Amanda Hughes Loves Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...

By Venus Zine Staff
Published: April 27th, 2010 | 2:55pm

There is only one thing more hipster-annoying than professing a love for Elvis Costello (mustache finger-tattoos). That said, I have to admit I’m crazy about the Sundance Channel’s series Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…

Basically, on each episode, Costello hosts an extended interview-slash-jam-session with one (or several) of his musician friends. They play the guest’s music, they play Costello’s music, and often, they play someone else’s music. The interviews are so smart and candid, it makes you wish he'd have a crack at every musician on your iPod.

Over his 30-some-odd year career, Costello has put some of the most interesting and diverse musicians in the business on his speed dial. That's the real beauty of the program. The staggering guest list has included Kris Kristofferson, Lou Reed, Nick Lowe, and President Bill Clinton. And there are tons more.

Although it airs on Wednesday nights, I let Spectacle rack up on my DVR for a month or so, and then spend a long, lazy Sunday morning watching the episodes over a Dixie Kitchen brunch. If you haven’t done this, trust me, you’re missing out. (Non-Chicago readers: Feel free to sub. your favorite breakfast spot, but keep in mind you'll need fried green tomatoes to get the full effect.)

Some episodes I look forward to because of the sheer talent guaranteed to be on display. Take Smokey Robinson’s appearance. How could that go wrong? But I’m much happier when something I didn’t think I’d enjoy turns out to be amazing.

For example, Rufus Wainwright isn’t someone I really appreciate. Despite his obvious talent, I find his particular brand of singer-songwriter earnestness to be a little harrowing. But on Spectacle, he collaborated effortlessly with Costello, and by the end of the show, half of Wainwright’s famous musical family was onstage for a phenomenal American-folk ballad I hadn’t expected from an artist I know primarily from a Gap ad.

Something like that can really make your Sunday.

Amanda Hughes is a Venus Zine editorial intern