Elvis Costello And The Imposters
Gramercy Theatre
New York, NY
April 1, 2011

Elvis Costello - guitars, vocals

The Imposters
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Pete Thomas - drums
Davey Faragher - bass, vocals

The Secret Sisters
Laura Rogers - vocals
Lydia Rogers - vocals


Source: master audience recording
Taper: bronxapostle
Equipment: Sony cassette recorder
Sound: good (mp3 samples attached in the comments)

*****NOTE*************************************************************************************************
There is a low frequency distortion/rumble throughout the recording. I made no attempt to remove this, but
it is less noticeable with the bass frequencies up'd on the equalizer. If anyone can correct, please feel
free to revise and repost. Thanks.
**********************************************************************************************************

Time: 01:44:34

Lineage: CDR > EAC > TLH > FLAC 6 (align SB) > Foobar2000 (flac tags)


From http://www.showbiz411.com

Elvis Costello, Facing 57, Rocks Like It’s 1979
Roger Friedman

Elvis Costello and two Attractions–Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas–with one Imposter, Davey Faragher–put on
the hottest, tightest rock show anyone’s seen in a long time on Friday night. To warm up, Costello jumped
into the Secret Sisters show at Irving Plaza, did a song, then went to Madison Square Garden to do three
numbers opening for The Strokes as a surprise. Then the piece de resistance, the big show at the Gramercy
Theater, a former movie house that is really a shithouse of a rock club. It was like old times. Three
performances on April Fool’s Day, just like in 1979.

The quartet kicked in right at 11pm, with a floor full of adults standing like sardines as if it were the
Ritz circa 1979, and a bunch of less intrepid folk in seats angled upward in what used to be the movie
theatre’s balcony. It is a strange place, where dried food is stuck to the seats. It was perfect. Costello
and cohorts just whipped into “I Hope You’re Happy Now” and “Uncomplicated” from 1985 like they were slicing
down trees with electric saws. “Possession”– 1979-80– with the great verses:

“Now you’re sending me your best wishes/Signed with love and vicious kisses/You lack lust, you’re so
lacklustre/Is that all the strength you can muster
Possession”

and

“So I see us lying back to back/My case is closed my case is packed
I’ll get out before the violence/Or the tears or the silence
Possession”

There were almost no breaks during the two hour set, not even for applause. Three songs from “Trust” (1982)
made cut for this one off show before Costello and band start a tour that brings them back to New York in
late May: “Clubland,” “Luxembourg,” and “New Lace Sleeves” (“good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere”).
“Radio Radio”–ever so prescient 30 years ago–was rapturous. “Watching the Detectives,” “So Like Candy,”
“Beyond Belief,” “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea,” “Oliver’s Army,” “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love
and Understanding,” “Pump it Up”– were each refreshed and energized by the band’s attack, Steve Nieve’s
punctuating keyboards embroidering melodies he knows by heart, and so on. Even the less well known songs–
”American Gangster,” “Stella Hurt,” “Monkey to A Man,” “National Ransom” came alive, Special guests were
the Secret Sisters, who helped Costello on “Josephine.”

In the audience: Costello’s famous wife, Diana Krall, and Mary Louise Parker, a smattering of friends and
family, and some shocked young people raised on Britney, NSync, and Justin Bieber who should heed these
words: “Radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools trying to anesthetize the way that we feel.”

A classic night. Send more. We need it.








01 I Hope You're Happy Now
02 Possession
03 Uncomplicated
04 Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)
05 Less Than Zero
06 American Gangster Time
07 Radio, Radio
08 New Lace Sleeves
09 Turpentine
10 Watching The Detectives
11 Little Triggers
12 So Like Candy
13 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
14 Beyond Belief
15 Clubland
16 Stella Hurt

Encore 1
17 A Slow Drag With Josephine - EC with The Secret Sisters
18 Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)? - EC with The Secret Sisters
19 Luxembourg
20 The Spell That You Cast
21 Oliver's Army

Encore 2
22 National Ransom No.2
23 Monkey To Man
24 Pump It Up
25 (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
26 The Kids Are Alright (partial)