Q & A with Jessica Voorsanger

 

Amazing artist and brilliant person Jessica Voorsanger makes work that explores the concept of ‘celebrity’ within popular culture; through obsession, fans and media representation. This month you can see her work at "I Love You Because" show at The A Side B Side Gallery. 

The Rebel: You studied at both Goldsmiths College and Rhode Island School of Design. How pleased were you with the education you received? Do you Michael Gove will make Art Schools a thing of the past? Jessica: "I received an amazing education. It was great to have a mixture of the American and British systems. They complimented each other really well. But I think I really formed myself as an artist with my time on the MA at Goldsmiths. I will always think back on that time there very highly. AND it was subsidised, I could never have afforded to continue my education if it hadn't been. Yes, if Michael Gove has anything to do with it, he will decimate art education. Watch him - he is  dangerous." The last time we met you were getting ready for a Factual Nonsense event in which you were giving a talk about Joshua Compston. Were you a fan/friend of the late Mr Compston - why is he important to you? "I was both a fan and a friend of Joshua's. He was an inspired and fearless person. He saw great visions and possibilities and wasn't afraid to make them happen. He really created the shoreditch art scene." Which celebrities have obsessed you most? Could you compile a top ten? "Ooooohhhhhh! That's a fun question. They always change around a little. I will include historic obsessions with current ones: Johnny Depp, David Cassidy, David Bowie (lots of Davids), Carol Burnett, William Shatner (Star Trek 1), Scott Bakula (Star Trek 2). Ten is alot. I really like Audrey Tatou at the moment but that's not really an obsession I'm just watching all of her films... Claudette Colbert definitely. Two more.... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers! You know I'm currently also really liking Doris Day. Oops sorry that makes it 11." I recently met Woody Allen (he came to see the L.S. Lowery show) are you a fan of just the stand-up and the "early funny movies" or do you like his recent output as well? "For a long time it was only the early stuff I really liked (although when I saw early I am still talking about the 80's as well). His stand up is hilarious and the timing is great. But I really loved Midnight in Paris. That might have more to do with time travel and meeting famous people from the past? But I loved everything about that film so I am keen to see his new ones...." Do you love Peckham? How did your recent Peckham project go? "For awhile I was in Peckham all the time! I was doing the residency at Peckham Space which involved working with kids from the Harris Academy school and I taught at Camberwell. Yes, Peckham is pretty fab. There is a really thriving art scene there and great folks. But I still feel my roots are attached to East London. The project went really well. It was terrific to see people loving the karaoke aspect of the project. Apparently everyday after school lots of school kids would come in and sing." What next for Jessica Voorsanger? "Well, I've been ill with Cancer for several months and am now on the mend. While I was ill I created a series of photos of myself as bald men (while I was bald from the chemotherapy). The series is really powerful and personal. So I am trying to work with that at the moment. Watch this space! Also I will have a stall at the Art Car Boot Fair at the Queen Elizabeth Park celebrations on the weekend of the 27th of July."  

What's your favourite Elvis song? (and why?) "Crawfish! I LOVE Crawfish. It just hits that quirky note in my personality that I could sing to it all day. I would have loved to be that backup singer." What can you tell me about the piece you're putting in the I Love You Because show - are you happy for anyone to try on your Elvis costume? "Yes anyone can wear it! The piece was originally shown at the New Art Gallery Walsall as part of a large installation (that also had karaoke). There were lots of portraits of (mostly) singers and costumes for the audience to dress up as them. They were shown in a Karaoke Lounge style installation. The installation was a reaction to Reality TV taking over 'celebrity' and making it become 'notoriety'. I wanted to celebrate people who deserved to be famous because they were actually good at something (mostly singing because I can't). I wanted the audience to be able to become them. That's why there is a portrait and a costume. I love it when people try on the costumes." Would you ever consider re-making an Elvis film? "Wow! Yes I would love to. Blue Hawaii. I didn't need to think about that answer at all!" If you and Elvis could meet and spend a day or evening together where would you take him? Are there any places in London you'd like him to see? "Hmm that's hard. I don't know if I could handle the gaze. It would be amazing to be with Elvis but I might just freeze up and start speaking jibberish. Where in London would I take him? Ummm, I think that lovely boat that goes between Tate Britain and Tate Modern. I love riding that. We could sing together on the deck!" (Photos by Gordon Beswick)

