A LIVE TRIBUTE
VICTOR STRANGES & THE FUTURISTS
L-R: Victor Stranges, Mike Dupp, Frank Scalzo, Mike Stranges
Everyday I Write The Hook - The Elvis Costello Songbook
A live homage to Costello's first twenty years on record
Everyday I Write The Hook - The Elvis Costello Songbook is a curated live project led by Melbourne songwriter and performer Victor Stranges, dedicated to performing the music of Elvis Costello from 1977 to 1996. Across two live sets, the show explores fourteen studio albums in detail, from My Aim Is True through to All This Useless Beauty, performed by a rotating ensemble of seasoned musicians who approach the material with care, precision and lived-in familiarity.
What began as a private obsession with Costello’s songwriting grew into a long-term musical study. Stranges, who first discovered Costello at sixteen while drumming in underground punk outfit Drunk ‘n’ Disorderly, describes Costello’s work as a “blueprint for songwriting that never ran out of ideas.” The discovery of Costello’s early catalogue prompted a shift in musical direction and led to the formation of Stranges’ next band, The Methinks, which leaned heavily into post-punk songcraft and melodic defiance.
The project debuted as a solo performance at The Brunswick Ballroom in 2019, eventually evolving into a full-band outing known as Everyday I Write The Hook - The Elvis Costello Songbook, performed by Victor Stranges & The Futurists. Since its formation, the band has featured some of Melbourne’s most respected players.
Current Core Lineup
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Victor Stranges - vocals, guitar (The Methinks, Black Market Clash, Atomic: The Songs Of Blondie)
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Frank Scalzo - drums, backing vocals (The Methinks, Secret Agents, Tom Waits Show)
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Mike Dupp - keyboards (The Methinks, Black Market Clash, Atomic: The Songs Of Blondie)
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Mike Stranges - bass (John Dowler's Vanity Project, Kim Salmon, Morning After Girls, Ripe)
Past Collaborators
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Dave Leslie - bass (Baby Animals, Truck, Raw Brit)
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James Lockwood - bass (James Lockwood Trio, Jelly Roll Soul: The Music of Charles Mingus, Lee Jones Quartet)
This is not a costumed tribute act. These performances are drawn from deep listening, rehearsal and an understanding of the harmonic and rhythmic signatures that define Costello’s early work. Songs such as New Lace Sleeves, So Like Candy, Riot Act, The Loved Ones, Shipbuilding, and You Tripped At Every Step are treated with the same attention as well-known singles like Pump It Up, Watching The Detectives, Olivers Army, Everyday I Write The Book, Veronica and Alison.
Everyday I Write The Hook - The Elvis Costello Songbook is a rare, evolving live experience that rewards close listening. It’s a show for those who already understand the weight of these songs - and for anyone curious enough to find out.