Folk-punker Ani DiFranco’s opening number was a fairly accurate indicator of how the rest of her set at Stephens Auditorium would go.

The intense, circus-like energy of “Freakshow,” a track off 1999’s “To the Teeth,” carried on throughout the show.

DiFranco has discarded the intimacy of her earlier material for jazz-funk rhythms that are at best mediocre imitations of jazz greats.

Two horn players, a keyboardist, a bassist, a drummer and DiFranco crowded the stage, both physically and sonically.

Diehard DiFranco fans will most likely espouse the greatness of DiFranco and laud her musical metamorphosis; nearly every person in Stephens shot to their feet upon the do-it-yourself queen’s stage entrance.

However, as was apparent Wednesday night, the extra musicians detract from DiFranco’s personal power.

It was only during a few songs, such as “Hour Follows Hour,” from “Not a Pretty Girl,” and the title track of “Dilate,” that DiFranco truly shined. It’s no surprise these songs are from her older releases – DiFranco’s latest albums suffer from the same crowded feel of her live show.

“As you get older, you sort of distill yourself,” DiFranco said, explaining away the lack of older material on her recent set lists. “What you end up remembering are the stories that you tell.”

The sad thing is, Wednesday’s performance probably won’t be one of those stories anyone remembers.