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New York – The Ritz (3,000 seats); $19.50 top. Promoted by John Scher. Reviewed April 28, 1990

Folk-rocker Michelle Shocked put on a spirited show at New York’s Ritz, blending politics and swing. Mocking her stern radical image, Shocked announced, “I’m through preaching to the converted, it’s time to entertain the troops.”

With that, Shocked ripped into “Silent Ways,” one of the evening’s brassy rave-ups from her latest LP, Captain Swing. Shocked’s shaggy, all-male band provided rowdy support, but the focus stayed on the charismatic Shocked who crooned, danced, and ranted with tomboyish charm.

Alternating between bluesy polemics (“Graffiti Limbo”), lilting ballads (“Anchorage”) and twangy barnburners ([(“Don’t You Mess Around With)] My Little Sister,” Shocked displayed more range and savvy than most commercially mainstream entertainers. At the same time, her radical message rang out clearly.

Austin band Poi Dog Pondering performed a ragged but endearing set. Their polyrhythmic, hippyish songs were occasionally lumbering, but the set was redeemed by genuine exuberance.

Brit folk-pop balladeer John Wesley Harding opened with a solo acoustic set, seeming tense and distracted. Though his songs showed glimmers of Elvis Costello-esque cleverness, Harding’s grim-faced delivery kept the audience loudly indifferent.