Wednesday To-Do: Ben Kweller
BEN KWELLER
9 p.m., Juanita’s. $15.
Normal-looking Texas-native Ben Kweller, a floppy-haired, baby-faced singer-songwriter, says he got into music as a kid sifting through Beatles and Jimi Hendrix records from his dad’s collection. While Kweller’s high school band Radish was touted as “the next Nirvana,” the 27-year-old’s solo efforts — three lo-fi indie rock LPs — have been rooted in that ’60s pop-rock sound, perhaps most obviously on his 2006 self-titled album produced by Pixies collaborator Gil Norton. A jangley gem that shines on the steady-moving “Penny on a Train” and upbeat breezer “I Gotta Move,” it’s easy to hear his influences. Still, having taken on all vocal and instrumental duties, Kweller proves it’s very much his own project. After playing some big shows — opening for the Lemonheads, co-headlining with Death Cab for Cutie and landing gigs at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits last year — he’s set out on a summer tour that includes a stop at Juanita’s on Wednesday night.
9 p.m., Juanita’s. $15.
Normal-looking Texas-native Ben Kweller, a floppy-haired, baby-faced singer-songwriter, says he got into music as a kid sifting through Beatles and Jimi Hendrix records from his dad’s collection. While Kweller’s high school band Radish was touted as “the next Nirvana,” the 27-year-old’s solo efforts — three lo-fi indie rock LPs — have been rooted in that ’60s pop-rock sound, perhaps most obviously on his 2006 self-titled album produced by Pixies collaborator Gil Norton. A jangley gem that shines on the steady-moving “Penny on a Train” and upbeat breezer “I Gotta Move,” it’s easy to hear his influences. Still, having taken on all vocal and instrumental duties, Kweller proves it’s very much his own project. After playing some big shows — opening for the Lemonheads, co-headlining with Death Cab for Cutie and landing gigs at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits last year — he’s set out on a summer tour that includes a stop at Juanita’s on Wednesday night.
Comments
Caught his show. Talented but all over the map. Had flashes of brilliance, but only flashes, that then succumbed to a same-old-same-old driving indie house band formula.
But the kid can play guitar. He needs someone to help him flesh out his amazing ability and package it so that comes to the fore and drives the music rather than occasionally standing out.
This kid is the real deal that could easily step up to the big time.
Frankly, most bands that come through suck. Mediocre talent. Almost as if everyone with a guitar and a friend who plays the drums can now have a band and land a gig in Little Rock. Please, most of you, put down the instrument and step away from the stage. Maybe go to college because you'll need a fall back. I guess they all serves a purpose in helping us all kill a quiet Wednesday or Thursday night.
No so here. Kweller's the real deal that can, maybe, when he pulls it together, get to the next level.
Posted by: IABL1969![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 23, 2007 09:08 AM
Hey IABL1969, I caught the show too. Kweller is the real deal, as you state, really a prodigy. Not only can he play guitar well, he's a rarity who can play all the instruments on his album, and write brilliant songs, too.
So why do you want him to get to "the big time?" Do you think what he needs an army of greedy music execs to "package" him for a mass audience, cut his hair, pick out his clothes, tailor his lyrics for the proper demographic? Over and over, we've seen bands ruined by "packaging."
I think there are plenty of bands out right now, such as Ben, making fantastic music, better than with support of a major label.
We were lucky that, unlike most of the great bands performing today, Kweller chose to finally make a stop in Little Rock. Thanks Ben!
Posted by: czar2001![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 24, 2007 09:17 PM