11.28.2020
TIME IS ON ELVIS COSTELLO’S SIDE WITH ‘HEY CLOCKFACE’
The Spokesman: Ed Condran: November 5th 2020
When Elvis Costello made his one and only local appearance at the Big Easy, which is now the Knitting Factory, in 2005, it appeared that the celebrated singer-songwriter was content and about to enter the back end of an incomparable career.
Costello was busy with a few distractions during that period. He and his band the Attractions entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. He married fellow singer-songwriter Diana Krall that same year.
Rhino Records completed a reissue of Costello’s classic albums from the 1970s through the ‘90s in 2005. The vocalist-guitarist, who had crossed the half-century mark in 2004, was settling down with his celebrated wife, who gave birth to twin sons in 2006. The man formerly known as Declan MacManus also appeared on an episode of “Frasier” during that era.
Costello, 66, seemed to be settling into a comfortable position as an entertainment icon who was so different from the angry young man who stunned fans as the leading light of the British New Wave scene during the 1970s.
After releasing several exceptional albums, such as 1978’s “This Year’s Model,” 1989’s “Spike” and 1996’s “All This Useless Beauty,” Costello could have surfed the sonic nostalgia wave. The charmer with the familiar baritone, however, failed to rest on his considerable laurels.
The larger-than-life Brit, who impressed on TV programs including “The Larry Sanders Show” and “Late Night With David Letterman,” has been one of rock’s most consistent songwriters, and he continues to hit the ball out of the park. He impressed with 2018’s “Look Now,” and he’s back with “Hey Clockface,” which dropped on Oct. 30.