Fri. Sept. 21

An English pop critic once dubbed Nick Lowe "the Jesus of Cool," and Nick liked it so much - as irony, mostly - that he took it as the name of his first solo album, proper. (That was in the UK; here it was called "Pure Pop for Now People.")  He'd had a history before that, mind you, with the band Brinsley Schwarz, one of Britain's top "pub rock" bands. For them, he'd written a song Elvis Costello would later turn into a classic anthem, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding)." But as punk rose up, Lowe first joined the ranks and then broke out of the Stiff Records stable - as artist, humorist and producer, bashing out his own records and records by Costello, the Damned and others. (That was another nickname, the Basher, bestowed upon him because of his fondness for banging things out and not fussing around too much in the studio.) Those early years - the late-'70s - were special ones. Lowe mixed pop and wit, wrote "I Knew the Bride," "Cruel to Be Kind" and "So It Goes" - three classics in anyone's book. Scads more, too. He titled an EP "Bowi" because David Bowie called an album "Low." Nick figured if Bowie could name and album after him and leave of the "e," well, so could he! He covered an old country weeper called "Born A Woman," and caught the ire of feminists who didn't catch any humor in him singing: "You're born to be lied to, cheated on treated like dirt/If you're born a woman, you're born to be hurt." He later formed the band Rockpile with longtime mate, Dave Edmunds. Lowe was the thinking Anglophile's new waver - a tad older and wiser than the punks, but one who never took himself too seriously. As one who interviewed Lowe, back in the day, I can tell you he was every bit as engaging as an interview subject as an artist. When he married Carlene Carter - in effect marrying into the John Cash-June Carter - clan I tipped my hat. Well, the marriage went south, and Lowe had some not-good times. I remember one set at Boston College, when he opened for Costello and then was massively, and bitterly drunk afterwards. But then he more or less re-invented himself, shucking some of the irony and moving toward a country-ish sound. (Just a guess, he dumped the booze, too.) And that's where he remains on his latest disc, "At My Age" (great title; he's 58). Lowe's moving at a mid-tempo pace, writing more somber reflective songs that, well, sound like songs written by someone who's been through some damage and seen a lot around him. Salon.com mentioned "soulful," "humble" and "heartfelt" qualities and that seems on target. Is this the Nick Lowe you want to go see live at the Somerville Theatre Friday Sept. 21? For the most part, it probably will be. Lowe's records this century are cut from that cloth. The last time I saw him, at the Paradise, I was impressed with his re-invention - he's got one called "People Change" on the new one (with Chrissie Hynde on backing vocals) - and still musing the Nick Lowe of yore. (He did re-arrange a few of his old hits.) But what he's doing is what mature artists do - they make music for their generation, not try to pretend they're forever 18. And, though I'm not Lowe's age yet, I can relate to where he's coming from, appreciate the wistfulness and sense of loss. I miss the sass, speed and spirit, yes, but that's going to happen. Singer-bassist Lowe will be joined by his band, guitarist Steve Donnelly, keyboardist Geraint Watkins and drummer Bobby Irwin. Show starts at 7:30 (no opener announced yet) and tickets are $25.

55 Davis Square, Somerville, 617-931-2000 www.somervilletheatreonline.com