"One-two-three-four... Caught between the twisted stars, the plotted lines, the faulty map that brought Columbus to New York." Well, this Shakespearian poetry courtesy of Lou Reed didn't bring Kweller to Tokyo of course, but Ben's passions forged between Lou, Bob, himself and others surely did and gloriously are in full bloom in the cozy confines off Tokyo's most famed walkway.
As Dylan plays and lays the foundation to Kweller's amassed disciples mulling about in close quarters, a forever buoyant Kweller storms the stage and keeps it committed to the core solidly between his Epiphone acoustic and Yamaha upright as all others beautifully bath in his craft.Seamlessly switching to his upright with both New York City and his former neighbor on his mind whose presence in the audience duly emboldens, Kweller dedicates the building "My Apartment" then slides into the restorative "How Should It Be (Sha Sha)." A stripped-down "Run" unfurls crystal clear in its sunny sojourn into the forward-thinking walk of "Nothing Different," given added credence with a gaffe humorously acknowledged. Brian Wilson makes his an appearance within his reverent rendition of "God Only Knows," replete with vocal percussion that has all listening to each octave noted as grins abound throughout. 
Back to his Epiphone, the sunshiny, bounce of "Family Tree" gives the equation of love with a three-octave audience input as Kweller conducts. Meanwhile, the haunting "Sundress" takes the lost love yearning to 11 as it charges ahead in its unanswered loyalty. Keeping momentum, the piano-led to acoustic "Penny On The Train Track" supremely satisfies with whip-cream added as an electrified "Enter Sandman" mixes in for a slide into a supreme sundae.
A final convergence split between "Thirteen" and "Wasted & Ready" has all amongst friends feasting as big wet sloppy kisses are thrown both ways. Like that disco diva bellowed, Kweller keeps it real in this heaven all the time. |
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report by michael and photos by izumikuma |
 mag files : Ben Kweller Helping all run near and afar in this heaven allowed (07/04/18 @ Harajuku Astro Hall) : review by michael, photos by izumikuma幸福の使者ベン・クウェラー (07/04/18 @ Harajuku Astro Hall) : review by kemji, photos by izumikumaphoto report (07/04/18 @ Harajuku Astro Hall) : photos by izumikumaCD review : Ben Kweller (07/04/14) : review by michaelCD review : On My Way (04/04/06) : review by Sugako Suzukiphoto report (03/04/30 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : photos by mari |
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Ben Kweller http://www.benkweller.com/ check him? -->iTunes The latest album  "Ben Kweller" (US import / 国内盤 / 国内限定盤 / iTunes) |
previous works
"On My Way"(US import / UK import / 国内期間限定盤 / 国内盤)
"Sha Sha"(国内盤 / 国内盤 with bonus trax / UK import / US import) "Live at Lollapalooza 2006" (iTunes) "Future Soundtrack for America" (iTunes) "Tylenol" (iTunes) "Sundress" (UK import) "Phone Home " (US import / UK import) "Commerce, TX " (US import) "Wasted & Ready " (UK import) ... and more check the albums? |
 2007Close encounters from his seventh mind : Beck (16th Apr. @ Nippon Budokan)CD review : Ben Kweller :Ben Kweller (14th Apr.)Behold... This minor threat will be coming back : Eagles Of Death Metal (14th Mar. @ Daikanyama Unit)CD review : Myth Takes : !!! (Chk Chk Chk) (2nd Feb.)CD review : Resolve : Lagwagon (30th Jan.)CD review : Caught Laughing : Fiel Garvie
(3rd Jan.)2006interview : Soul arrival deeply delivered from the hula farmer himself : Mark Keali'I Ho'omalu (3rd Dec)Never Drifting, Wide Awake, Reassuring You're Not Alone In These Stormy Seas : U2 (30th Nov. @ Saitama Super Arena)interview : Good Music Festival Purveyor : Nigel B. Swifte (1st Nov)When you're up on the stage. It's so unbelievable! Oh...unforgettable! : Roger Joseph Manning JR (30th Oct. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)CD review : the book about my idle plot on a vague : toe (27th Sept.)CD review : Yes, Virginia (Japanese edition) : The Dresden Dolls (23rd Sept.)CD review : Yell Fire! : Michael Franti & Spearhead (18th Sept.)interview : Discoursing aplenty on futures for themselves and you : Dirk Tourette of Towers Of London (14th Sept.)CD review : Broadcast to the World : Zebrahead (29th Aug.)CD review : Eight Rare Cases : henrytennis (25th Aug.)CD review : You've got cousins : Meryll (25th Aug.)Seville's Deep Nocturnal Vibrancy Illuminated in Global Premiere : Maria Pages Company (15th May @ Shibuya Orchard Hall)Brokenspace Wholly Undo All In A Crisp, Crystallizing Coalescence : Brokenspace (13th May @ Shin-Koenji Club Liner)CD review : Static Trampoline (Japan deluxe) : Chris Pierce (6th May.)Happy When It Rains As Havana Comes To Tokyo : Ska Cubano (2nd May @ Roppongi Hills Arena)CD review : 4 : Gerling (28th Apr.)No Monkey Business In The Riding Giants Of This Tripartite : Jack Johnson with Coasta and ALO (15th Apr. @ Makuhari Messe)Making It All Worthwhile All Natural : Go Jimmy Go (6th Apr. @ Shibuya Lush)CD review : Island Sounds : Go Jimmy Go (21st Mar.)CD review : United Paper People : Kisschasy (12th Mar.)CD review : Eyes Open : Snow Patrol (12th Mar.)CD review : Clap Your Hands Say Yeah : Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (6th Mar.)Reprise Affirms An Eternal Sonic Youth Within And Without : Dinosaur Jr. (26th Feb. @ Shibuya AX)Happy And You'd Know It With Their Eyes Wide Open : Snow Patrol (21st Feb. @ Daikanyama Unit)No Denying They Help Us Have It Much Better : Franz Ferdinand (10th Feb. @ Nippon Budokan)Continuing To Give Their Nordic Good Frequencies : Royksopp (1st Feb. @ Shibuya AX)Making Heads Turn, Ears Perk And Feet Happy With Ease : Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (24th Jan. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)-->and more |