Q & A with Lee Olds

The writer Lee Olds sold 250,000 books in the 1960s and achieved great critical success. After a period in the publishing wilderness his books are now finally being released by Not So Noble Books for a new audience. His first novel ‘Too Much Sun’ came out in June and two of his other novels will be published this summer. “By Kerouac out of Salinger . . . The pioneer of a new post-Beatnik generation.” was how the New York Tribune described ‘Too Much Sun’. He describes himself thus: “Grew up in mansion of rich parents, made honor roll plus athletic plaudits in prep school I detested and was asked to leave at year's end. Went to work, traveled to Alaska, Got B.A. from Cal Berkeley, M.A. in philosophy from SF State. My thesis was on 'time, space, and infinity' and though my adviser said his committee had decided to award me the degree he also claimed if he read it over for six months he doubted he'd understand it. Worked on waterfront in Manhattan as well as San Francisco. Was disinherited along the way. Wintered for many years in Puerto Vallarta. Wrote (and still do) constantly though I have been accused of being too original to be published, too harsh, too fatalistic, etc. well, I’m still here writing and perhaps now getting published.

What drives you to continue writing? Is it like an itch you can't quite scratch? "To disseminate my 'one world philosophy'. one can always find a way to scratch itches." Does anyone in your family get what you do? Do you have any kindred spirits? "No one but no ones' basically left. they didn't while they were, however. I had a dog named 'sparky', a beagle that was pawned off on me by a couple who was moving and one friend, humanstuff, that's still alive, more than enough." As you've got older do more and more people seem attractive to you? "As I've gotten older ... same difference." Do you ever do public readings of your work and do you enjoy meeting your readers? "Basically never and when i did not particularly. chance encounters seem to hold more weight for me." Would you rather have a fight with a duck the size of a horse Or, 10 horses the size of ducks? "Trick question but then any's fight's pretty much fair as long as you're prepared for it." Do you you rate Catcher in the Rye? Is Salinger overrated or does he deserve his fame? "An excellent and original book but after producing essentially no more after fifty years it's a little ridiculous he could make a million dollars a year on it thereafter." How many books have you re-read? a.lots now since basically you find what's of lasting interest in what are called classics. Do you still vote? is there anyone in power that you have much respect for? "I haven't voted since I was twenty-one. certainly, basically the socialist leaders around the world." When you started to write what became Too Much Sun how much did you have planned out in your head? (Did you know what the title would be, did you have ideas for the first 4 chapters?) "All envisioned, all in my head, title and first four chapters just like death and taxes."

TOO MUCH SUN is available on Amazon now: http://www.amazon.com/Much-Classic-Literary-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00DPLTO1C/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Much-Classic-Literary-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00DPLTO1C/

