Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint - Hot As A Pistol, Keen As A Blade (2007)

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina ElvisCostello and New Orleans musical great Allen Toussaint collaborated on "TheRiver In Reverse" and followed it with knockout performances at the GRAMMY Awards and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a month-long tour. The DVD "Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade", captures that tour's scintillating concert in Montreal, Canada, spotlighting songsfrom the album as well as other Costello gems spanning four decades, from "Watching The Detectives" and "Pump It Up" to lesser-known songs, most ofthem given special arrangements by Toussaint.
"Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade" offers video evidence of a rare and special concert tour. Presented in 5.1 Surround Sound, the nearlytwo-hour-long DVD stars the same lineup as that on "The River In Reverse,"combining Costello's band The Imposters with Toussaint's horn section(Amadee Castenell, Joe Smith, Sam Williams and Brian Cayolle) and guitarist (Anthony Brown). Bonuses include a performance of "Alison"; an in-studio performance of "Who's Gonna Help Brother," an excerpt from the film "Putting The River In Reverse" by Matthew Buzzell; an interview with Costello and Toussaint; a photo gallery; and a tour journal by Costello. Costello and Toussaint first met in 1983 when the latter produced a track for the former. Toussaint also contributed to his 1988 "Spike" album.
Seventeen years later they reconnected in New York, where Toussaint relocated after Katrina's devastation, for a series of benefit shows,sparking the collaboration and recording of the critically acclaimed "TheRiver in Reverse."
The deeply soulful "The River in Reverse" is comprised of seven songs from Toussaint's matchless catalog; five newly written by the two; and one new song, the title track, written by Costello.
To support "The River In Reverse," they then took to the road. The result on stage isa description as well as a title – "Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade."

Artists:
- Elvis Costello & The Imposters:
Elvis Costello/ Vocals, Guitar
Davey Faragher/ Vocals, Bass
Pete Thomas/ Drums
Steve Nieve/ Keyboards, Piano, Hammond Organ
- Allen Toussaint/ Piano, Vocals, Hammond Organ
- Crescent City Horns (guest):
Amadee Castenell/ Flute, Tenor Sax
Joe Smith/ Trumpet
Sam Williams/ Sax
Brian Cayolle/ Baritone Sax, Soprano Sax
- Anthony Brown (guest): Guitar


Tracklist:
01. Intro [0:23]
02. Monkey to Man [3:56]
03. A Certain Girl [3:15]
04. Clown Strike [4:40]
05. Tears Tears and More Tears [3:52]
06. Tears Before Bedtime [4:26]
07. Poisoned Rose [5:31]
08. (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea [3:55]
09. Broken Promise Land [5:52]
10. Freedom for the Stallion [4:51]
11. The River in Reverse [5:22]
12. Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further? [6:31]
13. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror [5:21]
14. Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues) [3:55]
15. Bedlam [5:44]
16. Watching the Detectives [5:46]
17. Episode of Blonde [6:19]
18. Pump It Up [3:26]
19. Yes We Can Can [2:27]
20. Fortune Teller [3:33]
21. Big Chief Medley: (Big Chief/TipitinaThe Olde Professor) [4:44]
22. International Echo [7:39]
23. Clubland [6:13]
24. Six-Fingered Man [5:36]
25. The Sharpest Thorn [6:54]

Extra:
- Band Introductions
- Alison
- Who's Gonna Help Brother - An excerpt from the film "Putting The
- River In Reverse" by Matthew Buzzel
- Interview with Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
- Photo Gallery
- Tour Journal by Elvis Costello


Features:
- Direct Scene Access
- Interactive Menu