Ben Kweller Debuts New Tune In Denver

Enjoy last week's performance of 'Gypsy Rose' below. BK MP3 at bottom of post.


MP3: Ben Kweller - Lollipop

Ben Kweller Soundtracks 'Choke' Trailer

Enjoy the 90 second preview (featuring 'The Rules') below. MP3 at bottom of post.


MP3: Ben Kweller - Lollipop

Ben Kweller Readies Tour Only EP

The set's titled How Ya Lookin' Southbound? Come In.

It will feature 'outtakes, demos & random crazy eyes'.

View BK's upcoming tour dates here.

Visit Ben Kweller on MySpace.

MP3: Ben Kweller - Lollipop

Ben Kweller Unleashes US Trek

Be sure to catch BK at:

Sep 25 - Pontiac Garage Dallas, Texas
Sep 30 - Club Congress Tucson, Arizona
Oct 1 - Glass House Pomona, California
Oct 2 - Troubadour, California
Oct 4 - HSB Fest San Francisco, California
Oct 6 - Wow Hall Eugene, Oregon
Oct 7 - Chop Suey Seattle, Washington
Oct 10 - Bluebird Theatre Denver, Colorado
Oct 11 - Slowdown Omaha, Nebraska
Oct 14 - Bottom Lounge Chicago, Illinois
Oct 16 - Paradise Boston, Massachusetts
Oct 17 - Bowery New York, New York
Oct 20 - Johnny Brendas Philly, Pennsylvania
Oct 21 - RNR Hotel, Washington DC
Oct 23 - Mercy Lounge Nashville, Tennessee
Oct 24 - The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 25 - Workplay Theatre Birmingham, Alabama
Oct 27 - The Social Orlando, Florida
Oct 28 - Crowbar Ybor City, Florida
Oct 29 - Club Downunder Tallahassee, Florida

Read my review of BK @ Southpaw here.

MP3: Ben Kweller - BK Baby

Ben Kweller Reveals Euro Tour Dates

Be sure to catch him at:

Dec 2 2008 L'Europeen, Paris France
Dec 4 2008 Ruby Lounge, Manchester UK
Dec 5 2008 King Tuts, Glasglow Scotland
Dec 6 2008 Whelans, Dublin Ireland
Dec 8 2008 Glee Club, Birmingham UK
Dec 9 2008 Union Chapel, London UK
Dec 11 2008 Melkweg, Amsterdam Netherlands
Dec 12 2008 Atomic Cafe, Munich Germany
Dec 13 2008 Knust, Hamburg Germany
Dec 14 2008 Lido Cafe, Berlin Germany
Dec 15 2008 Luxor, Koln Germany

Ticket info on MySpace.

MP3: Ben Kweller - Lollipop

B. Kweller Joins Twitter, Announces A. Green's Engagement

Watermelon, Jewish holidays & American Airlines.

Catch up on BK's ramblings here.

Visit Adam Green on MySpace.

MP3: Ben Kweller - Penny...

Ben Kweller & Aimee Mann Team Up For Zoo Gig

Full details on the one-off show:

Minnesota Zoo
Thursday, 6/12/08

Purchase $30 tix here.

Visit Ben at his official site.

MP3: Ben Kweller - Penny On The Train Track

The World Of B-Sides & Rarities, #568

Ben Kweller - BK Baby

Vanilla Ice, eat your heart out!

Visit BK at his MySpace page.

MP3: Ben Kweller - BK Baby

Ben Kweller: The Producer

He explains on his official site: *On Monday I will begin producing the new album for French singer, Pierre Guimard! And that’s not all - the backing band: Trio On The Train Track! That’s right folks, best rhythm section in show biz - Mark Stepro & Chris Morrissey (BK's live crew). We made his debut album in France. This time we are bringing him to NYC and recording at my favorite studio: Sear Sound, where I recorded Sha Sha & On My Way.*

Learn more about Pierre Guimard here.

MP3: Ben Kweller - Penny On The Train Track

Ben Kweller Plus Ratatat Equals

The unlikely pair is working together on BK's new LP.

It'll be titled Changing Horses and is due out by spring.

For detailed updates, head over to Ben's official blog.

Read my review of Ben Kweller at Brooklyn's Southpaw here.

MP3: Ben Kweller - Penny On The Train Track

The World Of B-Sides & Rarities, #192

Ben Kweller - Live On WOXY

This one dates back to October of '06.

Setlist:
I Don't Know Why
Thirteen
On My Way
Penny On The Train Track

Enjoy a BK interview plus the entire acoustic session below.

MP3: Ben Kweller - Live On WOXY

Ben Kweller Performs At The Minnesota Zoo

See below for a clip of Ben and his band - now called Trio On The Train Track - being interviewed last week for SPNN (St. Paul Neighborhood Network), following a visit to The Minnesota Zoo. The four-minute piece also features various highlights from the gig.