Review of "Elvis Died For Somebody's Sins But Not Mine" by Mick Farren

Busy bee Mick Farren first made a name for himself in the 1960s when he contributed to OZ magazine and The International Times. He was once a member of The Deviants and he's written lyrics for other bands such as Motorhead and Metallica. He has also been a writer for NME, The Village Voice and The LA Times, he's had 24 novels published and he wrote a best selling book about Elvis Presley and his manager The Colonel. This 412 page collection of memories comes with great illustrations provided by Michael Robinson and is priced at at reasonable £13.99. Farren says that his book is dedicated to "all the guitar player and all the girls and the memory of all those who have gone before and are not forgotten, and also all the cats who have been such vital companions." The first article in the book was written in 1967. Rather than reporting about the Summer of Love and wearing flowers in his hair Farren is going off on one about how both the fuzz and the government are playing a game: "Let's make no mistake, we're living in some sort of police state." The last essay in the collection is from 2007 and it's him musing on the last episode of The Sopranos. "...as the first credit roles, I realize that's it. After all the years I've devoted to The Sopranos, the conclusion is yet another goddamned mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma..." Elsewhere in the book there are some unfunny moans about smoking in public being banned, there's stuff about earthquakes and Ronald Reagan, and three clips from his three novels were better than I thought they'd be. And there are also examples of his lyrics - which I personally found impossible to connect with. In my opinion, the good stuff is when he writes about music - and thankfully music is what he writes about most... Farren on The Doors: "At best, Morrison's revolution was just a bunch of crazy kids being urged on by a drunken clown in a leather suit" (NME , 1975)Farren on meeting Chuck Berry: "I went away sad and depressed. I had just been face to face with one of the early giants of rock'n'roll and the situation, from the start, had been like a cop interviewing a pretty criminal." (NME, 1976)Farren on The Who still performing in the 1980's: "One of the problems with The Who is that they're just so damned lovable. In London, they're looked on with the kind of cockney fondness that's normally reserved for soccer stars, big-time criminals, and Michael Caine." Mick Farren on Lennon's killer Mark Chapman: "The evil that killed Lennon has killed part of all our memories and all our fantasies. That self-serving little son-of-a-bitch has killed a part of all of us." (SoHo Weekly News,1980). Other highlights in this book include his tributes to Presley, a lovely interview with Johnny Cash and a very intelligent piece about the 10th anniversary of Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde album. www.worldheadpress.com

Q & A with Chalkie Davies

When I was a child, my local library in Manor House Gardens in South London had a copy of Pointed Portraits by Chalkie Davies. I borrowed this book dozens of times as I loved all the brilliant photographs of my favourite bands and singers. I would sit and look for ages at these images some of which were portraits of my heroes. When I was at primary school one of the records that meant most to be was the debut album by The Specials. Again, I didn't own actually own the album but my aunt loaned it to me and because I wasn't sure when she'd demand it back, I played it an awful lot. Before going to school I would sometimes stand in the mirror and try and copy the pose of each member of the band. In my eyes the photographs of Chalkie Davies seemed great then and they seem great now. I was delighted to see Mr Davies was on Facebook and up for answering a few questions.

The Rebel: What's your favorite camera and why? "A Sinar P2 8x10, it takes a single photograph at a time, and each Polaroid is literally an eight by ten print. Barry White found this camera most interesting. The sitter appears upside down and back to front in the viewfinder, so its really difficult, but very rewarding. It's the ultimate camera, you work your way up to this one, it gives a level of clarity, detail and reality that is way beyond all other cameras, and the way things fall out of focus is truly beautiful, but, it's not for the feint hearted. They call it the f.64 Club."

The Rebel: Who spotted your gift at taking great photos / when did your talent become apparent? "My English Teacher, Fred Leech said I would eventually do something creative, but first I became an Aircraft Engineer, fixing broken Autopilots, then borrowed a camera and I did two David Bowie Shows on the Ziggy Tour, Earls Court and the last night at Hammersmith, the photos were really good, I knew I wanted to do this for a living. Within two years I was a staff photographer for the NME."

The Rebel:There's a DVD compilation of Elvis Costello videos - Costello does audio commentary and he's very amusing, making fun of his old "angry young man" image circa Pump It Up. He's quoted at the time of those early records as saying his role is to be an irritant and the only emotions he knows about are guilt and revenge etc. How did you find him to work with? Was he very serious and intense? "Elvis and I became friends immediately we first met in 1977, so I was in on it from the beginning, I was allowed to go anywhere with them so I saw a different side, sure, he was a little intense at times, when the role called for it, a little emotional at others, but always humble and very approachable in private, he's great to work with, because we are both there for a purpose, to make pictures we hope you will remember."

The Rebel: There was a recent documentary about Graham Parker. In which your photo of Parker with Dylan is featured prominently. Can you remember anything about the meeting? "I was talking to Graham Parker, he had just come offstage and then from behind us we hear... "Hey, man, I just want to say, man, that I really like your albums, man" GP and I turn around and see Bob Dylan standing behind us. Graham turns to Bob and says... "Thanks, do you know my Photographer, Chalkie" I offer my hand and get the lamest wet fish handshake ever, I ask to take a photo, Bob happily agrees, so I rattle off three frames and shake like a leaf. GP and Bob then have a long, deep and meaningful conversation, can't remember how long it lasted as I was still in shock, Bob wandered off into the sunset."

