Not everyone can silence a large group of rowdy Reed students, but not everyone can command a room like Jason Webley. Years ago, at a solo show at Reed's Eliot Hall Chapel, the clamor from the 200 or so students had been steadily drowning out an increasingly agitated Webley. But instead of turning up the volume or shouting himself hoarse, Webley did the opposite: He stepped away from the microphone and quietly began to tell a story about a carrot. Within seconds the crowd fell silent, and he regained control of the room. Moments like these are what make Webley a unique performer. He can lead a ragtag parade of merry revelers through the streets, or he can silence even the most inebriated crowd and conduct story time. The Washington-native singer, guitar player, accordionist, and troubadour may look and sound a lot like Frank's Wild Years-era Tom Waits, but he's earned his own cultish following over the course of his 15 years as a performer, deservedly so. You can always depend on Webley for a fun live show, but be respectful, damn it. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY