When Rhett Miller, the frontman for the beloved alt-country band the Old 97s, appeared in his recent solo set at the Union Stage, he sang with renewed vigor. For years, he explained, he had to limit his repertoire to a fraction of the songs he’s written over more than 35 years. He was limited by a cyst in his vocal cords, which he’s described as feeling enormous, though it was no larger than a grain of rice.

Surgery on a vocal cord cyst isn’t without risk. After having such an operation, Judy Garland famously never sang again. When Rhett consulted with a surgeon, he said, he was told that he could go through the rest of his life without having the operation. But he opted to have the procedure, which has successful, restoring his vocal range, especially the high and low ends. Rhett’s been able to add songs back into his shows, like “Come Around,” which allowed him to show off his falsetto and sustain.