Spectacle at The Apollo Theatre (09/24/09)
View the full set list from each Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… taping after the jump.
Episode 01 Bono and The Edge
Episode 02 Neko Case, Jesse Winchester, Sheryl Crow, Ron Sexsmith
Episode 03 Ray LaMontagne, Lyle Lovett, John Prine
Episode 04 Levon Helm, Allen Toussaint, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson
Episode 05 Bruce Springsteen
I was fortunate enough to attend Thursday night’s taping of Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… and after seeing the entire thing, I really wonder how they are going to distill this jam packed show down to a brief 45 minute television epsiode (thankfully, I’m not the producer). As for the performances within the show, the full band rendition of “The Weight” (complete with 3 guitarists, 2 drummers, 2 bass players, 1 piano player, 1 keyboard player and Ray LaMontagne) was the highlight of the night for me, followed closely by Richard Thompson‘s “Shoot Out The Lights” and Nick Lowe‘s “The Beast In Me”. While the musical numbers were strong, unfortunately the interview portion of the suffered from an excess of Elvis talking (who seemed to be suffering from a cold) and a shortage of guests answering questions. The quick witted Thompson was the first victim of Costello’s long-winded interview style and I really can’t think of one interesting anecdote he told during his segment. The very funny Nick Lowe, who has a deep history with Elvis, was also reduced to 2 and 3 word answers for most of his allotted time and only told one significant story about how he came to write the song “The Beast In Me” for his former father-in-law Johnny Cash. Levon Helm, who was actually defying doctor’s orders to be at the show, literally didn’t talk at all (because of a severe vocal strain), so he and Elvis did a ridiculous routine where Helm answered questions via drum rolls (if there is any justice in this world, that portion of the show will be cut). Having said all of that, what I saw on Thursday night will be very different from what will actually air on the Sundance Channel, and with the magic of modern editing, surely anything is possible.
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… Bono & The Edge
Taping Date: September 15, 2009
Taping Location: Masonic Temple, Toronto, ON
01. Please – EC & The Imposters
02. Dirty Day – EC & The Imposters
03. Mysterious Ways – EC & The Imposters
04. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) – Bono & The Edge
05. Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad – Bono with Davey Faragher & Pete Thomas
06. Alison – EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters
07. Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of – EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters
08. Pump It Up / Get On Your Boots – EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… Neko Case, Jesse Winchester, Sheryl Crow, Ron Sexsmith
Taping Date: September 21, 2009
Taping Location: Apollo Theatre, New York, NY
01. Black Dog – EC solo
02. All In Good Time – Ron Sexsmith; take 1
03. If It Makes You Happy – Sheryl Crow with EC
04. Ghost Train – EC solo
05. Margaret Vs. Pauline – Neko Case with Steve Nieve; take 1
06. Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding – Jesse Winchester
07. Secret Heart – Ron Sexsmith
08. Leaving Las Vegas – Sheryl Crow with EC & Steve Nieve
09. Everyday I Write The Book – EC & Ron Sexsmith; take 1
10. Everyday I Write The Book – EC & Ron Sexsmith; take 2
11. Don’t Forget Me – Neko Case with Steve Nieve; take 1
12. The Brand New Tennessee Waltz – Jesse Winchester
13. Payday – all; take 1
14. Payday – all; take 2
15. Ring Them Bells – Ron Sexsmith with EC
16. Bowling Green – Jesse Winchester with EC
17. All In Good Time – Ron Sexsmith; take 2
18. Margaret Vs. Pauline – Neko Case with Steve Nieve; take 2
19. Don’t Forget Me – Neko Case with Steve Nieve; take 2
20. Prison Girls – Neko Case with EC
21. The First Cut Is The Deepest – all; take 1
22. The First Cut Is The Deepest – all; take 2
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… Ray LaMontagne, Lyle Lovett, John Prine
Taping Date: September 23, 2009
Taping Location: Apollo Theatre, New York, NY
01. Poison Moon – EC solo
02. Wave A White Flag – EC solo; take 1
03. Wave A White Flag – EC solo; take 2
04. That’s The Way That The World Goes Round – John Prine solo
05. Lake Marie – John Prine solo
06. Unwed Fathers – John Prine solo
07. Natural Forces – Lyle Lovett solo
08. If I Were The Man You Wanted – Lyle Lovett solo
09. Road To Ensenada – Lyle Lovett solo
10. Jolene – Ray LaMontagne solo
11. You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne solo
12. Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s a Shame) – EC with Ray LaMontagne (harmonica) & Jay Bellerose (drums)
13. Loretta – EC, John Prine, Lyle Lovett & Ray LaMontagne
14. Angel From Montgomery – EC, John Prine, Lyle Lovett & Ray LaMontagne; take 1
15. Angel From Montgomery – EC, John Prine, Lyle Lovett & Ray LaMontagne; take 2
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… Levon Helm, Allen Toussaint, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson
Taping Date: September 24, 2009
Taping Location: Apollo Theatre, New York, NY
01. Blame It On Cain – EC & The Imposters
02. Rag Mama Rag – EC & The Imposter w/ Larry Campbell on fiddle
03. Shoot Out The Lights – Richard Thompson (vocals) and & EC
04. How I Wanted To – EC (vocals) & Richard Thompson
05. Big Chief – Allen Toussaint (vocals and piano)
06. Tipitina – Allen Toussaint (vocals and piano)
07. Holy Cow – Allen Toussaint (vocals and piano)
08. Ascenscion Day – EC (vocals) & Allen Toussaint
09. Lover Don’t Go – EC, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson & Allen Toussaint
10. The Beast In Me – Nick Lowe solo
11. Fortune Teller – Levon Helm (Drums) and Whole Band
12. Tennessee Jed – Levon Helm (Drums) and Whole Band
13. The Weight – Whole Band & Ray LaMontagne guest vocal for 1 verse; take 1
14. A Certain Girl – Whole Band
15. The Weight – Whole Band & Ray LaMontagne guest vocal for 1 verse; take 2
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… Bruce Springsteen
Taping Date: September 25, 2009
Taping Location: Apollo Theatre, New York, NY
01. Point Blank – EC & The Imposters
02. Like Rain – Nils Lofgren, EC & The Imposters
03. She’s The One – EC, Nils Lofgren & The Imposters
04. Wild Billy’s Circus Song – Bruce Springsteen, Nils Lofgren & Roy Bittan
05. The River – Bruce Springsteen solo; partial performance
06. American Skin (41 Shots) – Bruce Springsteen solo
07. Galveston Bay – Bruce Springsteen (either solo or with Roy Bittan)
08. Oh Pretty Woman – Bruce Springsteen & EC; partial performance
09. I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down – all; followed by an intermission
10. Black Ladder – EC, Bruce Springsteen & Nils Lofgren
11. Brilliant Disguise – EC & Bruce Springsteen
12. The Rising – all
13. Seeds – all
14. Radio Nowhere / Radio, Radio – all
-via The Elvis Costello Wiki and John O
This is a scan of the set list from the September 24 taping, but it’s not accurate.
I recently saw this episode. Had never heard of Levon Helm and I thought the exchange between him and Elvis was extraordinary, and excellent. I am glad they didn’t cut it! In light of his recent death, it is even more excellent and extraordinary.
Just goes to show you, everyone has a different view.