Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...

Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... was a UK/Canadian television series, shown on Channel 4 in the UK, CTV in Canada and the Sundance Channel in the United States. The show features intimate interviews between the host, Elvis Costello, and various musical guests intertwined with performances by Costello and the guests, separately and together.

Its first season consisted of 13 parts and was screened in 2008/09. The second season consisted of 7 parts and was screened in 2009/10.

Season One

Elton John

The first episode featured Elton John as the guest. (He is also credited as one of many executive producers.) The show opened with Elvis Costello performing John's "Border Song". The show then had interview segments with John, in which he talked about musical influences such as Laura Nyro, David Ackles, Allen Toussaint, Leon Russell (with whom he toured twice), and other singer-songwriters of the 1960s. John also paid tribute to lyricist Bernie Taupin, saying that the two have never had a harsh word between them. The show was intertwined with performances, including "Ballad of Well-Known Gun" performed by Elvis Costello and the house band, "Burn Down the Mission" performed by Elton John, and "Working in the Coal Mine" and Ackles' "Down River" - both duets by Elton and Elvis with the band.

Lou Reed and Julian Schnabel

Lou Reed, the musician, songwriter, and former lead singer of the Velvet Underground, was featured in the second episode. The show opened with Costello and the house band performing the Velvet's "Femme Fatale", from their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico. The Velvets' "I'm Waiting for the Man" was played by the house band while Costello introduced Reed. The interview featured Reed talking about his influences, music, and songwriting. Costello and Reed then dueted on Reed's "Perfect Day". Reed's friend the artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel was featured with Reed during the second portion of the show. Schnabel talked mostly about Reed and recited Reed's song "Rock Minuet" word for word. The show ended in a duet as Reed and Costello sang Reed's "Set the Twilight Reeling".

Rufus Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle

Rufus Wainwright talked frankly about his youth, being the son of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle; and, brother of Martha Wainwright and half-brother of Lucy Wainwright Roche. After a long discussion with Costello, and a solo, they were joined by his mother on banjo for a lyric song.

Season Two

Bono and the Edge

In this episode Bono, The Edge and Elvis Costello performed Alison, Stuck In A Moment and a medley of Pump It Up and Get on Your Boots.^[1]

References

External links

• Spectacle from Channel 4
• Spectacle from CTV
• Spectacle from the Sundance Channel