Sufjan Stevens and a crew of musicians graced the ’Sco on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, playing songs primarily off of his last two albums: Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State (2003) and Seven Swans (2004). Considering that admission was free (courtesy of Concert Board) and that this was Sufjan’s only show in Ohio this time around, it was no surprise to find a packed house mixer of students and visitors.

As the 2003 album title oh-so-subtly hints, Sufjan is Michigan born and raised; he now resides in Brooklyn, however (a Midwest traitor?) As Sufjan rotated instruments masterfully, he gave background to his songs, storytelling about particular times and places in Michigan and the like.

For example, Sufjan told us that the song “The Dress Looks Nice on You,” from Seven Swans, is about his freshman year of high school when he was dating a senior. She used to drive him around Michigan and they not only chilled but also sought to fulfill her penchant for shopping. At one point she came out of a dressing room wearing a dress gone collage early ’90s style, and asked his response: “It looks confused.” He later realized the desired response and has either been romantically plagued ever since, or just harks back to the naive days.

He played a version of the national anthem, debuted in NYC on the Fourth of July. Prefaced by remarks about how enshrouded our Star-Spangled Banner tune is in violence, his haunting rendition was characteristically (of him, not of typical renditions) innovative and moving. Other songs relating to Michigan also gave an interesting twist to nationalism, with close up and sometimes experiential perspective on different towns from the hardships of the working town Flint and struggles of Detroit after the ’60s riots to promotional bumper sticker logos to attract Michigan tourists (“Say Yes! to M!ch!gan!”).

Sufjan’s songs are a delightful mélange of pop-folk complimented by alternative instrumentation — I know my description sounds generic, so check him out if you haven’t heard him. His sounds are beautiful, and it is nice to know he is so involved and devoted to the process — on his albums he impressively plays most of the instruments himself. It may also interest you to know that he frequently works with members of the Danielson Famile, a totally fitting and awesome combo. The Danielson Famile is a whole other crazy story, but it is interesting to note that both bands creatively involve Christianity in their music, although in different ways. Sufjan voices more of the universal compassion whereas the Famile periodically breaks into chants like “I love my Lord” (on the rad song “A no no”). Both groups are playful with their religion, it seems, but not sacrilegious.

Sufjan remorsefully announced to the audience that he had hoped to attend Oberlin College and that in fact most of the musicians on stage had. It was his first pick, and he got in, but could not afford it and went to a Michigan state school. Perhaps this is an inappropriate tirade, but it’s saddening that someone as ingenious as Sufjan was not compensated enough to be able to share our experiences.

Who knows, maybe he somehow wasn’t cut out for Oberlin. Or perhaps Oberlin has other students in mind when it comes to scholarships and financial aid. I digress. The point is that Sufjan’s performance was one of the best I’ve seen at the ’Sco this semester, kicking off Thanksgiving break on the right note, and helping draw to a close this musically rich beginning to the year.