Back in 1978, Nick Lowe had the cheek to call his first solo album Jesus of Cool. (In his native Britain, that is: stateside, record execs saw to it that it was renamed Pure Pop For Now People.) Thirty years later, the Brinsley Schwartz founder and Elvis Costello producer still came off as impossibly suave at the World Cafe Live on Tuesday.
The natty gent didn't have a band, and didn't really need one. It's no easy task to hold a packed house's attention from start to finish with just an acoustic guitar - strumming Canadian Ron Sexsmith, who opened, didn't quite manage it - but Lowe pulls it off with panache. His hour plus set tossed in a a few tasty morsels from his pub rock past - "Heart" and "Heart of the City" from his days with Dave Edmunds in Rockpile, plus a sweet and sad version of his own "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding?" The 58 year old is a canny craftsman and charming entertainer (with a great head of aging rock star hair), and the spare setting and crystalline sound made it clear that he's still a subtlely soulful singer and deftly understated guitar player. And he also made an excellent case for the latter stages of his career, with plenty from his excellent new At My Age, as well as curmudgeonly blues such as "Man That I've Become" and "Lately I've Let Things Slide."
Here's a clip of Lowe and Edmunds kicking up a cloud of dust back in the '70's, on "Heart of the City."
Philly.com discussions are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic.
These boards are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. Personal attacks, especially on other board participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.