POP CAPSULES : CRENSHAW: HITMAKER WHO HASN’T HIT

Marshall Crenshaw might still be a great white hope of pop music. Even though his three critically lauded albums have been commercially ignored, the New York-based singer-guitarist sounded as sharp as ever Saturday at the Palace. Where others might have thrown in the towel by now, Crenshaw shows no signs of submission.

His commercial struggle is hard to explain, because his catchy, charming songs have a timeless quality that would sound great on radio. How many other rockers could pit their own material head to head with such classics as “Shake, Rattle and Roll” and Jackie Wilson’s “Reet Petite” without being overshadowed--and yet still preserve an aura of unassuming modesty?

His songs--typically nifty hooks and well-wrought harmonies on rockabilly and/or Beatle-ish settings--took on added dimension live, thanks largely to his brother Robert’s whip-crack drumming. “Maryanne,” “Little Wild One,” “Whenever You’re on My Mind”--for 70 minutes the should -be hits just kept on comin’.

So why aren’t they hits? Maybe Crenshaw is too unassuming and mild-mannered. Although he worked up a pretty good head of rock ‘n’ roll steam by the show’s end, the enduring character of his material remained subtlety and understatement--rarely useful in a quest for hitdom.

As enjoyable as Crenshaw’s performance was, it was not the kind of show to inspire rabid passion in the audience. Still, Crenshaw is a terrific contrast to the empty bombast frequently encountered in rock, and the enthusiastic packed house roundly welcomed him as such.