If it sounds eclectic, that’s because it was

For the most part, Santa Monica-based public-radio powerhouse KCRW-FM (89.9) has little overlap of its music programming and its issues-oriented coverage. For a stretch of the station’s fifth more-or-less-annual “A Sounds Eclectic Evening” concert at the Gibson Amphitheatre on Saturday, though, a topical tone prevailed -- and it made for some substance amid stylish sensibilities.

That portion centered on a dynamic set by Ben Harper, overtly evoking the ‘70s social fire of Curtis Mayfield and Bob Marley (with Ziggy Marley joining on a version of his father’s “War”). Claremont-raised Harper and his band, the Innocent Criminals, spotlighted songs from the new “Both Sides of the Gun” album, ranging from the psych-pop optimism of “Better Way” to the hard-funk indictment of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath in “Black Rain.”

Bracketing Harper were pointed “surprise” performances from Britt Daniel of the band Spoon and headliner-level Scottish group Franz Ferdinand. Daniel, following a ragged-but-right semi-acoustic appearance by English band Gomez, played up his biting John Lennon-esque side -- affirmed by a version of Lennon’s haunted “Isolation.”

The restless dissatisfaction of Franz Ferdinand’s brutal, hairpin rhythms and singer Alex Kapranos’ high-contrast lyrics echoed the calls-to-arms of British punk and post-punk forebears.

The headliner, Death Cab for Cutie, couldn’t maintain the momentum. The Seattle band, an indie darling elevated to prime time through featured spots on “The O.C.,” gave it a good go, but the relatively subdued emotions seemed slight in this slot.

Overall, the evening backed up the station’s reputation for musical discoveries -- Franz Ferdinand and Death Cab both were boosted by KCRW music director-host Nic Harcourt well before their rises to larger fame. In a few years, the same may be said of appealing L.A. band Goldspot and Australian singer Sia, a station favorite both for her work with electronic-based group Zero 7 and on her own. Sia earned a boisterous ovation as much as for her goofy personality as for her smoky, beautiful songs and singing.

Canadian singer-guitarist Feist and her band may have been the biggest revelation for many, calling to mind both the blues-spurred intensity of PJ Harvey and the jazz-pop lilt of Astrud Gilberto.