No boundaries for Lovett

Lyle Lovett the songwriter has a gift for catching complex insights in simple words; Lyle Lovett the entertainer has a knack for phrasing simple things in amusingly farfetched ways.

Both sides of the performer were on full display Tuesday night at the Mobile Saenger Theatre, where Lovett appeared with his Large Band.

To describe the music as an eclectic fusion of Western swing, pop country, jazz and gospel is mere cliché at this point in his career. So let's just note that Lovett — backed by stand-up bass, cello, fiddle, pedal steel, piano, multiple guitars, mandolin, drums, additional percussion and three backing vocalists — could and did cover every portion of his catalog.

In fact, one song spanned the gamut all in itself: "It's Rock and Roll" appears on "Natural Forces," the album Lovett released last week. But as he told the crowd, it was co-written with Robert Earl Keen in 1980, when they contributed it to a student drama production at Texas A&M University.

Lovett the storyteller had fun recounting that tale. In fact, Lovett seemed to be having a great time on every level, handling shout-outs from the crowd with aplomb and even fielding a request or two.

"Thank y'all so much for inviting me back to the Saenger," he said, praising the venue's acoustics and its staff.

Classic, off-kilter tunes such as "If I Had A Boat" and "She's No Lady" got the biggest applause, and "My Baby Don't Tolerate" prompted a sing-along as the show passed the two-hour mark going strong.

But weightier emotions were sounded as well. A brooding, gospel-drenched rendition of "I Will Rise Up/Ain't No More Cane" had an almost symphonic feel, for example.

Lovett has amassed enough hits to rest on his laurels, yet brand-new material from "Natural Forces" seemed to go over well with the audience. The title track was a clear hit, as was "Pantry," in which comfort food becomes a metaphor for faithfulness. Its references range from Martha White to "the melons of Verona and the sausages of Gdansk."

Lovett has established himself as a popular performer at the Saenger in recent years, and Tuesday's show once again proved why. He may not be able to follow anybody else's recipe, but the guy sure can cook.