Eight Gigs: Mason Jennings

It's been nearly two decades since Mason Jennings put out his eponymous debut, an eight-song, super lo-fi gem. He's flown relatively under the radar all the while, touring steadily and putting out a dozen albums, playing often with longtime friend Jack Johnson. Early fans of his mellow, folksy pop will recall Jennings' resolutely political and even spiritual streak—though his latest release, 2013's Always Been, draws heavily on nature, and, surprisingly, contemporary works of literature ranging from Patti Smith's biography Just Kids to the fiction of Haruki Murakami and Louise Erdrich. 2708 J Street, http://masonjennings.com.