Ben Kweller, a young Texas native, was well received by the mostly young droves that crowded into the Bronco Bowl Saturday.
The stage was adorned with an exorbitant amount of amplifiers and other equipment. The scene looked much like the mind of a young musician must. It was filled with various pieces scattered everywhere, the musician struggling to bring unity to the chaos in order to find his own personal style.
After seeing the “Marshall” logo appear on at least five of the amplifiers, the phrase “product placement” came to mind. Several high-mounted, flickering television screens finished out the cluttered stage.
Kweller’s music reflects an array of musical influences. The 20-year-old emulates bands from the Velvet Underground to the Counting Crows to Bob Dylan.
His performance featured many of the tracks from his newest album, Sha Sha, including “Wasted and Ready” and “Family Tree.”
His music and lyrics have a certain familiarity to them and the way it comes together puts you in a comfortable state of mind.
The highlight of his set was an extended rendition of “No Reason.” The band, minus the drummer, met at the center of the stage for a “circle of brotherhood”-style jam session. A sparkle of spontaneity and energy filled the room.
Kweller manages to walk the line between sincerity and meaningless pop in his music.
His show was complete and fulfilling. Fans were pleased and those not in the know were intrigued.