Written by: David Porter
All Photos By Geoff Tischman
NICK LOWE WITH LOS STRAITJACKETS AT FAIRFIELD THEATER COMPANY
What an honor and pleasure to see Nick Lowe backed by Nashville’s own Los Straitjackets at Fairfield Theater Company in Fairfield, Connecticut. The Godfather of Pub Rock was in fine fettle, and the audience was his from the moment took the stage he opened with “So It Goes!” Incredible. Dressed in gray slacks and his trademark spectacles, he looked a lot like an esteemed professor who had just popped into the annual faculty garden party, which makes sense, as he proceeded to teach all of us a lesson about a time when the world was made of songs, when it seemed the world was as crowded with hit singles as the universe was with stars.
Mr. Lowe’s enjoyment was obvious, and the high points of his lesson went like this:
- So It Goes
- Marie Provost
- Raging Eye
- Without Love
- I Live on a Battlefield
- Somebody Cares for Me
- Tokyo Bay
- I Went to the Party
- Half a Boy and Half a Man
- Blue on Blue
- Cruel to Be Kind
- I Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock and Roll
Around the middle of the show Mr. Lowe retired backstage, leaving Los Straitjackets onstage to tear through a few instrumentals. Los Straitjackets have backed Mr. Lowe on a number of albums and tours, and in 2017 the band released “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Los Straitjackets?”, every song an instrumental cover of a Nick Lowe track.
Toward the end of the set Mr. Lowe played “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding,” and we gave him a much-deserved standing ovation.
He knew the bride when she used to rock and roll. He goes way back. Here’s hoping he comes around again soon.
