Some musicians inspire love and laughter. Some evoke applause, standing ovations or mosh pits. If Ani DiFranco were so inclined, she could cause a riot.

The politically driven presence DiFranco brought to Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines, Sunday night far surpassed that of a typically impassioned folk singer.

Despite her anti-war political beliefs, the power she held over her audience was the kind associated with war heroes and triumphant generals.

The brigade of about 1,200 fans was captivated long before DiFranco took the stage. The dome-ceilinged theater allowed perfect acoustics as young folkster Noe Venable opened the night with an intimate set of songs that painted dreamy landscapes with every verse.

Her performance possibly equaled DiFranco’s, due to the masterful accompaniment on upright bass by Todd Sickafoose. Shortly before Venable vacated the stage, the feeling that the event was as much a political rally as it was a concert became clear.

Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich was in the house to show his support of DiFranco’s music and her left-wing agenda. The Ohio Congressman made a point to encourage the audience to attend the caucuses. Unfortunately, Kucinich talked down to the crowd so much, never even using the word “caucus,” he sounded as if he was addressing an assembly of illiterate adolescents, rather than radical activists.

Ironically, the most passionate politics began after Kucinich was done speaking. In the next 75 minutes, DiFranco put forth 16 powerful messages — some as a slam poet, some as a trampled lover, some as a zealous promoter of peace — always as a sincere orator capable of commanding an army.

Many times, a keen ear would swear DiFranco was playing a bass at the same time as she melodically strummed her guitar. Revered even by those who disagree with her liberal views as one of the most talented guitarists of a generation, the 33-year-old tore through song after song with amazing gusto.

If Pippi Longstocking exchanged her pigtails for dreadlocks and picked up a guitar, she would look a lot like DiFranco. The singer/songwriter lunged around the stage like a goofy velociraptor all night, obviously not caring about how graceful she appeared.

Between songs, DiFranco frequently bumbled through quasi-explanations of her songs. Of course, her quirky mannerisms were balanced by the highly focused aggression and intellect evident in all her lyrics.

The performance included six new songs in anticipation DiFranco’s new release, “Educated Guess.”

The album, which comes out Tuesday, will be DiFranco’s 18th full-length release since her debut in 1989.

DiFranco jumped into her set with “God’s Country” and capped it off with “Evolve.” Between those songs stood an arsenal of feminist weaponry, plugs for Kucinich and a handful of jokes about Iowa.

“Every tool is a weapon / If you hold it right,” said DiFranco at the end of her coming-of-age poem, “My I.Q.”

Those words proved especially true as she fiercely segued into “Two Little Girls,” one of her biggest guns of the night.

Before the last song, DiFranco recited a patriotic poem devoted to “the men and women who have fought the government” in order to gain legal freedoms.

DiFranco may have held the spotlight and microphone, but the energy coming from the crowd was easily more intimidating than DiFranco herself. Much more than just entertainment, this concert was a gathering of a very vocal militia.