Tiny, thin and pale, Freedy Johnston quietly climbed the shortened Maintenance Shop stage. The passionate voice that soon poured out of that frail body surprised those unfamiliar with Johnston’s emotionally rich music.

Sometimes, good things come in small packages.

Alone on stage with an acoustic, electric and tenor guitar, Johnston painted his tales of lost love and loneliness.

Often, he would talk to the audience at length between songs. Sometimes he shared an amusing anecdote, or personal experience; other times he simply felt he needed to set up the next song.

Johnston prefaced “The Lucky One” by explaining that the song was written after his first trip to Las Vegas. The setup made the lyrics of joy in isolation all the more bittersweet.

During the lengthy breaks between songs, occasional shouts of “Bad Reputation” could be heard. The song, Johnston’s biggest commercial success, would come in good time.

“This Perfect World,” a quiet confrontation of an old lover, was perfectly explored in the stillness of the Maintenance Shop. Johnston voiced his appreciation to the audience for quietly listening to his songs.

The evening featured several covers, and Johnston introduced the first with an apology of sorts. He sheepishly moved into an inspired cover of Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” Johnston’s sweet, breathy falsetto was well suited for the song.

He concluded “Rocket Man” by saying “See, Elton John didn’t always suck.”

Johnston also performed oldies radio favorite “Bus Stop,” originally performed by the Hollies. Unfortunately, Johnston’s restrained delivery lacked the intensity of the original.

The best cover of the evening was undoubtedly “Wichita Lineman,” written by Jimmy Webb. Johnston’s understated vocal brought out the simple beauty of the lyric.

When the song ended, Johnston thanked the crowd, and crawled awkwardly towards the bar, where a table with his CDs for sale had been set up. Almost immediately, amid a chorus of cheers, Johnston moved back towards the stage for an encore.

The encore began with “The Mortician’s Daughter,” a classically styled folk-narrative. Johnston followed it up with the crowd pleasing “Bad Reputation.”

Six years and two albums after the song’s release, the lyrics took on a new meaning as Johnston sang “Seven years disappeared below my feet … do you want me now?”

Saturday night’s crowd at the Maintenance Shop certainly did.