Nils Lofgren, when he came on stage at the Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon on Thursday night, seemed more diminutive than ever writes Christine van Emst.

He is a small man, but when he picks up a guitar he becomes a giant of a man. A big talent linked with three musicians in a band so tight it almost hurt.

He played a mix of old and new num-bers. From the new album I loved Drifter Man and from the past, from the Damaged Goods album Black Books is still thrilling.

From the earliest days Lofgren has al-ways had a nack of making a sensitive song really tug at the heart. He manages this by delivering his verses with perfect diction. Even with the amazing drum-ming of Timm Biery, you could hear every word he sang. Wade Matthews on bass guitar and Buck Brown on keyboard meshed into this quartet to make it a night of exciting, classic rock.

December 3, 2001 13:00