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PORTLAND — Two British sensations shared the Portland City Hall stage on Aug. 20. They were, in order of appearance, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello.
Musically, they work different sides of the street with the latter taking a more somber, introspective view while the former seems content in churning out hook-laden pop classics with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek.
Elvis Costello's headlining set, a phenomenal 30 songs, included selections that spanned his entire recording career (from his U.S. debut in 1977, My Aim Is True, to his latest release, Goodbye Cruel World). Highlights included "Mystery Dance," "Watching The Detectives," "Beyond Belief," "Shabby Doll," "Girls Talk," and several from that new album: "Worthless Thing," "Inch By Inch," "I Wanna Be Loved," and "The Only Flame In Town."
There were also three encores that accounted for 12 of the 30 tunes played. The first found Costello all alone on stage, bathed in red lights and playing an electric guitar. The best of the two songs performed in that fashion was the new "Peace In Our Time."
The second encore was a six-song set that brought the 2,400 fans (200 shy of a sell-out) to their feet. It led off with a reprise of his current single: "The Only Flame In Town" and then ripped into a string of rockers that found the crowd rushing to the edge of the stage for a massive dance party. The crowd refused to let the weary Costello leave, so he came back to cap the evening with some of his biggest hits: "Alison," "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" and "Pump It Up," turning the place into Portland Dance Hall.
Special kudos go to Costello's support band, the Attractions: Bruce Thomas (bass), Pete Thomas (drums), Bobby Nieve (keyboards) and Gary Barnacle (who put in an occasional appearance on tenor sax). Their tireless energy powered Costello's show beautifully making for a surprisingly potent performance and an excellent Maine debut.
Nick Lowe, the Godfather of pop, was performing with his three-piece band called the Cowboy Outfit, in support of his latest album, Nick Lowe And His Cowboy Outfit. His 12-song opening set (counting a single, one-tune encore) was very well received by those in attendance and featured some of his best material, like "Stick It Where The Sun Don't Shine," "Raging Eyes," "Saint Beneath The Paint," "I Knew The Bride When She Used To Rock And Roll," "Half A Boy And Half A Man" and the encore, "You'll Never Get Me Up (In One Of Those)."
One member of Lowe's Cowboy Outfit deserves more elaborate attention: Paul Carrack. He shared vocal chores with Lowe as well as handling keyboards.
All in all, it was a raucous night at Portland City Hall; one that threatened to level the place with all those good vibrations from thousands of dancing feet!
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