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What’s special about Michelle Shocked is that she makes people like her, not just as a singer and songwriter, but as a person. With her relaxed banter and easy Southern drawl, Shocked’s stage persona – even when backed by the vibrant Captain Swing Band – retains the same simple feel that made her Campfire recordings so listenable.

With that in her corner, all Shocked really had to do Tuesday at RPM was deliver the goods, and she did in splendid fashion. High profile went to her Captain Swing album, and as if to underscore her earthiness further, Shocked stuck with her acoustic guitar and mandolin for most of the set, using it less to add dimension to the songs than atmosphere to the show. Whispered remarks among fans who noticed that Shocked doesn’t shave her armpits (and so what?) earned her points for the implied feminist statement. But mostly it’s Shocked’s unadorned “this is just me” attitude that serves her so well.

As if more proof were needed that Shocked’s swings and swirls through barroom boogie and flirtations with country and jazz were loved, the near capacity crowd wouldn’t settle for only one encore and the calls were [illegible], not shock.