OUTRAGEOUSNESS IS PRETTY MUCH JOHN'S RAISON D'ETRE
Rocket man
He’s just an tantrumy old duffer with fake hair and crap songs, isn’t he? Not quite, reckons Doug Johnstone as he reassesses the worth of ELTON JOHN.
l‘ew months ago the dates for lilton .lohn's
l‘orthcoming tour were announced. one in
particular catching the eye. Rugby l’ark'.’ Are you sure‘.’ As a lifelong lan ol Kilmarnock l-‘(‘ it pains me to admit that when the grand dame oi pop turns up at the club's stadium it’ll not only he the biggest gate the place has seen in a long time it’ll also he the most excitement seen on the pitch there in an age.
But that show. along with one at liaster Road. is indicatiye of how seriously lilton .lolm is taking his music again. alter seemingly endless years parading around in the press as a llattthoy‘atll icon and the Queen Mum of British music. These dates are part ol‘ a gargantuan world tour. a glohe—straddling trek that takes the 58-year-old perl‘ormer right up until ('hristmas. when he‘s apparently planning to get married. bless him.
It’s a sign that things are hack on track l‘or lilton. The tour is ostensibly to promote last year’s well—rccciyed l’r'ur/iin'r' Rom! alhum. his 43rd in a career which now spans liyc decades. 'l‘hat record. and its predecessor. Zillll’s Songs from l/lt’ ll't'si ('misl. haye seen a new. stripped—down songwriter getting hack to his musical roots and deliyering the goods into the hargain.
.\'ot that the current tour is going to he one ol those where the artist irritatineg plays all the new stul'l'. ignoring the hack catalogue. lilton .lolm is not a stupid man. and he knows which side his hread‘s huttered on. So we can expect all the classics hour the purple patch of gems he released in the early 7()s. as well as the smattering ol hits he continued to turn out with alarming regularity in the l‘ollow ing two decades.
Personally. one of my earliest musical memories was witnessing John. exotically suited and hooted. performing ‘(‘rocodilc Rock‘ on The Muppet Show accomjmnied hy. naturally. a crocodile hacking choir. I’d like to think that‘s what his liye act will he like this time. but seeing as how the Scissor Sisters haye stolen the muppet idea (as well as .lohn‘s sound and image pretty much wholesale). I guess we'll haye to settle for something slightly. only slightly mind. less outrageous.
01' course. outrageousness is pretty much John’s raison d‘etre. liyen when he wasn't producing music much worth talking about. he was always still in the press. haying a pop at someone (George Michael. papara/ri in Taiwan and the yoters on rllllt’l'lt‘tlll Idol to name but three recent outbursts). and goddammit. that's got to he a good thing.
But for all John's hltister and headline-grabbing antics. his heart has always been in the right place. As well as the ga/illions he has raised for numerous charities. he has remained a champion ol‘ new music throughout his career. He was one ol' the first to be hanging on about the White Stripes and Black Rebel Motorcycle (‘luh. I seem to recall. and the most recent recipient of his el’l‘usiye praise has been our yery own king ol' the danceliloor Mylo.
01’ course. it hasn‘t all been good there’s ‘(‘andle in the Wind‘ and Lion King l'or starters but let’s lace it. on balance there’s been much more good than had. and that's all anyone can hope for in Me. isn‘t it'.’
Easter Road, Edinburgh, Sat 25 Jun; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Sun 26 Jun.
Clare Teal Like Jamie Cullum. Clare Teal's breezy approach to jazz singing was enthusiastically taken up by Parky. and she was duly snapped up by a major label. Spiege/tent. Glasgow. Sat 25 Jun. (Jazz)
Elton John See preview. left Easter Road Stadium. Edinburgh. Sat 25 Jun,“ Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Sun 26 Jun. (Rock)
Antony and the Johnsons Astonishing leftiield American singer songwriter who numbers Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson as fans, and who sings with the likes of Rufus Wainwright on the extraordinary recent album. lam a Bird Now. See preview. page 68. Liquid Room, Edinburgh. Thu 30 Jun; ABC, Glasgow, Fri 7 Jul. (Rock 8 Pop)
Colin Steele Twin projects for the trumpeter, with his own new music from his quintet on Thursday. and his Miles Davis project on the other two nights. Henry '3 Jazz Cellar. Edinburgh. Thu 30 Jun—Sat 2 Jul. (Jazz)
Falrtrade Gathering: World Music Concert An evening of talks and diverse music. with the likes of longtime fair trade campaigner Bianca Jagger speaking. and sounds being provided by Cuban singer Candido Fabre in his first visit to Scotland. as well as local bands Zuba. Poor Old Ben and the Ruftness. Usher Hall, Edinburgh. Fri 1 Jul. (Folk)
Coldplay It‘s not every day that one of the world's biggest bands rolls into town. Not one but two outdoor shows in Glasgow‘s Bellahouston Park promise to be a near perfect setting for Chris Martin and (10's epic indie anthems as they promote new album X 8 Y. Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. Fri 1 & Sat 2 Jul. (Rock & Pop)
23 Jun r" Jul 9005‘ THE LIST 67