A Night to Squeeze the Day

Introducing a new song called “Grouch of the Day” at the Coach House on Friday night, Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze explained: “This one’s about a condition one wakes up with that sometimes lasts for the whole day.

“But fortunately, not today.”

Sure enough, there was nothing grumpy about Squeeze’s sold-out show. Perhaps in spite of recent misfortunes (indifferently received albums, the collapse of their record label), the veteran Brit pop-rockers were downright determined and celebratory, appearing to revel in the sheer joy of playing live before their faithful, enthusiastic fans.

In a gloriously uplifting set that spanned their nearly 20-year career, Tilbrook and longtime partner Chris Difford (joined by touring guitarist Nick Harper) played acoustic music that was fast-paced, energetic and spirited. Included were such timeless gems as “Pulling Mussels From a Shell,” “Take Me I’m Yours,” “Up the Junction,” “Annie Get Your Gun” and the rollicking finale, “Good-Bye Girl.”

The froggy-voiced Difford and sweet-sounding Tilbrook blended their contrasting styles seamlessly and were dazzling as ever; their trademark harmonies soared during “Third Rail” and a who-needs-Paul Carrack-anyway version of “Tempted.” (They also were at extremes in terms of fashion, Tilbrook in a T-shirt, baggy trousers and tennis shoes, while Difford wore a button-down white shirt under a handsome -black blazer.)

Still, of the two, it was the grinning Tilbrook who took the concert up a notch, fueling it with several moments of emotional vocal and instrumental firepower. Although “unplugged,” his commanding guitar leads often were electrifying as he strummed and picked notes with an aggressive edge and a subtle grace. His clean, softer licks nudged the melody line of the wistful “Some Fantastic Place”; his blistering solo bolstered an otherwise disappointing version of a new song, “Fingertips.”

For the concert’s first encore, Tilbrook delivered a solo version of a bluesy ballad called “Temptation for Love” that was far superior to the overproduced arrangement on the new Squeeze album, “Ridiculous.” This stripped-down rendition captured the hopeless sense of yearning in the lyric, which Tilbrook sang with sad resignation: “I search for what cannot be found / The beating of your heart.”

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Two other new songs--the nostalgic, semi-autobiographical “Electric Trains” and a reflection on romantic longing called “I Want You”--also benefited from the tour’s acoustic format, which opened more space for Tilbrook’s vocal nuances.

Primarily, though, the 90-minute set was light and fun, with an emphasis on catchy, less serious-minded pop songs and a loose, playfulness between Squeeze and its audience.

Working a double shift, Harper served as the evening’s sole opening act (the previously announced Hammel on Trial was canceled). But he proved better suited to his back-up role in Squeeze. Harper’s own 45 minutes of pop-rock were undistinguished, lacking lyrical depth and vocal finesse.