Search Results for "elvis costello"

Elvis Costello At The Mondavi Center 2012

September 29, 2012
MusicMy Life
3 Comments

Press photoThis was a lucky week. Between Petra and me, we won tickets to four movies. But the big prize was that we won tickets (thanks to the web site Sacramento365.com) to see one of the master artists of our time, Elvis Costello. If you know me, you know I have been a big fan of his for about 35 years, since his first album My Aim Is True came out. Holy crap, 35 years?!

Well, I’ve seen him in concert maybe 10-12 times over the years and am convinced that he is a great showman and this show was more proof of that. Over the years, I’ve seen him solo, and also with various bands (Attractions, Imposters, Confederates, etc) and it has always been a top-notch quality show. This time it was solo, with a sparse stage with a couple chairs, a keyboard, and maybe a half dozen guitars.

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Complicated Shadows: The Life And Music Of Elvis Costello

January 27, 2012
BooksMusicMy Life

Have you read this book?

Elvis is King. That’s the message he inserted oh-so-cleverly over and over on the cover of his first album. Of course, there was that other Elvis too, but Costello burst on the music scene full of himself and full of potential. His uber-catchy songs and stunning way with lyrics made him famous and infamous overnight and his fame took off despite his occasional efforts to derail that train. This book details his early years and rise to fame as well as many of the things that he did to mystify and sometimes alienate his listeners from then on, as well as his loves and likes along the way.

He is one of the most talented singer-songwriters ever. There, I said it. He’s made a few mistakes in his life and in his music choices, but overall the depth and breadth of his amazing career is matched by very few. This book tackles both the life and the music chronologically, and unfortunately ends too soon in the early 00’s with the somewhat forgetable North album. But each album from My Aim Is True up through North is discussed and matched with the corresponding events in his personal life (along with his bands and backup musicians). Sometimes the life part goes a little light but there is still insight into the personality and into the music.

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Get Happy! More Elvis Costello In Reno!

October 30, 2011
MusicMy Life
1 Comment

Earlier this year I posted about going to see Elvis Costello in Reno (read about it here and more here). Well, I finally got around to posting more of the videos that I took at the show.

Check out the links below for video of Elvis doing four more songs from the great Spinning Songbook Tour in Reno Nevada.

Sulky Girl

I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea

Slow Drag With Josephine

What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding

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Elvis Costello Returns To Davis

April 8, 2010
MusicMy Life
2 Comments

On Wednesday evening we went to the Mondavi Center in nearby Davis, CA to see legendary singer-songwriter-musician Elvis Costello. I’ve seen him at least 7 or 8 times over the years, maybe more, and he has never disappointed. And now he has so much poise and stage presence that he can perform with any version of his numerous bands, or even solo. And that’s what he did here. It was just him and his guitar. Well, he had about 8 or so different guitars, for different sounds on different songs, but you get the idea. He stood and/or moved around for most songs, but sat for a few.

He chatted between songs and was his usual witty self. He noted he hadn’t been back to Davis since the late 70s in the Coffeehouse, when people threw drink cups at him. This time he received a much warmer reception. The crowd wanted a second encore but the lights were turned on and it was not to be. But he did play songs from throughout his long career, including three new unreleased songs, also a couple others I didn’t know, and string of classics, including the following (not in order and not necessarily a complete list):

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Elvis Is King In Reno

May 8, 2011
Cover SongsMusicMy LifeTravel
2 Comments

Last Saturday night we traveled to Reno to see Elvis Costello and the first night of his “Spectacular Spinning Songbook” tour. First a bit of history: about twenty-five years ago Elvis toured with a big spinning wheel with names of songs on it. We saw that tour but it was a l-o-n-g time ago. And now, all these years later, he is doing a short tour again with a new, huge, updated wheel. The photo on the right gives you an idea of the size of the wheel. He gets people from the audience to come up and spin the wheel. Then he and the band play the song that is chosen by the wheel spin. Meanwhile, the audience member(s) get to relax with a beverage in some chairs on stage, or also have the option of dancing in the metal go-go cage at the left side of the stage. Yep, big fun!

To start, Elvis and his band, The Imposters, came out and played a few songs, starting with

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A Night In Reno With Elvis

May 8, 2011
AlcoholFoodMusicMy LifeTravelVegetarian

imageThis weekend we drove up to Reno, Nevada to see Elvis Costello at the Grand Sierra Resort and Hotel. I’ll blog about the Elvis show soon, this post is a recap of the trip.

First off, the road (I-80) is terrible, at least on the California side! It needs paving really badly, especially through the Sierra Nevada mountains. But we made it to Reno, arriving in the late afternoon. We got a free room upgrade, to a pretty nice and roomy room, because they didn’t have exactly what we reserved. Sweet. So I got some much needed coffee and we decide to gamble a little since we had a few hours until the show. Petra had some luck. Me, well, not so much. Easy come easy go?

