At this point in the pandemic, we could all use a little "Peace, Love and Understanding," couldn't we?
Leave it to Rock legend Elvis Costello and his trusty Imposters to soothe our frayed minds and hearts. The longtime bard and modern Rock hero returns to Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 16, for the first time since 2019 — you know, the last year in which we all could enjoy live music without masks, COVID-19 tests or assessing our risk of getting a deadly infectious disease.
For his appropriately named "Hello Again" tour, Costello will play the Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center, which opened at The Banks this summer to great fanfare.
Eager to safely tour after more than a year away from the stage, Costello plans to bring his entire song catalogue — and then some — to Cincinnati. Costello has performed in the United States only a handful of times so far in 2021, so the Queen City should find him fresh and eager. According to posted setlists, the shows have been full of Costello's mega-hits like "Less Than Zero," "Watching the Detectives" and "Pump It Up."
But Costello isn't content to rest upon his well-earned laurels. In September, Costello released Spanish Model, a reimagining of songs from his pivotal 1978 classic This Year's Model, but entirely in Spanish. Costello worked with Grammy-winning Argentinean producer Sebastian Krys and Latin stars such as Juanes, Jorge Drexler and Francisca Valenzuela to sing This Year's Model songs over his original recordings with the Attractions, providing plenty of new flavor and emotion. The album is an unexpected, delightful twist on Costello's classics
Costello also has taken on the role of music teacher. In September, he debuted his Audible Original How to Play Guitar and Y, a music lesson filled with Costello's signature storytelling and philosophies. Clocking in at a little more than 90 minutes, the audiobook meanders from why Costello thinks messing up is essential to giving "voice to your heart's desire."
Elvis Costello and the Imposters perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center downtown. Tickets are $20-$109.50. Proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative diagnostic COVID-19 test from within the past 72 hours is required for entry. Learn more from ICON Music Center or on Costello's website.
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