POP MUSIC REVIEW : Sheryl Crow’s Major Status

Sheryl Crow’s getting famous for singing about life in the wee hours, but the L.A.-based performer is ready for prime time.

Indeed, cameras were rolling while Crow was on stage Friday at the House of Blues, taping the first of a series of in-concert shows due to premiere on TBS-TV in January. If they accurately capture that performance, they’re off to a great start.

When her debut album, “Tuesday Night Music Club,” was released a year ago, Crow seemed an interesting but minor figure, and in concert she was tentative and uncertain. Now with the album having reached the Top 10 and her spunky “All I Wanna Do” becoming the bar-fly party anthem of the year, she’s a major leaguer--and Friday she performed like one.

Gone was any trace of uncertainty, replaced by engaging confidence. Switching between guitar and organ in front of a tight, bluesy, four-man band--which has clearly been well-seasoned by a year on the road--she pumped extra life into “Music Club” highlights like the simmering “Run, Baby, Run” and a couple of strong new songs.

And credibly tackling Led Zeppelin’s reggae “D’yer Mak’er” (a neat twist on Zep’s macho-rock) and John Lennon’s “Cold Turkey,” Crow cemented herself in a spot midway between Rickie Lee Jones’ people-watching sharpie and Liz Phair’s bold self-affirmer.