Ben Kweller at the Pheonix; Monday March 5, 2007. 9/10
That rate is strictly for Ben Kweller on his own, because i didn't stay for the headliner, Gomez. Energetic and young, two words i'd use to describe Ben Kweller. He's probably in his mid-twenties and on stage he has an incredible amount of energy to keep his audience interested. There are only three people in his band, drummer, bass and Kweller himself on lead guitar. Kweller alternated between guitar, piano and harmonica, which made everything so interesting. I'm pretty sure he plays the majority of recorded instruments on the album therefore his album obviously has a much more polished sound than his live show.Anyways, to move on. Ben Kweller played older stuff off his album "Sha Sha" released i believe in 2002. Over the last five years his sound has maintained a consistant, but at the same time has evolved incorporating different sounds and styles. In his live show he continues that sound and alters it ever so slightly. For instance, he did the song "Sundress" off his new album "Ben Kweller" and he played it solo on an acousitic guitar, which he changed from his slightly more up beat full-band version. At the show they sold the "Sundress EP" which featured two different verisions and bonus tracks. I love it, go buy a copy.The show was great, he played the main songs of each album and had a lengthy set, which was advertised as a Co-Headline, but i can bet that Gomez got the larger proportion of the stage time. Although Ben Kweller did get a good hour of music in. Which makes me feel like i got my moneys worth.He said at teh beginning of the show that his first time playing in Toronto was five years ago (i'm assuming in support of "Sha Sha") at a Church, likely Trinty St. Paul Church (Spadina and Bloor!). Which is a brilliant venue. I wish i caught him tehre instead of the Pheonix... mind you i was only 14 at the time....Great show.Download: "Sha Sha" (the song), "Thirteen", "Sundress" and "Wasted and Ready"
March 19, 2007
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