The Abominable Showman

Nick Lowe’s Abominable Showman was recorded with his post-Rockpile touring band “Noise to Go.” Following the blueprint of Rockpile, the band also featured a second lead vocalist in erstwhile Ace frontman Paul Carrack and had been featured on the Lowe-produced Carrack album Suburban Voodoo (as well as on this album’s duet “Wish You Were Here”). This unit could play hard driving rock & roll and soulful pop music, all in evidence here from the opener (and concert favorite) “Raging Eyes” to the full on pop-soul of “Time Wounds All Heels.” And the band barnstormed the USA opening for the likes of The Cars and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers which yields the bonus EP of live tracks from Cleveland’s Agora.