Elvis Costello and the Imposters...

...live at the Usher Hall last night. 3 hours of quality songs and entertainment, a great Valentine treat from Rach.

He's hard to pidgeonhole. His records cover rock, pop, punk and ballads, and include collaborations with Burt Bacharach, the Brodsky Quartet, Michael Tilson Thomas and the LSO. He's recently been commissioned by Denmark's state opera to write an opera based on the life of Hans Christian Anderson.

I'd just class him as great writer, singer, performer and songwriter, playing with a great band, especially Steve Nieve on keyboard / theremin / hooter.

Highlights were hard to spot, but my personal favourite 'What's so funny about peace, love and understanding' inspired many veterans of the 70s to get up and dance like old people at weddings who should know better. The lady next to me air-drummed throughout, attempting all fills and hi-hat details. Sadly she had no rhythm whatsoever.

His homepage is here.

For any Elvis virgins, I'd recommend the following albums:

The very best of... £9.99 from Amazon, 2 CDs, bargain.

New Album, The Delivery Man, from Amazon (£10.99) and straight to ipod from itunes (7.99).

1992 album Brutal Youth, one of the soundtrack albums to my first year in Sheffield. Amazon.

Fopp have also got a few albums in for a fiver.