Elvis Costello puts serious eye on music in Sundance Channel's 'Spectacle'

[Refugee 7]

Music on TV goes only so far. You can see a short performance with no interview from the star (on late-night talk shows or “SNL”), hear a full concert that likewise never stops for a single word from the musician (“

Austin City Limits ”) or gape at a bio-documentary geared more toward overdoses and breakups than sound and songs (“Behind the Music,” “A &E Biography”).

But what about a program that shows artists not just playing music but talking about it seriously — and at length?

That’s what we get in “Spectacle,” a new program on the Sundance Channel that manages to combine the informed probing of an NPR Terry Gross interview with the exploratory playing of a show like “Later With Jools Holland.” During its 13-week run (which kicks off Wednesday at 9 p.m.), guests range from stalwarts like Lou Reed, Rosanne Cash and the Police, to newer ones like She & Him and Jenny Lewis.

Its bespectacled host — Elvis Costello — has the right credits for the job. He’s articulate, boasts an encyclopedic knowledge of every musical genre and, unlike many big stars, knows how to listen when others talk. “I let the guest talk a little longer, to reveal more,” Costello says.

The show’s length helps. At a full hour, the pace seems downright leisurely by the standards of the instant-messaging era. Better, “Spectacle” avoids a setin-stone form. “The structure yields to the personality at hand,” Costello says.

That leaves room for the star to move into whatever areas he or she feels most passionate about. That was a prerequisite for Costello. “I didn’t want to have someone who was there just to promote a new product,” he says.

“And I wasn’t there to get them to confess to something scandalous. I also didn’t want to have to tell their story chronologically.”

Instead his show rambles in fascinating ways. While each episode opens with a song from Elvis and his band, after that they move through interview segments of varying lengths, offer duets between Elvis and the guest star and stick in casual musical segments meant to illustrate a point. For instance, Reed shows us a “secret chord” many listeners miss in “Sweet Jane,” and Elton John demonstrates what he learned from the piano fingerings of a hero of his, Leon Russell.

Elton doubles as the show’s co- producer. It was he, and his people, who first approached Elvis with the idea. Though Elvis says various parties had approached him with notions for hosting music TV programs since the early ’90s, none took off. At one point, there was talk of him hosting a series of BBC shorts in which, each week, he and a guest would do a joint song, a cover and a song written specifically in that week.

[brandonwood20 0]

That sounds really cool. Wish I had cable...

[weird monkey 0]

Wow! Great article, and there's more:

(Page 2 of 2)

Another proposed show would cover classical music. (Elvis has written a symphony, collaborated with a string quartet and performed in an opera.) But only “Spectacle,” as devised by the producers and Elvis, “had the freedom to explore music in a shape that was effective,” says the host.

One of the series’ main motifs is to allow guests to talk about the work of other, lesser-known artists. In Elton’s episode, he talks about cult figures like Tim Buckley, Captain Beefheart and David Ackles. Elton even performs an Ackles song with Elvis. “I don’t think a lot of people realize the depth of knowledge about music Elton has,” Elvis says. “He’s a huge fan of music you may not associate with the man who had all those hits.”

In an episode with Rufus Wainwright, the guest performs an obscure, gemlike song, written by his father, Loudon. (“New Paint”). A show featuring Jakob Dylan has him duet with Elvis on Joe Strummer’s “Straight to Hell.” In one with Norah Jones, she puts her own music to a Hank Williams lyric. The last episode features a round-robin of musicians playing their songs, from John Mellencamp to Kris Kristofferson to Rosanne Cash.

The installment with Reed includes a guest cameo from Reed’s friend, artist Julian Schnabel. “Julian talks about going to Lou’s house when his father died,” Elvis says. “It shows Lou as the man you would go to in a crisis. That isn’t everyone’s impression of Lou Reed.”

An episode with, of all people, ex-President Clinton not only reveals that his love of jazz is even deeper than many know, it has the politician talking about the effect of music on his speeches.

In one of Elvis’ favorite moments, the host gets lover man Smokey Robinson to talk about a rare subject for him: race. Also, the two sing a duet on “You Really Got a Hold on Me.” “I woke up the next day and thought, ‘Surely that didn’t happen,’” Elvis says.

It wasn’t easy to book the show’s guests: “It’s like asking Bigfoot to show up on a blue moon,” Elvis says. Yet there has been talk about bringing the show back for another run. Even if that doesn’t happen, Elvis takes pride in what already has been taped.

“There’s so much more we have in the can than you see on the show,” he says.

Meaning there’s more good music on TV to come.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2008/11/30/2008-11-30_elvis_costello_puts_serious_eye_on_music.html

This looks like something that ought to be available through other, ummm, 'channels' - if like me, you don't get Sundance.

Edited December 2, 2008 by Refugee

[normandi 21]

If any of you caught Elvis on the Late Show when he was one of the guest hosts during Dave's long illness you will know how good this show is going to be. He was a fantastic host and a very good interviewer. I am very much looking forward to this show and hope it is a big success! And dare we wish that some day one of his guests might be Tom, or Mike, or Benmont, or Ron, or Steve, or Scott??!!!! I think it could be so! :119:

[Refugee 7]

WM, thank you SO much for posting page 2, I thought I did, but apparently I didn't.

Normandi, I remember when Dave was out with shingles, and Elvis stepped up to the plate. You're right, he was an excellent host, I can't wait to see this show. :003:

[Starfish 0]

While in California we noticed billboards advertising this show... sounds like it will be fascinating.

[Athena 7]

This sounds awesome! My poor little DVR is going to have one more thing to deal with.

[bons 0]

caught this on sundance - elvis with elton john - very nice.

sundance has so many great shows.