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An Unedifying Spectacle
11:37 AM GMT 11/02/2009
So Elvis Costello has a talk show. But where are its teeth, wonders MOJO’s David Sheppard?
Viewers who tuned into Spectacle, the Sundance Channel’s widely syndicated Elvis Costello TV talk show, could be forgiven for finding it a very rum affair indeed - the phrase ‘poacher-turned-gamekeeper’ springing rather too readily to mind.
The first show proffered Costello as the avuncular host, clipboard in hand, bowling gentle daisy-cutters at fellow new wave grandees the Police. Perhaps no-one had reminded the host of his performance on a 1980 BBC Radio One Round Table review show during which he’d opined that, “Somebody should clip Sting around the head and tell him to stop singing in that ridiculous Jamaican accent…” - his unequivocal parting shot about the Police that evening: “I can’t stand them”.
Spectacle offers a deeply incongruous scenario for anyone who recalls Costello as the spiky iconoclast of the late 1970s – an artist trading in righteous anger and invective who carried a vicious masonry nail as a weapon and a ‘black book’ of music biz adversaries and who later foreswore interviews altogether. With all that in mind, there was something fatally undermining about the ‘spectacle’ of Declan Patrick Aloysius McManus mugging merrily along with Messrs Sumner, Copeland and Summers (notwithstanding that he’d spent the autumn touring the States in support of the recently reconstituted peroxide constabulary). The resistance guerrilla turned Quisling, perhaps?
Naturally, mellowness comes with age. Costello is an urbane 54, happily married and an habitué of the opera house. But while no-one expects the one-time poet laureate of ‘emotional fascism’ to swim forever in bile, can he really have relinquished all scruples and critical faculties just to be on the telly with some other famous musos?
It wasn’t just the fawning, anodyne banality of his enquiries that stuck in the craw during the Police show (“what’s your favourite Police song” he asked the haughty Sting, who faux-diplomatically volunteered two of the handful of numbers he’d ever allowed his compadres to pen) but the obsequious display of ‘showbiz’ cordiality between punk’s erstwhile poisoned penman and his self-confessed former bêtes noires. Frankly, from Costello we expect a bit more.
Despite hackle-raising portents - the oh-so-witty title, executive production by Elton John - Spectacle’s premise seemed initially promising. Costello is renowned for his eclectic fandom, his cache of arcane cover versions and articulate forays into music writing, notably for Vanity Fair. All the more reason to expect Spectacle to rise above the kind of trite toadying and luvvy back-slapping so beloved of that other sycophantic new wave escapee-turned bumptious master of ceremonies, Jools Holland.
To be fair, Spectacle’s subsequent cosying-up sessions with Rufus Wainwright and Elton John were marginally less nausea-inducing - the latter saved by a duet on the late David Ackles’ sublime Down River. As I write the Bill Clinton show has yet to be aired; it’s safe to suppose that questions about Whitewater, cigars and Oval Office interns will not be gracing Elvis’s clipboard.
Don’t expect a genteel ramble through the history of US soul music with Stephen Stills any day soon, either.
David Sheppard
Posted by Ross_Bennett at 11:37 AM GMT 11/02/2009
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Hello,
What is wrong with an artist changing his mind? We can't expect anyone to stay the same as they were THIRTY YEARS AGO!! You want Costello to be the same artist he was in 1979?
I think that Costello's comments about the Police back then were at the very least professional jealousy, and at the worst alcohol induced vitriol. The Police and the Attractions were two of the most accomplished bands in that era. I think Costello has come around to the fact that the Police were pretty great, and that Sting, huge ego and all, is a great songwriter. Perhaps, Mr Sheppard, you don't think so? Listen again.
Perhaps Elvis has grown soft, content and happy, but so freaking what? You have all the old records if you want to reminisce about the good old days. As for the show, here in the U.S , to have any intelligent program about music is welcome.
Posted by Robert F DuPont at 1:44 PM GMT 11/02/2009 Report Abuse
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Yeah Sheppard, if you want true non-stop vitriol, get Johnny Lydon to host his own show, wherein he gets to interview himself, and they both can have a go at the rest of the world to their black heart's content.
Posted by Nim Portekoy at 2:48 PM GMT 11/02/2009 Report Abuse
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The Police "pretty great"?, I think you'll find they were neither.
