Elvis Costello - Royal Albert Hall

Went with my buddy Ross to see Elvis Costello and the Imposters 'Return of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook' show at the Royal Albert Hall.
 I've seen Elvis Costello a bunch of times, but this was one I didn't want to miss with Elvis resurrecting the gameshow style concept of his (in)famous mid-Eighties Spinning Songbook tour - as the name suggests, the show includes a giant wheel featuring songs from Costello's entire career, and a handful of themed "jackpots".
The show started regularly enough with the band blasting through: "I Hope You're Happy Now", "Heart of The City", "Mystery Dance", and "Radio, Radio". The first spin of the night brought an odd juxtaposition moving from the opening blast to the sombre "Stations of The Cross".
From there the show settled into a pretty solid routine of song /spin, with Costello occasionally adding his own selections (seemingly prompted by the previously spun song). He even selected the 'Cash' jackpot - which was a combo of the Johnny Cash songs "Cry, Cry, Cry" and "I Still Miss Someone".
Consistent with the gameshow style of the show, this tour has also included a diverse selection of special guests: and the first for the evening was The BibleCode Sundays, a celtic folk combo featuring Costello's brother Ronan MacManus, tonight augmented by Costello's other brothers Ruairi and Kieran MacManus - for fantastic folky versions of "American Without Tears" and "Little Palaces".
First encore saw Costello return solo for acoustic run throughs 'National Ransom's "Slow Drag with Josephine" and "Jimmie Standing In The Rain".
Second and final encore, things took a turn for the bizzare with Costello introducing "the romper stomper of love" Russell Crowe, channeling Vegas-era Elvis Presley in his black suit for "Trouble" and "Folsom Prison Blues". Things picked up with Glenn Tilbrook from Squeeze and Martin Belmont from Graham Parker's Rumour  joining to recreate the 'Trust' duet "From A Whisper To A Scream" before all guests rejoined for "Pump It Up" and "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?".

Setlist:
01. I Hope You're Happy Now
02. Heart Of The City
03. Mystery Dance
04. Radio, Radio
05. Stations Of The Cross
06. New Lace Sleeves
07. Beyond Belief
08. Oliver's Army
09. The Long Honeymoon
10. Cry, Cry, Cry
11. I Still Miss Someone
12. American Without Tears
13. Little Palaces
14. Shot With His Own Gun
15. Watching The Detectives
16. Alison
17. Everyday I Write The Book 
18. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
19. I Want You
Encore 1
20. A Slow Drag With Josephine
21. Jimmie Standing In The Rain
22. Tramp The Dirt Down
23. Shipbuilding
Encore 2
24. Trouble
25. Folsom Prison Blues
26. From A Whisper To A Scream
27. Pump It Up
28. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

Richmond Fontaine (duo), Richard Buckner & Peter Bruntnell - Cecil Sharp House, London

My buddy Johnny and I headed to Cecil Sharp House, the home of “English Folk Dance and Song Society” for a fantastic night of Americana.

We only caught the tail-end of Welsh singer-songwriter Peter Bruntnell’s opening set, but it reminded me what a fantastic voice he has – far more pop-orientated than I remembered (which prompted me to dig out his fantastic ‘Normal For Bridgewater’ album which has been on high-rotation ever since).

Next up was Richard Buckner who was mesmerising. A massive booming voice with a lone acoustic guitar – although he did make considerable use of looping live samples to accompany himself on several songs and create an even bigger sound. My only disappointment was opener “Blue and Wonder” was the sole inclusion from his debut ‘Bloomed’, but we did also get ‘Loaded at The Wrong Door’ and a healthy dose of new album ‘Our Blood’.

Headliners for the night was the duo from Richmond Fointaine Willy Vlautin on  vocals, guitar and Dan Eccles on electric guitar, lapsteel, and harmonica. Not a band I’m hugely familiar with, their large back catalogue is extremely daunting – but from the great material presented tonight: particularly “Westwood Ho” and “Exit 194B” I’ll certainly be checking out more of them.