Before intermission, Newman told stories, cracked jokes, and played a lively mix of music that combined familiar tunes with off-beat, funny songs that showcased his dry, witty sense of humor. "I Love Money," "Short People," "You've Got a Friend in Me" all made an appearance, but such lesser-known tunes as "I'm Dead But I Don't Know It" and "Political Science" were at least as appreciated.

But the second half played more like a formal classical recital. Newman solemnly went from one song to the next, this time mixing more serious subjects with such hits as "I Love L.A." and "Mama Told Me Not To Come."

Die-hard fans seemed to recognize and appreciate some of the other tunes, but this time, Newman seemed to rely on the purely musical experience to carry the concert — but unfortunately, it didn't.

He did warm up more toward the end, and the audience seemed to appreciate what the composer had to offer — to the point that Newman played an encore. But had he been as consistent in the second half as in the first, the whole concert would have been an unqualified success.

---

E-mail: rcline@desnews.com