And as for listening again, I don't think that will help. Rather like repeatedly poking yourself in the eye to see if it keeps hurting.
The issue isn't that EC has gone flabby Robert, it's that he has descended into cosying up with limp MOR merchants like Sumner.
Posted by Doug Oldham at 7:53 PM GMT 11/02/2009 Report Abuse
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Ok, we know you think Elvis has sold out because he's not as angry as he once was and -- god forbid -- he sat down with his former "rivals". (By the way, Elvis admits in The Police episode that he regularly criticized The Police 30 years ago largely out of jealousy due to their commercial success relative to his own).
But the real question is whether the show is any good? The answer is that it is superb!! Spectacle is far better than any music interview or performance show in memory. So far 10 or so episodes have aired in the US, and the depth of Elvis' curiosity, the intelligence of his approach and the breadth of his musical knowledge have elicited fascinating conversations you would never be privy to in an interview conducted by a professional journalist (sorry Sheppard, but it's true). The musicians (and President Clinton) open up in a way that would not happen if they did not respect the interviewer as an equal and a creative compatriot. See Elvis' interview with Lou Reed as a perfect example.
And let's not forget the many musical performances, both demonstrative and full collaborations. They are for the most part simply extraordinary.
Add to that the fact that the shows look and sound gorgeous, and one really has to wonder if your invective, David, is not rooted in your own deep envy of dear Mr. McManus and his gleaming new series.
Would love to see if you have the class to do a further review and give the series a fair shake after seeing more episodes. Somehow I doubt it.
Posted by Xavier Rash Summers at 11:15 PM GMT 11/02/2009 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
Ok, we know you think Elvis has sold out because he's not as angry as he once was and -- god forbid -- he sat down with his former "rivals". (By the way, Elvis admits in The Police episode that he regularly criticized The Police 30 years ago largely out of jealousy due to their commercial success relative to his own).
But the real question is whether the show is any good? The answer is that it is superb!! Spectacle is far better than any music interview or performance show in memory. So far 10 or so episodes have aired in the US, and the depth of Elvis' curiosity, the intelligence of his approach and the breadth of his musical knowledge have elicited fascinating conversations you would never be privy to in an interview conducted by a professional journalist (sorry Sheppard, but it's true). The musicians (and President Clinton) open up in a way that would not happen if they did not respect the interviewer as an equal and a creative compatriot. See Elvis' interview with Lou Reed as a perfect example.
And let's not forget the many musical performances, both demonstrative and full collaborations. They are for the most part simply extraordinary.
Add to that the fact that the shows look and sound gorgeous, and one really has to wonder if your invective, David, is not rooted in your own deep envy of dear Mr. McManus and his gleaming new series.
Would love to see if you have the class to do a further review and give the series a fair shake after seeing more episodes. Somehow I doubt it.
Posted by Xavier Rash Summers at 11:16 PM GMT 11/02/2009 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
Ok, we know you think Elvis has sold out because he's not as angry as he once was and -- god forbid -- he sat down with his former "rivals". (By the way, Elvis admits in The Police episode that he regularly criticized The Police 30 years ago largely out of jealousy due to their commercial success relative to his own).
But the real question is whether the show is any good? The answer is that it is superb!! Spectacle is far better than any music interview or performance show in memory. So far 10 or so episodes have aired in the US, and the depth of Elvis' curiosity, the intelligence of his approach and the breadth of his musical knowledge have elicited fascinating conversations you would never be privy to in an interview conducted by a professional journalist (sorry Sheppard, but it's true). The musicians (and President Clinton) open up in a way that would not happen if they did not respect the interviewer as an equal and a creative compatriot. See Elvis' interview with Lou Reed as a perfect example.
And let's not forget the many musical performances, both demonstrative and full collaborations. They are for the most part simply extraordinary.
Add to that the fact that the shows look and sound gorgeous, and one really has to wonder if your invective, David, is not rooted in your own deep envy of dear Mr. McManus and his gleaming new series.
Would love to see if you have the class to do a further review and give the series a fair shake after seeing more episodes. Somehow I doubt it.
Posted by Xavier Rash Summers at 11:16 PM GMT 11/02/2009 Report Abuse
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Howdy Doody Rufus Wainwright. Two nymph background singers. Two pointless drummers. Lou Reed's groupie. But Elvis Costello is truly immersed-like Sean Penn
Posted by dlt at 12:10 PM GMT 12/02/2009 Report Abuse
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RE: Xavier Rash Summers
Well said. Costello deserves respect. Sheppard ain't up to Mojo standard here. I, for one, can identify with a mellower, more generous older version of self, tired of being an angry young shit.