We had some dinner at a very ordinary casino cafe. On the plus side, free or cheap drinks were easy to find. 😉

As I mentioned, I’ll blog more about the Elvis show soon so be patient! After the show we gambled a little more and quench our wicked thirst too. Then sleep. Crisp white hotel sheets and zzzzzzz…..

And then it was morning. Mother’s Day too! So we went in search of the only all vegetarian restaurant in Reno. You guessed it, closed. We wandered into a nearby casino for a few minutes to ponder. Then we went to a nearby pizza place that offers vegan pizza options. We had a really good vegan pizza (dead serious) at Pie Face Pizza. They do regular pizzas too. And then we hit the road, full and happy. On our way home after a heck of a nice weekend.

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Yeah. What’s So Funny About It?

December 24, 2015
MusicMy Life

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. All that and more. Yeah yeah yeah. But whatever you believe, I still have one question, thanks to Elvis Costello, The Imposters, David Letterman, and Nick Lowe. What the #$%^& is so funny about Peace, Love, and Understanding?

Here’s Elvis hosting the Letterman show, introducing himself and his band The Imposters and performing this classic Nick Lowe-penned tuned. Not a holiday song but what better time to hope for peace, love, and understanding.

 

 

Hope you find all three of those things.

If not (or if so) you can leave me a comment…

Shop for Elvis Costello | Nick Lowe | David Letterman

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Music We Own: The C Stuff (As Of Today)

August 21, 2010
MusicMy Life

Welcome! This is the third in a series of posts about some of the music we own.

We collect items by certain artists (see Elvis Costello, The Cure, Concrete Blonde, etc). And, of course, there are just some items that, well, the wife wanted (such as Mariah Carey, Cher, etc). Yes, we are both obsessed with music!

Artists are listed as last name, comma, first name. If it is a band then it is just the band name. Anyway, check it out and see what you think. Leave me a comment below the list!

ARTIST – TITLE – SIZE – FORMAT – SUBTYPE – COUNTRY – COMMENTS

Cake Pressure Chief 5 CD LP US

Cake Prolonging The Magic 5 CD LP US

Call, The The Walls Came Down 5 vinl sngl US Blue flexi-disk.

Cameo Word Up! 5 cd lp US

Campbell, Tevin I’m Ready 5 CD LP US Some songs by Prince.

Campbell, Tevin Round And Round 5 cd sngl US Four versions.

Campbell, Tevin Round And Round 12 vinl sngl US

Cardon, Sam & Kurt Bestor Innovators 5 CD LP US Track 1 is CD-ROM for a PC. Tracks 2-12 are music.

Carey, Mariah Butterfly 5 CD LP US

Carey, Mariah Emotions 5 cd lp US

Carey, Mariah Mariah Carey 5 cd lp US

Carey, Mariah MTV Unplugged EP 5 cd ep US

Carey, Mariah Music Box 5 cd LP US

Carlile, Brandi Brandi Carlile 5 CD LP US

Carlile, Brandi Downpour 7 vinl sngl US

Carlile, Brandi Give Up The Ghost 5 CD LP US

Carlile, Brandi Live At Easy Street Records 5 CD LP US

Carlile, Brandi The Story 5 CD LP US

Carlile, Brandi We’re Growing Up 5 CD LP US

Carlin, George Indecent Exposure (Best Of…) na cass lp US

Carlin, George Parental Advisory Explicit Lyrics 5 CD LP US

Carlin, George What Am I Doing In New Jersey? na cass LP US

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The 2014 Seattle And Bumbershoot Trip – Part 2

September 12, 2014
ArtBooksBumbershootCoffeeComedyFoodFriendsMusicMy LifeSeattleTravelVegetarian

bumbershoot_2014_logoClick here to read part one first

I’ll post some pictures soon, but here’s part two of what we did on our trip.

Saturday August 30

This is the day I have been waiting for, the start of the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival. We took the monorail to the Seattle Center, the site of the festival, and yes we were early. That’s how I like it. At 11:00 AM, we entered the festival and headed immediately to the Starbucks Gold Lounge, for a free coffee drink. Then we walked over to the VIP Hospitality Lounge and had some snacks there. OK, now time for music. First up was The Lonely Forest in the KEXP lounge (the secret stage). This show and their outdoor show later today were going to be their last shows ever. After some 10 years together they were calling it quits. Too bad, too, because their set was great! Now I discover them!

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Terrific Tunes For Tuesday – Take 57

July 2, 2013
MusicMy LifeTerrific Tunes

Here’s something you don’t see everyday.

First off, thanks to our friends over at Clicks and Pops for posting this a while back and for reminding me that it existed. I am a big Elvis Costello fan and have been since his first album in the late seventies. This video is a lot more recent, and shows his playful and humorous side (which was not as evident in the early years). I love that he can parody himself and have fun with it. What do YOU think?

 

 

Well? Maybe you should leave me a comment…

Elvis Costello music

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