A ‘Poetry’ Woman Belts Out the Next Verse

From Paul McCartney to Sting, pop music is rife with artists whose material has grown more sedate as they’ve gotten older. In the case of Phoebe Snow, the process has reversed.

Known mainly as a wintry pop-folk-jazz chanteuse during her 1970s heyday, the 46-year-old vocalist has reemerged in the ‘90s as a red-hot blues-and-rock-belting mama. At her Coach House performance Wednesday night, Snow and her solid four-piece backing band emphasized grit over melancholia, delivering a surprisingly forceful 1 1/2-hour set.

Most of the material was pulled from her new CD, “I Can’t Complain,” a work consisting entirely of covers. Snow appeared in her element delivering uptempo soul-blues ditties such as Johnny Rivers’ “Rockin’ Pneumonia--Boogie Woogie Flu” and Jackie Wilson’s “Baby Workout.”

Snow generally sang with the command and passion of a person liberated artistically and personally. Her only obvious misstep was in trying to reinvent “Piece of My Heart,” a barnburner that will forever be linked to the late, great Janis Joplin.

Once known as a shy performer, Snow was anything but demure as she interacted with an enthusiastic audience, engaging people with humor and confidence. Snow, who once got the courage to perform by going onstage in a persona she named “Large Marge,” has said in recent interviews that therapy has helped her become a more assured and expressive person.

Snow even did a little vocal showboating. While a guitarist tuned up, she launched into part of an operatic aria, drawing thunderous applause. She noted that she has been studying opera for five years.

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Vocal versatility is Snow’s strong suit. She can legitimately sing blues, soul, rock and gospel. She is still arguably at her best when she is bringing a jazzy touch to a pensive acoustic number. Snow sounded like a heavenly dream while interpreting the gorgeous “Poetry Man,” her best known song. She also pulled off a marvelously touching reading of Van Morrison’s “Madame George.”

Snow expressed genuine delight at being back in the pop-music loop. “I Can’t Complain” represents her first album since “Something Real” in 1989. Much of the time during this gap has been spent caring for her severely disabled daughter and ailing mother.

The New Jersey native is a gifted vocalist, as well as a thoroughly engaging stage personality who can get away with playing a tour heavy with cover tunes. Still, whether Snow can again become a strong presence in contemporary music will not be known until she releases an album of original material. Next time she comes through town, even her most ardent fans might expect something fresh.