Debbie Harry (Photo courtesy Press Here Productions)
Elvis Costello & The Imposters and Blondie co-headline The Anthem on Friday, July 26.
Elvis Costello and Blondie shared spots near the top of the UK Singles Chart 40 years ago when Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” sat neck-and-neck alongside Elvis Costello & The Attraction’s “Oliver’s Army” in the company of The Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor, and ABBA. The same week, Blondie’s seminal album Parallel Lines reached #1 on the Album Chart while Costello’s Armed Forces landed at #3.
Elvis Costello & The Imposters’ last tour in late 2018 found the combo reaching new live performance peaks. The band “came out swinging” (Star Tribune) in Minneapolis, were “unstoppable” in Anaheim (OC Register) and played an “epic and euphoric” (Variety) show in Los Angeles that even at nearly three hours “[left] ’em wanting more.” The Imposters include Steve Nieve (keyboards), Davey Faragher (bass), and Pete Thomas (drums).
In 2017, Blondie hit the road in support of their most collaborative album yet, Pollinator (BMG). Their spectacular live shows drew acclaim for their “flair and precision” (Rolling Stone), while being called “formidable” (LA Weekly) and “artful, rocking” (City Pages).
Pollinator was praised by many for its dynamic blend of Blondie’s trailblazing sound and new influences from some of modern music’s greatest innovators including Sia, Dev Hynes, Charli XCX, Dave Sitek, Joan Jett, and more. It features the euphoric disco-infused single “Fun,” the propulsive 80s-esque anthem “Long Time,” and the irreverent “Doom or Destiny.”
Watch the official music video for “Doom or Destiny” by Blondie on YouTube:
Watch the official music video for “Monkey to Man” by Elvis Costello & The Imposters on YouTube:
From the looks of recent setlists, we also will see Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry sing favorites like “Call Me,” “Rapture,” and “Atomic,” among others. In addition to Debbie, the members of Blondie currently include classic bandmates Chris Stein (guitar) and Clem Burke (drums) alongside Leigh Foxx (bass), Matt Katz-Bohen (keyboards), and Tommy Kessler (guitar).
Elvis Costello’s wide-ranging recording career began in 1977 with the release of My Aim Is True in a catalogue that include such diverse highlights as This Year’s Model, Get Happy, Imperial Bedroom, King Of America, Blood & Chocolate, The Juliet Letters with the Brodsky Quartet, The River in Reverse with Allen Toussaint, and Wise Up Ghost with The Roots.
Really cool trivia: Elvis previously appeared alongside Debbie with composer/poet Roy Nathanson and the Jazz Passengers both in concert and on the recordings “Fire at Keaton’s Bar and Grill” and “Individually Twisted” in the ’90s.
Elvis Costello and The Imposters
Blondie
The Anthem
Friday, July 26
Doors @ 6pm
$95 GA/ $175 Super Excellent Seats
All ages