Amsterdam, 14-Oct-2003

[johnfoyle]

Joyce Slavik writes-

Subject: Amsterdam, 14-Oct-2003
To: COSTELLO-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM




A terrific set list and a great show! Elvis was in a fun, playful mood
and
sounded terrific. Show went from about 8:10pm-10:30pm. Weird ending. He
did
one huge long encore and then came out for CCIU4 at the end. I think he
would have done more perhaps (Birds?) but everyone started leaving
immediately after the song. An appreciative and enthusiastic crowd.
Interesting venue. It was meant to be a place for musicals but went
bankrupt. Now it's called the Pepsi Stage and looks like a huge blow up
building with temporary seats inside and blue stars/lights on the
ceiling.
Elvis laughingly suggested that they bulldoze it over. Elvis and Steve
both
in black. Elvis had on a black tie with big blue, purple, and green
polka
dots. No CDs being sold at this show or autograph signings. Steve as
terrific as ever. Elvis had a few equipment problems but laughed them
off.
Lovely to see how tenderly Elvis is singing the North songs. The album
is
growing on me more and more but I still heard a lot of grumblings about
it
from the Elvis faithful. He deviated a lot from the setlist. Some
things
left off: Little Triggers, Long Honeymoon, Man Out Of Time, PLU, All
This
Useless Beauty, DDTM, When Green Eyes Turn Blue, Little Atoms, Birds
Will
Still Be Singing. I would have loved to hear All This Useless Beauty,
Little Atoms, Birds but he added on a bunch of things that weren't on
the
set list that were fabulous too so I won't complain much. More and
more,
Elvis reminds me of my Uncle Chuck, especially in his profile .

14-Oct-2003, Pepsi Stage, Amsterdam
45
Brilliant Disguise
Green Shirt
Suit of Lights
Toledo (with an eyebrow raise from EC and a laugh at the mention of
'Amsterdam')
Tart (refreshing version of this, no singalong)
New Amsterdam
New Lace Sleeves
Shot With His Own Gun (Elvis motions to the sound guy and ends up
walking
over there as Steve plays)
This House Is Empty Now
Someone Took The Words Away
When Did I Stop Dreaming
You Turned To Me (sang very sweetly and tenderly)
Fallen
God's Comic (Steve plays piano and melodica at the same time; he does
this
in a few spots throughout the evening. A few changes from last night's
schtick. Wouter commented that he found this version better because it
was
at a slighter faster tempo. I love the heck outta this song myself.)
Indoor Fireworks
Either Side of The Same Town (gorgeous song. Elvis didn't even try to
sing
out the last lines off mic and after a silent pause after some idiot
ruined
it last night )
The Judgment (Terrific! Broken guitar string. I think I've only seen
this
one live once - Chicago last October??)
Detectives (EC has some problems getting his electric guitar to make
sound,
laughing and commenting, 'This is supposed to be an electric guitar'.
Slightly different incarnation but I could have done without this song
quite honestly)
*Encore 1*
When It Sings (very pretty)
Still (love this one too)
Can You Be True? (off mic)
All The Rage (yippee!)
Sleep Of The Just (double yippee!!!)
(someone yells out 'Almost Blue')
Almost Blue/I Want You (not sure if this was supposed to be this way or
not)
(EC takes over on piano. Steve finished up on melodica)
Let Me Tell You About Her
(Elvis slams the building and suggest not meeting in a 'portocabin'
next
time )
I'm In The Mood Again
I Still Have That Other Girl (off mic)
*Encore 2*
CCIU4 (off mic plus singalong)

Joyce

[verbal gymnastics]

Good to see that he's changed the set list around. Did he *really* do Brilliant Disguise or is this a typo ie Brilliant Mistake?

I hope he changes the set around when he gets back to do the November shows.

[so lacklustre]

That set list looks a bit different from his recent shows, I would have loved to have had Tart and The Judgement in London (although I did see him do both at Hammersmith last year with the imposters).

[Man out of Time]

Review by Menno Kooistra at Mennomail.nl

"14/10/2003 Elvis Costello - Pepsi Stage, Amsterdam Nederland

Na Bowie heeft Costello erg lang als tweede op mijn verlanglijstje gestaan van artiesten die ik graag live zou willen zien. De legendarische zanger die klassiekers schreef als 'Shipbuilding', 'This House is Empty Now' en 'I Want You' zou Nederland aandoen om zijn nieuwe cd 'North' te promoten. Gelijk kaarten gekocht ondanks het feit dat het in het afgrijselijke Pepsi Stage was, dat automatisch nadelen met zich meebrengt: zitplaatsen, stipt om 8 uur beginnen (we waren dan ook te laat) en een oerlelijk en sfeerloos gebouw. Desondanks was Costello op dreef en bracht suikerzoete ballads ten gehore die soms tegen het kippenvel aanzaten. Wat een stem. Helaas gold ook hier weer dat het optreden een beetje saai werd na anderhalf uur en het blijft jammer dat hij geen ruiger oud werk speelde. Toch was het een concert dat ik niet had willen missen.

Cijfer: 7,5"

or in English via Google Translate:

"14/10/2003 Elvis Costello - Pepsi Stage, Amsterdam, Netherlands

After Bowie Costello has very long been second on my wish list of artists that I would like to see. Live The legendary singer who wrote classics like 'Shipbuilding', 'This House is Empty Now' and 'I Want You' would hurt Netherlands to promote. His new album 'North' Draw cards purchased despite the fact that it was in horrible Pepsi Stage, which automatically entails disadvantages: seats, promptly begin at 8 am (we were too late to do) and a hideous and soulless building. Nevertheless, Costello was on fire and brought sugar sweet ballads played back sometimes reclining against the goosebumps. What a voice. Unfortunately true again here that the action was a bit boring after a half hour, and it remains a shame he did not play rough old work. Still, it was a concert that I did not want to miss.

Rating: 7.5"

Joyce's account of the show and the venue says that "Elvis laughingly suggested that they bulldoze it over". Interestingly, according to Wikipedia:

" In early 2007 the building was demolished to make way for a new entertainment center called GETZ."

(English Translation via Google translate). The Curse of Costello?

MOOT