My friend tried talking me into seeing Nick Lowe at the El Rey Theatre in L.A. This was about a year ago. I told him I loved Lowe, but I couldn’t justify a two hour drive for a concert.

We had done it before, for Lou Reed. Another time for Patti Smith. Oh, and my girlfriend scored us tickets for the Beastie Boys at the Greek. But most of the bands that play L.A. swing thru San Diego.

Many think of Nick Lowe as a “one-hit wonder,” because of his catchy “Cruel To Be Kind”.

A few others know he also wrote the song Elvis Costello had a hit with: (What’s So Funny) ‘bout Peace, Love, and Understanding.

He also produced Costello records, as well as other artists.

Many forget he was also in a “minor” supergroup called Rockpile (with Dave Edmunds, who had a hit with his cover of “I Hear Ya Knockin’” and produced many bands as well, including the Stray Cats).

At the Belly Up, Lowe joked about playing the biggest places in town with Rockpile; the Sports Arena and stadium, and how he hasn’t been in town in 30 years. He said, “I forgot everything about what San Diego was like. And, the people here forgot about me.”

In this large crowd, many were die hards. I noticed a woman in her 50s, wearing a Nick Lowe shirt. We started talking and she said, “Is your name Josh? We’ve met before.” Always embarrassing when you don’t remember that.

It was at a Doors convention in L.A. when I went up to interview photographer Henry Diltz for a story (and where I ran into Little Richard, with a gorgeous woman, getting into a limo). He handed me a bible, which I still have.

But I digress.

This woman was at the El Rey show, and she said she didn’t think twice about driving down for the Belly Up gig.

He played his two most famous songs…as well as the other big songs that the true fans know.

He’s done a few songs that “borrow” from Chuck Berry, one being his reworking of “You Never Can Tell”. You know the song, where Travolta dances to it in Pulp Fiction.

Well, Lowe’s song “I Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock ‘n Roll” has the same chords and a similar theme. My girlfriend asked about the two being similar. And when Lowe came out after the show, I said "My girlfriend thinks you plagirized Chuck Berry. He joked, “I steal all my songs from Chuck Berry, and the other great songwriters.”

Which simply isn’t true. He’s got so many great tunes, and we saw an hour and a half of them.

He played "All Men are Liars", a great song from Party of One.

Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart, She’s Got Soul…the sad “Has She Got a Friend?”

My friend Meryl joked, "When he had that song about how he liked to read a lot, and he says how he lives in a town with a population of one, I wanted to scream 'awwww'. But I held it in a chewed a stick of gum instead."

Someone near me told his friend, “I want to hear him play ‘Tonight’.” It turned into a “Who’s on First,” when his friend said “We’re here tonight, seeing him play.” His friend never clarified that “Tonight” is a song of Lowe’s.

And, seeing him at the Belly Up, was a truly magical experience. I hope it’s not another 30 years before he comes back.