Ben Kweller packs the Perch

Students packed themselves into the Perch this past Friday to watch Ben Kweller perform, along with his opening act, Caitlyn Grabenstein, '12.

Grabenstein  enthusiastically kicked off the night with guitar in tow. She sweetly performed some of her own music, along with some songs by other artists she admires.

Grabenstein, and friend Mike Hoffman, '12, performed her song, entitled, "The Treehugger and Me," and closed with Ingrid Michaelson's, "You and I." The audience seemed well aware of Grabenstein talent, and nodded supportively in her decision to get on stage as a solo opening act. Her unguarded sense of performing and explaining her music showed some serious spunk.

After Grabenstein performance, the Perch maintained its  laid back vibe, as a small group of St. Joe's students gathered around in quiet anticipation. Soon, Ben Kweller would hit the stage looking just like a sprightly college student, despite his age of 28.

Kweller brought a genuine style, both musically and personally. He showed off his musical abilities playing harmonica, guitar, and keyboard, in addition to singing all of his songs. Kweller opened the show with "Wantin' Her Again." With the help of his friend, Rich, Ben led St. Joe's students through his songs and through his youth. He even went "below the music," telling listeners of his hidden lyric—"it felt like a paperweight"—that he took out of the song "How It Should Be" to make it sound better lyrically. Although he forgot a few lyrics along the way, he caught himself, and laughed off his forgetfulness. 

Kweller's easygoing demeanor reflects his Texas upbringing. His catchy, yet extremely vulnerable music demonstrate his roots, as it mixes some country/folk with pop/rock.

Kweller appeared as earnest as his songs, and made the audience want to laugh, cry, and dance. Students seemed to really appreciate his overall vulnerability, and strong sense of self as a solo artist. I don't think many students realized that Kweller is actually a signed artist, though, and has performed with artists such as Ben Lee and Ben Folds.  His record label, ATO Records, started by Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band, also employs other artists such as The Whigs, My Morning Jacket, and Brendan Benson.

Nonetheless, Kweller played songs from albums "Sha Sha" and "Ben Kweller." Some songs he performed included "Lizzy," "Sundress," "I Gotta Move," "Commerce Texas," and "Walk on Me." Kweller slowed the show down with "Falling," a slow song regarding his feelings of homesickness and his infatuation with living in New York City, and "Thirteen," a scrapbook song about Kweller's one and only true love, Liz, and, of course, his lucky number thirteen. He also performed, "Wasted and Ready" from Sha Sha, and got the audience nodding and foot-tapping to a song about college, partying, and, clearly, getting wasted. Kweller ended the show with "Penny on the Track," and told the audience how happy he was to see people he doesn't even know appreciating music he wrote in some hotel room.