Some classic rockers know fans only want the “hits.”
You know, the songs that made them famous and gave rock radio fodder for decades.
Elvis Costello hasn’t stopped recording new music since he burst onto the scene in the late 1970s. He still recognized a hunger for his early work, and he obliged fans with this year’s “Radio Soul” tour.
To a point.
Radio Soul Tour kicks off next week in Seattle,WA!
See all the tour dates: https://t.co/ihKfb1bSXB pic.twitter.com/HUF6lNOePO
— Elvis Costello (@ElvisCostello) June 4, 2025
Costello visited Denver Sunday, bringing with him a delicious blend of hits (“Alison,” “Pump It Up”) and deep-cut gems (“Brilliant Mistake,” “Watch Your Step”). The 70-year-old seemed in good spirits and robust health, and his voice held up through most of the night.
He still took a galling approach to his back catalog at the Bellco Theatre, extending lyrics in a maddening display. The singer lagged behind on his best numbers, an approach that rendered his melodies inert.
Imagine a singer out of step with his own material, and consistently so. Exasperating hardly describes it.
Even a ballad like “Alison,” hardly a foot-stomper, played out in sluggish fashion.
Costello remains a musical innovator, so some rearrangements were expected. He reconfigured “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” with a more deliberate tempo, robbing the track of its urgency.
The great “Clubland” snagged a salsa makeover, but the change proved surprisingly organic.
The bulk of the set found Costello trailing his signature lyrics, and “Brilliant Mistake” may have been the most painful example.
Costello mostly stayed true to the tour’s promise, with a few detours like a cover Van Morrison’s “Domino.” The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer delivered a haunting take on “Deportee,” an immigrant lament that tied into the night’s other theme.
Trump. Of course. And it wasn’t the first time.
Costello didn’t name-check the 47th president, but adding “Deportee” to the set list was no accident. Nor was a quick mention of two other classics that “predicted” Trump’s ascent – “Beyond Belief” and “Waiting for the End of the World.”
“I hate it when I’m right,” he cracked.
A more accurate choice? “Veronica,” the portrait of dementia to protest a certain ex-president.
RELATED: 17 KILLER ELVIS COSTELLO SONG LYRICS
The Imposters backed Costello as credibly as any group might. Familiar faces like Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve of The Attractions fame brought decades of experience to the gig. You’d be hard-pressed to find fault with their handiwork, and their chemistry with Costello gave the show a nostalgic glint.
Costello has never been a first-class showman, but he knows how to wind a song down and deliver some spit polish for the masses. All for the good, and he proved it anew in Denver.
What a shame that he refused to treat his back catalog with the reverence it deserves.
One exception? The fiery encore found the singer-songwriter catching up to his poppier tracks. “Pump It Up” felt raw and alive, as did “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding,” although by that point in the two-plus hour show Costello’s voice appeared to fade.
He had saved the best for last, but why did it take him so long?
Elvis Costello is still alive?
Perhaps America can send their deportees to England? That way, the English, who will be a minority in their country in just 25 more years, can get “replaced” faster? Or, maybe Elvis can take in a few illegal migrants and house and feed and educate and provide healthcare for them for the rest of their lives? That might work. He should call Trump and offer his help!
Having some personal in experience in performing live rock and roll, I think a great deal of last night’s hiccups were the result of poorly balanced sound and Elvis’ inability to hear himself through the monitors. The tom drums and bass guitar were particularly over emphasized. You could see him gesturing towards and conversing with bandmates throughout the set. It would almost seem as if the acoustic interlude was extended to allow time for the audio quality to be improved, which it did (somewhat) in the closing electric numbers. Just my thoughts.
100% agree that the sound in the house was really poor and muddy, if slightly improved after the acoustic songs. Most of the night the bass guitar was louder than the vocal and the snare sounded like a bongo or a bad sample. Elvis’ guitar work was over-processed and distracting, while the other guitarist Charlie Sexton was buried in the mix. I figure they use in-ears monitors and should be able to hear themselves; if so the sloppiness came mostly from the off-night musicianship of the front man. Coincidentally, he has such a wide vocal vibrato that when his timing is off, it can make the whole band sound out of tune.
The poor sound was no different two nights later in Kansas City. These people are professionals. No excuses. I have been a fan for nearly 50 years. I was looking forward to seeing a first-time live performance. What a disappointment! The sound was muddy, the lyrics were off-key and hard to understand. Many people around us left halfway thru the show, or before. Thankfully the last 5-6 songs managed to make me glad I attended. The recordings I listened to today were nowhere remotely close to last nights performance. All of that aside, I still respect the man for all of his achievements. He is still a legend. Just not in KC last night.