Black-suited with metallic boots and tinted shades, the legendary Elvis Costello strutted into Chicago Wednesday evening (May 9), engaging the crowd with occasional snarls, a flick of the brow, and his signature wide-legged stance. He and his band, the Impostors, whirled through a boisterous, dual encore set, which featured classics such as "Clubland" and the seductively drummed "The Beat."
The Imposters -- drummer Pete Thomas, keyboardist/pianist Steve Nieve, and bassist Davy Faragher -- sustained their intense stamina throughout the entire 31-track evening, while Costello's ragingly skilled guitar playing was a culmination of emotional build-up. Climaxing with a "Watching the Detectives"/"Let Him Dangle" medley of saturated reggae beats and blues-y grit, it was "Radio Radio" that had fans of all ages punk-swaggering and moshing.
A second reprise also rendered the middle-aged audience completely uninhibited with "Pump It Up." Elvis Costello & the Imposters' performance championed the new wave, punky sound stumbled upon in 1977 with My Aim is True and solidified with 1979's This Year's Model, once more reaffirming what Costello established 30 years ago: Angst is an art form. ANDREA HART / PHOTOS BY DIANA RICHTER
We asked: Why is Elvis Costello so timeless?
Name: Sapna Adabpa
Age: 25
Hometown: Toledo, OH
Occupation: Dental assistant
"He covers a big range of styles that last from generation to generation."
Name: Michael Henderson
Age: 25
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Tax specialist
"My Dad listened to him as a lad and it just carried over to me."
Name: Joe Greco
Age: 25
Hometown: Westchester, IL
Occupation: Electrician
"Because he doesn't stay the same. He can change with the times."
Name: Beata Gocal
Age: 39
Hometown: Park Ridge, IL
Occupation: Physical therapist
"The music he composes is always nice to hear."
Name: Ana Wojtowicz
Age: 32
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Physical therapist
"His music is just the best."
Name: Courtney Stanczak
Age: 22
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Salon assistant
"It's music that everyone can relate to."
Name: George Staczak
Age: 51
Hometown: Park Ridge, IL
Occupation: Sales manager
"He's a classical artists that's managed to change his style from Burt Bacharach, I mean, come on!"
Name: Jeff Terwilliger
Age: 33
Hometown: Sumner, Michigan
Occupation: Industrial designer
"That's complicated. I'm a musician myself, and he's just the most amazing songwriter ever. He beats them all."
'The Delivery Man' and his Imposters / Photo by Diana Richter
Costello's aim is true / Photo by Diana Richter
Thirty years on, he's still mighty like a rose / Photo by Diana Richter
