Elvis Costello - Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… [Season 2] (2011)

A talk show with Elvis Costello interviewing other musicians could have been unbearably precious, but Costello is such a formidable songwriter, and so obviously bright and quick, that he keeps his equilibrium even with three of rock’s biggest stars: Bruce Springsteen, and U2’s Bono and The Edge. The highlight of the second season of Spectacle: Elvis Costello with . . . is doubtless the two shows with Springsteen. In the first, Costello reaches back to the songwriter’s first two records, prompting the Boss to remember his early days, when he and his band hustled for work in bars along the Jersey shore. Nils Lofgren and Roy Bittan join Springsteen onstage for "Wild Billy’s Circus Story," a song from his second album, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle.

Costello observes that the E Street Band was closer to a soul than a rock’n’roll band during the group’s early tours in the mid-1970s. Springsteen agrees, then tells Costello how much he learned in small clubs by watching Sam & Dave and other soul singers. He and Costello play a rave-up version of Sam & Dave’s "I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down," which Costello covered on his own fourth LP, Get Happy!! (1980). When Springsteen and Costello talk about the music that inspired them, it’s clear that they still believe that the best music can give people a great deal of hope.

Costello asks the questions of a fellow composer and musician, but he also knows how to get his guests to open up - as when Springsteen talks about the music his kids listen to. I’m as tired of Bono as anyone is, but Costello is able to get some unique information from him and The Edge about how they write and record their music. Three of the other shows in the set are devoted to several songwriters each; my favorite of these includes Richard Thompson, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint, and Levon Helm. Costello brings each man out in turn, asks a few pointed questions, then lets him perform one of his songs (except Helm, who was experiencing voice strain). He then brings all four together as a group, augmented by him and his band, the Imposters.

At least half of each show in the second season is devoted to performances, and the music is uniformly excellent. Bono and The Edge do their songs in stripped-down acoustic versions or with the Imposters, and the new arrangements and performances are refreshing. Nils Lofgren joins Springsteen, Costello, and the Imposters for a medley of "Radio Silence," "Radio Nowhere," and "Radio, Radio" - and, later, for a blistering version of "Seeds." I’d be surprised if Springsteen didn’t leave the taping wanting to record with Costello’s band. Costello himself is the subject of one of the shows, interviewed by Mary-Louise Parker; it’s a pleasure to hear him talk about his songs, and to watch him and his band work.

Season 2 of Spectacle: Elvis Costello with . . . was beautifully shot in the Apollo Theater and in Ontario’s Masonic Temple. The sound is at times a bit bright, and I recommend the more involving Dolby Digital 5.1 mix over the Dolby Stereo. Outstanding performances and insightful interviews add up to one of the very best music shows ever produced for television.

Tracklist: DVD1

TV 2009-09-15 Spectacle (Bono & The Edge) - Toronto, Masonic Temple
Musicians:
- Elvis Costello
- Bono
- The Edge
- The Imposters
Setlist as edited for broadcast:
01. Mysterious Ways - EC & The Imposters
02. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of - EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters
03. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) - Bono, The Edge & Steve Nieve
04. Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad - Bono & The Imposters
05. Pump It Up / Get On Your Boots / Subterranean Homesick Blues - EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters

TV 2009-09-21 Spectacle (Neko Case, Sheryl Crow, Ron Sexsmith & Jesse Winchester) - New York, NY, Apollo Theater
Musicians:
- Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar
- Neko Case - vocals, tambourine
- Sheryl Crow - vocals, guitar, bass
- Ron Sexsmith - vocals, guitar
- Jesse Winchester - vocals, guitar
- Steve Nieve - keyboards
Setlist as edited for broadcast:
01. Payday - EC & Jesse Winchester with all
02. Secret Heart - Ron Sexsmith solo
03. If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow with EC, Ron Sexsmith & Neko Case
04. Don't Forget Me - Neko Case with Steve Nieve
05. Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding - Jesse Winchester solo
06. Everyday I Write The Book - Ron Sexsmith & EC with Jesse Winchester
08. Leaving Las Vegas - Sheryl Crow with EC & Steve Nieve
07. The Brand New Tennessee Waltz - Jesse Winchester with Sheryl Crow
08. Prison Girls - Neko Case with EC & Steve Nieve
09. Ring Them Bells - Ron Sexsmith with EC, Sheryl Crow & Steve Nieve

