Beck Displays His Potential for Growth

Though songs such as “Hotwax” and “Where It’s At” from Beck’s lauded 1996 album “Odelay” were clearly the focus of the singer’s short-notice show at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana on Sunday, he also showcased numbers from his next collection, which is expected in late summer.

Moving away from his trademark hip-hop folk, these new songs pushed the guitars into the forefront rather than keyboards, samples and Beck’s now-familiar collage style. They were all impressive, arresting concoctions of irony and real passion, from a sultry Latin number to a ‘60s-style garage-pop tune, from a folk song with Indian strings to a Sonic Youth-like experiment and one journey into the squalls of heavy metal.

They were another indication that the artist of the ‘90s has further potential to grow in mind-bending new directions. Beyond that, Sunday’s show--a warm-up for the summer touring season--underscored Beck’s recent transformation from quirky hip-hop folkie into bona fide rock star.

Dressed in skin-hugging, peg-legged pants and a Nehru shirt, he delivered a pop-culture explosion that borrowed from everyone. In the mix were Tom Jones’ Vegas showmanship, James Brown’s dramatic funk, Bob Dylan’s harmonica-wielding folk, David Lee Roth’s showy jumps and splits and Grandmaster Flash’s colorful emceeing. Beck’s talented seven-piece band, complete with brass section and deejay, further transformed this stretching exercise into a real event.