POP MUSIC REVIEW : Janis Ian Tours Inner Territory

As she nears 41, Janis Ian’s role as pop’s mini-diva of Angst doesn’t seem to have changed much over the years since “Society’s Child” propelled her to teen-age stardom.

Headlining a benefit concert for the Caring for Children With AIDS organization at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Thursday, the tiny singer-songwriter spent most of her time touring the inner territory of an emotion-drenched psyche. Virtually every song--from the 1975 hit “At Seventeen” to more current material like “Other People’s Lives”--resonated with an interior focus that verged on the claustrophobic.

Ian made occasional efforts to vary the dark tone with a brighter piece or two, aided considerably by the jazz-based, hard-swinging accompaniment of bassist Chad Watson and drummer Jim Brook. But more often the atmosphere remained overcast--so much so that an electric performance of Ian’s “Jesse” was almost lost in the self-reflective haze.

Ian was preceded by a much more varied set of original works sung and played--individually and in concert--by the Los Angeles Women Singer/Songwriters.

Amanda McBroom climaxed the set with her almost-a-standard “The Rose.” Michele Brourman’s two numbers (written with lyricist Karen Gottlieb) were first-rate examples of contemporary songwriting, and Susan Krebs’ hard-driving, whimsically blues-based pieces brought a welcome touch of energy and humor.

Ali Olmo’s rhythmic songs had the feel of R&B; night music, and Margot Rose found ways to deliver a message without overwhelming her point. Lisa Harlow Stark’s up-front, declamatory “Bring It on Home” was the perfect anthem for an evening that in its best moments demonstrated both the power and the caring of the women’s community of performers.