CONCERT REVIEW: Michael Penn, Live at Southern Tracks Atlanta

- Joe Silva

Somewhere midway during this set, which was being recorded for a future local radio broadcast, Michael Penn somewhat sheepishly confessed to not being known for having a massive stage presence. But before his fairly new outfit began their next tune, he added in a Woody Allen-ish deadpan that he'd take part of the responsibility for that circumstance if the audience would own up to their share as well.

Now three records into his career, that statement is a subtle but honest jab coming from the man who was awarded MTV's Best New Artist award more than six years ago and then quickly dropped off the radio map. In fact, the week after he won that award, RCA inexplicably canned a follow-up single and video that was almost sure to cash in on the radio/video success of his initial hit "No Myth." You can place the blame in any number of places (poor marketing strategy, the rise of grunge, etc), but not even Penn knows for certain how he became almost instantly forgotten. His second record (_Free For All) went virtually unpromoted and was followed by a period of corporate restructuring that left him with virtually no means to record or sign elsewhere.

But now amidst the low watt glow of multi-coloured lava lamps, indian carpeting, and fantastic acoustics, Michael's band helps him re-emphasize why that was all a great wrong-doing.

Showcasing only material from his new release Resigned, Penn's voice boomed across these softened surroundings and giving these tunes a even more compelling face than they had when they were initially laid to tape in this very room.

While he sings, Penn latches on to an blank stare that is aimed at a nowhere point in the back of the room as he begins the reserved first verse of his new single "Try. " But when he meets the chorus a few moments later, there is an intensity to the timbre of his voice and the band's mood that locks the entire room into the verve of the moment. Superb keyboardist Jebin Bruni is revealed a moment or two later as Penn's ace in the hole. Bruni helps morphs the grittier bits of the song's radio release into a stirring bit of atmosphere that will hopefully not be lost when the electric version of this band hits larger venues during their summer opening slots for Sheryl Crow.

Later Penn heads into a stunning version of "Strawberry Fields Forever" and his voice makes an eerie but striking fit for Lennon's that along with Bruni's actual mellotron passages recalls all that was haunting and beautiful about this thirty year-old classic. Other highlights include "Like Egypt Was," a semi-psychedelic upbeat number about Los Angeles facing the millenium and the X-file like circumstances surrounding a woman's last few moment in a local hospital. Combined with stellar pop moments like "All That That Implies" and "Me Around," the brief set was tremendously satisfying glimpse of what his shows will deliver on the road.

And while Penn may never raise eyebrows with his performing demeanor, he is nonetheless right now in strong shape vocally and the tunes bear out how sound his writing still is. The only unfortunate aspect to the evening may have been that this small setting was probably the optimal way to appreciate what's best about Penn and Resigned, and that the rest of the concert going AOR fans that Sheryl Crow will draw to her feet will not be able to fully appreciate his worth in a short set, hampered by lousy arena acoustics and loud cries for the beer guy.