Elvis Costello Reviews

Mark Flint from Phoenix, Arizona

HEAD SCRATCHER...

Just saw the mighty EC at the Arizona Federal Theater. I have seen him many times. What I love about Elvis is that the music is never album perfect. It's always as if you just opened the garage door to the coolest band ever. And this time, it all started out that way. He opened with Mystery Dance. Homerun. And then The Beat and Radio Radio. All of them on fire! about half a dozen songs in he does Accidents Will Happen and happen they did. Not exactly sure what happened. His singing was so back-phrased, slow or out and out behind the music it was hard to listen to. Drummer Pete Thomas deserves a medal for keeping the rest of the night from crashing into the abyss. And yet somehow Elvis kept me on the edge of my seat, never knowing if it him or was he just way to hip for the room and the rest of us have to catch up. Many people left early, scratching there heads. But, like he does, he pulls it all together with Pump it up, Peace Love... and Allison to leave me wanting more.

A. Leonard from Los Angeles, California

LONG SHOW, BUT HORRIBLE SOUND MIX

Elvis Costello at the Greek Theater 06/16/23 Sound booth malfunction? What happened?! Nick Lowe sounded great, but Elvis's mix was horrible (for most of the show). Seats in the left side of section C (not the best seats...but, it's the GREEK THEATER...the sound shouldn't be THAT bad back there, right?). Vocals blasting out of one tiny speaker, with a little music mixed in. Got a little better after the first few songs, but was all over the place depending on what guitar Elvis picked up. I'd never seen him before and was so excited for this show, so it was sad. I put an earplug in my left ear, which kept me from losing hearing from the high-end pumping out of that one little speaker (that looked like a little stage monitor where there should've been a small speaker array...so weird.) I WAS impressed with how long he played and the unique versions of familiar songs (otherwise this would be 2 stars...or 1). Stuck around since I'm not sure when I'll get to see him again. 😢

The Joker from Baltimore

CONFUSED

Baltimore, June 9. Although musically wonderful, and I love Elvis… I felt sorry for him on Allison… the way he was a meter behind the band … even more so on Shipbuilding … the phrasing wasn’t avant-garde. It was just bad …made me leave without hearing the hits.

Big D from Vancouver, British Columbia

WHAT’S WITH THE SOUND?

I love Elvis...I’ve seen him many times...but last night was kind of sad. Really bad sound, and Elvis was struggling to hit the notes and even sing on key. I hope it was because of his cold but the energy was low and overall Imwas disappointed.

Neil from NV from Vancouver, British Columbia

A FOR EFFORT BUT RUINED BY TERRIBLE SOUND

A for effort to Elvis and the Imposters. They played for almost 3 hours, but Elvis was battling a cold and the the concert featured probably the worst sound I've ever heard - and judging from the other comments posted here and the number of people leaving the concert at different points in the night, it wasn't just me and my guest. All very surprising because the QE Theatre usually has decent acoustics. Unfortunately, the poor sound and Elvis's strained vocals won out. Ironically, the two back up singers stole the limelight. They provided pretty much the only activity taking place on stage and displayed wonderful vocal prowess when permitted, but they were also a jarring contrast to the otherwise staid band members. Pity, it had the makings of a great show.

Jade from Vancouver, British Columbia

BAD SOUND , NO SPARK

I love Elvis and have seen him 6 times. I hope his struggle to hit the notes was due to a cold and not him losing what was once such a great voice. The sound was just awful and stayed that way throughout the night. Elvis, get a better sound guy! The only spark came from the two back up singers who were also hard to hear due to the sound system . Even the amazing Steve Nieve’s playing sounded tinny. So disappointing.

James Buckwalter from Madison Indiana

ELVIS COSTELLO AT THE PALACE

I agree with the other reviewers who were disappointed in the sound quality. With only four instruments on stage at a time, they should all have been as clear as bells, but instead they all washed together, and the sound was muddy enough that it was hard to hear how the base and the piano and the guitar fit together. Whose fault is this? Is it the sound people who travel with Elvis C. or the people at the Palace who dropped a heavy wet blanket on the whole musical experience?

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