The Rebel: I love all your photos of The Specials. I know Jerry Dammers was a big fan of The Who so I'm guessing the picture on the front of their debut album was a homage to the My Generation album. Whose idea was the photo on the back of the sleeve (side profile)? "Yes, Jerry showed me the My Generation sleeve just before the shoot. The front cover was taken from the first floor of an abandoned building, looking down at the Band who were standing in a triangular shape. But Starr, my partner in life and crime took an SX 70 photo of the same shot from the side, at ground level. When I got down the stairs she showed it to me and I told the Band to stay in position, I sized it up the the Hasselblad viewfinder, gave minuscule directions to each musician to get the image perfectly composed and clicked the shutter. Once. One single frame. I must have been nuts not to take a second, but the roll was finished, so I never took any more. It's probably the best group shot we ever did, and it certainly passes the test of time. It's essentially an Architects Drawing, side and top elevation, not that the Two Tone fans were supposed to get that straight away, but it gives it a cohesive quality, the front and the back are carefully linked together but you don't quite know why at first glance."

The Rebel: Which of the following do you rate the most (and please say why) - Bill Brandt, Lewis Moreley, Angus Mcbean, Nick Knight, David Bailey. "Nick Knight, the best photographer of the late 20th Century. 11 Bill Brandt, best tonality, best shapes, best viewpoint. 10 David Bailey, Avedon called him Penn without Ink. 9+ Lewis Morley, the Christene Keeler photographs never left my mind once I saw them, I was eight. 9 Angus McBean, sort of Beaton with a twist. Or should that be a twisted Beaton. 8+"

The Rebel:Who is the most interesting star or artiste around at the moment? Who would you most like to capture? "I don't get Cable TV, or listen to the Radio, so I have no idea who anyone is or what they sound like. I listen mainly to 16th Century Polyphonic Music and Morton Feldman. Morty was a good friend of Mark Rothko and John Cage, I believe in 500 years they will say of Cage, remember him? He was that friend of Morton Feldman. But, I like Dave Grohl a lot, I think I would like to capture his soul. I met him when he played with Elvis, Bruce Springsteen and Steve van Zandt at the Grammy's in 2002. He was a real nice guy. They played London's Calling as a tribute to Joe Strummer, I stood on the side of the stage behind the PA, best four minutes of my life." The Rebel: Of all the people you photographed who was the least enjoyable to be around? "Lou Reed, and I did him twice. Same both times."

The Rebel: What's your fave album cover? "Atom Heart Mother, no question about it. To photograph a Cow instead of the Floyd, that's genius, it made me want to be photographer, I was fifteen."

The Rebel: What's your fondest memory of Barney Bubbles? "Every moment I spent with him was magic, he was really, really, special."

The Rebel: Were you interested in the rise of Wolfgang Tillmans and the fact he won the Turner Prize? Are you interested in showing your work in galleries? "Truthfully, I don't know who he is, I'm just starting to sell my work via Galleries, Museums are next on my agenda." The Rebel:Is there any advice you wish you'd received when you started out as a photographer? "Blurry pictures can be cool too. I spent way too long doing sharp ones." The Rebel: Has 2013 been a good year for you so far? "Yes, I did a huge job shooting 28 different Yoghurt labels, I spent six weeks in post production. I celebrated 40 years as a photographer. Scum came out on BluRay. Black Sabbath's first album was released in Japan for $70 as a SHM-SACD and I'm an audiophile. I live in Manhattan but can't drive so I don't have a car, but I have a killer stereo system that costs the same."

The Rebel: What's the punchline to your favourite joke? "Unforgettable, that's what you are."

