FORT WORTH — If, for some unforeseen reason, this whole music thing suddenly craters on Lyle Lovett, might I humbly suggest an alternative career in musical comedy? The Texas native kept the dry one-liners coming at a steady clip during his sold-out Bass Hall show Wednesday evening — the first of a two-night stand, which is something of an annual pilgrimage for the singer/songwriter.

Riffing on subjects ranging from the origins of McDonald’s golden arches and the dangers of bull riding to the inherent grimness of bluegrass music and the excitement of family vacations, he even spent a few minutes trying to blind audience members, reflecting the glare of the hall’s spotlights off his acoustic guitar. The chuckles were welcome (and frequent), but it was the exquisite music that had the enthusiastic audience cheering, clapping and tapping their toes.

For more than two hours, Lovett rifled through his catalog and doled out cuts from his latest long-player, It’s Not Big It’s Large (a cheeky reference to his sizable backing band). The Bass Hall stage fairly groaned under the weight of the 13-piece band, four backup singers and Lovett himself. But for all the people on stage, the songs never felt crowded, a testament to the breathtaking skill on display. Lovett doesn’t limit himself simply to the moods and textures of country music.

He rambles through all manner of sonic styles, from jazz and blues to gospel and rock — even a bit of classical flair, courtesy of cellist John Hagen. Adept at delicate, elegiac ballads and swingin’, brassy hootenannies, Lovett’s more-than-capable support staff frequently dazzled and occasionally, downright astonished.