(Fans of Elvis Costello may be interested in my take on his appearance in Bob Dylan’s Philosophy of Modern Song.)
By Dave Read, Lenox, MA, July 1, 2023 performance – This concert in the Koussevitsky Music Shed at Tanglewood could’ve been promoted as a celebration of the instrument at the beating heart of American popular music – the guitar.
And what would that music be without contributions from our cousins across the pond? Elvis Costello is an England-born Irishman who adopted the first name of one of our own kings, as well as Mr. Presley’s dedication to the audience! Costello is married to Diana Krall, the brilliant jazz musician from another former colony (now suffering massive forest fires) who has performed at Tanglewood several times. (Click any image to scroll them all; Hilary Scott photos.)
Added to his band of Imposters for this concert was Charlie Sexton, a guitar prodigy who has been stunning audiences since his emergence as a teenager in Austin in the early 1980s, and whose impressive resume includes stints in Bob Dylan’s band. Longtime bandmate Steve Nieve was given ample opportunities to display his keyboard chops as were bassist Davey Faragher and drummer Pete Thomas.
Not surprisingly, Mr. Costello has a fervid fanbase that keeps up-to-date by way of a wiki, where you’ll find much more information, including the setlist for this show.
The opening act would be the featured act in most other circumstances – but this is Tanglewood, where one must be ready to receive more than was bargained for! Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets, four guitarists and a drummer, opened with a rousing 45 minute set that had the force and the versatility of the guitar on full display. Lowe is a friendly and funny frontman, even if amplification makes it difficult to understand him word-by-word. This is his second consecutive appearance on the Tanglewood schedule. Now, let’s go for the threepeat!