Lucinda Williams changes it up on Night 2

Aside from the acoustic format, the terrific encore with Randy Weeks and the horrible weather ("I'm humbled you all came out to see me when it's like this," she said), the second of Lucinda Williams' three nights at the Dakota proved to be significantly different from the first. She mixed up her set list as earnestly as the Dakota bartenders mixing martinis. And it sounded like she was better settled into the intimate room on Monday.

It really was an intoxicating affair, one that harked back to a five-night stand I caught by the singer in 2006 at the Electric Lounge in Austin, Texas, where she had us sit on the floor as she "greased the wheels" of some of her songs that would make up her "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" album. Of course, that disc would take another two-plus years to complete, whereas her new one "Blessed" is for sure coming out next Tuesday. But I do believe "Blessed" is up to the same level of greatness as "Car Wheels," as evidenced by the passionate and poetic new material heard on Monday (and she actually didn't play several of the best songs on the album).

Among the highlights were "The Ugly Truth," which she rightfully described as "the other side of the coin" from the joyful "Plan to Marry," plus the evocative title track to "Blessed" and the absolutely chilling "Copenhagen," which she wrote about the sudden death of her manager Frank Callari. The montage of older city/highway songs near the start of the set flowed together like a beautiful road trip, too, especially "Ventura" -- although Lucinda admited afterward that the lines about puking "really aren't appropriate for the dinner crowd." Here's the whole set list.