Last night Elvis Costello showed up to Late Night With Jimmy Fallon to talk about his new collaborative album with the Roots, Wise Up Ghost, as well as play two songs from the album.
"Walk Us Uptown" (above) was the first song performed. A rousing, funky cut that has Questlove playing a retro breakbeat, Costello sounding 20 years younger, and the rest of the Roots sounding tighter than Archie Bell and the Drells, the song is definitely one of the highlights from Wise Up Ghost.
"Tripwire," the second song, is a slower ballad that has Costello revisiting the weepy territory he explored on classics like "Alison" and "She." The Roots laid down a sensual, xylophone-driven groove, and Diane Birch showed up to sing backing vocals, both providing excellent accompaniment to Costello's mournful voice.
You should also check out Costello's brief interview with Fallon, in which he laments the tiny size of the Roots' dressing room and explains why making Wise Up Ghost was "a gas."
Stream the entirety of Wise Up Ghost here, and keep your eyes peeled for a joint tour announcement from Costello and the Roots.
Source: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
