To keep an audience on the edge of their seats for 90 minutes, a solo performer needs to have several elements come into play: Large portions of talent, variety, humor and the ability to strike up a rapport with the crowd.  

 Last night, Lawrence Gowan had all of the above.  

 This appearance was a benefit show for the Ottawa Folk festival, and as such you'd guess that a large portion of the crowd might not be as familiar with Gowan's work as his rock crowd.  

 You'd never have known it from their response.  

 From the instant the leather-clad Toronto native climbed on stage with a lantern in his hand, the place was literally his.  

 As he cracked the roof with a banshee wail and lit into Cosmetics, Gowan showed what many have known for a while -- that his talent reaches beyond the borders of being a Canadian rock and video star.  

 Not only did he peel off an unending series of classic tracks, but he did it with the full range of the keyboards he had on stage with him. The electronics allowed him to offer a sound that made you think there was a full band up there, and gave tracks like Guerrilla Soldier extra drama.  

 He was also able to weave his exceptional stage patter into a web of familiarity that the audience loved.  

 He talked about performing in the Golan Heights and explained how Imagine had new meaning there. He followed that with an explanation of how his tribute to Princess Diana, Healing Waters, evolved -- which gave the song a more human side.  

 But the evening also soared with humor.  

 Gowan joked incessantly about his tight leather pants and had a Spinal Tap-moment when he couldn't get a pick out of his pocket -- he later had a young lady fish one out for him.  

 Gowan's mastery of the piano was showcased with a segment of Beethoven and a more impressive ragtime number. He sang his new French single Stephanie and paid homage to Harmonium in song.  

 Along with rousing versions of Moonlight Desires, Strange Animal and the encore Criminal Mind, Gowan's command of that stage was in itself easily worthy of the standing ovation he received.

JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5