POP MUSIC REVIEWS : LONNIE MACK ATTACK

Lonnie Mack is one of those figures treasured by roots-rock enthusiasts and English rock-guitar stars: two instrumental hits in ‘63, followed by years of one-nighters, obscurity, sporadic comebacks. It all adds up to the image of the hard-working underdog who lives for that moment when it’s time for a searing solo.

Mack, who has resurfaced with a Stevie Ray Vaughan-produced album, played his first L.A. date in 15 years Saturday at the Lingerie, and if it didn’t quite match his quasi-legendary status, it was an undiluted treat for the blues fundamentalists on hand. Things don’t come much more basic than Mack’s pump ‘n’ jump, ringing ‘n’ stinging, eyes-shut-tight, cigarette-stuck-in-the-guitar-head blues.

The bearded Mack rarely strayed far from basic blues forms, and while he pulled some inventive moves within those boundaries, things tended to get repetitious until he extended his range on his old hits “Memphis” and “Wham!” and a New Orleans-flavored tune from the new album.

More hybrids, some daring in the song selection, and maybe a second guitarist, would have helped. So would monitor speakers that worked well enough to allow Mack’s bass-drums-piano backing band to cut loose and play with real abandon.