Ian Mixes Old Songs With New at Bogart’s

It’s been nearly 15 years since Janis Ian defined painful adolescence with “At Seventeen,” and 22 years since a 16-year-old Ian addressed racial bigotry in “Society’s Child.” Ian performed these two career highlights back to back at Bogart’s on Saturday night, and with their intrinsic link to ‘60s-’70s attitudes, “Child” and “Seventeen” could have easily come off as the defrosted leftovers of the “Big Chill” generation.

But delivered without apology or nostalgic sentiment, Ian’s best-known hits stood the test of time. As did their composer. Backed by a bassist and a drummer and accompanying herself on guitar and piano, Ian mixed new material and old favorites, carefully delineating the emotional kickbacks of infidelity. Ian’s sense of longing for lost love made her stark rendition of “Jesse” particularly poignant.

It’s possible that Ian has been underrated in the pop history books. Her cool, measured tone and attraction to downbeat themes have been adopted and adapted by a slew of current folk singers, from Suzanne Vega to Phranc. At 38, this is Ian’s third “comeback.” If she maintains the quality she displayed Saturday, she shouldn’t need a fourth.