You might have expected that Denis Leary had gone soft. After all, it's been over a decade since he was a regular on the comedy circuit and, in the meantime, he's become an Emmy-nominated writer and performer. But those expecting a softer, gentler Leary haven't been paying close enough attention to his FX series, "Rescue Me," a weekly study in inner anger and self destruction that returns to the air June 29. And you couldn't have been at his performance at the State Theatre on Tuesday night, where he proved he's still got enough fire in the belly to ignite a crowd.

Leary's appearance was part of a "Rescue Me" comedy tour raising money for firefighters and also included castmates Adam Ferrara and Lenny Clarke. But it was Leary who was front and center, opening with a scathing musical number against the Catholic church, prancing around the stage with a smile he stole from Mary Poppins while spewing out language that guarantees he'll never be allowed within 10 miles of Vatican City, let alone be granted an audience with the pope.

He didn't stop there. Leary orchestrated his set like a pro, albeit one who can't manage to go more than four words without cursing. He railed against anti-gay leaders, Mel Gibson, drug companies and teenagers who try to look like Brad Pitt by donning wool caps. That last item may not sound like fuel for a rant, but Leary's creativity and passion made it one of the evening's highlights.

"A little angry tonight," Leary said at one point, appearing to even surprise himself. "It's my job."

Press deadlines didn't allow us to see the entire program, although it appeared the crowd of more than 1,700 people was easily going to see 2 1/2 hours of comedy, quite the marathon for visceral, crude humor, no matter how smartly it's done.

But a shortened program might not have allowed time for Whitney Cummings, a brilliant up 'n' comer who can now officially be forgiven for once having been a cast member of "Punk'd." Her set, mostly directed at men who don't really understand women, was pitch perfect, incorporating a drunk heckler's rude comments so seamlessly into her set that you could swear it was staged.

njustin@startribune.com • 612-673-7431