Victoria Williams benefit; The Whisky Tuesday, June 16

Michael Penn, T-Bone Burnett and Maria McKee were the headliners. And although anticipation was high to hear their new material -- it's been at least three years since any has released an album -- anticipation was higher regarding who else might appear onstage.

The buzz was that Neil Young was a strong possibility, but he never showed. Those who were spotted included Robbie Robertson, Michelle Shocked and Joni Mitchell, but they were content to be supportive bystanders.

As it turned out, there was plenty of good music to go around. The problem was that the pacing was so slow, with over-extended breaks between acts, that by the time Penn closed the show, it was near midnight, four hours after the scheduled start.

The key was the solidarity shown toward singer and songwriter Victoria Williams, the one being benefited, who recently contracted multiple sclerosis. She is without medical insurance.

Among the guests were the Williams Brothers, Virgin act Sam Phillips -- who Burnett accompanied on two songs -- and members of such bands as the Counting Crows and Soul Asylum. The material was all rather tender and folksy with an emphasis on balladry.

The acerbic Burnett injected some much-needed sardonics into the proceedings while performing material from his upcoming Columbia CD, "Criminal Under My Own Hat," due July 14. Apparently T-Bone had a bad day, starting out with a haircut that was more suited, he said, to Erik Estrada. His one familiar tune was "Humans From Earth," from the "Until the End of the World" soundtrack.

The night's shining moment, however, belonged to McKee, ex-Lone Justice lead singer and current Geffen solo artist. The first band of the evening to feature a drummer, her group also included McKee's old Lone Justice mate Marvin Etzioni on guitar and mandolin, Bruce Brody on Hammond organ, and two members of the Minnesota-based Jayhawks. Theirs was a spirited, lush sound that encompassed gospel, blues and all-out rock 'n' roll.

McKee put the emphasis on fresh material, save for a cover of Mott the Hoople 's "I Wish I Was Your Mother." Her set couldn't have been more spirited, with her voice in fine fettle, ranging from honey-drenched to tart and sassy with remarkable fluidity. This is a singer in complete command of her instrument and the only reason her star hasn't burned brighter is that it's been absent from the stage for so long. She last toured in 1989 with Neil Young.

When he appeared late in the evening, Penn played new songs from his upcoming album, "Brave New World" from his 1989 LP "March" and Victoria Williams' "Clothesline."