“I tell people now I play folk-rock and they seem to understand,” Case says on his Web site, “but the whole truth is more complex: I’m a singer/songwriter that uses all the American styles to get my stories across: blues, rock ‘n’ roll, country, soul, R&B and folk. Plus some rhythmic influences from around the world. … So in other words, yes.”

Case has a background in punk, blues and new wave. Even though some of his earliest influences were Elvis and blues musicians, the multi-instrumentalist spent the ’80s in The Plimsouls before embarking on a solo career as a folk rocker.

And, he’s tired of that old reference. He’s been on the road as a solo artist since he was about 16, and feels his stint in that band is overplayed.

“I’ve been solo for seventeen years now, have played a couple thousand solo gigs, I’ve been Grammy nominated as a solo artist, had a solo record named album of the year in The New York Times, put out eight solo CDs to the Plimsouls three, won over audiences all around the world where the Plimsouls have never heard of … I’m proud of the band, but I’ve done a lot more and a lot better since then.”

That probably says it all. Case begins his tour at Springfield, Mo.’s Outland Ballroom November 9th, then visits St. Louis, Cleveland, Nashville, Atlanta and other cities before returning home to San Francisco’s Café Du Nord December 12th (and a show at Ben Lomond, Calif.’s Henfing’s Firehouse two nights later).