Acoustic Costello switches on the fans.

Elvis Costello Review : Niamh Hooper
The Irish Independent , Tuesday Sept.3rd 2002

At times at last night`s Elvis Costello gig it felt that we had intruded on a jamming session.

The 48-year old London-born , Liverpool-raised, Irish resident was at the National Stadium with The Imposters and it was only after two and a half hours , three encores and a standing ovation that he left the stage.

The man born Declan McManus was in great voice and loving every minute of the performance , though detractors could accuse him of being a bit on the self-indulgent side with his long heavy guitar solos.

Early on in the evening his monitor wasn`t working and , after an acoustic interlude , the band took a break and came back on 10 minutes later and gave it everything.

Passion , emotion , and enthusiasm as always.

"It`s good to be back home," he told the a crowd of about 5,000 - mostly in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Much of the material in Costello`s set came from his current album , entitled When I Was Cruel. However, he also dipped back into his 11 albums and 300-plus song catalogue for the evening`s entertainment.

Favourites included Indoor Fireworks , Diving for Pearls and You Little Fool . Many of the hits he played were re-interpreted with a heavier rock edge.

There is no doubting Elvis Costello`s wonderful talent and voice but he seemed last night to be a man indulging in a final fling of some sort.

Thanks to John Foyle