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A full band concert  after several solo excursions with material drawn from the early years. Elvis pretty much defines the phrase “musically prolific” embracing different styles, formats and genres at a whim.

I first saw him 49 years ago as part of the Bunch of Stiffs tour ( Elvis is a stiff!- ho ho ho), so I predate Steve Naïve and Pete Thomas

When Elvis broke he was competing with emerging  British singer songwriters Graham Parker and Joe Jackson. Both formidably talented. But it was Elvis who endured, not least because he wrote more good songs than anyone else

Opening the night was an hour long set of eight  Squeeze songs and anecdotes from Chris Difford. He was very good and won a standing ovation at the end- a rarity for a support act.

Take Me I’m Yours

Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)

Up the Junction

Is That Love

Tempted

Cowboys Are My Weakness

Labelled With Love

Cool for Cats

A healthy looking and vibrant elvis then delivered  a nuanced 100 minute set, albeit beset by sound problems

This Year’s Girl

Mystery Dance

Watching the Detectives

Little Triggers

Clubland

Beyond Belief

Watch Your Step

(EC solo, announced as a prototype for AWH, from which he later took lines when writing AWH.)

Accidents Will Happen

Opportunity

Lovers Walk

Hamburg (A Postcard)

Almost Blue / All or Nothing at All

Who Will the Next Fool Be

Lovable

Heathen Town

Brilliant Mistake

Honey, Are You Straight or Are You Blind?

The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

Everyday I Write the Book

Less Than Zero

Shipbuilding

Oliver’s Army

Alison

No Dancing

Pump It Up

(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding

It was a performance that divided opinion. The set list was excellent, the sound was often awful. I have seen Elvis dozens of times and seen thousands of gigs, the sound was easily amongst the worst i have er heard. Dozens walked out as the show progressed. At £100 a ticket that is understandable.

Some allege that this was deliberate, in order to mask Elvis’s faltering vocal abilities. However on “Shipbuilding”, “Watch Your Step”, “Oliver’s Army” and “Opportunity” he sounded fine. Steve’s piano and keyboard were too low in the mix, Auxiliary guitarist Charlie Sexton seemed to be doubling up on Elvis’s guitar parts. Drummer Pete Thomas looked ill as did Steve, but his drum opening for “This Years Girl” was incendiary.

A reworked Clubland was superb, a reworked “Detectives” was a mess. I loved the new “Olivers Army” I could have done without “Alison” and “pump it up”.

I am off to see him in Manchester in ten days,. His set lists constantly change, his performances have always been mercurial. Cant wait.