We’re all on the same page when we say Ben Kweller can do no wrong, right? Okay, just checking. After all, the twenty-seven year old Texan is quite the songwriter these days. If he’s not carving out eccentricities in the punk-grunge rock genre, he’s certainly flirting around with some folk or indie rock. Most recently, he’s been channeling some of that Greenville-country-hometown flavor, and it sounds pretty good. This new sound surfaces just in time, as he’s releasing his fourth studio record, Changing Horses, next week.
To kick things off to a good promotional start, Kweller appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman last night to shake off a new tune. Titled “Fight”, there’s enough twang and spunk in there to make amends between the likes of Garth Brooks and Jeff Tweedy. But don’t fret just yet, it wouldn’t be a Kweller jingle without some of his bouncy lyrics, and this one’s chock full of ’em. That might explain his demeanor. Under a mustard yellow hat and in some rag tag clothing, Kweller seems to be wearing his influences, but he’s having fun with it. When he sings, “I’m like my grandma/short but I stand tall/Playing every single card that’s dealt to me,” take note at how involved he gets with the song. As for the rest of the show, it’s a rousing performance (especially for a Monday night), and Paul Shaffer’s little piano inclusion is both appropriate and cheeky, too.
If you’re going to catch Kweller anytime soon, this upcoming tour would be a good place to start, as he’ll be touring with The Watson Twins. Though he’s likely to be at the majority of this summer’s music festivals (Lollapalooza, I’m looking at you!), don’t quote us on that. Regardless, be sure to check back next week for our review of Changing Horses before you head on out to that record store.
Ben Kweller 2009 Tour Dates
02/16 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
02/17 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre *
02/18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall *
02/21 – Cleveland, OH @ Case Western Reserve University *
02/22 – Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club Theatre *
02/24 – Somerville, MA @ Somerville Theatre *
02/26 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *
02/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts *
02/28 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel *
03/01 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle *
03/03 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall *
03/04 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge *
03/05 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club *
03/06 – Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Theater *
04/18 – Perth, AU @ West Coast Blues ’n’ Roots Festival
* w/ The Watson Twins
Tickets may be purchased via ticketmaster.com.
