Michael Penn Opens 2007 Tour at Iota

April 24

Iota Club and Cafe, Arlington Virginia

Recommended beverage:
something dark & bold,

perhaps a Shiner Bock from the tap

Singer-songwriter Michael Penn has hit the road to promote Sony’s dual release this month of a compilation album and his reissued 2005 album, Mr. Hollywood, Jr. 1947, both packed with bonus goodies. He chose to open the tour at Iota, and recounted his last visit to that club when he spewed his disdain for President Bush at every opportunity between songs only to learn that First Daughter Jenna was there for his entire set. He mostly avoided political commentary during this show though he did get in a quick jab about the president once while tuning his guitar.

Penn, a brilliant songwriter and talented musician, strummed his guitar with great energy and kept the crowd captivated on the numerous ballads during his 90-minute set. He played acoustic, accompanied through most of the show by a keyboardist, whose gentle chords complemented Penn’s music.

Penn joked with the crowd that his new 20-song greatest hits compilation, which includes some demos and re-recorded tracks, should be called “Michael Penn’s Greatest Hit.” The man is so humble, one almost forgets he’s part of a superstar family. His wife of 10 years, Aimee Mann, is also a prolific singer-songwriter; his brother, actor Sean Penn, is also vocal about their shared political leanings; and he’s got The Princess Bride, Robin Wright, as a sister-in-law. Not a bad deal.

But back to the music. Penn performed songs that spanned his career including a fantastic version of “Brave New World,” from his 1989 debut album, March. It was positively infectious (for lack of a better overused word in music writing). It’s somewhat of a manic song to begin with and he infused such life into it, his voice soaring sweetly during the chorus. The song, “Walter Reed,” from his last album, was made all the more poignant in that the hospital is being shut down by 2010. Penn sings: “I’m the walking wounded and I’d say it to your face / but I can’t find my place…’cause everything good I’ve had abandoned me / a sad and lonesome me.”

The one time Penn sounded less than polished was when he granted a fan’s request for “All That That Implies,” off his third album, a song he clearly hadn’t played in some time. After working out what key he wrote it in, he flubbed the words a bit, then ended the sound midway through upon forgetting the next verse. It was charming. A few songs later, the fan called out that next line (the Blackberry can be a handy research tool).

After breaking a guitar string on the last song before the encore, Penn returned, replaced the string, and pressed on with a few more songs. He returned for a second encore to do a slowed-down version of his hit, “No Myth,” after which the modest-sized crowd dispersed, spellbound by a great evening of music.

Opener AM, originally from LA (New Orleans) before moving to the other LA (Los Angeles), was quite a treat with his crisp guitar and moving vocals. AM, who enhanced his sound at times with pedals for percussion or overdub, performed a thoroughly enchanting set.