For 2026, we’ve launched a new web series called “Yea, I Was There,” taking short dives into legendary concerts that have passed through Oxford, Mississippi over the last 60 years. We’ll spotlight iconic shows—from B.B. King and Bob Dylan to Fugazi, R.E.M., and countless Proud Larry’s gigs—along with streaming links and videos when available.

We’re also looking for your stories and memorabilia, so if you were there (or still have the poster or T-shirt), email us and help keep Oxford’s music history alive.

 

WELCOME TO THE WORKING WEEK! ELVIS COSTELLO COMES TO OXFORD!

“During the Thacker Mountain appearance, Mayor Richard Howorth made Costello an honorary citizen of Oxford.” – Tupelo Daily Journal

Elvis Costello “lived” in Oxford for a brief time during the spring of 2004 while recording his album The Delivery Man with his longtime band, The Imposters. The record was made at Sweet Tea Studio, a now defunct recording studio formerly across the street from James Food Center on Jackson Ave. in Oxford.

While Elvis and the band were in town recording they decided to try out some of the new material over a two-night run at Proud Larry’s, easily one of the smallest gigs the band played during this era (or any era really). Both nights sold out quickly as word-of-mouth spread. Costello also performed in Memphis at the Hi-Tone over two nights later that month. The Memphis shows were filmed and later released as a DVD titled Live in Memphis. 

Costello also made an appearance on Thacker Mountain Radio on April Fool’s Day. We’re not sure exactly what was performed on Thacker Mountain. If anyone has that recording please share it with us. We know it was a “work in progress” song from the new album.

The two nights at Proud Larry’s were packed full of songs. Each night featured two full sets of music totally over 30 songs each night. The setlist ran the gamut of Costello’s career and luckily you can listen to both shows.

April 2, 2004 show setlist and download RIGHT HERE.

April 3, 2004 show setlist and download RIGHT HERE.

 

Read a review of Delivery Man over at Paste Magazine’s website, and another review at Pitchfork.

 

From the Nashville Scene about the shows:

Costello and his band, The Imposters, spent a few days rehearsing in a rented club in Oxford, before capping a week of practice with a pair of gigs at Proud Larry’s, a postage-stamp-sized college club there. Two nights of shows were scheduled, each featuring two 70-minute sets. Over the course of both nights, Costello and his band blazed their way through a total of 17 new songs, as well as a few older ones like “Radio Radio,” “(What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” and “Beyond Belief.”

Since this was a rehearsal, they did many of the new songs more than once, making it interesting to hear some of them reworked from performance to performance. Costello played with different lyrics on “The Deliveryman,” while keyboardist Steve Nieve substantially altered the arrangement on “Nothing Clings Like Ivy.” “Heart-Shaped Bruise,” a song that made its debut at Costello’s Ryman show four years ago, was transformed from a Hank Williams-style strummer to mid-tempo country-rock.

The material marks a return to the rocking style of Costello’s early career and, in a couple of cases, to the pointed political commentary of his most recent Ryman concert in February. These songs likely will placate those fans who were disappointed with the subdued tone of his last album, North. Not that satisfying his fans is foremost on Costello’s mind right now, what with his recent marriage to jazz singer Diana Krall and their collaborations on material for her forthcoming album, The Girl in the Other Room.

Costello continues his Southern odyssey with a day or two of recording in Clarksdale, Miss., the epicenter of Delta blues, and then plans to head up Highway 61 to Memphis, where he will record with producer Jim Dickinson at Ardent Studios. Supplementing those sessions will be a pair of shows at the Hi-Tone club in Memphis on April 16 and 17. Costello will be doing another two sets a night, although each of these sold-out sets requires its own ticket, unlike the shows at Proud Larry.

—Dave Weil

 

From the Tupelo Daily Journal:

OXFORD – Ladies and gentleman, Elvis is alive and well in Northeast Mississippi.

Elvis Costello, a rock n’ roll icon since the 1970s, has taken up short-term residence here to record a new album.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” said Elaine Abadie, executive director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council. “He’s just been making himself at home. I’ve had several sightings.”

Costello and his bandmates have been spotted riding bikes through town, eating green pea and onion soup at the Bottletree Bakery, performing at Proud Larry’s and appearing on Thacker Mountain Radio.

During the Thacker Mountain appearance, Mayor Richard Howorth made Costello an honorary citizen of Oxford.

“I’ve also seen him and his mates around town on bicycles,” Howorth said. “They’ve been scooting around and getting their morning coffee at the Bottletree and just hanging around when they’re not recording.”

Costello is a versatile artist who’s written pop, country, traditional, jazz and gospel songs. He recently was nominated for an Academy Award for “The Scarlet Tide,” a song he contributed to the “Cold Mountain” movie soundtrack.

In the pop world, he’s known for songs like “Alison,” “Everyday I Write the Book,” “(What’s So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding,” “Lipstick Vogue,” “Veronica” and more.

He is recording his next album with producer Dennis Herring at Sweet Tea Recording in Oxford. A nationally known producer, Herring has worked with bands like Counting Crows and Jars of Clay.

Costello and crew tried out some new songs during two nights of performances at Proud Larry’s April 2-3.

“Dennis said Elvis likes to rehearse and play new songs live before he goes into the studio,” said Scott Caradine, owner of Proud Larry’s. He added Costello will be in town until sometime next week.

Howorth said having a celebrity in town hasn’t presented much of a disruption.

“We’re certainly not immune to celebrity-itis. I think people get excited when certain people are in town,” he said. “I like to think people can control themselves. Everybody is being cool as far as I can tell.”

 

Live in Memphis release: 

 

 

BONUS STUFF: 

Ad for Record Shack–early Oxford record shop–in the Daily Mississippian 1978

 

A review of Elvis Costello’s show in Memphis at Mud Island from the Daily Mississippian 1983. “Elvis Costello is the most interesting person in pop music today.”