If anyone's music can maintain its energy and command an audience's rapt attention, it's Nick Lowe's. Armed with just an acoustic guitar and his charming wit, Lowe shot out lyrics like poignant arrows of observation that gently ached no matter how lighthearted they seemed.

Roughly 300 people crammed into the German House Thursday night to hear the hits. And the man's got more than a few. Still, Lowe managed to slip in a few new ones, including the best song of the night, "I Read A Lot," its lyrics gorgeous and sad over equally gorgeous and sad chords, its paint barely dry.

Lowe pointed out that he was keenly aware that half the audience wants to hear new stuff, while the other half wants the hits. He also acknowledged the fact that his songs were too short to go out and cop a smoke and get back in time to hear what you wanted. A slower, mellower version of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" was stunning, and "The Beast In Me" stopped the beast in me dead in its tracks.

A Hi-Riser-less Greg Townson warmed up with his guitar and a suitcase rigged with a kick pedal, and sounded just incredible. His songs are so well written that your mind fills in the blanks with a kind of cerebral rhythm section. Problem is, it was a late night, and the drums in my head are still pounding.