Ben Kweller Returns to Brooklyn

...at least for one night...

So, I just saw the greatest concert of my life thus far. I wasn't sure what to expect from Mr. Kweller since my last concert-going experience was disappointing, due to the heavily utilized lap steel guitar and the resulting southern twang to the music. Tonight however, was Ben Kweller at his best. The Ben Kweller that continually inspires me. It was just Ben, two acoustics guitars, and a piano on stage. He began taking requests from the audience, and then his son, Dorian shouted that he wanted to sing a song. The next few minutes were adorable (Dorian is like 4 years old). Apparently the kid loves singing "Iron Man". Ben kept taking requests from the audience until he invited Adam Green to come up for a few songs. They played one of the creepiest songs I've ever heard (Adam Green's), and then they played their version of Cocamo. He then played some more requests, and then invited up "C-dog", who, it ends up, is none other than Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes. Ben mentioned one awesome evening after Conor had moved to NYC, he invited Ben to play for one night in his band for their show at the Knitting Factory (where Baker St is playing in January!). He said it was so cool that he got to be part of Bright Eyes for one night. They played one epic song with a ridiculously awesome solo by Ben (it was some Bright Eyes song, I'm sure). Then Ben switched over to the piano for most of the rest of the concert. (He played Make It Up via request earlier) But the last two songs were Walk On Me and then (encore) Penny on the Train Tracks. His set on piano was Sha Sha (requested), Sawdust Man, Thirteen, Hospital Bed, and Falling. During Make It Up, the reverberations caused a glass next to the monitor to fall and smash right next to me, but it was still awesome.

Afterward I awkwardly bumped into and was squashed into Adam Green. Then I made my way over and saw Ben talking with fans. Finally, it was my turn and as I began by shaking his hand and saying "I just wanted to say 'thank you'", he interrupted me by playing with my hair, saying, "I like your curls." Finally I got out my speech. I said, "I found your music like 6 years ago, when I had stopped writing music. Listening to you got me to start writing again and now I'm a musician in New York. That's due to you and your music, so thank you." To which, he beckoned me in with a big hug and said, quite genuinely, "Thank you for that." I can't recall having such jitters at another moment in my life. I was so nervous to speak to him.

Basically, this was as perfect as the night could have gone in my realistic imagination (in my ridiculous imagination, Ben wants to listen to my music; and I eventually tour with him).

Overall, the benefit of this concert is that I feel reinvigorated in my passion for music. I was so close (smack dab center front) that I could see all the equipment he uses, and how his hand moves on the guitar. His guitar playing is so impressive and yet entirely my style. I learn from him. Being that close, and being a musician now, I can relate more to what he does, and I was even more impressed than before. I learned a lot from this concert. I think that I, too, am on my way.