POP MUSIC REVIEW : Summer Reaches for the Heartland

An amiable, small-town Midwesterner with show-biz savvy and a winning sense of humor--heck, Henry Lee Summer could grow up to be President someday.

For the time being, Summer is working on growing into the next big thing in heartland-style rock ‘n’ roll. Judging from his romping, confidently rocking and rapturously received show Wednesday at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, Summer has a chance of becoming a real people’s choice.

Hailing from Brazil, Ind., the lanky blond singer fits squarely into the Bob Seger-John Cougar Mellencamp school of mid-American rock: catchy, big-beat music sung in a throaty voice with rootsy, soul-R&B; inflections.

While Summer falls far short of those heartland exemplars as a songwriter--his music can’t approach the staying power, seriousness or emotional depth of Seger and Mellencamp’s best work--he measured up nicely as a performer, putting on an engaging, spirited show delivered with an unflagging sense of fun.

Summer was natural and unassuming--an immediately likable guy-next-door who seemed as comfortable with his audience as a high school kid is with his buddies.

A few songs in the 90-minute set had a pop-slickened edge that made them sound too calculating, but most of the show consisted of strong, freewheeling, roots-tinged numbers. In a genre that made a big star out of an honest plodder like Bryan Adams, there ought to be a prominent spot somewhere for a zestful performer like Summer.