Costello follows his own muse with Imposters
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WARREN -- Over the years, I've learned to accept that if I'm really, really excited that an act is coming to play locally, a large portion of the Mahoning Valley's population will be less excited.
I guess you could say, "I used to be disgusted, but now I try to be amused."
The man who wrote those words -- Elvis Costello -- sang them Tuesday with his band, The Imposters, at Packard Music Hall, which was around half full.
Costello played about 22 songs (with snippets of a couple others woven into the arrangements) over 105 minutes.
The show started ("Mystery Dance," "You Belong to Me," "Watching the Detectives") and ended ("Alison," "Pump It Up," "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding") with songs familiar to even the most casual of fans played in arrangements that generally hewed closely to the original recordings.
Sandwiched in between was a mix of deeper cuts, the occasional cover and other Costello favorites with significantly different arrangements.
Before "Men Called Uncle" from the "Get Happy!" album, Costello said when he wrote the song, it was inspired by his fear that an older man would take his girlfriend from him.
"I have to sing it with a sense of humor because I'm now that man," he said.
He plugged the upcoming expanded edition of his debut album, "My Aim Is True," with "Just a Memory," a song that didn't make that record but later resurfaced on the B-side compilation "Taking Liberties."
There definitely were rough patches. Costello struggled on "Long Honeymoon," although it appeared he was having trouble with his in-ear monitor. It certainly wasn't the only instance, though. At times he can't make his voice do what he hears in his head, but a pitchier song would be followed by one of his strongest vocals, such as a great cover of Charlie Rich's "Who Will the Next Fool Be."
It was one of several where Costello took Steve Nieve's place behind the Steinway piano. "A Face in the Crowd," a song Costello wrote for the musical of the same name that premiered in 2024 in London, was another standout.
Nieve had plenty of other keyboards to keep himself occupied and played melodia on a few songs, notably trading licks with Costello on "Watching the Detectives."
Bass player Davey Faragher and guitarist Charlie Sexton frequently shared a microphone as they added backing vocals. And even though the band is only a few shows into a short run of dates leading up to Riot Fest in Chicago this weekend, the band (which also features original Attractions' drummer Bruce Thomas) seemed more in sync than it did last year in Akron.
"Everyday I Write the Book" was dramatically slower than the poppy bounce of the original, which is Costello's only top 40 hit in the U.S. He sang "Red Shoes" while sitting on stool and strumming an acoustic guitar that was balanced on his knee in another stripped-down arrangement.
"I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" started out like a saloon ballad before building up to the full force of the original.
In an era of concert spectacles auto-tuned and choreographed to the point where any spontaneity or deviation from the script is impossible, the unpredictable, ramshackle feel of Tuesday's concert was a treat.
It was a great show by an artist still willing to experiment, still willing to take chances, even willing to risk failing.
For the rest of you, I'm sure someone pretending to be the Eagles will be here soon enough.