The Rebel:What was your take on the recent Nigela Lawson/Saatchi photo scandal? Does the camera ever lie? "It always lies, well, it is capable of always lying. Take a portrait of someone who is not used to it, flip the negative and make a print, the person will say its the best photograph they have ever seen of themselves. Why? because its the only photo in which they look like they think they do, because they only know what they look like when they look in a mirror."

Q & A with Phill Jupitus

I first became aware of Phill Jupitus in the mid 1980s around the time of Red Wedge and The Housemartins and things like that. (As you probably know already) Mr Jupitus is a key member of the splendid Idiot Bastard Band, he has directed great pop videos for artists such as Billy Bragg, he's a decent cartoonist, he's been an honorary member of two of the best British music acts of all time (The Bonzos, and The Blockheads), he's written brilliant sleevenotes for Ian Dury compilations, he's penned the forwards of books about The Specials, he's been a DJ, a performance poet, a stand-up, he's performed in the hit musical Hairspray and he's been a regular of TV shows like Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Q.I. and he's been on loads of radio things too blah blah blah. There are worse people in the world than Phill Jupitus...

The Rebel: How are things going for you at the moment - are you a happy man? Phill Jupitus: "Very much so. I'm taking more chances with the work these days. Stand up appears to be in a quite inflexible state, so I'm messing with my own work. I do a lot more improvisational stuff now. Basically that's what I do on the panel shows is mess around in the room, so I've recently been working on ways of doing the same thing in a live setting." When you're touring which places do you most look forward to visiting and why? "Its definitely the places I've never been before. I try to spend time in towns and actually have a look around. In the early days of touring I referred to the gigs as 'muggings' because you arrive, do the show and leave. I'm trying to be a bit more laid back now. I like to arrive early or stay later and take a look around. I finally got to see more of Lincoln and Durham this year, and Monmouth and Hay-on-wye looked amazing and I was only sorry I didn't have more time there… I'm at a level now where I'm never going to do the O2, so why not as a solo performer do small gigs?"

I loved the interview you did with Ian Dury (I think it was the last interview he ever gave). I often think about things Dury said, particularly comments to do with not feeling sorry for yourself such as: "Just go out there and be wonderful" are there any particular things he said to you personally that are often on your mind? "It wasn't anything he said to me directly, but after he died, the late Charlie Gillett once said to me "Ian really liked you. He loved your enthusiasm." I was taken aback by that, and it genuinely made me worry a lot less about decisions I made in life. I try to embrace the positives."

What were the highlights of being a member of the Bonzo Dog band and what are your fave tracks on the For The Love Of Dogs album? "That was a very surreal experience, to end up touring with a band you listened to as a child. Me and Ade (Edmondson) would stand in the wings pinching each other and giggling like naughty schoolboys saying "OH MY GOD WE'RE IN THE BONZOS." There was one utterly beautiful moment when we were travelling north up the A1 and passing Gateshead. The old timers were all at the front of the bus and we suddenly heard this murmuring amongst them "It's round here somewhere…" "I think it's coming up soon…" Then suddenly "THERE SHE IS!" As The Angel Of The North hove into view, and the second it did, all of the Bonzos rose to their feet to applaud the art. It was insanely moving."

(Above Image: Phill on stage with Rodney Slater from The Bonzo Dog band) What's a typical day for you at the moment - how often do you get to relax and do nothing? "There's a lot of stuff going on at the moment. I have three shows at The Edinburgh Fringe which I am gearing up for. I'm filming a kids TV show. If I ever do have moments of free time there's stuff I want to be doing. I have an idea for an art project I want to do. I need to write more poetry. My remaining time is limited and there's stuff to do. I saw Richard DeMarco speak at The University Of Southampton when he was receiving an honorary degree two years aground he spoke about how we owe it to ourselves and others to be creative and make art. That really hit home with me, and it helped me to shift the emphasis on a lot of stuff I do. I don't read enough. I feel bad about that. On the upside, I barely watch television any more."