TV 2009-09-24 Spectacle (Levon Helm, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson & Allen Toussaint) - New York, Apollo Theater
Musicians:
- Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar
- Levon Helm - drums
- Nick Lowe - vocals, bass, guitar
- Richard Thompson - vocals, guitar
- Allen Toussaint - vocals, piano
- Larry Campbell - guitar, vocals
- Ray LaMontagne - vocals
- The Imposters:
Davey Faragher - bass, vocals, handclaps
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Pete Thomas - drums, handclaps
Setlist as edited for broadcast:
01. Rag Mama Rag - Imposters & Larry Campbell provide an instrumental backdrop as EC introduces the guests; includes two lines from International Echo
02. Shoot Out The Lights - Richard Thompson with EC & Imposters
03. Tipitina - Allen Toussaint solo
04. Holy Cow - Allen Toussaint with EC & Imposters
05. The Beast In Me - Nick Lowe solo
06. Tennessee Jed - EC with Levon Helm, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, Allen Toussaint, Imposters & Larry Campbell
07. A Certain Girl - Allen Toussaint with EC, Levon Helm, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, Imposters & Larry Campbell
08. The Weight - all

TV 2009-11-02 Spectacle (Elvis Costello) - Toronto, Masonic Temple
Elvis is interviewed by Mary-Louise Parker (filling in for an ailing Elton John).
Musicians:
- Elvis Costello
- The Imposters
Setlist as edited for broadcast:
01. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
Shabby Doll - instrumental backdrop for EC's introduction of Mary-Louise Parker
02. Motel Matches
03. Town Cryer - EC solo
04. Brilliant Mistake - EC solo
05. So Like Candy
Rio / Heart Of Glass - snippets performed a capella during interview
06. I Still Have That Other Girl - EC & Steve Nieve
07. I Threw It All Away - EC solo

Tracklist: DVD2

TV 2009-09-23 Spectacle (Ray LaMontagne, Lyle Lovett & John Prine) - New York, Apollo Theater
Musicians:
- Elvis Costello
- Ray LaMontagne
- Lyle Lovett
- John Prine
- Jay Bellerose
Setlist as edited for broadcast:
01. I'm Ahead If I Can Quit While I'm Behind - EC solo
02. Lake Marie - John Prine solo
03. Natural Forces - Lyle Lovett solo
04. Jolene - Ray LaMontagne solo
05. Henry Nearly Killed Me (It's A Shame) - Ray LaMontagne with EC & Jay Bellerose
06. Loretta - EC, John Prine, Lyle Lovett & Ray LaMontagne

TV 2009-09-25 Spectacle (Bruce Springsteen) - New York, Apollo Theater
Musicians:
- Elvis Costello
- Bruce Springsteen
- Nils Lofgren
- Roy Bittan
- The Imposters
Setlist as edited for broadcast:
Part 1
01. She's The One - EC, Nils Lofgren & The Imposters
02. Wild Billy's Circus Song - Bruce Springsteen, Nils Lofgren & Roy Bittan
03. The River - Bruce Springsteen solo; partial performance
04. American Skin (41 Shots) - Bruce Springsteen solo
05. I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down - all

Part 2
01. Radio Silence / Radio Nowhere / Radio, Radio - all
02. Oh, Pretty Woman - Bruce Springsteen & EC; partial performance
03. Seeds - all
04. Black Ladder - EC, Bruce Springsteen & Nils Lofgren
05. Galveston Bay - Bruce Springsteen with Roy Bittan
06. The Rising - all

Special Features:
- Behind: The Scenes Documentary
- Spectacle: Elvis Costello With…Inside notes hosted by Executive Producer David Furnish

Bonus Tracks:
- Elvis Costello And The Imposters - U2's "Dirty Day"
- Bono And The Edge - Elvis Copstello's "Alison"
- Elvis Costello And The Imposters - Elvis Costello's "I Want You"

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