REJUVENATED ELY

Unencumbered by a band or any other trappings that symbolize record-business machinery, Joe Ely stood alone to fly or flop in a solo acoustic performance Saturday at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. Ely, whose career has suffered because his music doesn’t fit within rigid music industry definitions of country or rock, not only flew, he soared.

Few performers--even with a phalanx of electric guitars and amplifiers behind them--could approach the ferocity Ely struck in a 90-minute set so explosive the lanky Texan often seemed on the verge of spontaneous combustion. But Ely has always been a riveting performer. The most encouraging aspect of the show was the obvious rejuvenation of his writing skills in new songs like the bitter but humorous music industry commentary “Driving to the Poorhouse in a Limousine,” and “Dig All Night,” an indictment of people who look for the cause of societal or personal ills everywhere but in the mirror.

The all-acoustic evening also featured solo sets by Peter Case and Rave-Ups leader Jimmer Podrasky.