Which of your characters is more easy to slip in and out of (Kurt Schiffer or Vernon Herschel Harley?) "The character thing is interesting because they very much take over your personality when you're onstage. But also I'm kind of at the mercy of the nature of the questions. When I did Hull Truck, someone at the theatre came up to me and said, that a lot of comedy promoters put shows on in Hull in order to find out what a bad night will be like as the audiences aren't very enthusiastic. Hand on heart, I had the best and most imaginative questions from the Hull crowd. Vernon I find easier because he's like a posh version of me on 11 with better anecdotes."

Does the music of Elvis Costello mean more to you than the music of Elvis Presley - in your eyes, which Elvis is king? "Unfair question. Presley has the weight of history. But Costello wins out because he's been along with me for the ride. Also he writes all his own stuff, so that really speaks to me." You collaborate with Rhoda (of The Bodysnatchers/Special AKA)on the new Specialized 2 album sold in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. What's Rhoda like to work with / would you like to collaborate more? "That would be nice but it was a bit of a one off thing, and to be brutally honest I'm a shit bass player. Rhoda's a very old friend and it was absurd fun working with her and I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but I sense that my diary will stymie the idea..."

You work with Stephen Fry on Q.I are you shocked when you read about him in the press talking about his bipolar - do you ever discuss comments he makes in the press or do you see your job on Q.I as being there to make jokes and not interfere? "I'm certainly not shocked, as he's always been incredibly forthright all his life about his nature, and such tragedies are part of the territory. I try not to pry with Stephen as enough people want a piece of him and it's a queue that I don't want to join. He is one of the loveliest people I've ever worked with but that's all we do, meet in the QI studio a couple of times a year. I worry about the silly old sod from time to time and wish I was closer, but like I say, he's got friends and is loved. So I'll take what I have."

The whole Go Disc records years (directing Billy Bragg videos, helping promote The Housemartins etc) looked like fun. Do you look back with joy at those days or was it just hard work? Are you happier now? "Its a bit of a double edged sword is the Go! experience. Some of the best and worst times of my working life. Billy Bragg was apprehensive about me working there and four years later I understood why. I didn't buy a record for two years after leaving. I was put off music. That said some of the people I worked with at GO! are some of my closest friends today. I'm a different bloke than the lad who was at Go! Discs, but I'd say happier yeah." (Notes... Phil Jupitus is currently on tour with his show "You're Probably Wondering Why I've Asked You Here" in which he plays 3 characters: Veron Herschel Harley, Kurt Schiffer and a deceased version of himself). The Scotsman described the show as a "huge amount of fun". As mentioned P.J. also appears on the track "Too Nice To Talk To" on the new Specialized compilation...

The Double CD costs just £17.50 (which includes price n P+P)all money goes to the Teenage Cancer Trust. Find out more by visiting: http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/#

ELVIS exhibition at The A Side B Side Gallery opens July 18th

When The A Side B Side Gallery discovered that this Summer marked the 60th anniversary of Elvis Presley going into Sun Studios and making his first ever recording they said: "Let's have a party!" 30 artistic Elvis fans have contributed a painting, photo or drawing of The King and 30 others have written a personal tribute. The show was curated by Chloe Mortimer and Harry Pye. Chloe says: "Elvis Presley was strikingly handsome and his singing touched the hearts of millions. For some, the Elvis story may have ended in 1977 but for me it goes on. He was always there for me and I find that even now he's always on my mind." Harry says: "I was delighted when Chloe asked for my help in finding artists for his show. For the last 12 months I've been compiling a book which is an A to Z of Elvis. The more I researched into Elvis the more I loved him. I hope this show will be sexy, funny, sincere, sad, touching, exciting and full of contradictions - just like Elvis." Catherine & Tinsel: "The A Side B Side Gallery is proud to be the host of a show dedicated to the King of Rock and Roll. For 6 decades Elvis has inspired many artists including Peter Blake (who has made 6 shrines to Elvis) and Andy Warhol (whose double Elvis work recently sold for 37 million dollars). The contributors to "I Love You Because" are from all over the world, we hope we can squeeze everyone in and look forward to seeing you there!" The first 500 visitors to the gallery will receive a free copy of "The Rebel magazine's Elvis Special" sponsored by Immprint.

