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A couple of songs into her recent show at the Wiltern Theatre, Michelle Shocked paused to give an explanation for her conversion from the folk-country music of her Short Sharp Shocked album to the up-tempo, jazz/R&B of her new Captain Swing. She said that she felt the more political content of her earlier work kept away as many people as it attracted, and if those with opposite viewpoints weren’t listening anyway, then all she was doing was preaching to the converted. And so, she said, it was time to play some fun music and draw in a larger audience.

Well, she may be playing bigger halls this time out, but the audience has roughly the same make-up: young, political, liberal. And the music from Captain Swing, while perhaps more upbeat than her earlier work, lacks the emotional depth that gave Short Sharp Shocked such a charge of energy – after about half an hour it all started sound the same. Of her new songs, only the rockabilly gem “[(Don’t You Mess Around With)] My Little Sister” and the goofy “It Must Be Luff” really stood out. The best moments came on a solo rendition of the melancholy “Memories of East Texas” and a wistful rendition of the pop gem “Anchorage,” both from Short Sharp Shocked.

Far more satisfying was opening John Wesley Harding. In a brief, 45-minute set, Harding captivated the audience with his biting wit and evocative – though limited – vocals. Rather than playing only songs off his brilliant debut album Here Comes the Groom, Harding tossed off a few unreleased gems (notably the Live Aid spoof “July 13, 1985”) and well-chosen covers (an almost straight reading of Ricky Nelson’s “Lonesome Town”). By the time his set ended, Harding was playing to a full house and was even brought back for an encore. Maybe next time around Shocked will be opening for him.