The independent spirit is alive and well in the music world, in the form of Ani Difranco.

Difranco, known for her self-started company Righteous Babe Records as much as her non-stop work ethic, performed to a nearly full house at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center Thursday.

A throng of devoted fans that stretched to the end of the block waited more than an hour for the venue’s doors to open, shivering in huddled circles and chatting about previous “Ani” experiences.

Opener Noe Venable, a singer/songwriter fresh out of San Francisco, warmed up the crowd with songs from her new album, “Boots.” With a violinist and bass player, Venable strummed her guitar while singing in a clear, soaring voice that did not disappoint the crowd.

When Difranco ran out onto the stage, her petite frame topped with a thick crop of long dreads, she joined keyboardist Julie Wolf and drummer Daren Hahn at the mic for an a capella rendition of “Freakshow.”

Difranco seemed right at home onstage, grinning broadly at the audience and laughing at her own occasional little flubs, like nearly referring to the wrong town during one of her classic between-song chats with the audience. Her fans weren’t offended, however – it was just a testament to a tour schedule that puts her in front of a different audience nearly every day.

Songs from 2001’s “Revelling/Reckoning,” including “Marrow,” “So What” and “Ain’t That The Way,” paired the rich, warm tones of Difranco’s voice with the equally warm, flowing sounds of her live band. The live lineup stayed true to the diverse sounds of the album, incorporating horns and a saxophone in addition to the bass, drums and keyboard. The diversity of sounds beautifully fit with Difranco’s thoughtful, poetic lyrics and her ability to contort her voice from a full-on attack of snarling staccato to a soft, yet insistent, silky vibrato.

Regardless of those softer moments, Difranco’s unabashed power drove the energetic show, while she jumped in the air in her platform boots and played her guitars with a ferocity that could’ve made them power tools.

Older tunes like “Shameless” and “Napoleon” pleased the fans, many of whom sung along, respectfully being quiet during softer songs.

Throwing a couple of new, untitled songs into the show, Difranco gave fans a taste of the most recent creations of her ever-moving pen.

One of the more personal moments happened when the music stopped and Difranco read an untitled poem, which is posted on her official Web site at www.righteousbabe.com. The poem, written in response to the events of Sept. 11, captured the audience’s attention with its poignant statements about the fall of the twin towers, the lives lost and the society in which it all unfolded.

Hearing the words from Difranco’s mouth instead of reading them on a computer screen sent the words even deeper. But regardless, this is one summation of the events that shouldn’t be missed.

Difranco’s ceaseless energy, sharp wit and rapport with the audience pushes the concert experience beyond the norm, proving that easily-palatable songs and a slick image are not sufficient criteria for artistry.