 2nite.

I might weep openly. Elvis Costello is performing Alison @CasinoRamaLive - the fourth song he's played off his 1978 debut, My Aim Is True.

Elvis Costello finally got EVERYONE on their feet @CasinoRamaLive at the very end of I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down for High Fidelity.

Elvis Costello just wrapped up his @CasinoRamaLive gig with Pump It Up after just over an hour but is coming back for encore.

Elvis Costello and the Impostors kick off the encore with Tears of Rage! #RIPLevonHelm

Elvis Costello just played Tears Of Rage in honor of the late, great Levon Helm @CasinoRamaLive. "We’re going to miss him a whole lot."

[FAVEHOUR]

Hoping for The Weight or something similar...

OK, now I see he did Tears of Rage. I figured there had to be a Band song tonight.

[And No Coffee Table]

Think Elvis Costello is in the final stretch with What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding @CasinoRamaLive. "Sweet harmony!"

Now Elvis is playing #RambleOnRose! #bestencoreever

Elvis (Costello) has left the building. And what a show it was at @CasinoRamaLive. 1 hr, 20 mins of hits AND a Levon Helm tribute.

@CasinoRamaLive Elvis Costello show was awesome tonite. Thanks for a great evening. http://pic.twitter.com/FFEYbBxj

[heyhermano]

Setlist:

I Hope You're Happy Now
Heart of the City
Mystery Dance
Radio Radio
Green Shirt
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
Big Boys Cry
Less Than Zero
Crying Time
No Particular Place to Go
Everyday I Write the Book
(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea
Watching the Detectives
Oliver's Army
Alison
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
High Fidelity
Pump It Up

Encore:
Tears of Rage
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
Ramble On Rose

[And No Coffee Table]

Thanks, heyhermano. For a shortened casino show, there are quite a few lesser played songs. Still, it surprises me that the most recent song is "I Hope You're Happy Now."

[And No Coffee Table]

Casino Rama, Rama, Ont., April 19, 2012
By Jane Stevenson, QMI Agency

RAMA, ONT. - British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello was without his "spectacular spinning songbook" wheel when he played Casino Rama on Thursday night in front of 3,000 fans.

Apparently, the prop was still in L.A. but no matter.

When Costello brought the wheel featuring his songs on it - which audience members could then spin to determine the evening’s set list - to Toronto’s Sony Centre last June, along with a go-go dancer in a cage, I found all the bells and whistles distracting from the man’s immense talent.

In other words, I wanted more Elvis and less audience.

Thursday night, I got Elvis, and at warp speed. At least initially.

"Good evening! How are you?" said Costello, 57, after running through the first five songs - including the classics Mystery Dance, Radio Radio and Red Shoes - in about 10 minutes.

Nattily attired in his trademark black glasses, a straw gold fedora, navy suit and tie, and navy and white polka dot shirt, Costello eventually joked about the missing wheel after about 100 audience members gathered at the front of the stage started shouting out song requests.

"Normally we bring a great big wheel," said Costello. "But they don’t allow them in places like this (casinos) because they don’t like the competition."

Thankfully, he finally slowed down, delivering major electrical guitar flourish during long and languid versions of I Don’t Want to go to Chelsea and Watching The Detectives in the main set and a cover of the Grateful Dead’s Ramble On Rose in the encore.

He also payed tribute to The Band’s drummer Levon Helm who died at the age of 71 on Thursday afternoon after a long battle with cancer.

“I’m sure you heard the news of the sad passing of the great, great man, Levon Helm,” said Costello who played Tears of Rage in his honor after they had performed it together on his now defunct talk show, Spectacle.

“It was a great honor to share the stage with him and we’re going to miss him a whole lot.”

Otherwise, backed by Imposters drummer Pete Thomas, keyboardist Steve Nieve and bassist Davey Faragher, Costello dug up the musical gold early and often as the hits just kept coming - Red Shoes, Less Than Zero, Every Day I Write The Book, Oliver’s Army, Alison, High Fidelity, Pump It Up, What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding - and even offered up covers of Chuck Berry’s No Particular Place To Go and Sam & Dave’s I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (finally getting everyone on their feet for the last song).

Costello explained he’d been “summoned” to attend PEN New England’s first award for song lyrics of literary excellence recently, which had gone to Berry and “that great Canadian poet Leonard Cohen” - and done the dishonor of playing his reworked version of the Berry classic without a band and with Keith Richards in the front row no less.

“These are two men who’ve come to blows over rock n’ roll,” Costello explained, referring to Berry and Richards.

He also impersonated Cohen’s low voice accepting his award: “All of us are footnotes to the words of Chuck Berry.”

[johnfoyle]

The above report also has this -

SET LIST:

I Hope You’re Happy Now

Heart of the City

Mystery Dance

Radio Radio

Green Shirt

Red Shoes

Big Boys Cry

Less Than Zero

Crying Time

No Particular Place To Go

Every Day I Write The Book

I Don’t Want To Go Chelsea

Oliver’s Army

Alison

I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down

High Fidelity

Pump It Up

ENCORE:

Tears Of Rage

What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding

Ramble On Rose

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 244&type=3


Casino Rama Resort
Elvis Costello

[bronxapostle]

Are we sure this is not a Wheel show?

