| In the same year that has given us a celebratory, but sad final bow to Godzilla's 50 year reign with his last film release, another multi-generational giant refuses to take his. Not that this Elvis is feeling the need to upon the back of not only an equally stellar career, but especially so with a highly productive 2004 in the dual release of his classical-arranged "Il Sogno" alongside his multi-Grammy nominated "The Delivery Man". Award nominations and accolades aside, his output and latest Imposters revelation gives more than a welcomed fair warning that there are no signs of retirement. With a bookend to bookend robust journey dispensed in both forms, a clearly reborn, reinvigorated, refocused and inspired Elvis live Tokyo transmissions once again carried weight like the much adored atomic bred reptilian's when squaring off with his greatest foils downtown. |
 Simple yet powerfully true as always, Elvis' third visit to Tokyo's famed and intimate Koukasai Nenkin Kaikan (Hall) was another exclamation mark to his current globe-spanning "Delivery Man" tour. Made even that more sweeter due to the fact that this added date sandwiched within a nationwide jaunt, the man whose boundaries keep expanding displayed his surging growing power likened to artists half his age with a fluid non-stop near 2 hour set that dutifully gave his Japan based faithful plenty to duly savour. |
Beautifully challenged and articulating with the greatest of ease seen in years, Elvis is clearly enjoying the amassed fruits of his collaborative labours of love alongside his Imposters. And for good reason as The Imposters themselves are a crack unit in themselves with the playful pepperings of keyboardist, Theramin wielding and sound shaper extraordinaire Steve Nieve alongside timekeepers Davey Faragher on bass and Pete Thomas on the kit who collectively provide the necessary anchors, ensuring the delivery of another wonderfully satisfying set.
 |
| As always for any well-honed legendary figure, the question was not how well the delivery would be, but what it would entail for a man responsible for 20 studio albums alone and the subsequent mammoth choices of songs to select from for his subjects here in Japan. Exuberating a budding confidence from his last group effort, Elvis heavily leaned upon it while not denying favourites to be heartily embraced and consumed. Opening up with some proper arena rock riffs, he launched into his Attractions era classic "I Hope You're Happy Now" as the fully filled 2,000 seat venue came happily alive as all seated quickly rose to their feet and remained there enthralled til show close. The spirited pace continued unabated with other old gems such as the racing "Waiting For The End Of The World" before breaking into a new one, the meaty and meandering bass heavy led groove of "Button My Lip." |
 |
As Davey walked the walk with his Hofner bass, he was sumptously complimented by Thomas's fills and Nieve's dissonant pepperings, helping give Elvis a proper platform to beautifully anoint his latest wares created to all within earshot. Changing the pace, but staying with his latest, they rolled into the reflective waltzing, stop-start strolling of "Country Darkness." Upon its completion, a rare break in music was measured from the bespeckled man himself, "Good evening...How are ya?" The instantaneous thunderous reception, no matter the language difference nor in his brevity lessened the wild enthusiasm inside. Remaining a constant throughout, as with all affairs, certain tracks nevertheless resonated deepest. |
| The sweeping tender "All This Useless Beauty" coupled with the yearning heartbreak of "So Like Candy" struck universal cords as Davey stepped it up in the latter, filling in for the big vocal shoes of Emmylou Harris as he echoed Elvis soulfully in its stripped down country twang. The sparse "Complicated Shadows" followed by the blues-infused rockabilly "Needle Time" lined up matters towards a solid finish for the imminent and filling encore. Beginning with "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" and sliding into the Wilco-inspiring/inspired country up tempo of a Lucinda Williams-less, but still savory "There's A Story In Your Voice," a wholly energized Elvis and Imposters gleefully dispensed "(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" to a raucous house with Davey clearly beaming his joy in playing this all-time favourite of many. |