(ABOVE: Elvis by Team Beswick & Pye

(Above: Team Beswick and Pye)

(Above: Collage by Chloe Mortimer below drawing by Elena Garcia de la Fuente)

(Above: El Buddah by Sandra Turnbull)

(Above "Elvis" by Rebecca Fontaine Wolf Below: "The Elvis Impigeonator" by Twinkle Troughton)

(Above: "The Boy King" by by Harry Adams. Oil, graphite, charcoal and encaustic on sack cloth covered board 61 x 45 cm)

(Above: Elvis as Tony Hancock painted by Paul Hamilton)

(Above "Elvis" by Nicole Willis" Below "Elvis & Lisa Marie by Sarah Doyle)

The address of the venue is: A-Side B-Side Gallery, 5 to 9 Amhurst Terrace, London E8 2BT (The gallery is open Thurs to Sun, 12 till 6pm) On Sunday 5th of August Harry Pye will be launching his A to Z of Elvis published by Not So Noble Books! In alphabetical order the 30 artists in the show are: Harry Adams, Simeon Banner, Emma Coleman, Anka Dabrowska, Tinsel Edwards, Zavier Ellis, Rebecca Fontaine-Wolf, Elana Garcia de la Fuente, Mikey Georgeson, Paul Hamilton, Peter Harris. Cathy Lomax. Bob London, Lee Maelzer, Catherine Magnani, Stephanie Moran, Karen Morden, Chloe Mortimer, Liam Newnham, Gavin Nolan, Horace Panter, Rachael Robb, Alli Sharma, Sarah Sparks, Team Beswick & Pye, Twinkle Troughton, Sandra Turnbull, Julian Wakeling, Chris Webster, Nicole Willis, Carlo Zenone

A Date With Elvis (At The Royal Albert Hall)

Last night I had a great time watching the Imposters. Elvis Costello, Pete Thomas, Steve Nieve, and Davey Faragher were all on splendid form. The songs he performed were: "I Hope You're Happy Now", "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)", "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down", "High Fidelity", "Uncomplicated", "Mystery Dance", "Radio, Radio". There was then a medley of songs with the word "Girl" in the title ("This Year's Girl", "Sulky Girl" "G.L.O.R.I.A",and "Girls Talk"). "45", "I Want You", "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes", "Riot Act". Bonnie Raitt was brought on as a guest and she spun his spinning songbook. Raitt was very jolly but said she couldn't sing as her throat was bad so Elvis serenaded her with "Either Side Of The Same Town". I thought their version of "Cry, Cry, Cry" was a bit lazy and I don't remember enjoying "Song With Rose" either. Things vastly improved with "Brilliant Mistake", "Oliver's Army", "Man Out Of Time" and "Shipbuilding". Two songs with just Elvis and Steve Nieve on the grand piano ("She" and "Shot With His Own Gun", "London's Brilliant Parade", Elvis spoke about two of his relatives suffering from dementia and explaining that the reason he was going to perform a famous song about Margaret Thatcher was due more to the facts we shouldn't forget all the unforgivable misery she caused so many people. It must be said his new John Lennon style arrangement of "Tramp The Dirt Down" is a very powerful way to end the show. His first encore was a lovely take on Nick Lowe's "Indoor Fireworks" sadly things then went very downhill with the tedious "A Slow Drag With Josephine", and, even worse, "Jimmie Standing In The Rain". "Watching The Detectives" was a bit of a mess but thankfully "Everyday I Write The Book" was great fun. He ended with fast and furious versions of a trio of crowd pleasers ("I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea", "Pump It Up", and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding"). The highlights for me were his stunning version of "Riot Act", the unexpected Jimi Hendrix style jam at the end of "Uncomplicated", a wild and crazy "I Want You", Pete Thomas's brilliant drumming on "Mystery Dance", Steve Nieve really going for it on "She", Elvis walking out into the audience and sitting on a man's lap whilst singing "Shipbuilding" and great versions of tracks from the King of America album. There were also lots of witty quips and silly stuff - when a fan screamed "Elvis, we love you", Costello quickly replied: "We love you too, both individually and as a group."