By David Callicott

Mason Jennings showed up at the Beacon Theater last Friday, a venue he had never played before, for soundcheck. He and his band—including Arabella Kaufman on bass and Brian McLeod on drums—were opening up that evening’s sold-out Guster show.

While we spoke in the balcony before the gig, Jennings mostly talked about the same things he sings about: love, family and spirituality or, as he put it, opening his heart, expanding as a human and going inside for the answers. He said that the biggest influence on his art is his twice-daily meditation practice. “The thing I listen to is my inner voice, that’s the guide for me … I think I’m always in touch with it; I think everybody is. But I think that the songwriting, it’s clearly a practice of working with that energy.” I checked to see if he was levitating. He was. Cool.

The metaphysical nature of our conversation came as no surprise. For the past 10 years, Jennings has been recording songs laced with ethereal themes. He’s perpetually intrigued with the workings of the universe, and last year’s Boneclouds was a continuation of this path. The album, released on Modest Mouse Isaac Brock’s new imprint, Glacial Pace, is thick with mysticism—from the Ram Daas-inspired opener “Be Here Now” to the polytheistic examination of “Some Say I’m Not” to the uncertain pleas to a higher power in the album’s closer, “Jesus Are You Real.”

Jennings, 32, has the face of an innocent boy, but seems like the type most often described as an “old soul” with the sort of positive attitude that self-help books push—but without the flakiness. He’s one of those guys who seems to have figured out that life is exactly what you make it. Sure, that’s easier said than done, but Jennings is actually doing it. “I love playing music. I love writing. I love stepping out onto the stage. It just feels so exciting to be able to change the energy in a room … where whatever ideas you have that are coming through you, you can bring them to life.”

Jennings and his trio brought their ideas to life in front of 6,000 at the Beacon a few hours after our conversation. Then shortly after midnight, Jennings played a solo set at the Hiro Ballroom for a friend’s movie premiere/art event. On stage he came across just as he had earlier when we talked—a nice guy humbly seeking the truth. He delivered a set of simple folk songs that felt fresh, warm, comforting: Kind of like an apple pie coming right out of the oven. For those who like apple pie, you’ll have a chance to grab some seconds this week. And thirds. Chow down.

April 18, Luna Lounge, 361 Metropolitan Ave. (at Havemeyer St.), B’klyn, 718-384-7112; 7, $17. (also April 21 at Gramercy Theatre).