Emmylou Harris Displays the Powerful Range of Her Career

Emmylou Harris’ concert at the El Rey Theatre on Thursday was a benefit to raise funds and awareness for land-mine eradication, so the singer was determined to make the evening something special. “Hope you don’t mind if we play for a little while,” she told the crowd at the start of her set, and for nearly 2 1/2 hours Harris and her band Spyboy trekked through her 25-year career and delivered a riveting, emotionally resonant performance.

Those who haven’t paid attention to Harris’ recent work still tend to think of her as a purveyor of gentle country-rock, but she has added new textures and toughened up her sound. At the El Rey, Harris showcased her versatility, alternating between more traditional country songs and abrasive, guitar-driven material that hinted at the influence of Daniel Lanois (who produced her 1995 album, “Wrecking Ball”) and Neil Young.

One of country music’s greatest interpretive singers, Harris filled her set with songs that flitted from dark despair to exultation and back again. Her achingly beautiful voice conveyed bitter fatalism on “Sweet Old World,” devil-may-care frivolity on “Two More Bottles of Wine” and even eerie romanticism on “Wrecking Ball.” With the three-piece Spyboy providing lean, muscular accompaniment, Harris indeed made good on her promise to deliver an unforgettable performance.