Liverpudlian Edgar Jones (formerly Edgar "Jones" Jones) is often said to be stuck in the 1960s. When he was Edgar Summertyme, his first band the Stairs recorded in mono and led a movement dubbed "cosmic scouse". Since then, he has played with 60s-referencing acts from Paul Weller to Candie Payne and recorded two albums in his living room which led his No 1 fan, Noel Gallagher, to consider buying the room. These days, Jones's 60s obsession is most apparent in his appearance. He has Keith Richards' hair, Mick Jagger's physique and a decent approximation of Pete Townshend's nose. He also seems to have added Fats Domino's stomach-rumbling gurgle, a vocal triumph that suggests his time machine is heading even further back.

However, once you submit to Jones's weirdly detached world, his songs seem more timeless than retro. Grinning beneath that hair, he leads his supertight musicians through soul, blues, jazz and ska. Implausibly, the big voice seems to get bigger and deeper as he goes along, roaring through the stomping Gonna Miss You When You're Gone like a dead ringer for Louis Armstrong.

It is difficult not to warm to Jones as he beats a cowbell, mutters incomprehensibly between songs and claps along with his own tunes like a child hearing music for the first time. His use of lyrical cliches - there is a lot of "stormy weather" and girls who want him to want them - makes them feel comfortable but fresh. But he still surprises, turning You Want Me to Want You Back into a gigantic George Clinton-style funk jam. You sense he is usually more unhinged, and he apologises for "being meek" because his band haven't played live for a while. Then he dedicates a song to "Brucie", a pooch, and begins barking like a dog.

· At the Cluny, Newcastle, tomorrow. Box office: 0191-230 4474.