Its no surprise that Ani DiFrancos show this evening sold out weeks ago. The Buffalo-hailing singer-songwriter and feminist icon has a solid cult following that dates back to the 90s, when young women found refuge in her defiant, angst-ridden music. Since then, DiFranco has embraced motherhood and revealed a softer, more vulnerable self in her songs. She isnt as radical as she used to be, but neither are her fans, many of whom now also have families of their own. Troubled or not, DiFranco always delivers an emotionally-charged live performance and thankfully, never loses perspective on what attracted her fans in the first place. When someone heckles her to play something for those who are still depressed (theres always a few in the audience), she kindly obliges with a rendition of-what else?-Grey. With Animal Prufrock. ERIKA HOBART
Sat., April 16, 7 p.m., 2011
