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A strange one, this Elvis Costello character.
Diminutive, almost insect-like, and moodily attired in shabby suits, horn-rimmed NH specs and spiked hair, he is living proof that you don't have to be good looking to sell records and pack concert halls.
A year ago, he was totally unknown but now, a couple Top 20 singles and two classic albums later, Costello stands confidently on the brink of becoming one of Britain's most important rock writers for a long time.
For just how long he can continue to deliver the goods remains to be seen, but for the time being, as was demonstrated at Hemel Hempstead Pavilion on Sunday night, Elvis, if not the King, is very much the heir apparent.
He held a packed audience in awe by stalking on stage alone to play a strange and unknown soliloquy before whipping them into a frenzy with the addition of The Attractions.
Well, nearly all of them. Bassist Bruce cut his hand in Manchester we were told and his place was taken by the Jesus of Cool himself, prophet of pop Nick Lowe.
They ripped into "Waiting For The End Of The World" and "No Action" and then it was all pumped-up beat as they stormed through all of My Aim Is True and most of This Year's Model with hardly time to draw breath.
Most of Costello's songs are cynical, with cutting hooks to match, of love ("Alison," "Miracle Man"), of politics (the anti-Fascist "Less Than Zero") and fashion ("Lipstick Vogue," "I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea").
The band finished an exhilarating performance with encores of "Mystery Dance" and Lowe's "Heart Of The City."
But how long can Costello keep it up? Each new album and single from the man surpasses the last. What he might yet achieve is frightening.
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