Mason Jennings brings the love

Seeing Mason Jennings live is like wrapping yourself in a group hug with a gang of flannel-wearing monks.

While Inland Northwest concert-goers can sometimes be a tepid bunch, last Wednesday's show at The Knitting Factory in downtown Spokane was surprisingly warm and fuzzy.

With a little help from his friends, Jennings managed to break down the barriers and bring a little love into the room. In this, his inaugural visit to Spokane, Jennings was joined by bandmates Adam Topol on drums and Jonny Polonsky on bass, along with opening act Zach Gill.

Gill's busker-like behavior and charming, lyrical melodies limbered up the multitudes before the headliner came on gently with a few solo numbers on guitar and harmonica. The unhurried nature of Jennings' music kept the pace fairly measured throughout the evening, even after his band emerged and Gill joined them later on.

Jennings displayed his distinctive way of mixing the serious with the humorous, poetry with melody. In one moment he sang a whimsical song about all the means by which one could die ("unprotected sex, driving while you text"), in the next, he sounded off on the various ways one can love God ("Oh Jesus I love you, and I love Buddha too").

His lyrics nearly, but not quite, trump the beauty and range of his music. Drawing from pop, reggae, blues and folk, Jennings exposes a hesitation to pin himself down to a singular sound.

Jennings played songs from his entire seven-album discography, and gave fans a taste of his latest recording, "In the Ever," released on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records.

While Jennings certainly deserves the same recognition as his labelmate and friend, it's not clear if he really wants the level of superstardom Jack Johnson currently has.

Jennings instead seems to desire a deeper connection with his fans that probably wouldn't be obtainable were he to achieve widespread fame. It's as if he knows he ought to dance around the outskirts of celebrity for the sake of his fans, his music and, most importantly, himself.

"I'm living in the moment with the friends I love," sang Jennings toward the end of his set. Judging by both his wide smile and the sheer gratitude of the crowd Wednesday night, it's plain to see the truth in that statement.