MP3: Ben Kweller - I Don't Know Why

Ben Kweller Releases iTunes-Only EP

Press release, followed by the album's track listing: *On the cold winter night of December 13, 2006, an intimate New York City audience packed into the drawing room of private club Soho House for a concert any Ben Kweller fan would have loved to attend, courtesy of the Artists Den: a special solo performance, backed only by his piano or guitar. Selected from nearly 20 performed, the 7 best songs from the evening will be released by Artists Den Entertainment and ATO Records August 14 as a digital EP, Ben Kweller: Live and Solo at The Artists Den. Grab a drink, pull up a seat, and settle in to see a side of Ben Kweller you never have before: not the rock star front man, but a folk balladeer playing for friends.*

1. Penny On The Train Track
2. Nothing Happening
3. Until I Die
4. Family Tree
5. Lizzy
6. Thirteen
7. Run

MP3: Ben Kweller - Thirteen

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

Tim Fite Opening For Ben Kweller

The Jersey-based singer-songwriter, hip-hopper, & all around engaging performer, Tim Fite, will join Brooklyn's finest, Ben Kweller, on the following dates. We're beyond elated for the tomfoolery that is sure to ensue on this perfectly matched tour.

JUL 30: Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw
AUG 7: Atlanta, GA @ Variety
AUG 8: Orlando, FL @ The Social
AUG 9: Jacksonville @ Jack Rabbit's
AUG 10: Ybor City, FL @ Crowbar
AUG 11: Ft. Laud, FL @ Culture Room
AUG 13: Birmingham, AL @ WorkPlay
AUG 15: New Orleans, LA @ HOB
AUG 17: Houston, TX @ Walter’s
AUG 18: Denton, TX @ Hailey's
AUG 20: Oklahoma City, OK @ Bricktown
AUG 21: Tulsa, OK @ Cain's Ballroom
AUG 23: Memphis, TN @ Newby’s
AUG 24: Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
AUG 22: Little Rock, AR @ Juanita's
AUG 25: Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle
AUG 26: Charlottesville, VA @ Starr Hill

MP3: Tim Fite - Downturn

The World Of B-Sides & Rarities, #58

Ben Kweller - Today (Smashing Pumpkins cover)

As the story goes, MySpace and Spin magazine are joining forces to release a compilation of Smashing Pumpkins covers as a tribute to the alterna-gods of yesteryear.

The album contains SP covers from Young Love, The Deftones, Ben Kweller and a slew of others (more info including complete tracklisting can be found here); the full record can be obtained (in its entirety) complimentary with purchase of the July issue of Spin, in stores next week.

As is the case with most Ben Kweller unoriginals, I am totally sucker for the tune. Perhaps not nearly as superb as his take on 'Ice Ice Baby', but it's still rather outstanding. Take a listen to the track below.

(fantastic rendering of BK via Bryan at Subinev)

MP3: Ben Kweller - Today (Smashing Pumpkins cover)

Ben Kweller Plans Southpaw Residency

Each night of the 3-evening Brooklyn run will highlight a different BK album, in its entirety from start to finish.

Here's what to expect:

July 30th - Sha Sha

July 31st - On My Way

August 1st - Ben Kweller

Tickets are $18 each or fifty bucks for all three gigs. Personally, I'm most excited about night #1.

Purchase through BK.com here!

MP3: Ben Kweller - Magic

The World Of B-Sides & Rarities, #29

Adam Green & Ben Kweller - Kokomo

Buried on Adam Green's Jessica EP (released in '03) was this brilliant cover of one of The Beach Boys most well-known ditties, 'Kokomo'.

The anti-folk take on the classic tune is sheer genius (sidenote: perhaps I've been watching a little too much Bravo). Also featured on the short-player is a ridiculously catchy cover of The Libertines' 'What A Waster'. But I digress... check out 'Kokomo' below. Dare to tell me it doesn't put a smile on your face.

MP3: Adam Green & Ben Kweller - Kokomo

Ben Kweller & A Parade Of Emo Allstars On Pumpkins Tribute

Ben Kweller covering 'Today'? Now this I have to hear!

The Smashing Pumpkins tribute CD will be available for free with purchase of Spin magazine's July issue. Here's the full list of bands and covers chosen:

Panic! At The Disco - 'Tonight Tonight'
(+44)- 'I Am One'
The Academy Is - 'Mayonnaise'
The Deftones - 'Siva'
30 Seconds The Mars - TBC
The Bravery - 'Rocket'
Young Love - '1979'
The New Amersterdams - 'Thirty Three'
Test Your Reflex - 'Ava Adore'
Ben Kweller - 'Today'
Hawthorne Heights - 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings'
Gliss - 'Rhinoceros'

MP3: Ben Kweller - Penny On The Train Track

Ben Kweller Leaves The Dancing To Bubbie

Oh my god, this video is genius.

Years back, before iTunes, before Grey's Anatomy and surely before Madonna teamed up with H&M, I frequented BenKweller.com quite regularly. I saw him on the Sha Sha tour more times than I care to admit and even had his signature 'BK' pin on my messenger bag (although it was often mistaken as a Burger King endorsement). Regardless, he had a wonderful feature on his site which included Bar Mitzvah pictures of him and his grandma, affectionately referred to as Bubbie. These pictures were priceless in their sincerity and overall kitschy factor. I guess they're off his site now, but you had to see them to beleive them and trust me, they were hilarious.

Well, good news. Bubbie is back! Ben decided to feature her dance interpretation of BK's 'Penny On The Train Track' for his new video and the result is great. Bubbie is not only remarkably flexible for a woman with 82 years under her belt, but she even sings along! Check out all the delightful clip below (as well as the MP3).



MP3: Ben Kweller - Penny On The Train Track