If you’re one of the many Smog fans searching desperately for the raw qualities of  Bill Callahan’s earlier material in his more recent work, generic here’s a word of advice: see him live.

It’s true that his music has in some ways mellowed, buy presenting a more mature, troche “Americana” sound, but if there’s one thing to take away from his show at the Sinclair Saturday, it is the fact that Callahan is still as fierce as ever.

The night started off a little slow, with a performance by the great Lonnie Holley (who’s genius is perhaps better suited for the sculpture work he is known for). The performance left the audience a little quiet and disinterested until Callahan took the stage. Wearing an air-brushed falcon t-shirt, he quickly told us he was happy to be there, sat down, and immediately lost himself in his guitar.

It’s no coincidence that his new album is called “Dream River”. These songs have a sense of movement and fluidity, with plenty of nature-based imagery. Seeing them preformed live though, emphasized their turbulence and highlighted their grittiness. Callahan and the musicians accompanying him on bass, guitar and drums played as if guided by intuition alone. Most of the time they were loose and relaxed, but something about Callahan’s demeanor was tense and overwhelming. He would occasionally let his voice drop to a growl or twist in his chair like a man possessed, but only for a moment until the fit passed. He barely addressed the crowed before him, but stared off beyond all of us with the kind of vigor that could stop a giant in its tracks. One of the highlights of the night was watching him preform “Riding For The Feeling”, during which he became very animated, momentarily letting his guard down and allowing his voice to rise.

I don’t know where Bill Callahan’s mind wanders when he sings, but I do know that if there is one person who could start a fire by glaring at some sticks, it’s him. His career has been long, and the style and subject of his music has changed over and over again, but the constant through all eighteen of his albums is the unwavering intensity of each song he writes.

We may never know what the driving force behind his work is, but Saturday night at the Sinclair was a reminder that Callahan means what he says, and puts energy and honesty into his work, no matter how reserved he may be in his behavior.

About halfway through his set, I realized that Bill Callahan’s expression was almost always the same as the falcon on his t-shirt- fierce, intimidating, and wild.

Bill Callahan’s new album “Dream River” is out now.