The entry on elviscostello.com says: "This Is Not A Wheel Show"

because the fookin casino makes the artist rush through their show. got to get the people back out there gambling ASAP. but, the IMPOSTERS will KICK ASS for NINETY MINUTES!!!!

Thanks, heyhermano. For a shortened casino show, there are quite a few lesser played songs. Still, it surprises me that the most recent song is "I Hope You're Happy Now."

Think Elvis Costello is in the final stretch with What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding @CasinoRamaLive. "Sweet harmony!"

Now Elvis is playing #RambleOnRose! #bestencoreever

Elvis (Costello) has left the building. And what a show it was at @CasinoRamaLive. 1 hr, 20 mins of hits AND a Levon Helm tribute.

@CasinoRamaLive Elvis Costello show was awesome tonite. Thanks for a great evening. http://pic.twitter.com/FFEYbBxj

ba....you were WRONG! they only played 1:20. looks good for a ONE CD'er, huh ANCT? and two cool points you made: HOPE HAPPY being the most recent; i wouldn't have noticed that for quite awhile. and the five covers i never saw would have pleased me lots for a short show especially.

[Ken(adian)]

Pretty good show even if it was rather short. I wonder how much of the length had to do with the indifferent audience other than those who bellied up to the stage? EC kept trying to encourage standing up but seems there wasn't much interest in the seats.
It was nice to get an Imposters show and no wheel. High points were Crying Time, Big Boys Cry and of course Tears of Rage! With the drive and trying to get good tix, I hadn't heard about the passing of Levon but knew as soon as EC started the song... choked me up just a little
Off to Windsor Saturday!

Cheers,
Ken(adian)

[johnfoyle]

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/Articl ... ?e=3540073

21 April '12

What’s so funny about understanding this Elvis?

BEING BLUNT

By Bob Bruton - Barrie Examiner

I don’t know about your musical heroes, but mine are getting a little long in the tooth. This dawned on me, once again, when I ventured to Casino Rama Thursday night to see Elvis Costello.

It seemed like just yesterday (actually it was 1978) when a friend insisted I listen to the new Elvis (Presley having died the year before). Living in Hamilton, he’d recorded a concert off the radio from Toronto’s El Mocambo nightclub.

Costello, backed by his crack band the Attractions, roared through a set of blistering rock ’n’ roll — although at the time it was called ‘new wave’. This distinguished it from ‘punk rock’ and other music struggling to wash away the stench of 1970s disco.

Anyway, I found Costello’s music tremendously exciting — clearly the next generation of a guitar-bass-drums-keyboard sound driving urgent vocals by a singer with something to say in a pop song, for a change.

I saw him live in London, Ont., in late 1978. There were approximately five-second breaks between each song and in less than an hour he’d played everything he had. It was a great show.

Spring forward to June of 1994 at Kingswood Music Theatre, when Costello and the Attractions played a marathon set to an outdoor audience, stopped only by the 11 p.m. curfew. He had many songs by then, so he could play longer, and it was another great show.

Costello has had an interesting career, also dabbling in country music, classical, jazz and mixing styles to match his musical moods. He even had a TV show, Spectacle, where he interviewed and played with musicians he loved and respected.

Anybody who really likes music has their heroes, and usually this happens when you’re in your teens or early 20s — when everything sounds fresh and new.

This is before you discover that nearly every heavy metal band has borrowed its best riffs from Led Zeppelin, that even the best harmony singing pales next to Lennon and McCartney and that there will be no new Dylan. Or, at least that’s the way I see it.

Today’s generation of music fans probably has other ideas (why does a Barrie pharmacy have a life-sized cutout of teen idol Justin Bieber and why won’t someone take it away? Far, far away.).

It probably doesn’t help, of course, that almost none of my music heroes have taken Neil Young’s advice (if not his actions) and burnt out before they faded away.

They just keep returning for more comeback tours, TV shows, etc. They just can’t get enough of the spotlight, I guess. That or music is all they can do.

How many times has The Who done their last show, only to reunite later?

Would someone please tell Bruce Springsteen he’s 62 and shouldn’t do three-hour concerts anymore.

But that’s our problem, you see.

We’d prefer our musical heroes to be as they were when we were 17, a moment frozen in time. That’s why we’re often disappointed by them 30 years later, because too much time has gone by and they’re not that band or singer or guitar player anymore.

Even though we shouldn’t be disappointed, because they get older, just like us.

Which is why Costello’s show at Rama was so heartening. He played 90 minutes of mostly rock ’n’ roll, roaring through a number of his early hits, barely pausing between songs, playing at a blistering pace.

His aim is still true.

Bob Bruton is the Examiner’s city hall reporter. His musical heroes haven’t faded away, but they’ve rusted. Except Elvis Costello.

[Azmuda]

Video...
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rku0FcUkDPc