Ani DiFranco ~ March 1, 2008 - Rochester, NY

Words and Photos by Joe Koch

All artists start out playing in clubs and we always wish we could have seen our favorites “before they made it big.” I feel fortunate to have been able to watch Ani play a number of club shows and it was nice to watch her progress. She was always experimenting with an array of different instruments and collaborating with many unique musicians like Prince, Cyndi Lauper and Maceo Parker.
This was the first time I saw Ani in almost 15 years; the clubs in Rochester were once the stomping grounds for the Buffalo native. Now, she performed at The Auditorium Center, with a capacity of 3,000 people. Her return to the city was greeted with a warm welcome from the 2,000 plus fans in attendance. Most in attendance have watched her grow and mature into the woman, mother, musician, and entrepreneur they love and respect.
As the lights dim, Ani and her band take the stage as the crowd anxiously awaits a familiar song. Her concerts are never predictable. Her interaction with the crowd is always spontaneous. Although, this night the expected does happens…The main subject of her conversation was her daughter, Petah. About half of the set consists of new material focusing on the bond between mother and child. She's quick to admit that childbirth was not that all empowering experience she was told it would be.
Motherhood is the focus but not the master of her new material. She also expresses political discontent with the two Democratic presidential candidates: “Maybe someday, the people in charge will shake their heads in disgust at the previous leaders who supported nuclear weapons,," she says.

By the sixth song, she introduces “Napoleon,” bringing screaming fans to their feet. But quickly she returns to her mission of introducing Petah to the world through her songs. Surprisingly, despite the consistent theme (“Something Sweet, We Are Tight, and As Long As I'm With You"), they never become tiresome. Ani's way of painting a vivid picture through her lyrics has always been her gift.
After promising that's the last new song, Ani, like a rollercoaster traveling over its highest peak, gives the crowd exactly what they've been waiting for —　"Both Hands," "Little Plastic Castle" and "Shameless."
She then leaves the stage to reappear moments later with Allison Miller (drums) and Todd Sickafoose (bass.) The threesome performed "Gravel" and "32 Flavors," leaving the crowd on their feet and wanting more.
It looks like Ani played to exhaustion. As always, she continues to open people's eyes to issues and her lyrics provoke the audience to think and stand up for what is right.
If nothing else, see her live just to watch her innovative guitar playing.

For more info go to: www.righteousbabe.com/ani