Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...

Cafe Society
1

Anyone watching Costello’s show on the Sundance Channel?

I’ve seen the first few episodes and I’m quite impressed. The show with Bill Clinton was a bit of a clunker, but the others have been terrific. Costello has a range of knowledge and interest that makes for some great questions and discussions. There are also some great musical numbers featuring Elvis with his band and the guests doing solos and duets with him.

It was great to hear him telling Tony Bennett about seeing a show as a youngster, and how he was upset that the drummer was such a show-off (the drummer being Buddy Rich). Later in the same show, Tony pulls the unsuspecting Diana Krall out of the audience to do a number with him. Lou Reed reveals the “secret chord” when Elvis asks him about the riff on Sweet Jane. Elton John talks about the time he visited Leon Russell, and how Russell answered the door naked, “I didn’t look…!”

In another episode Costello talks about going to his father’s shows and trying to get autographs from the big bands that were playing. He proudly displays one such autograph from the guitarist of of Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Andy Summers.

The first two seasons are available on Netflix. Highly recommended.

2

I started watching in season 2. It’s a great show for music fans, and I suspect not many people know about it. I particularly enjoyed the recent episode with Lyle Lovett, John Prine and Ray LaMontagne.

Another great ep featured Neko Case, Sheryl Crow, Jesse Winchester and Ron Sexsmith. Even though I’m a big singer-songwriter fan, I hadn’t heard of Winchester. His performance left me and everyone onstage in tears.

I would love it if he could get Tom Waits or Bob Dylan on the show.

3

I don’t get Sundance but have been dying to see this - off to Netflix. I heard the Police ep was great, although they were interviewed separately…

4

Been shown in the UK. Excellent show. Lot of mutual respect floating around on that stage.

It’s got that intimate, top quality vibe of the original ‘unplugged’ concept.

5

Just so people know, season 2 is not available on Netflix yet.

6

Oops, sorry for the misinformation. I saved it to my queue without checking the release date.

7

I’ve been watching this show since day one (big Elvis fan, I am). My favorite episodes have been James Taylor and the aforementioned Lyle Lovett, John Prine and Ray LaMontagne.

There is a two-parter with Bruce Springsteen, and also an episode featuring EC himself.

Another fantastic lineup that I have not watched yet: Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, Levon Helm and Alan Toussaint.

8

I have seen the Springsteen episodes, the U2 episode, and the one where Elvis himself was interviewed by that hot chick whose name I forget. Very interesting.