COSTELLO: HOARSE VOICE, WARM SPIRIT

H eartwarming isn’t a term normally associated with Elvis Costello, but that’s precisely the quality that reigned during his show Friday at UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center.

Costello braved his way through an 80-minute set despite doctor’s orders to remain in bed to nurse a hoarse voice. Yet his infirmity underscored one point of the show’s predominantly solo acoustic format: the primacy of a great song. The brilliance of Costello’s compositions came through without elaborate arrangements, flashy production, or even his typical vocal shadings.

And Costello was unusually jocular, creating a remarkable intimacy in this 5,000-plus seat gymnasium/multipurpose facility. The show incorporated some of the same offbeat props introduced on last fall’s tour, and focused on less frequently performed material. Although he left without playing most of his signature songs, Costello’s spontaneity, passion and--yes--warmth should stand as an object lesson to any performer who sees live shows only as a tool for boosting record sales.

In his solo opening set, longtime Costello crony Nick Lowe emphasized poignancy and honesty over his old irony and dark wit. The pair’s college-campus tour also included a stop at San Diego State University on Saturday.