It was another one of those perfect music weekends, back-to-back shows with favorite artists. The first was Ben Kweller at the new Beauty Ballroom on Riverside. Ben’s promoting his new CD, Go Fly a Kite, and it’s a return to his indie-rock roots. His last outing, Changing Horses, was a little bit country. And, even on this new record, the Texan still has moments of twang (Full Circle). But songs like Jealous Girl prove the dude can still do pop. Old tunes like I Want You Back, Penny on a Train Track and Wasted and Ready also made the set list. He’s a versatile and talented guy.
You will notice in the videos below, that the new lighting at Beauty Ballroom produced a strange effect, but it’s kind of cool. The venue is pretty sweet. It’s large, and a couple stories. I’m not yet sure about the vibe on Riverside, but with other clubs coming in over there on the eastside, like Emo’s, a scene is definitely in the making.
