Nanci Griffith

Sat., Jan. 23, 8 p.m., wait list only, with Susan Werner, Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media, 610-891-0100, mediatheatre.org.

by Carolyn Wyman

folk/country

Probably no one was happier to see the '00s go than "folkabilly" singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith. Bouts with both breast and thyroid cancer, the death of her beloved stepdad and two terms of George W. made her life embody the title of her powerful "It's a Hard Life Wherever You Go," and led to a four-year songwriting drought. But with new health and a new president came inspiration: 2009's The Loving Kind (Rounder), to be showcased at her Media Youth Center benefit Saturday, is her best album in years, blending an unusual number of political songs (the title track tribute to interracial marriage pioneers Richard and Mildred Loving has already been embraced by gay-marriage advocates) along with her trademark confessionals and slice-of-lifes.