Gig Review - Ben Kweller

Ben Kweller
Concorde 2, Brighton
Tuesday, 21st November


A slice of the Big Apple cut through the chill as anti-folk troubadour Ben Kweller breezed into town. The singer-songwriter is difficult to define, but on this showing he is impossible to dislike.

As punters stream into the venue they find solace from the storm raging outside in a heart-warming set of authenticity and creativity. It is the last night of Kweller and his band’s world tour, and they seem determined to enjoy it.

As Kweller tears into Penny On The Train Track, he gleefully screams, “B-B-B-B Brighton! One, two, this one’s for you!” This sets the tone for a highly personal night, as Kweller repeatedly invites the crowd for requests. He seems determined to live up to his crowd-pleaser tag.

The main reason for this label’s accuracy, along with Kweller’s contagious enthusiasm, is the spontaneity of the evening. Sombre ballad Believer is transformed into a rolling juggernaut of heavy blues, while I Gotta Move becomes more funk than folk.

Kweller’s scope of musical ability is integral to this, as he switches from full band to acoustic mode, over to piano and back again with self-assurance. Equally adept at changing roles are Kweller’s band; keyboards, three-pronged guitar attacks and even a kazoo are introduced at different stages.

Mid-set, a spine-tingling acoustic rendition of the anthemic On My Way raises smiles and voices throughout Concorde’s narrow passage. Following this with an improvised piano version of Chug-a-Lug, a song high in cheeriness but low in emotional depth could enervate the impact of the previous song; yet somehow Kweller’s irreverent charm carries it off.

Charisma exudes from the Brooklyn boy, becoming all-encompassing during Hospital Bed. The infectious rhythm of the song throttles the audience into a mass sing-along - despite the likelihood many of the audience don’t know the words.

This possibility is assumed due to the anonymous profile of Kweller in Britain. While the likes of fellow songsmith Paolo Nutini ride high in the charts, Kweller remains off the radar. Maybe it’s because he looks worryingly like a skinny version of Tom Chaplin from Keane.

Regardless, returning for encore Wasted and Ready, the grin on his face suggests the same contentment in Kweller he is inspiring in the crowd. With honesty and talent he has carved a niche in music’s credible realms. As hundreds of satisfied faces depart into the night, the niche swells a little bit more.

Greg Rose