No one does the greatest-hits extravaganza like Elvis Costello. In addition to a sturdy band of Imposters, Costello’s 2012 Revolver Tour features the return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook, an honest-to-God Wheel of Fortune–style contraption emblazoned with song titles drawn from across Costello’s 35-year career and spun by lucky audience members. Whatever song comes up, the band bangs out. No two shows are the same, and all of them are great. (My top mama-needs-a-new-pair-of-shoes song hopefuls: “New Lace Sleeves” [1981], “I Want You” [1986], “Lipstick Vogue” [1978].) (Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, www.stgpresents.org, 8 pm, $35.75–$75.75, all ages)

David Schmader—former weed columnist and Stranger associate editor—is the author of the solo plays Straight and Letter to Axl, which he’s performed in Seattle and across the US. His latest...