Lisa Loeb: Lisa Loeb poured her easygoing, heartfelt energy all over her sharp brand of acoustic-driven pop in a standing-room concert Monday at House of Blues. While Loeb’s singles, including the recent hit “I Do,” percolate with radiant rock energy, her lyrics delve deeper, dwelling on the tense, troubling side of relationships. But Loeb proved that a confessional singer-songwriter need not be predictable; surprise guest Dweezil Zappa lent a glint of glam-metal guitar edge to songs such as “Jake” and “Furious Rose,” both from Loeb’s latest album “Firecracker.” Thanks to a mid-set instrument switch, “It’s Over” (from 1995’s “Tails”) benefited from Jim Quigley’s slippery upright bass runs and Mark Spencer’s delicate work on National steel guitar. And “Stay,” the hit that launched Loeb’s career, retained a sparkling freshness. Loeb’s velvet voice stayed in the pocket from start to finish, and she received solid, supple backup from her trio of backup musicians, all of whom played on “Firecracker” (including Chicago drummer Ronny Crawford, formerly of The Daves).
Warmup act Tara MacLean won over the audience with her expressive, passionate performance. Her acoustic set reached a pinnacle with “Child,” an ethereal coming-of-age ballad marked by soft fingerpicking and strident singing.