Ben Kweller + Tim Fite @ Southpaw: Sha Sha

One of my fondest college memories involves following Ben Kweller around from city to city (well, Baltimore to DC, at least) while BK was supporting his debut LP, Sha Sha. Five years have passed since those smile-inducing days and while I still adore BK in every way, I long for the days when Sha Sha commanded his setlists. When I heard that Ben would be performing the album in its entirety at Brooklyn's Southpaw, I had no choice but to stand front & center, singing along to every lyric.

Complete with a commemorative songbook, a Sha Sha box (full of all sorts of random goodies including but not limited to red toothbrushes, Halls candy and Old Spice deodorant) and a slew of BK diehards, Ben performed a fantastic hour-long set. First, BK ran through Sha Sha in the order that the album was recorded and then came back for three fan-requested encores from later releases. Full setlist below. The night played out as a daft version of Storytellers and/or Behind The Music. Tonight Ben will perform his sophomore release, On My Way, in all its glory, while tomorrow's show will focus on his latest self-titled junior effort.

Setlist: Sha Sha/Wasted & Ready/Family Tree/Commerce, TX/In Other Words/Walk On Me/Make It Up/No Reason/Lizzy/Harriet's Got A Song/Falling//On My Way/Sundress/Penny On The Train Track

MP3: Ben Kweller - Sundress

Opening last night's show was the one and only, Tim Fite. Tim's live show is a unique amalgamation of experimentalism, audio/visual science project, hip-hop, anti-folk, spoken word and crowd participation. While many BK fans seemed reluctant at first to loosen up to Tim, by the middle of his mesmerizing set, nearly every fist was raised in approval. Learn more about Tim Fite & download a bevy of tunes here at his official site.

MP3: Tim Fite - Downturn