The Songs of Elvis Costello performed by Victor Stranges & The Futurists
In 1986 and at the age of sixteen, Victor Stranges discovered Elvis Costello while playing with his punk band, Drunk ‘n’ Disorderly. A 2009 interview with DaveGriffiths from Buzz Magazine revealed, “I grew up eating the ‘Elvis Costello Singing Dictionary’, both volumes, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
Also, in 2009 he had some words with a music promoter. Stranges said, “Because of the similarities I had with his voice and style, I was asked by a concert organiser to put on a show of Elvis Costello songs and tour it with a band. I kind of told them where to go.
”Fast forward to 2022 and Stranges is a little more circumspect. “Back then I was focusing on an original music career. Playing other people’s songs was the furthest thing from my mind. The truth is, what I learned from Costello was how to write songs. His music was a puzzle I used to pull apart and put back together a lot. And two years ago, I relented and started playing his songs live for fun. When a friend told me the show was a real indulgence for him, I knew I was onto something.”
For two years, every one of Stranges’ Costello shows at Jimmy Hornet sold out in advance. “It got to a stage where people I knew couldn’t get in and COVID kind of messed it up for everyone with the limited capacity because of the mandates. We had to take it to larger venues.”
VICTOR STRANGES & THE FUTURISTS will be performing a matinee show of ELVIS COSTELLO hits and obscurities at one of Melbourne’s most iconic venues, Wesley Anne on Sunday 18th September. The performance is not a costume-changing tribute show, but rather an affirmation of Stranges’ love for the songs of Costello. The 4-piece band will play two sets totalling 90 minutes drawing from Costello’s first 20 years of making records from My Aim Is True (1977) to All This Useless Beauty(1996)
.The songs are stripped back, revealing their subtlety, glorious structures and remaining faithful to the original album arrangements. Playing the radio songs to the more unknown album tracks, this is the ultimate combination for the die-hard Elvis Costello fan. Special Guest performance is from Melbourne singer-songwriter, Tim Reid.
The venerable Wesley Anne is one of Melbourne’s oldest and prettiest venues and is housed in a former church with rough stone walls. A show not to be missed.
Tickets: trybooking.com/CBIFL
Close your eyes and you’ll swear you’re at an intimate Elvis Costello gig. Open them and you’ll see a spirited performance by Victor Stranges and The Futurists.”(Anthea Palmer-jimmyhornet.com)
MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Matthews Media
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