NEW LACE SLEEVES

It’s not every day you wake up and say I’m seeing Elvis Costello today!

And just once, you go to sleep saying I met Elvis Costello today – and he played my song request!

Friday last the 28^th time, this tour a throwback to his music from ’77-’86, The Angry Young Man era. He’s my age – if his hips like mine, this his Painfully Angry (Shakes fist wearily!) Old Man era.

Though, I’m guessing a lot of folks assumed that was his entire career – but he’s kept on, 14 of his 25 albums released since 1989, the variety of styles dazzling. At least that’s what I read in a music review… writing roughly 700 songs.

I’ve been a fan since Welcome to the Working Week played on my clock radio in ’77, during grad school, jolting me out of bed with “What on earth was that?”.  A bit of trivia: His debut album recorded in Marin County, CA, supported by Clover, later to be Huey Lewis’s backing band. I learned that before AI, so it must be true…

Another bit of trivia, clock radios.

As an aside: I utilized a ‘clever’ DST management tool then, never changing my clock during spring ahead/fall back, the moments trying to figure out the real time waking me up. Add the clock 38 minutes ahead thing that drives My Captor crazy, and you needed an abacus.

Many regarded that as a non-brilliant mistake, but it did get me up, so there’s that.

Admittedly, my biggest life mistake skipping an Elvis XRT show at Chicago’s Park West, admission 93 cents while wearing red shoes. Lame excuse, a final the next day – I don’t remember what it was or how I did, a classic case of school getting in the way of education. 

His infamous non-mistake his first SNL appearance, when without warning the band substituted Radio, Radio for Less Than Zero. Lorne Michaels Shaking Fist Angrily!

But perhaps his biggest non-mistake, was marrying-WAY-up, to Diana Krall in 2003, later sharing twin sons.

As another aside, why do they call it ‘sharing’ children?

The show in Charleston, hosted by long-time Coke friends. They are contemporaries, as were most of the attendees: Kids today! (Shakes head confusedly, too much fist shaking already) were probably at a rap festival, gaming, or eating fondue.

A big part of show anticipation, checking the setlists daily to see if he’s playing what I want to hear. Not wise spending too much time on the “Will he play ‘New Lace Sleeves’ ‘Brilliant Mistake’ or ‘Suit of Lights’ game”  – so enjoy whatever pops up.

But sometimes you can rig the game…

Our hosting friend on the board of the Gaillard Center – don’t know what that entails, but sounds important, and he clearly had pull: After a ‘limited attendance’ pre-show reception, we got to meet Elvis moments later.

A very gracious man. He seemed bemused when informed I was attending my 28^th show, unphased by my Elvis button, and interested (semi?) when he heard the Welcome to the Working Week anecdote.

During our 8 minutes of chit-chat, we learned his twin sons were college freshmen, Diana freaking out on European tour with them away, and he bought 2 new hats, a Charleston tradition – responding to My Captor’s query.

I asked if he would play New Lace Sleeves, he said I’ll tell Pete, and off he went.

Song #7 indeed NLS, introed with “This is for Jim”.

Does that make me an impresario?

But Elvis a man of comfortable contradiction: His great hat and elegant Armani suit balanced by full-on rock music, 25 songs: https://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php?title=Concert_2025-10-03_Charleston

Ain’t live music amazing?

ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR WITH THE FOLLOWING ‘AGING HIPSTER MUSIC’:

Lots of Elvis on the BATN playlist!

And I have a new book out:

QUEENIE AND PA: ADVENTURES IN GRANDPARENTING… And Other Topics

Available on Amazon! Order today, laughing by Tuesday! Only 1.8 cents per laugh!