Matthews is restrained without namesake band

You can take the man out of the jam band, but can you take the jam out of the man?

Dave Matthews, whose Dave Matthews Band is the leading force in that thriving rock subculture, recently released a solo album, “Some Devil,” that departs notably from the DMB template.

On Thursday he headlined Staples Center surrounded by some of the musicians who played on the record, including guitarist Trey Anastasio of the group Phish.

The presence of this other jam band star wasn’t exactly a reassurance that Matthews would be heading toward parts unknown, and when the show-opening acoustic set with Matthews and guitarist Tim Reynolds sprawled beyond 30 minutes, it was looking like business pretty much as usual.

But then Matthews slammed on the brakes, as if determined to fulfill the potential of this brief, one-time-only tour to be something different and memorable. Restraint and modesty asserted themselves in a short, gentle reading of “Trouble,” a “Some Devil” song with a hymn-like tone and U2 pulse.

The album’s intimacy was also spotlighted in an understated treatment of “Oh” and Matthews’ gripping solo version of the title song. Genuine mood, not awe-inspiring monuments, were now Matthews’ aim.

Midway through, Matthews introduced Emmylou Harris, who had opened the show and whose backing group Spyboy contributed the loose-limbed rhythm section of drummer Brady Blade and bassist Tony Hall to Matthews’ band (the fifth member is keyboardist Ray Paczkowski). The two singers joined on Bob Dylan’s “Oh, Sister,” then Matthews brought out producer-musician Daniel Lanois, whose “The Maker” assumed an elegant spirituality that arguably made it the evening’s centerpiece.

Its power was enhanced by the sense of spontaneity and exploration generated by the shifting roster of musicians.

The feeling of community and level of expression were more akin to a Neil Young benefit or “The Last Waltz” than anything associated with the jam band world, and though Matthews plans to return to that realm with his regular band, after this experience it’s unlikely he’ll be quite the same.