| Alas, it wouldn't be Elvis without his signature show closer. This night was no different as the lights dimmed and a sole light focused on him as he forked over his ultimate and eery masterful ode to pining, unleashing the ever delightfully disturbing "I Want You" to finish off this town just as that big green guy has done so for decades over as well. Yet unlike that giant who has gone out with a box office bang, this giant shall keep coming back for more and more in 2005 and beyond in a host of ways to triumph. Nope. Elvis is far from dead. Like any mover or shaker, he's diversifying his portfolio, ensuring his health and longevity. |
report by michael and photo by keco * The photos were taken on the 8th at the same venue... |
 mag files : illustration report : (04/12/15 @ Aichi Kinrou kaikan ) : illustration by chikaThird Time More Than The Charm Elvis & His Imposters Walk Freely As A Local City-Smashing Legend Would : (04/12/14 @ Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan ) : review by michael, photo by keco観・歓・感（観客、歓喜で、感極まる） : (04/12/14 @ Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan ) : review by joe, photo by keco時空の交差点 : (04/12/10 @ Osaka Grand Cube ) : review by sora, photo by yeggすべてのジェネレーションがROCKキッズになれた夜。 : (04/12/10 @ Osaka Grand Cube ) : review by kami, photo by yeggphoto report : (04/12/10 @ Osaka Grand Cube ) : photo by yeggグっと、ハッピー : (04/12/09 @ Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan ) : review by rad, photo by keco初めてだからこその感動と驚き : (04/12/08 @ Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan ) : review by ali, photo by kecoアトラクションズの亡霊 : (04/12/08 @ Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan ) : review by joe, photo by kecophoto report : (04/12/08 @ Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan ) : photo by kecoあるがままの自分を生きて行く...そう思わせてくれる時間 : (03/10/04 @ Osaka Sankei Hall) : review by sora, photo by ikesanなにも知らなかった : (03/10/04 @ Osaka Sankei Hall) : review by chihiro, photo by ikesanすべての人々と共有した同じ思い...、"幸せ" : (03/10/04 @ Osaka Sankei Hall) : review by kami, photo by ikesan最高のひととき : (03/10/01 @ Tokyo Geijitsu Gekijo Dai Hall) : review by takao, photo by hanasan最小編成というプロデュース : (03/10/01 @ Tokyo Geijitsu Gekijo Dai Hall) : review by joe, photo by hanasanphoto report : (03/10/01 @ Tokyo Geijitsu Gekijo Dai Hall) : photo by hanasan歌の四次元ポケット、無限大の魔法は続く : (02/07/04 @ Osaka Festival Hall) : review by ikuyo, photo by hanasan |
|
The official site Elvis Costello http://www.elviscostello.com/ the latest album  "The Delivery Man" ( US Import / 国内盤) DVD "Best of Sessions at West 54th 2" ( US Import - 1 track) Video "SESSIONS FROM WEST 54TH" ( US Import) "ベリー・ベスト・オブ・エルビス・コステロ" ( 国内盤) "Live: Case for Song" ( US import / 国内盤) |
the (another?) latest album  "Il Sogno" ( US Import / 国内盤) previous works :
"My Aim Is True"(US import- [Expanded] / 国内盤) "This Year's Model"(US import- [Expanded]) "Armed Forces"(US import- [Expanded]) "Get Happy!!"(US import- [Expanded] / 国内盤) "Trust"(US import- [Expanded]) "Almost Blue"(US import- [Expanded] / 国内盤) "Imperial Bedroom"(US import- [Expanded]) "Punch the Clock"(US import- [Expanded]) "Goodbye Cruel World"(US import- [Expanded] / UK import) "King of America"(国内盤紙ジャケ仕様) "Blood & Chocolate"(US import- [Expanded]) "Spike"(US import- [Expanded]) "Mighty Like a Rose"(US import- [Expanded]) "G.B.H."(国内盤) "ジュリエット・レターズ."(国内盤) "Brutal Youth"(US import- [Expanded]) "Kojak Variety"(US import- [Expanded]) "Deep Dead Blue, Live at Meltdown"(US import) "All This Useless Beauty"(US import- [Expanded] / UK import) "恐怖と壮麗." with ジョン・ハール (国内盤) "Painted From Memory" with Burt Bacharach (US import / 国内盤) "ザ・スウィーテスト・パンチ" with Burt Bacharach (国内盤) "For the Stars" (US import) "When I Was Cruel" (US import / 国内盤 / UK import) "Cruel Smile" (US import) "North + Limited Bonus DVD" (US import / 国内盤 / UK import) "Singles Vol.1" (UK import) "Singles Vol.2" (UK import) "Singles Vol.3" (UK import) "The Very Best of Elvis Costello" (US import / 国内盤 / UK import) "コンプリート・ベスト" (国内盤) "Notting Hill" (国内盤) and lots more... check the albums? |
previous works by michael  2004FREEWHEELIN' IN THE EAST : Cat Power and Women & Children (2nd Jun. '04 @ Shinjuku Loft)Breaking From The Mold Of Bouncing Souls amp; Goldfinger : MEST and GOB (20th Jan. '04 @ Shibuya AX)2003An Easy Peaceful Feeling Made Possible In Central Tokyo : String Cheese Incident (13th Apr @ Shibuya AX)True Seafarers: Vast, Vibrant And Everpresent As Their Name Befits Are The Coral : The Coral (20th Apr @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)Far From Lost Is This Enchanted Wizard Of Rhythm : BECK (1st Apr @ Nihon Budokan)no title : Johnny Marr amp; The Healers (1st Mar @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)no title : Sonic Youth with Metalchicks (18th Feb @ Akasaka Blitz)no title : The Parkinsons with Beehive, Wakusei, and Jig Head (20th Jan @ Shinjuku Loft)no title : The Jeevas (14th Jan @ Shibuya AX) |