Twangville

Jan 13, 2010

Win Big: Elvis Costello’s Spectacle

by in Contests, Features, News, Videos

Costello LaMontagne and LoweIf you haven’t been watching the second season of Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… on the Sundance Channel, you’ve been missing some incredible music television. A storied songwriter in his own right, Costello is able to speak as a peer with a diverse range of musical guests. He deftly explores their musical history and approach to songwriting, unearthing some incredible stories in the process.

But it’s the musical performances that really shine. A Jesse Winchester performance that brings a tear to Neko Case’s eye and leaves Costello in a stupor. Ron Sexsmith breathing new life into Costello’s “Every Day I Write the Book,” re-engaging the songwriter with his own song. An all-star band of Costello, Richard Thompson, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint, Ray LaMontagne and Levon Helm laying down a rousing version of the Band’s “The Weight.” And that’s just the beginning.

Win BigIn celebration of this musical extravaganza, we’ve giving away a special prize pack that includes the complete Spectacle Season 1 on DVD as well as the Sundance Channel goodies pictured to the right. To win, post a comment with the artist that you would most like to see interviewed by Costello. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Wednesday, 20 January 10 at midnight ET.**


Bono and the Edge on their fear of playing cover songs.


Select recent performance featuring Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson and others.

**This contest open to US residents only. By participating in Twangville contests you agree to allow Twangville to post the winner’s name and city on our web site. We pass along the winning addresses to the artist or promotions company for fulfillment. Twangville will not use your address for any other reason.

About the author:  Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.

  • http://coverlaydown.com boyhowdy

    However tempting and broad the set of possibilities here, I’d love to see Costello even the gender odds a bit more than he has up ’til now. As such, my vote for “artist I’d most like to see interviewed by Elvis Costello” goes to Patty Griffin, with strong second choices of Roseanne Cash, Shawn Colvin, and Caroline Herring.

    (Though to be fair, I haven’t checked the archives to see if he’s already hosted either or both – still, I’d like to SEE it in any case.)

  • http://n/a rick morris

    dear declan spending an hour [or two] with mr.tom waits has the makings for a future ron howard film.

    considering that there might still be bad blood between the two regarding some unsanctioned product released by mr.costello’s record company in europe, a back-up plan would be elvis and the genius joni mitchell.

  • FJ

    My #1 choice for Elvis to interview would be none other than singer/songwriter, John Prine. I would love to hear two of one of the greatest songwriters in the past 50 years, to discuss the craft and process of songwriting. Also, would love to hear them trading verses in Prine’s, “Hello In There”.

  • kim

    Lucinda Williams! i also agree with Patti Griffin and i don’t see it ever happening but the “former” Cat Stevens would be really interesting. my favorite show so far is the one with James Taylor as he really seemed to reveal a side you don’t usually see.

  • Mye Kaew

    I’d like to see him interview Van Morrison. 2 years ago I missed Morrison’s concert in my city and am still sad to this day. :(

  • John Foyle

    Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller .
    Neil Diamond.
    Merle Haggard.
    Neil Hannon.

  • JoeG

    I agree with Patty Griffin, Rosanne Cash & Van Morrison, but since Elvis is such a universally admired figure in the music biz, let’s see if he can cash in some of his favors and get either Sly Stone or Captain Beefheart! Wouldn’t either of them be something!

  • Elmus

    Jeff Tweedy if possible with Jay Farrar. An Uncle Tupelo reunion of sorts.

  • Daniel Jordan

    This is a hard one…there are so many good choices. I have always been fascinated by someone who has already been mentioned, John Prine. It is sad how many years I went without knowing about his great work. What makes it worse is that I live in KY. My parents dropped the ball on that one!

  • Andrea

    Rosanne Cash would be a great guest.

  • http://countrymusicpride.com/author/jim Jim Simpson

    John Prine would make a great interview. I’d also like to see Elvis interview Marshall Crenshaw or Dylan — like that’d ever happen, but you never know. I saw EC and BD in concert together; spectacular night indeed.

  • schismarch

    Leonard Cohen! Imagine what they could talk about. The songwriting discussion alone would be epic.

  • http://www.twangville.com Tom Osborne

    Springsteen, y’all.

  • Mayer Danzig

    To those who posted about John Prine, Rosanne Cash and Bruce Springsteen — you’re in luck! Check your local listings as Prine and Cash have already appeared and Springsteen is about to appear. See Roseanne Cash and Kris Kristofferson talk about sittin’ around singin’ in the Cash living room here and see Springsteen taking Costello to task for a comment Elvis made 30 years earlier here!

  • D. Archambault

    Costello has proven that he has a flare for dong on/one interviews and keeping it interesting with his research of the artist & playing interprets of artist’s selection or shared classic. The ultimate “get” would be Bob Dylan,- but I guess he could do a whole season on Mr. D. I would like to see Roger McQiunn and hear life influence for “Byrds”
    other members, jams & friends! A+

  • greg pappas

    ryan bingham

  • Todd

    For some perverse reason, the first person I thought of was Joe Jackson. It seems that JJ has always been somewhat in EC’s shadow despite his incredible talent and similar attempts at genre hopping….

  • Molly T

    2 of my absolute favorites (Neko and Jenny Lewis) have already been on there… so I’ll say Alejandro Escovedo… though Ryan Bingham or Amy LaVere would be cool too. Or Carrie Rodriguez… (see, I can’t decide! ugh). I’ll go with Al!

  • http://www.twitter.com/bkush B. Kushnir

    Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, or Pete Townsend. I think the people who shape the sounds would be good as well so how about someone like Daniel Lanois.

  • Kevin

    Todd Rundgren.

  • http://flickr.com/beccaphoto Becca

    I just discovered Spectacle and I just love how thoughtful the interviews! I would love to see Costello interview Ronnie Earl or Jeff Beck

  • Gar Saeger

    I would love to see Costello and Tom Waits talk it up. Also, Joe Henry and Peter Case would be wonderful to see on the show.

  • Mike

    I’m gonna have to go with Neil Young on this one…

  • Al

    I’d love to see Mick Jones (The Clash) or REK.
    He should a show from SxSW

  • http://www.concentric.net/~Mayerd/ Mayer Danzig

    Congratulations to Andrea Dyche of Kansas City, Missouri, our winner of the Elvis Costello Spectacle prize package. And thanks to all for your thoughtful responses.


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