What with the sun blazing dangerously down on Worthy Farm, everyone seems to be in a blissful mood at Glastonbury this afternoon. Extraneous, and in some cases, all clothing layers have been shed, and the Southwest’s supply of UV facepaints has been decimated.
In the midst of such good vibes then, Elvis Costello & The Imposters could probably come out in front of the Pyramid Stage crowd and play a selection of B-sides without dampening anyone’s mood. Thankfully, there’s plenty of room for “Oliver’s Army” and company in his set.
A mid-show acoustic section is perhaps a little indulgent, especially on the stately swing-time ballad, “Jimmie Standing In The Rain”, but the set picks up with a rendition of Costello’s peerless anti-Thatcher song, “Tramp The Dirt Down”.
“I would never wish anyone dead…” he says. “This isn’t about burying a person, it’s about burying an idea.” It’s a moving performance, though a little out of place performed to people eating ice creams and falafel wraps.
Costello closes the set with a marathon run of classic songs, including “(I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea”, “Pump It Up” and “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding”. A solid ending – and a little more suitable for serving with warm pear cider.
Tom Pinnock
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