EC & Imposters New Year's Eve in AC, NJ

[littletriggers]

Wow just checked the airfairs , no can do at £800 a pop that will cover my March NY - Bermuda trip, really wanted to go , but have to be realistic .

[kilyuradeo]

I have an extra pair of tickets for the show.

2nd Row, Gold Circle, A couple of seats away from the center aisle.

I paid $300 for the pair and would like to get that back but would consider a lesser offer.

Jeff
201 655 8314

[johnfoyle]

Enjoy this , you lucky so and so's !

[jmm]

Will do John and Happy New year to you

Do those of us who are attending dare to dream of something like this 44 song marathon the last time there was a New Year's Eve show back in 1981?!?! http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... 1981-12-31

The only other New Year's Eve show on the wiki is 1978 in Oxoford

Anybody out there who was at either show who can share memories with us?

[legman open to offers]

Wow what a setlist.

It is show day finally! Fingers crossed everyones travel goes smoothly. I will be on the way in a couple of hours.

Happy New Year to everyone!!

[StrictTime]

Have fun and Happy New Year's everybody!

Be safe, have fun, and regale us afterwards!

[jmm]

Guess I'm the first up and on line from the show and will give a short report and more later.

EC & I were in very good form last night. Show was pretty straight ahead rock (similar to mini-tour back in May but with less constraints on using newer material).

Set started with I Hope You're Happy Now and ended with Pump It Up and PLU. EC was not very "chatty" between songs. The only new song was American Gangster Time. Others played NOT IN ORDER included Chelsea, Radio, Radio, Uncomplicated, Lipstick Vogue, Clownstrike, Clubland, 13 Steps, Sharpest Thorn (introduced as a song set "on this very night" and played at midnight with Happy New Year, etc after), Waiting for the end of the world, Mystery dance, Alison, Either side of the same town, Beyond Belief, Human Hands, Man out of Time, Brilliant mistake, a highlight for me of four Get Happy songs together - Beaten to the Punch (introduced as one we've not played in awhile), The Imposter, Can't Stand Up FFD, High fidelity. I'm sure when I really wake up I remember the rest - show was a little short at a bit under 2 hours I'd guess, they only did one set of encores

There was a little problem with the mix on the keyboards so they were less prominent than usual. EC was in fine voice and Pete and Davey seemed to playing very well and enjoying themselves - but I think I enjoyed it even more than them!!

No frisk at the door so hopefully bronx apostle will soon be able to share the proper set list with his own "documentation" of the event. Sorry I couldn't make the meet-up

Happy New Year everyone

[And No Coffee Table]

Beaten to the Punch (introduced as one we've not played in awhile)

I'll say. The last time was February 2, 1981.

[MOJO]

"Absolutely fabulous" show in an Absolutely Fabulous" kind of way. No mincing words here.. I was drunk. Human Hands was a highlight for me. I probably should have avoided the Sake. Rock on. Happy New Year.

[martinfoyle]

Yep, sounds like a band getting in shape to hit the studio, cant wait for the new album.

[Who Shot Sam?]

Just back from AC with the wife after collecting the kids at my dad's place. It was an interesting show, if a bit short on banter and any major surprises. "Human Hands" and "Beaten to the Punch" were the highlights for me. I'm not sure if others felt this way, but for me the sound was quite bass-heavy. We ended up with great seats a few rows from the stage and stood most of the time. The crowd was, needless to say, in good spirits and though I could have done with slightly less frantic pacing, the little mini-set of Get Happy!! tunes in the middle was a great little bonus. More than anything for us it was a welcome break from the holiday madness.

My wife and I also got a chance to share a few drinks and conversation with legman (aka Eric), who flew in all the way from Louisville, before the show and he couldn't have been friendlier. We didn't bring a camera, but he got a few shots with his mobile phone that may see the light of day at some point. It was my first ever visit to Atlantic City, and as a non-gambler the only thing that might draw me back again would be the promise of a few days away from the kids and a longer set by EC & the I's. There is a special energy to the Beacon shows, but we usually end up in the balcony somewhere. It was nice to be up close. The only time I can recall having a better view of the stage was in Providence during the WIWC tour.

