POP MUSIC REVIEW : Ovations for Marc Cohn

It doesn’t much happen like this anymore, where a new guy pops on the scene full-blown with all the things that matter: the songs, the voice, the delivery and the charisma. While still a good shout removed from the impact of Springsteen rolling into town in the early ‘70s, Marc Cohn didn’t need a publicist to say he’d arrived at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Sunday.

In his first of two sold-out shows, the singer-pianist fleshed out songs from his debut album with a 95-minute, three-ovation performance that was passionate, soulful, funny and flawlessly executed. What Cohn does isn’t especially fresh. His keyboard approach is an appealing blend of Bruce Hornsby’s muscularity and Randy Newman’s sense-of-wonder chordings. His lyrics are sometimes as top-heavy as the early Springsteen, their loaded import overwhelming their intended intimacy.

Whatever his sources, Cohn still makes his songs personal, from the vision of his father and more innocent times in “Silver Thunderbird” to the unabashed romanticism of “Dig Down Deep” and “True Companion.” Backed only by guitarist Jeff Pevar--excellent at both new-age atmospherics and slashing, Ry Cooder-like slide--Cohn burned through 15 songs, including two versions of his hit “Walking in Memphis,” with the audience taking the vocal over the second time through. Cohn is at the Henry Fonda Theatre tonight.