From the moment she sat and sang the first song of her set – which was the first she had ever written - the audience was in love. It is rare to encounter somebody as transparent and honest, especially under a spotlight in front of hundreds of people.

“I would have done much grosser shit to meet Whoopi Goldberg,” explains Kimya Dawson midway through her April 15 show at the Pabst Theater. She is talking about the “weird” experience she recently had experienced of performing at a taping of The View, the daytime talk show watched by millions of middle-aged housewives across the country.

Since the monumental success of this year’s hit sleeper film “Juno,” which includes many of Kimya’s songs, she has most likely had many bizarre experiences. Undoubtedly, one of was probably playing at a theater like the Pabst.

As she explained in one of many entertaining anecdotes between songs, the last time she played in Milwaukee was a basement show that got busted by the cops. The whole party ended up moving to the roof of an apartment where her continued set was frequently interrupted by passing trains. Now she is performing on national television and filling theatres across the country.

Though her career seems to have changed tremendously, Kimya has not. Before their hiatus in 2004, Kimya and Adam Green gained a loyal audience playing witty and fun anti-folk songs as the Moldy Peaches. Since then, she has continued in the same musical vein, releasing five albums as a solo artist.

Even now, after all the new attention and success, Kimya still sings the same simple songs of longing and crying and wondering that many musicians would have abandoned after the first sell-out crowd. That is probably the most appealing thing about Kimya Dawson: She is not like anybody else you will ever see, especially among popular musicians.

As she played “I Like Giants,” she sang to the crowd: “Rock and roll is fun, but if you ever hear someone say you are huge, look at the moon, look at the stars, look at the sun.” She seems to be taking her own advice.

The woman before the crowd on April 15 was not a celebrity or rock star or even a stage personality. She was Kimya Dawson: mother, artist and musician.

From the moment she sat and sang the first song of her set – which was the first she had ever written - the audience was in love. It is rare to encounter somebody as transparent and honest, especially under a spotlight in front of hundreds of people.

She seemed to welcome audience members’ attempts at conversation, and used her clever wit to deter the annoying ones.

“Who’s Got the Crack!” requested one repeat obnoxious offender.

“This isn’t a Moldy Peaches show,” Kimya calmly explained. “I’ll be playing my songs. Sorry.”

The audience was treated to older songs and newer songs and even some off her upcoming children’s album, “Alphabutt.” The pacing of the set was not unlike the type of basement shows that Kimya was playing not too long ago. She charmed the crowd with stories of dorky boyfriends and awkward experiences, and even shared one about the most rock-star event she’d had on tour: when the bassist of her opening band, L'Orchidee D'Hawaii, broke a giant mirror in a hotel room after falling off the end of a treadmill.

Though her most recent success has seemed to hit fast, the charisma and sincerity of her songs will surely keep new fans coming back for more. She is surely welcome back in Milwaukee at anytime, whether it be a roof in Riverwest or the splendor of the Pabst downtown. No matter where she ends up, Kimya will bring her friends and fans and a heaping spoonful of honest-to-goodness joy.

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