Even following a world catastrophe, you can bet Squeeze will still release albums.

Entire empires could collapse and Sting might actually put on weight, but Glen Tillbrook and Chris Difford will still be huddled in a corner somewhere, writing yet another pop song. Such is their longevity, their chemistry and their thirst for perfection.

You need only have seen part of their near two-hour show Thursday at the State Theatre in New Brunswick to realise this. Squeeze trundled on stage at five minutes shy of ten o’clock, and clocked in with ‘Another Nail In My Heart,’ a 1980 hit that’s still as fresh (and as coy) today as the day it was released. The equally fantastic ‘Is That Love’ followed, as the band wasted no time in winning over the caterwauling crowd.

Armed with a magnificent sound and a zest to fulfil, it was hard for Squeeze to go wrong. ‘Third Rail’ was well received. So was the soulful ‘Loving You Tonight,’ which featured the indefatigable Paul Carrack on lead vocals (both songs off their most recent A&M album Some Fantastic Place). But it’s the old stuff that sends the crowd into hyperventilation – their other 1980 hit ‘Pulling Mussels (From The Shell),’ being a prime example.

Such spurts of catharsis periodically made way for newer material: the reggae tinged ‘True Colours (The Storm)’ (featuring lyricist Chris Difford), the wonderfully executed ‘It’s Over,’ the upbeat, bass surging ‘Everything In The World,’ and the rock steady ‘Footprints In The Dark,’ which included the first bout of audience participation by way of a clapping session.

Highlights of the set included a slightly rearranged ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ – on which drummer Pete Thomas (he of The Attractions) showed just how great he is, maintaining a steady groove with added stabs of robust panache – a gentle ‘Goodbye Girl’ and of course, the crowd-pleasing sing-along ‘Tempted.’

Concluding the set with a robust ‘Hourglass’ (into which guitarist Tilbrook injected the all-time Cream riff ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’), Squeeze sauntered off stage as the liberated champions of backseat romance and front-seat worldview.

Returning for two encores – including the title track off their last album ‘Some Fantastic Place,’ their first ever hit single ‘Take Me I’m Yours,’ an excellent rendition of ‘Jolly Comes Home’ (possibly the strongest cut on the album), Carrack’s hit of yesteryear ‘How Long,’ The Beatles’ ‘Can’t Buy Me Love,’ and (phew!) the ever classic ‘Black Coffee In Bed’ – Squeeze may have quenched their thirst for perfection, providing one of the best live shows of the year.