PHOTOS BY ROBERT LOERZEL

Under normal circumstances, mix a little Aimee Mann with a little beer and the outcome is a one-way ticket to drunken depression. But last night's (Oct. 23) installment of MGD's the Craft series featuring the former 'Til Tuesday frontlady proved that sometimes Aimee Mann and beer blends for a good time. Playing four tracks from her forthcoming 2008 release Smilers, including "Freeway," a bouncy ditty with mismatched lyrics, and "Little Tornado," a more stripped down sound than heard before, Mann admitted she doesn't really do happy songs, saying "the thing that makes any plot interesting is the conflict." "Save Me," Mann's copasetic Academy Award-nominated song made famous in the 1999 drama Magnolia, rounded out Mann's characteristically touching melancholy.

But the seemingly quiet yet oddly funny songwriter did earn a few laughs and smiles from the Park West crowd -- the last time she was really glum, Mann listened to Coldplay's "The Scientist," she divulged. The songsmith also stated that she is "lazy," possesses a terrible memory, and explained that just because she writes and sings in the first person doesn't mean the songs are from her perspective. But really, Mann isn't completely downhearted -- she's just a regular somebody who loves Law & Order reruns, so don't get too carried away in psychoanalyzing why she compared her likeness to a giraffe.  

We asked: Aimee Mann's second solo album is called I'm With Stupid. When was the last time you were hanging out with someone and thought, "Man, I really am with stupid!"

Name: Brian McCauley
Age: 26
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Designer
"Definitely at work, when I'm not allowed to say I'm with stupid"

Name: Pip Betzer
Age: 23
Hometown: Oregon
Occupation: Student
"In classes this week."

Name: Carlo Tamayo
Age: 27
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Broadcast engineer
"A few weeks ago when I was in Arlington Heights."

Name: Meg Backner
Age: 38
Hometown: Algonquin, IL
Occupation: Sales manager
"I'd have to say last weekend. I was with my mom and aunt."

Name: Megan Catanese
Age: 30ish
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Health care publishing
"No one lately."

Name: Alan Taylor
Age: 35
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Restaurant manager
"Don. Each time I'm with him I think that and I've known him for 17 years."

Name: Stacy Saindon
Age: 30ish
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Therapist
"Ummmm..."

Name: Wendy Stone
Age: 33
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Optometrist "Does tonight count?"

'Voices Carry' / Photo by Robert Loerzel

Mann with bassist Paul Bryan / Photo by Robert Loerzel

The former 'Til Tuesday frontman plays to Park West attendees / Photo by Robert Loerzel

Mann with moderator Warren Zanes / Photo by Robert Loerzel