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The Hollywood Reporter: The Speaking Clock Concert Review
10.22.2010 - The Hollywood Reporter By David Tom Henry
One can only wish that all benefit concerts boasted the stellar musicianship
and smooth seamlessness of “The Speaking Clock Revue,” conceived by producer T
Bone Burnett.
Featuring a spectacular lineup including the newly partnered Elton John and Leon
Russell, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, Gregg Allman, Ralph Stanley, Jeff
Bridges and others, the evening — benefiting music and arts education in public
schools and presented in association with Participant Media (responsible for the
acclaimed documentary “Waiting for “Superman”) — boasted more than three hours
of musical highlights.
Hosted by Costello, who brought to the proceedings the same depth of musical
knowledge and gift for amusing banter that he displays on his Sundance Channel
talk show, the show was done in a revue format, featuring a house band that
included such superb players as drummer Jim Keltner and guitarist Marc Ribot.
Also providing musical accompaniment was the terrific bluegrass quintet the
Punch Brothers, who delivered a short set of their own. (“Don’t worry, we’ll get
through our stuff quickly,” leader/mandolin player Chris Thile assured the
crowed, unnecessarily.)
Costello, who kept comically referring to Burnett as “my taller, smarter, older
brother,” kicked off the show with “Brilliant Mistake,” accompanied by rising
stars the Secret Sisters, who later showcased their crystalline harmonies on
numbers like a gorgeous rendition of Bill Monroe’s mournful “The One I Love Is
Gone.”
Mellencamp, commenting that “this is for the children and the education they’re
not getting,” superbly delivered several numbers from his most recent albums,
demonstrating that his newer material has greater depth even if lacking the pop
hooks that made him a star; Bridges displayed an infectious enthusiasm with
several songs from “Crazy Heart”; and Jim James of My Morning Jacket provided
movingly aching vocals on a pair of solo acoustic numbers.
The audience gave perhaps its biggest cheers to a frail-looking Gregg Allman,
returning to the venue in which his band has performed on innumerable occasions
for the first time since his recent liver transplant. After thanking his unknown
donor, he shakily sang a few numbers from his upcoming blues-oriented album
before rousing the crowd with the classic “Midnight Rider.”
Costello, accompanied by the Secret Sisters and Karen Elson, also previewed
numbers from his upcoming release — produced, as was the case with much of the
evening’s music, by Burnett — including the moving “Forgotten Man,” dedicated to
his father.
Country legend Ralph Stanley, 82, proved his agelessness with stirring
renditions of such gospel songs as “Lift Him Up” and the classic “Man of
Constant Sorrow.”
Elton John and Leon Russell, touring to promote their collaborative album “The
Union,” were the evening’s de facto headliners. Facing each other at dueling
pianos (Elton’s, not surprisingly, was much bigger), they performed a half-dozen
new songs ranging from the mournful Civil War-themed ballad “Gone to Shiloh”
(with Allman providing a guest vocal) to the rollicking “Monkey Suit” with a
youthful urgency that belied their ages.
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