Maffeo Shows Charms, Limits

A key figure of the Pacific Northwest’s Riot Grrl movement, singer-songwriter Lois Maffeo became a ‘90s indie-pop “star,” recruiting many of the tiny genre’s artists to play in her band, Lois. On Saturday at Spaceland, the latest version of Lois demonstrated the simple charms, as well as the limitations, of her stripped-down, folky style.

The now-Washington, D.C.-based artist and two bandmates performed a few old favorites and several songs from “Union Themes,” a new album recorded by Maffeo and collaborator Brendan Canty of Fugazi (who she said stayed behind to tend to his new baby).

The plain melodies and wry-to-heartfelt lyrics made her earnest examinations of bad love, bittersweet partings and yearnings fulfilled sound like old-fashioned country-blues or folk, yet her clear, lilting vocals made it easy to imagine such numbers as the almost-rocking “You Love Your Wounds” in more conventional pop arrangements.

The varying combinations of acoustic guitars, electric piano and drums gave the hourlong set some sonic variety, and the songs were sometimes spiced with blues, jazz or Latin flavors. Yet Maffeo’s strumming grew monotonous. Even so, she had no shortage of personality, as her funny between-song Oscar predictions and tale of a French underground lesbian karaoke bar proved. If only her presentation had been more compelling.