The first of three sold-out nights and the theatre is packed. Equal parts men and women, just about, the men take the standing room in front of the stage for their own personal club. It's a dangerous place to be, judging by Sheryl Crow's red stilettos - lethal, with a point that could take your eye out if she came close to the edge. But Crow stays several paces back, as if there were an invisible line she won't cross. Maybe the same invisible line stops her from stepping over into any real emotional intimacy. However bright the smile, however big the close-ups on the two projection screens, however chummy the between-songs banter, it's all gloss and polish, mirrorballs and lights.

Judging by the tormented lyrics in some of her older songs (which, since her latest album is a best-of, make up much of the show), this could be a deliberate defence mechanism as much as an acquiescence to a pop market where Britney-Shania-Kylie slickness and glam seem the only way to go. When Crow first appeared with her four-piece band (all men, dressed in black tops and jeans), I did a double take: the bare midriff, tight white top and trousers, and long, straight, blonde hair would have confused Britney's mum had she been sitting three floors up. And the first half-dozen numbers - slick, sophisticated pop like C'mon, C'mon and You're an Original - though attractive enough, could have belonged to almost any female in the charts.

Then mid-set comes a run of good stuff: a husky cover of Cat Stevens' First Cut Is the Deepest; the fine Leaving Las Vegas (fake Elvises on the screen), Strong Enough (bucking broncos) and Redemption (anti-war messages), those last two songs reminding us that Crow was raised on country as well as 1970s rock. But melodic, guitar-heavy rock, from If It Makes You Happy (Crow's) to Peace, Love and Understanding (Nick Lowe's) is what she seems happiest with, switching easily between electric, acoustic and bass guitars, enjoying the camaraderie of the band and the clapping along of the crowd. Strange, though, how quiet everyone was when they left.