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Ani DiFranco and her fans get happy

Lindsay Christians  —  10/06/2008 6:52 am

Ani DiFranco is in a really good mood these days.

"I've got myself a new mantra," she sings. "It says: Don't forget to have a good time!"

In a mostly mellow, laid-back performance in the Wisconsin Union Theater Sunday night, DiFranco predictably (and thankfully) brought out some favorites and debuted several new songs. Her latest album (the 20th, not including live albums), "Red Letter Year," was released on Sept. 30.

DiFranco, a longtime activist and Madison favorite, is no less political or outspoken than when she recorded her first album in 1990. But the new mom (to Petah, 20 months) does seem a lot more relaxed.

"This is my attempt at a happy song," she said, launching into "Smiling Underneath." "I don't mind the traffic cops or the TSA/ long as I'm with you I'm having a good day."

The audience was having a good day, too. The show opened with native Wisconsinite Peter Mulvey, a singer-poet who shares DiFranco's politics and some of her folk-influenced style.

Mulvey's versatile guitar playing, switching between rock-style strumming and finger picking, buoyed lyrics about personal connection and the fragility of life. His voice, both speaking lyrics and singing them, is a soothing baritone with an appealing rough character. In the charming "Knuckleball Suite," he recalled Arlo Guthrie.

DiFranco opened energetically with "Little Plastic Castle" and "a folk song," "Your Next Bold Move." She waited until after the second piece to mention Barack Obama (and John McCain), but her political commentary, while straightforward, lacked any trace of a rant. Her music is expansive but accessible, embracing large themes like social justice and natural law ("The Atom") as well as the intimacy of love relationships ("Overlap").

DiFranco is a savvy performer, reading the venue and the audience and responding in kind. She cycles through what seem to be a dozen guitars, and she's ably assisted by three versatile players who coax a variety of textures from their instruments. They move from Latin on "78% H20" to rock on "Napoleon" to what could be called, for lack of a better term, "classic Ani" on the older tracks.

Allison Mullins on drums doubles DiFranco on several perfectly blended harmonies, standing out on "Present/Infant" and "Both Hands." Mike Dillon wows on the vibraphone during "Manhole," and the exceptional Todd Sickafoose looks like he might break a string during the concert-ending, audience-requested "Shameless."

If this concert proved anything, it's that DiFranco has continued to evolve as a musician. Her "Indie Girl Manifesta," "Napoleon," is still a rocking good time, and her new work is a pleasure on a more intimate level. The audience savored a two-song encore and pressed for more.

"Love is all over the place," DiFranco sang. And it was.

Lindsay Christians  —  10/06/2008 6:52 am