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The opening song on Patty Griffin’s latest album, Flaming Red, may come as a shock to those who know only her debut. Living With Ghosts was a spare, acoustic affair, its folk songs perfectly suited for the first Lilith Fair. Flaming Red rocks. Folkies have several options when choosing to go alternative, and Griffin opts for all of them: She follows the Dylan route, going electric on heartland-style rock with ample help from drummer Kenny Aronoff. She goes electronic, getting with the program of subdued beats perfected by Beth Orton and Everything but the Girl. And she goes pop, draping her songs in luxurious arrangements and sounding more than a little like Sam Phillips on tracks like “Christina” and “Blue Sky.” Griffin is playing a few dates on this summer’s Lilith Fair tour, but not when it stops in D.C., so catch her with Jude at 10 p.m. at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. $15. (202) 393-0930. (Mark W. Sullivan)