Oh, I also grabbed one of these from the bar table downstairs at the HOB.

[bronxapostle]

man i just wrote a long recap of last night and lost it before submitting by going back a page...UGH!!! firstly, HAPPY 2008...may we get a new LP!!! good news and bad from last night. i could supply the setlist nearly fully, but my recording is flawed. despite excellent tape flips, not missing a note, i stupidly used MAXELL XL-II that my latest SONY does not work well using. for some reason, bassy heavy distorted thumpy. let's hope i can fix it along with a new program i am perfecting. but, if it is the ONLY recording...i'll get it around to all. E could have been happier and played longer. a little non-party like feel from him. the band was on for having been off the road. pretty normal setlist with a few small surprises. FOUR GET HAPPY!! in a row!!! thanks ANCT for the BEATEN footnote about 2-2-81. I was there too as well as 12-31-81 and he could have just gone the extra mile for us last night! that awesome NYE night we got 44 songs and STEVE solo for 10-15 minutes before midnight! but, last night, i felt it was a 90 minute contract he signed and that was all he was giving. or as the mrs. says...the casino wanted us back out there losing $$$. so, a VERY crazy acoustic-driven 13 STEPS to start off the new year was THE highlight. here goes....

HOPE HAPPY
DOLL REV
UNCOMPLICATED
WAITING END WORLD
RADIO R
EITHER SIDE
CLOWN STRIKE..............was guitar solo here from a diff song?
HUMAN HEADS
CHELSEA
B MISTAKE
BEATEN PUNCH
SOME OTHER GUY.........couple lines from LEIBER STOLLER tune. beatles did it...am i correct on this?
IMPOSTER
CAN'T STAND.......he should have done the same (like they do the intro) FULL NEWYEARSEVE slowly version as 1981!!!
HIGH FI
MAN OUT
SHARPEST THORN MIDNIGHT (no countdown, just a "HAPPY NEW YEARS" from E.)
13 STEPS LEAD DOWN

encore:
ALISON
LIPSTICK V
AMERICAN GANGSTA
BEYOND BELIEF
CLUBLAND............is this the same solo as last year or the one before.....INSENSATEZ?
MYSTERY D
PUMP
PLU

but, an enjoyable show. glad to have been there. nice enough room for him to play. and we love doing AC. so ANY old time he's there...so will we be....God willing! hope every one had a blast. anybody else tape? suprisingly NO FRISK!!! i should have taken my camera. never mind no frisk...no ticket taker! anyone could have been in for FREE!!! oh well....makes up for the freebie i got in MAY at ED SULLIVAN! so, let me know if anyone else taped. ready for the next show!!! ba

[Otis Westinghouse]

HUMAN HEADS

Sounds like a special Idi Amin-homaging version!

Good setlist. Contrary bugger not being in a party mood. No torrent on Dime yet.

[jmm]

We did bring the camera and will get a few shots up shortly

Counting on you BA - and would like to hear more about the show in 81 if you have more memories

[sweetest punch]

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl ... 40385/1031

Elvis Costello rings in 2008 with a solid Atlantic City gig

If your idea of going to a concert on New Year's Eve is the obligatory countdown to midnight, ending with balloons and confetti falling all around, singing "Auld Lang Syne," then you came to the wrong place if you attended the Elvis Costello & The Imposters concert Monday night at the House of Blues Atlantic City.

Costello, 53, was singing "And so confetti fills the air" from his song "The Sharpest Thorn" as the new year came in, without any grand celebration of the aforementioned, but Costello slipped in, "Happy New Year's everybody!" before going into "13 Steps Lead Down."

Bob Weiss, 49, of Galloway Township, who attended the concert with his wife, Debbie, said with disappointment, "He never counted down the New Year" but added with energy, "I saw him over 20 years ago, and he's just as good, if not better."

The group played and it happen to be New Year's Eve; it did not play because of New Year's Eve. Costello and company delivered 25 songs in the slightly echoey venue, choosing selections from 12 albums, including a four-in-a-row run from "Get Happy!!" starting with "Beaten to the Punch" and ending with "High Fidelity."

The band's matter-of-fact, straightforward approach in performing all of the songs � with no guest musicians � made the quartet an unstoppable force ringing in 2008. Costello's bluesy guitar solo in the middle of "Clown Strike" was a crowd pleaser, as well as "Alison" performed after the only encore, where the audience participated in singing the chorus. With Costello still hitting those high notes, the solid unity with Pete Thomas on drums, Steve Nieve on keyboards and Davey Faragher on bass and vocals made Costello shine that much brighter.

[johnfoyle]

Here's a bigger version of that photo-


Elvis Costello is pictured performing Monday in
Atlantic City. MICHAEL SYPNIEWSKI/Staff
Photographer

[bronxapostle]

JMM, FOYLES, SAM, ANCT, LEGMAN........all wanting the 12-31 cdr!!! see other post and refer it along to the one who can handle the task please...........i truly feel it can be fixed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[legman open to offers]

It was a great show, really loved it, but I seemed to be over so fast! I kept track of setlist, 25 songs by my count, and the setlist looks accurate as reported by bapostle.

HOB definitely wasn't full, but had plenty of hardcore fans, you could hear the singalongs very clearly. HOB event security weren't very friendly. The usual stage rush that Elvis waves up wasn't allowed. And there were no souvenirs from the stage... the curtains closed and security was on your ass to clear out.

It was very nice to meet Mr. & Mrs. WSS?. We enjoyed some drinks and conversation before the show. One bartender was generous with the wine, as he filled their cups with what looked like about half a bottle each! Our seats were close too, and I was glad to that we were able to meet. Unfortunately, the rest of the meet up never materialized. Maybe next time.

I have a few pics that I will try to post soon. They are on my phone, so I need some luck with that. I would like a tape of the show if anyone has one. Thanks!

[verbal gymnastics]

Judging from the Get Happy!!! mini-set I guess Elvis is currently preparing the next reissue...

[jmm]

The HUGE smile on Davey's face as they played this mini-set was certainly testament to at least how much he enjoyed playing songs on stage that he hadn't before

As I said in my origianl post EC wasn't chatty but he did play more lead guitar and even solos than I've seen him do in quite some time

If they were a band in rehersal then I can't see how this show would be a bad sign (except they only played one new song)

[Who Shot Sam?]

The HUGE smile on Davey's face as they played this mini-set was certainly testament to at least how much he enjoyed playing songs on stage that he hadn't before

As I said in my origianl post EC wasn't chatty but he did play more lead guitar and even solos than I've seen him do in quite some time

If they were a band in rehersal then I can't see how this show would be a bad sign (except they only played one new song)

"Beaten to the Punch" has to be a treat for the bass player, with that line throbbing and wobbling all over the place.

[legman open to offers]

Myself and WSS? before the show.

I had a great time that night. I spent too much time in the casino though, my bank account is hurtin!

Judging from the Get Happy!!! mini-set I guess Elvis is currently preparing the next reissue...

That was the first thing I thought too. It seemed the setlists were heavy with MAIT before the recent re-issues. That was my first time to see EC play The Imposter, probably my favorite track of the night.

[verbal gymnastics]

The current reissue of Get Happy!!! only has 50 songs on it so there's obvious room for improvement

[always dancing]

I enjoyed the concert but it bothered me the whole first row was unsold. Maybe it got to Elvis too. The security was not friendly at all. They cramped my dancing. Enjoyed hearing some songs that he hasn't played in a while. Nice to join you. Always Dancing

[Who Shot Sam?]

I enjoyed the concert but it bothered me the whole first row was unsold. Maybe it got to Elvis too. The security was not friendly at all. They cramped my dancing. Enjoyed hearing some songs that he hasn't played in a while. Nice to join you. Always Dancing

Welcome. It did seem a bit quiet up front. They should have just sold the how show as standing GA and told the goons to go easy.