When you’re teasing Helen always a little care because she’s volatile but at least the exception that proves the rule viz live rock albums sux is Costello’s new Live At Hollywood High dating from 1978. Recorded three months after the Attractions formed , and vastly superios to the previous El Mocombo, this is where EC managed to add serious shadings to his rage on stage . And I’ll tell you why: Steve Nieve was absolute genius here: every time the keyboards come in EC zonks up a level. It is all pretty excellent but the “Accidents Will Happen” cuts the version on Armed Forces (though not the version I heard live at Beacon theatre in 1996).
Costello is reportedly pissed about the releases being consecutive datewise and i tend to agree, though I wouldn’t mind the next one being the Almost Blue, Almost 1982 gig i saw at the Palladium -first time hearing “Human Hand” and it blew me away. I reviewed it for Creem and called the article Get Happy New Year.
In real time i went to CBGB’s next where my friend X-cessive had guest listed me and caught his band The Nitecaps, picked up a black chick named Jackie who worked for an art gallery in the bronx…