Posted by Nim Portekoy at 9:05 PM GMT 12/02/2009 Report Abuse
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I must admit that I like Elvis & the Attractions more than the Police, but the Police had some killer songs and impeccable musicianship.
I had a friend who once told me it was OK to admit that you liked Sting at one time or another. He has written some great songs, you can't deny that.
Posted by Robert F DuPont at 9:13 PM GMT 12/02/2009 Report Abuse
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Here is a journalist who has yet to 'move on' from 1978,unlike Mr Costello.
Posted by I . Rogers at 1:42 PM GMT 13/02/2009 Report Abuse
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Here is a journalist who has yet to 'move on' from 1978,unlike Mr Costello.
Posted by I . Rogers at 1:42 PM GMT 13/02/2009 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
Here is a journalist who has yet to 'move on' from 1978,unlike Mr Costello.
Posted by I . Rogers at 1:42 PM GMT 13/02/2009 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
Here is a journalist who has yet to 'move on' from 1978,unlike Mr Costello.
Posted by I . Rogers at 1:45 PM GMT 13/02/2009 Report Abuse
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If you watched the show with Herbie Hancock, you'd appreciate the concept more. HH relaxes and gives some wonderful insight into some of the amazing things he's done. I like and respect Hancock, and I'd never heard some of the things he says on the program - insights into writing, playing with legends, awards, etc. - which, to my mind, makes "Spectacle" a unique and worthwhile show.
Posted by Waldo LaTowsky at 6:13 PM GMT 13/02/2009 Report Abuse
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I really, really, really have to disagree with Mr Sheppard here. It seems he might be labouring under having written this piece some time ago, as the Clinton show was aired over Christmas.
EC's shows have been marked by a generous spirit, interesting questions and some enlightening answers. Lou Reed and Julian Schnabel on the death of Julian's father is not something the viewer will forget easily - very touching. Clinton gave some real insights. Who knew Chelsea bought him an NWA album and told him to get into it?
Spectacle sets a new standard in music interviews. They are actually about music rather than anything else. EC knows his stuff. He's intelligent, an utter music geek, and able to do some great covers and collaborations with his guests.
And to compare EC to Mr Honky-Tonk-Piano-4Eva's blundering interviews is just laughable. How he ever got what he got out of the Threetles for the Anthology series is beyond me.
Posted by bogl at 11:09 PM GMT 13/02/2009 Report Abuse
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Sheppard, thanks for reminding me that rock "journalists" are shits, and why classy guys like Costello shun you fuckers like the plague.
Posted by Alan Lord, Montreal at 6:34 PM GMT 14/02/2009 Report Abuse
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Forgot to mention Bill Clinton's appearance. Clinton knows about Coltrane and Dolphy. Doesn't surprise me. He doesn't understand their sound
Posted by dlt at 10:14 PM GMT 14/02/2009 Report Abuse
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I never saw the Police show with Costello, but I did see an equally anodyne show with Costello interviewing Tony Bennett. Never been a fan of Costello's music so it was easy to dismiss. He did write some good lyrics but unfortunately for me also sang them. The Bennett show was merely boring - perhaps because Bennett is pretty anodyne too, in spite of singing some excellent songs. Trouble is all have been done better by less-celebrated singers. Bennett's paintings, although comjpetent in the manner of magazine illustration - weren't much cop either - but the invited audience applauded them just the same. Unlike other posters, I didn't think Costello's questions were challenging at all - in fact they reminded me of the type of thing Michael Parkinson used to dish up on his talk show - the idea that the shows are 'superb' is at least for this viewer, ludicrous.
Posted by Steve Barrow at 2:20 PM GMT 24/02/2009 Report Abuse
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Saw the Lou Reed - with a non-stop I want to be somewhere else look on his face - and most of The Police one, had to give up on thatbecause it was the most nauseating viewing in many a long time. Costello pretending The Police were a great band ? Give me strength.
Is Stephen Stills really going to be on Spectacle ? Now that I do want to see !
Posted by J Aird at 12:42 PM GMT 07/04/2009 Report Abuse
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