POP WEEKEND : Albert Collins, Gun Club Come to Orange County

When Albert Collins starts playing his guitar, notes bend and curl around the melody line in furious fashion. There’s no shortage of dexterity to Collins’ fretwork, but his guitar prowess isn’t the only standout part of the show.

With the help of his ever-ready Ice Berg band, Collins’ set at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Friday was more than just an excercise in the blues. It was a full-scale soul revue, complete with a dazzling horn section that knew how to be brassy, sassy and wistful in turn and often offered counterpoint to Collins’ own improvisational runs.

Swinging into the slow stroll “The Lights Are On, but I Can See Nobody’s Home,” Collins’ normally scorching notes took on a gentler tone as he peeled off guitar run after guitar run. Writhing in sync with what he was playing, Collins was able to make his guitar say more than the actual lyrics.

Whether he’s playing slow and bluesy or working overtime on a free-flying solo, the years that he’s invested in his craft are evident by the ease with which he gets the desired effect.

Midway through the show, Collins took on the guitar technique of T-Bone Walker after a brief rap about the influence the Texas guitarist had on him. After taking a couple of passes at Walker’s signature riff, Collins led the Ice Bergs through an almost reverent treatment of “Stormy Monday” that was significantly softer than the pummeling version popularized in the early ‘70s by the Allman Brothers. Collins’ normally gruff singing voice also softened, turning the song into a thoughtful commentary on life.

Opening act Debbie Davis, with her gutsy vocal style, no-nonsense stage demeanor and freewheeling blues guitar style, knows how to get the most out of a song. A bit harder-edged than Bonnie Raitt, Davis could provide a welcome woman’s voice in helping to revitalize the blues.