He played two hours with barely more than a sip of whatever was in his mug balanced on an amp. He played 26 songs.
Sure, they weren't all instantly humable classics - although there were a number of those too - but they were all finely crafted with his ear for a melody and his eye for an intelligent lyric.
Incidently, as I approached the Phil Hall last night I could hear the sound of singing.
There turned out to be a group of people outside who were having, and there's no other way to describe it, a pro-test......
They'd apparently planned to come and picket Mr MacManus about his forthcoming trip to perform in Tel Aviv. But then, he wrong-footed them by announcing recently he'd decided to cancel.
So they turned up anyway and handed out leaflets that, instead of berating the singer, were headed "Thanks, Elvis!" and offered the wish that he "have a good gig tonight - and a long lie-in tomorrow!"
Anyway, here's my review from last night....

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/echo-entertainment/2010/06/29/elvis-costello-review-triumphant-liverpool-return-for-maestro-100252-26745878/