NOSTALGIA AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT:
DARRYL HALL AND ELVIS COSTELLO
CONCLUDE THEIR SUMMER TOUR:
IT’S A WRAP AT THE TRAP
Rock Legends Elvis Costello and Daryl Hall began their 2024 Co-Headliner Summer Tour on June 2, ending it last Thursday night at Wolf Trap to a full house and lawn full of fans. This special evening with these iconic artists, both with distinct musical styles, offered a “two-for-one” concert experience.
Draped with red theatrical curtains, the stage had a retro look with movie lights for Elvis Costello. The audience was pumped for these rockers and the musicians obliged, opening with “Pump It Up,” followed by the another crowd pleaser “Watching the Detectives.”
Dressed in suit and tie, fedora hat and gold shoes, Elvis introduced his band The Imposters: Steve Nieve (keyboards, melodica); David Faragher (bass guitar, double bass); Pete Thomas (drums); and special guest Charlie Sexton on guitar. Elvis announced Pete’s birthday leading the entire audience in a serenade of “Happy Birthday.”
Elvis was playful with the crowd — his banter had a soupçon of snark. “I’m not much into the German philosophers … more into the French philosophers … you know, the likes of Jean Paul Sartre, Jean Paul Belmondo, Brigitte Bardot” and then waxed poetically into covers of “Ode to Billie Joe/Everybody’s Crying Mercy.”
He then offered his gospel oriented “Blood & Hot Sauce” a new work from his musical A Face in the Crowd. With a book by Sarah Ruhl, it opens at The Young Vic in London on September 10, 2024. He said we’re all invited, by the way (which means, book your tickets).
He played many more favorites, orchestrating the crowd to join in on “Everyday I Write the Book” — urging patrons to sing along — from Punch the Clock, a 1983 album when he was with the Attractions, followed by “Clubland” and “Mystery Dance.”
I wish he had gone back to “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” from his his 1977 debut album (no such luck) but he did return to the stage with a cut from the same album, My Aim Is True, “Alison.” Finally, he offered Nick Lowe’s “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” — dedicated to the hard-working crew.
For the second set, a simple purple backdrop with a single “D” hung over the stage announcing Daryl Hall’s arrival. The band burst into “Maneater” — which he wrote with John Oates — and from then on viewers were back on their feet, dancing and singing along. Other favorites include “Rich Girl,” “Private Eyes,” “Everytime You Go Away,” “Sara Smile,” and “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” with energetic solos by saxophonist Charles DeChant (aka Mr. Casual) and guitarist Shane Theriot throughout the set.
Although not in fine voice — his range is not what it was — Hall connected deeply with the crowd, delivering a satisfying and nostalgic experience. He flirted with a low growl at the piano for “Kiss is on My List,” written by Hall and Janna Allen.
He returned for his encore and introduced his newly released album D with co-producer Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. The album features nine original songs, seven of which are co-written by Stewart; Hall wrote the other two originals by himself. Look for his promotion tour this fall. He introduced us to the peppy and catchy “I Can’t Say No to You,” leading the audience in call-and-response yet again.
Both Costello and Hall re-imagined their work here; they weren’t constrained by the way they’ve performed their songs in the past, as many recording artists who feel obligated to perform exactly the way they were recorded in the studio thirty or more years before. Costello in particular continues to revitalize songs that he’s played for decades.
Although tonight was a wrap for this tour, these two icons are not resting on their laurels; they are each on to their next projects. (See you in London, Elvis?)
photos by Traci Medlock
Daryl Hall & Elvis Costello and The Imposters
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
1551 Trap Road in Vienna, Virginia
reviewed July 25, 2024
for future events, call 877.WOLFTRAP or visit Wolf Trap and Wolf Trap’s calendar