Elvis Costello & the Imposters Tickets

The music was way too mellow for me. I felt he was off key. The saxophonist was the best part of the show

Great show, but since Nick Lowe was the opening act, his time was very limited. The band that plyed with him, Los Straightjackets, was excellent. I would have liked for both Nick and Elvis to have equal time. Overall the show was great, but Elvis did not play as much of his early music as I was expecting.

I attended this by myself but got the feeling others were also a little disappointed not to hear many of the old Elvis hits, or to hear very moody reinterpretations of them. Great band, very generous show, music very interesting but not the party I was hoping for. Not a deal-breaker for me, but something to keep in mind: Elvis is a protean musician who keeps evolving.

Simply said…play the hits!!!!. Sprinkle in new material. Feel like I wasted my money….. disappointed!!!

I've seen Elvis seven times now in the last 12 years (and have seen or heard quite a few live recordings from the past) and every show I've seen has been unique, which is why I keep going back. There's always a special surprise. First show in 2011: the return of the spinning songbook, a virtual "best of"show but with surprise covers (Prince! Beatles! The Stones! Rockpile!) including a magnificent Dylan cover to celebrate his birthday, and guest appearances by Questlove (a future collaborator) and Jim Lauderdale (a past one). That show is still the best I've seen. I didn't see him again until Central Park in 2017, when the focus was "Imperial Bedroom,"and it was also amazing - but the highlight was a rare cover of "The Lovers That Never Were,"which he did because that box set of his collaboration with Paul McCartney had just come out. I never paid much attention to that song, but hearing it then made the case for it as a true lost gem that should've been recorded better. Then he had his health scare and as luck would have it, I saw him at his first show back: Riot Fest in Chicago. Given the festival's line-up, the focus was on songs from his first few albums (arguably his best), but the highlight was a marvelous "I Want You,"which showed how his career was able to outlast the height of punk and New Wave - weaving in some appropriate R&B songs, it was a tour de force, showing the full breadth of his musical sources. Then in 2021, when the world was still coming out of pandemic, he recruited Charlie Sexton, who I already knew as a standout player on Dylan's tours. When they performed at the Capitol Theater, Nieve had to sit out due to a positive test, so they tore up the setlist and did a crazy selection of songs, ripping through a ton of covers across so many genres that highlighted Sexton's guitar prowess. When I saw them in August 2022, Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets opened - they were great, and Nick came back to sing a couple of duets with Elvis, something he didn't do that often on the tour. They did "Indoor Fireworks"and "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding,"tremendous highlights, but they also brought back "Alison"now that Sexton was there to play the intricate guitar parts - all of these brought the crowd to their feet. But the highlight may have been "Hetty O'Hara Confidential"from his underrated late career album, 'Hey Clockface' - I actually didn't like that song when I first heard it, but it was a completely different story live, with the Imposters re-arranging it and Pete Thomas replacing the beatbox. Night and day difference, it was awesome. Then I caught one of his Gramercy shows in February, and it was a night to remember - Burt Bacharach had just died, so in addition to looking back at the beginning of his career, it became a beautiful tribute to Bacharach. And now I've seen him again this week, again with Lowe and Los Straitjackets opening, and he came with a surprise horn section while unveiling new and better arrangements of three more gems from 'Hey Clockface' as well as some other deep cuts. (Plus Nick joined them once again for the encore.) It may have been one for the fans as only a few songs were well-known by casual listeners, but for the fans it was definitely rewarding. There's no doubt I'll catch the next time he comes through town.

Can't be beat. Costello and Lowe -- what a team.

Elvis Costello, the bottom line, don’t go to see him and just play the music at home. Yes his band was great and spot on of course. Otherwise he’s a rambling self absorbed fool. He brought out a Al Jolson/Rudy Valle microphone from the 1920’s.     He sang Alison and had to wait more than an hour for another song that was even in the realm of familiarity. He sang Watching the Detectives terribly.     Thankfully Nick Lowe came out at the end to sing the finale, What’s so funny about peace love and understanding to wake me up.      Nick Lowe was great. He was the opening act. He understood how to sing his songs and get off the stage!

I’ve seen Elvis at least 15 times over the years so obviously I keep coming back. This show just had no flow. Any time it’s started to pick up, Elvis brought it down again. Seemed to be the opposite of the spinning wheel songbook where the aim was to give the audience what they wanted. This show labored and could have walked out before it ended, but was hoping for a rebound. That rebound never came.

I loved everything about the show except, when Nick Lowe came on stage and the lights went down, everyone decided to find their seat- so for the 1st four songs we had people blocking our view from upper balcony- if the venue would have announced 10 minutes before Nick Lowe came on stage the problem would have been eliminated

Elvis continuing his legacy of being utterly outstanding or meh mediocre. Husband fell asleep half way through.

I have seen Elvis over 40 times. This was one of his “I will play what I want, not what you would like to hear.” I was going to leave mid show, but I stuck it out. Nick Lowe was great.

I've been a huge fan since 1977. I've seen Elvis 90-100 times. This was do or die for me because the last few shows have been just awful. The sound was terrible, particularly for Nick Lowe with Los Straitjackets but terrible for Elvis too. All you could hear was the kick drum, everything else was pure mud, except for all of Elvis' missed notes. Why is Charlie Sexton in the band? Great guitar player that couldn't be heard. There was absolutely no spontaneity. What was the point of switching hats that the stage hand left in exactly the right spot? The only time Elvis sounded ok was when he opened up and projected. He was off key for just about every song. The ballads were a disaster and they're really my favorites. Poison Rose was painful! Absolutely not worth the money and it was a pricey ticket.

