"Ani DiFranco" Concert Review
by David Rosen (Originally posted on www.lasvegasroundtheclock.com )

3.5 out of 4 Thumbs

Ani DiFranco continues to evolve and hopefully America will too

“She is trying to evolve,” Ani DiFranco sang at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel on June 24. “I got more and more to do, I got less and less to prove.” The song, “Evolve,” one of many hits from her almost two decade long career, was a high point at the concert, and it's words were the absolute truth. At this point, DiFranco, as much a humanitarian as she is an amazing folk-singer/songwriter/guitar virtuoso, has nothing left to prove, yet she doesn't slow down for a second.

Currently touring behind her first career retrospective (after all, how can a disc full of songs the average Joe Schmo has never heard before be called “Greatest Hits”), “Canon,” DiFranco is at a new stage in her career. The feminist icon has never been one to shy away from controversy, and it's now, at the dawn of one of the biggest elections in our nation's history that she is as important as ever.

“Who am I voting for,” she asked the sold out crowd. “Obama, comma, Barack.” The cheers proved that her fans share the love of not only her music, but also of their very own superwoman's political views. The presidential election wasn't the only non-musical topic touched on by this concert. Next to the merch booth (which featured a dozen “official” bootlegs of some of her best shows, a real treat for Ani fans), was a table set up to get people to vote, inform people about various causes such as the situation in Darfur, and to give out information about Amnesty International and the Peace Corps. This all builds towards the fact that Ani is more than a musician, and is truly a political force.

Back to the music, however, Ani DiFranco is a truly amazing artist. Songs like “Both Hands,” and “Napoleon,” show off her guitar skills, which are pretty much unparalleled in popular music. Rolling Stone magazine was recently criticized for featuring an article on the Top 50 guitar players of all time and not including any women. The real crime is that they didn't include Ms. DiFranco. She uses a fast, finger-picking style that gives her a sound all her own that needs to be witnessed in the live concert atmosphere. Her lyrics and voice match her guitar style perfectly. I went to the show with my girlfriend who may just be Ani's biggest fan (and the person who introduced me to the artist), but after seeing her live, I have become even more intrigued and have found myself listening to her CDs on my own.

Which also brings me to another point. The common stigma that keeps people away from Ani DiFranco is that it is man-hating, ultra-feminist, lesbian music and that men should stay away or face certain danger... Well aside from the ultra-feminist part, that couldn't be more untrue. But what's wrong with being a feminist? Most of all, the singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer is charismatic but introverted, successful, yet humble, metaphorical but straight-forward. All of her many attributes are just as balanced as her music, and it should be heard and enjoyed by everyone.

Ani DiFranco is currently working on a new album to be released this year, her first since 2006's “Reprieve.” If we're lucky, she'll come infiltrate the enemy territory (Las Vegas isn't exactly the feminist capitol) again soon. And depending on the results of this years' election, it will be interesting to see how Ani and her music has evolved.