It’s hard to cut back on calling Ben Kweller “the boy wonder” (after all, he’s turned 30 and has been a professional musician for the last 15 of those years), when his entrance is a hop and a skip to the microphone, in bright red jeans and a mop of curls atop his head, for a grinning, “Hello!” before kick-starting the evenings’ set of his signature meld of genres and tunes.
Jumping, literally, right into the first single from Kweller’s fifth LP effort, Go Fly a Kite, “Mean to Me” sets the tone and gets the audience going from the get-go. The crowd welcomes Kweller back like an old friend, indeed like a sorely missed one, as we’re told, “We always play Melbourne last on our tours, next time we gotta play for you guys first so my voice isn’t so shitty!” It’s worrying that his voice could be fragile after a simple 3 date tour for The HiFi but never does his voice sound under pressure tonight.
Kweller remains alone on stage for a quick acoustic break as he takes us down memory lane for a gentle rendition of “On My Way”, echoed loudly by the audience, and flows smoothly into “Lizzy” – garnering excited cheers before hushing to silence. The guitar here tells as much a story as the touching lyrics Kweller delivers particularly passionately tonight, his voice delicately cracking on the last line, ‘I love you’. Sounds like the subject of the song – Kweller’s real-life wife – remains to be a brilliant part of his world.
Warmer welcomes are undoubtedly given to the old favourites but, despite the new album being out for barely a month, the crowd acts as an enthusiastic backing choir for the new tracks as well. Any qualms you may have about his latest tunes will be promptly forgotten when you see Kweller perform live. “Free” proves to be a return to old school Kweller in terms of the bright and jangling southern country rock riffs and a very groovy bass line, combined with his life lesson-giving and story-telling lyrics, while the piano waltz of “Gossip” gives a reprieve from the Kweller optimism listeners are used to. “Full Circle” boasts lyrics of… Well, coming full circle and declares it so on a more folk-influenced level.
With five albums under his belt and a 90 minute set in which to play, it’s inevitable some or all of your favourites won’t be played but an agreeable set list is on show tonight. It’s even pleasantly surprising to hear “Hospital Beds”, from 2004’s On My Way, where Kweller falters halfway through and announces that “the keyboard stopped on me but now it’s working again. Did you guys hear that? Was it all in my head?” The crowd is oblivious so Kweller and his superb band do their best to let it be but, unfortunately, they steer clear of the instrument for the rest of the show, even replacing the piano chords of “Sundress” with a feeble imitation on lead guitar. However, it’s a very admirable effort and is better than nothing at all. Both the band and the audience’s energies remain as sure as the sun during this little hiccup. Thankfully, Kweller returns to the keyboard simply to introduce the closing song: hand good-humouredly poised over the keys as the audience waits with baited breaths before, yes! With a wide, toothy smile from Ben, “Penny on a Train Track” is played and the crowd goes wild for those opening keys. Lucky for them, they get to hear it twice as Kweller runs, playfully slams into his lead guitarist and unplugs the bass pedal. “Alright, let’s try that again. I like the running bit so we’ll do that again but maybe I won’t step on the bass pedal this time.”
It’s a strong ending and the band comes back for an even more solid encore of “Commerce, Tx” and “Wasted and Ready” – the latter translating universally and bringing back the lost memories of becoming an adult. It becomes an anthem-like affair with the crowd joining in on the chorus right through to the finish.
Kweller certainly does not look 30 and it would surprise many to learn he’s married with a young family. His on stage presence still alludes to the whole ‘boy wonder’ image; bouncing on the spot, one or both legs always in motion, his friendly and endearing banter that holds the same comforting lilt as his singing voice saying how wonderful Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” tune is and telling us the story of how, when Kweller was 14, he dropped 4 acid tabs and then faced his family. The new album may sound a bit more grown up but onstage is where the youthful recklessness, which made Kweller and his sound so appealing all those years ago, truly comes to life.
– Louie Hill