This was, by far, by very very far, the worst concert I have ever had the unfortunate experience of seeing. This was the ONLY time in my entire life that I walked out of a musical performance before it ended. When we walked out, there were more people standing in the lobby of the beautiful Beacon Theatre (what a great venue), complaining and commiserating with each other than there were people inside watching "the show". Don't get me wrong: I'm all in favor of artists growing and keeping things fresh, as well as introducing new songs, new styles, etc. I welcome that. However, I also welcome the artist having some respect for the audience and playing SOME of his greatest hits. The show does NOT have to be all "greatest hits"but I do like to hear some. And, by the way, when you play them, play them the way we, the audience (remember us?) know them. Elvis did one of his hits, Alison, and it sounded like my dog throwing up after eating grass. Inventive? Daring? Keeping it fresh? None of the above. Rather, self-indulgent, selfish, couldn't-care-less-about-the-audience. I'm a big star and I do whatever I want. Awful. Boring. Worst concert ever. Save your money and go for a nice dinner.

Was at the 3/3/23 show at the Capitol Theater in Portchester, and the 7/12/23 show at the Beacon Theater in NYC. I have loved and admired EC’s music for decade, through all of his various phases and genres. I love his style, his edge, his passion for what he does, and most of all, his voice. Such a unique voice, built for soulful ballads to loud thumping rock anthems, sometimes bluesy, sometimes punk, sometimes a bit of country twang, sometimes with jazz styling. He voice has always had no boundaries, and it is a most impressive instrument. But at the two shows I saw on this tour, his voice was less than all of that, at times a bit raspy and hoarse, at times off key, and at times off the beat and way behind the rest of the band. This combined with the terrible sound mixing was so disappointing and at times cringeworthy. It was so hard to hear him like this. Of course I recognize his age (we’re all getting older), but perhaps he can’t do the volume of the music he’s been doing on this tour. Perhaps he needs to fire his sound staff and hire new. Some people criticized his song choice, and he joked that it was his job to choose the songs and our job to come out and listen, with a thanks to us from paying to see him. He has such a huge catalogue of songs from over the past 4 + decades, that he can afford to be choosy. He was at his best when he told stories between songs. He was sentimental, thoughtful and funny, often poking fun at himself. The crowd loved this. It was also fun to see him wandering around the stage, conducting the horn section, convening with Charlie Sexton, guest guitarist and Steve Nieve, his amazingly talented keyboardist who has played with him for more than 40 years. He was obviously in his element and having the best time! I wanted to feel that energy myself, but the sum total left me disappointed, and wistful for the old days. While there was much to enjoy with these shows, they just left me a bit sad.

I’ve been a fan since My Aim Is True. Elvis has produced a wealth of great albums. But this show (my 2nd this year - I went to one of his 10 shows at The Grammercy Theater earlier this year) was REALLY disappointing. Admittedly, after the eclectic show digging deep into his catalog, I was looking forward to more of a “greatest hits” type show. Not only were the hits few and far between, but the performances were weak. Elvis’ voice was strained and pitchy. And the new arrangements of old songs didn’t do it for me. I applaud his efforts to continually push the envelope, but this show didn’t do it for me. Furthermore, it was too long (and I’m a guy who still enjoys a 3 1/2 hour Springsteen show). Sorry to be so negative about one of my all time faves, but I don’t think I’ll be rushing to see him live again.

Elvis was off his game, did a lot of songs I never heard before. Nick was his smooth professional self

The Beacon is a beautiful venue with friendly staff. Nick Lowe was fantastic as is his backup band (Los Staightjackets). Elvis Costello has a great voice but his choice of songs were not audience friendly. I won’t see him again.

Elvis, Nick Lowe, Los Straitjackets, great songs, great musicians. Word is getting around that this venue has atrocious acoustics. We have sat in various places and the sound just reverberates and bounces all around. With the playing field of this former minor league ballpark paved over, the suspended roof ,and the structure with grandstands opposite the stage, the quality of sound is terrible. Bands and artists that care about their audiences will steer clear of this venue.

I've been an Elvis fan forever. I admit I am stuck on his music from the first 5+ years of his career, but still like'ish the rest. So I was excited to hear some of the classics, and he did play many of them, however, every single one was sung/played wayyy different than the original tracks. I mean, almost hard to recognize different. I can understand doing this to a couple songs, but I don't think any of his classics were played as the originals. Comon Declan - give the fans at least some of what they want! I've seen Elvis and the Imposters several times over the decades and was never disappointed like this. We actually left early, as did quite a few others. Sad...

Like all of the other posters for the Syracuse show, the sound issues made the experience less than I'd hoped for. When both Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello started their sets, the only thing I could think of is, wow, back off the volume. I was first row balcony and the volume was killer. Nice Lowes sound was a bit better, and therefore, his portion of the show was more enjoyable. While I was over the moon seeing Nick Lowe for the first time, I came primarily for Costello, so the fact that the sound issue made some songs incomprehensible was disappointing. But, I was okay ith all the remixes, loved that he added in some newer stuff, and thrilled that his voice is still classic Elvis!! No regrets on my part.