l4 0 THE LOYOLA MAROON - NOVEMBERb, 1987 Other Elvis holds title as Rock 'n' By Kathy Harr Staff writer Elvis Costello is one of the most tal- ented artists to emerge in the past decade. Since his debut in 1978, Costello has recorded 12 excellent albums which touch on a myriad of styles, including country, punk, soul and power pop. His work is consistently good, and usually great. | MUSIC His songs have been recorded by everyone from Dave Edmunds and Linda Ronstadt to George Jones (Costello wrote one for Frank Sinatra, but 01' Blue Eyes didn't record it), and his influence is evident in every angry young man with a guitar to make a record in the 1980s. Costello's live shows are wonderful. Just as he has experimented with a num- ber of styles, musicians and producers on his recorded work, Costello also experi- ments on tour. His experiments never fail. By modi- fying arrangements, switching personnel and choosing different periods to high- light from his extensive repertoire, Cos- tello keeps his shows interesting to de- vout fans while not alienating those who come to hear MTV hits like "Everyday I Write the Book." Costello took his experimentation to an extreme last fall in London when he did a series of shows using a different format each night. The most clever idea this master of in- novation came up with for that Blood and Chocolate tour was his roulette wheel. Like a congenial game show Roll King host. Costello invited audience members to spin the colorful wheel, and whatever song the pointer settled on was dutifully performed. Things in New Orleans may not get that bizarre when Elvis Costello appears at the Municipal Auditorium Thursday, but it's bound to be a great show. His first show in New Orleans took place May 3, 1979, at Jed's, formerly on the corner of Oak and Dante streets. Costello was on tour to promote his third album, Armed F orces, which mixed wall-of-sound production with a punk pace and Costello's extraordinary word play. The story of the performance has be- come a legend, not so much because of Costello's fabulous talents, but because May 3 marked nearly the worst flood New Orleans has seen in recent years. The story that has circulated since then is that about 100 people drove the flood- ed streets (Canal Street was 10 feet un- der) and stood in ankle-deep water (Jed's had six inches), just to see Elvis. Costello's second appearance in the Crescent City was in January 1981. He played at a place called the Warehouse, which was — you guessed it! — an empty warehouse on Tchoupitoulas. Way back when, it was the hot spot for concerts. You name it: the Police, Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat, the Clash, Alice Cooper.... They all played the Ware— house. Squeeze opened the show, and they were wonderful. The place was packed with fledgling punks (Elvis Costello was punk for New Orleans) dressed in their thrift-shop best. Costello and his band, the Attractions, were jubilant and jumped all over. Three years later, at the World's Fair, Photo by Mary Degnan WE GOT THE BEAT—As part of Loyola's Music Therapy Program, students of Hammond State School perform for an enthusiastic audience. the show was more subdued but still ex- cellent. Costello had just released his worst album (which is not to say it was bad), but the songs all sounded much better live. The material had been rear- ranged to sound more psychedelic, in the style of Costello's 1982 concept album, Imperial Bedroom. Costello's performance Thursday is ex- pected to be fantastic for a number of rea- sons. Costello's last album, Blood and Chocolate, is the best work he has put out in years. After a series of albums flirting with country music and soul, Costello has finally returned to his pow- erful rock style. Also, Costello is in love. He recently .3 married Cait O'Rirdan, the bassist for the ‘ See Costello/page 15 Post-midterm burnout blues bring on bad day I can't schedule this, because of that. Has to be Pro-Modem. Absolutely, no excuses. TR 2:00-3:15. Sounds good. Wait, can't. I '11 have to meet with my adviser. There's a sign on his office door. All the time slots are filled. Except one. It's during class. I can't skip the class, because I'm already past the absence lim- it. I have to get my money's worth, you know. Damn. I left my sociology notebook in my room. Should I walk across campus to get it? No, I just won't take notes. Ha. There. Guest speaker anyway. I've got a runny nose. I can't find any Kleenex on campus — there is none. I love the brand of toilet paper the school buys. It's grainy. And it makes a noise when you bend it. Plus, it feels great on the nose. Damn. I left my communications paper in my room. That settles it, I have to walk across the campus to my room. Got to get my s--- together. It's still hot in the Land of No Winter. Then how did my sinuses get clogged? Who knows, I think, and blow my nose again. A friend of mine says that I‘ve got post-midterm depression, which is not surprising since my professors collectively made midterms last a whole month long. They planned it, I'm sure. Don't say hi to anyone, I mean anyone. Why is this campus more crowded than it was last year? Too many people. Stay away from me today. Eat my vibes. More people in Danna Center. I want to scream Go To Class at the top of my lungs. That girl over there is an idiot. Oh, goody, the bookstore. My head hurts. Pick out some stuff to help my head.’ Hey, a pen. I won't have to borrow one from stupid guy in sociology — that is, if I go. In the check-out line, lots of people. PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST HANK STUEVER More people. Sorry, the register guy smirks. Danna Center Cards are all messed up, and machine won't take it, tee-hoe. Eat my vibes. Biever Hall. Mmmm, smells good. Mail Is Not Out, the sign says. I have to take the stairs because my room is on second floor. Mine's the room with the big, smashed hole in the window because someone's stupid lacrosse game got out of hand in the quad. Most of the glass is off my bed, now. Maintenance, or whatever they're called, hasn't fixed it yet, although I'm sure they're up nights worrying about it. Look, an envelope is under my door. ‘Student Fi- nance. I can't pre-register until I pay up. I paid up. I told them that. Wait for my work study checks, I told them. Still can't register, tee-hoe. Don't tempt me, may- be I won't. Eat my vibes. Mail Is Out, the sign says. I know I shouldn't check it. I should wait until next week and then check it. Oh hell, I can't resist the temptation. See? I told you there wouldn't be any. Get out of my way. Mmmm, smell that trash dumpster; that big ugly trash dumpster right there in front of everyone, dripping a green (really green) liquid. Dance tickets? Bake sale? Money for the whatevers? Wrath of Grapes? Greek survey? Get away from me. All of you. Eat my vibes. Test, term papers, fill this out please, don't forget it's due and see it, oh, anytime in the Media Center before tomorrow. Okay I'm here, but quit nagging me. Let me sleep. Damn. My class started already. Missed it. They call this burnout. They wonder about retention problems. I love Loyola, but not today. Eat my vibes. Hank Sruever, communications sophomore. is Editor in Chief of The Maroon.’ His column appears every 'wh‘erweek. ' v I ‘ I I -