Ward Words

Wednesday night Kelly and I saw Ben Kweller at the Fox Theater in Boulder. The opening band (Sam Roberts Band) started at 9:00. But, LOST was on. So we watched LOST and got into the theater about 9:45, in time to see the opening act play 2 or 3 songs. From what we saw, they are pretty good. Around 10:15 or so Ben Kweller came on. He came on stage alone and rocked an acoustic version of Commerce, TX, followed by On My Way and I think a new song. Then he took to the piano with Sha Sha (How it Should Be) and the rest of the band came out. He played a good chunk of the Sha Sha album along with a fair mix of On My Way and the new self-titled album.

Favorite parts: the mini acoustic set to start the show, song I Need You Back, a small jam session with Ben and two other guitarists (which led into I Need You Back), and BK's slick Napoleon Dynamitesque dance moves.

I loved the concert and left liking Ben Kweller even more than I did going in. He is quite the energetic dude up on stage, dancing around, gesturing, rocking in general. If you get the chance, I'd recommend seeing him. In the meantime, here is BK on Conan O'Brien playing Sundress from the new album. Coincidentally, he wore the exact same clothes at the Boulder show. I thought only huge pop stars and Marilyn Manson had a "performance outfit." Maybe Ben Kweller does too. Props on the neckerchief.