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They were dancing in the aisles, in the corridors and throughout the hall of Cardiff Joint Students' Union last night, when Elvis Costello and the Attractions came to town.
From "Watching the Detectives" to "Oliver's Army," Costello kept the beat and the pace of the evening high. His music has reached a peak of performance quality and a consistency that ranks him as one of the top British artists.
Never have no many hits been heard under one roof. Few other musicians can start a concert by claiming: "We'll sing any song that comes into our heads." Then the fun started.
The packed Cardiff audience had been warmed up in the first place by jigging Irish folk group The Pogues, whose hard punkish image was enhanced by the tambourine player hitting his instrument with his head.
But now sophisticated and assured the Attractions sounded in contrast, with Costello as their master-singer. To see talented Steve Nieve on keyboards, improvising with enigmatic brilliance, reminds of the partnership of Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin back in the days of The Shadows.
There was hardly a break between songs, and the concert developed in warmth and energy as Costello gained momentum. He still likes to rock 'n' roll with "Mystery Dance," to sing of "Peace In Our Time," give a solo country ballad or two, or hit hard with "Pump It Up."
And he must remain one of the country's top lyricists. He managed, to alter the words "There's already one space man in the White House, what do we want another one for," to "What do we want the same one again for?"
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