Ben Kweller

September 22, 2006 – The Avalon Hollywood, California

  With a mostly teenage crowd packed into the Avalon, I felt slightly aged as I gazed down at the wristband above my hand. But then I shifted focus onto the beer in my other hand, and Ben Kweller’s roadies setting up the equipment onstage, and felt much better. Ben, who seemingly appeals to the young and hip, composes songs with such classic-rock sensibility that they belie his 25 years. Of course, he’s been in bands that have received notable attention since he was 12, so I guess he’s had time to pore over the annals of rock songwriting history.
  Ben’s burgeoning talent was on display as his traditional, two-guitar + piano, bass and drums ensemble rocked, shuffled, and popped through a hour-and-a-half set characterized by the tightness of the band, the amazing sound quality of the venue and equipment, and the impeccable harmonies delivered by Kweller and the members of his troupe. Opening with a couple of tunes from his new eponymous album (which were probably the low points of the show), Ben quickly steered into some of the crowd’s favorites, like “Wasted and Ready,” “Hospital Bed,” and “Commerce, TX.” Power chords laced across the auditorium and caused foot-stomping and head-nodding en masse. Ben kept the pace lively, running back and forth between the piano and the guitar, congregating in little huddles with fellow guitarists during instrumental portions, and addressing the microphone from several angles. The exuberance with which Ben executed almost every movement was infectious.
   The true highlight of the evening came when Ben invited two audience members, Andrew and Liz, to come up on stage. Well, Andrew, who, as the audience was grasping by now, had somehow prearranged this with Ben, dropped down on his knee and proposed to Liz, who graciously accepted. They then sat down in folding chairs set up right next to Ben, who sang the acoustic “Lizzie” (which is also his wife’s name) just for the newly engaged couple. It was a nice gesture, a well-played songs, and a demonstration of the connection that Ben has with his fans (it is said that he once attended a fan’s prom as her date).
    What can I say? The experience was great. I’ve gotta recommend both the Avalon as a venue and a Ben Kweller show to anyone looking to rock out for any extended period of time.

-Evan Pitchford