It’s odd, isn’t it. I saw the end of his set in Hylands Park yesterday and although the melody, timing and vocal performance weren’t even in the same postcode for Oliver’s Army, the subsequent Peace, Love and Understanding was terrific.

That's good to hear.
As an ardent fan from 1977, and veteran of many, many Costello gigs, in retrospect, I should have called it a day back in 2015 when he and the Imposters played the Anvil, Basingstoke, a show postponed from the previous year. He was at the top of his game, vocally, and his command of his back catalogue and superb band was something to behold.
Sadly, however, I saw him again in Sheffield, 2020, just before lockdown, and not only was he lacking in energy and spontaneity - not surprising as he was that much older and had been in ill health; no shame there, of course - but his voice had gone and he was no longer able to hit certain notes, with songs given the dreaded 'alternative' melodies in an attempt to compensate.
Fairport have always been my favourite band, but Elvis and the Attractions on a good night really were something else...

Elvis Costello and The Imposters at Portsmouth Guildhall last night.
Having read some of the reviews of recent gigs on the tour, I approached this with a certain amount of trepidation. It seems Elvis was blowing hot and cold. The Royal Albert Hall gig in particular seemed to have been plagued with poor sound quality.
At Portsmouth he was definitely blowing hot! Vocally he was a lot stronger than I was expecting and the set list was fantastic.
Support act Chris Difford was highly enjoyable too.

The Breeders  :  Last Splash   (30th anniversary edition, 4AD,  2023.  2×45  rpm clear vinyl LP, + etched  red vinyl .ep).

It's rare i make a speculative buy,  but here's  one.  They seem to have  a good pedigree, and the  album  is remastered from  original analogue tapes. So far I quite like it.

Good luck. Let's hope you don't hit a traffic jam when you're already late... 🙄

Up next, Janis Ian. Oh, my, Lord. ❤️

Down to Chelmsford tomorrow for the replacement headliner and the poorly-reviewed Costello show. No golf umbrellas allowed. Best take a hat.

James Taylor’s 1970 In Concert is on BBC4 now (and hence on the iPlayer for the next month). I’m not so concerned about paying the license fee for what I can watch now, but what might happen to it if they were forced to sell off what they already have.

Marvellous! It's been a long time since I watched that.

Peter Hammill Tears in time...

https://www.roughtrade.com/product/peter-hammill/tears-in-time?fbclid=IwY2xjawSrb9NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBDNzB0VHk2aWx1eWlwT3Qwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHi5XVP7JgNW3scpWEQcYaOf4zhgPda4wkNxXLcqvjeyh8P8df9df-wlTv2Ht_aem_6INbwaDkwbIqNCFZ-dhqmQ