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After scoring a hit as a guitar-toting political troubadour and heroine of populist and feminist causes, Michelle Shocked has stepped into the folkie phone booth and emerged in her new super guise as Captain Swing.

She arrived, grinning, on stage Saturday at The Warfield Theater in color-coordinated costume – black captain’s cap, black tank top and jeans, and matching black shoes – and introduced her new team of super players: a loud six-man rock band with horns to duplicate the jazz, swing, jump, and R&B stylings on her current album, Captain Swing.

Her old solo show was getting predictable – local fans had heard her same “impromptu” stories and introductions several times – so the switch was not only a pleasant surprise, but also provided some fun, rocking music with extra oomph.

Yet, the highlight of the show, other than a fun instrumental hoedown with her brother and sidekick, was when she returned to solo voice and guitar. With a band she’s a snappy entertainer, alone, she has the power to reach the audience directly and touch them deeply.

The Texas-born singer isn’t exactly new to these parts. Over the past two years she’s performed everywhere from Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage folk club, to sharing the stage with Paul Kantner, Grace Slick and Billy Bragg at a Nicaragua benefit at the Great American Music Hall, to her March free outdoor show at UC-Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza.

But Saturday’s 90-minute concert at San Francisco’s nearly full 2,200 seat Warfield Theater was something different.

Shocked and band performed not just the Captain Swing songs, but also band arrangements of songs from her previous album, Short… [article abruptly cuts off]