Ben Kweller
Encyclopedia
Ben Kweller is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
.
, where his father, Howard Kweller, became the town's first doctor. In 1986, the Kwellers moved to a much larger city, Greenville, TX. Kweller was exposed to music at a very early age. Howard taught Ben how to play the drums when he was seven years old. For the next year, they would play together almost every night after Howard got home from work. Howard sang and played guitar while Ben played the drums. The duo played songs by The Beatles
, The Hollies
, Jimi Hendrix
, and other artists of the 1960s. Howard is also a longtime friend of Nils Lofgren
, a neighbor of his. Kweller has mentioned in interviews that meeting Lofgren greatly helped his exposure to music. When Kweller turned eight, someone showed him how to play "Heart and Soul" on the piano and the youngster immediately began to create his own songs using the same chords. By the time he was nine, he had a dozen original compositions under his belt and entered a songwriting contest sponsored by Billboard magazine
, where he won an honorable mention.
with bassist Ryan Green. The trio played locally in and around Greenville
and recorded two independent releases, Hello (1994) and Dizzy (1995), with Martin Baird at Verge Music Works recording studio in Dallas, Texas. Around the time of the release of Dizzy, Green left Radish to focus his attention on school. Lorin Hamilton stood in for Green for a few months until Bryan Bradford, also known as Bryan Blur, joined on for most of the band's career.
Kweller sent a copy of Dizzy to guitarist Nils Lofgren
who grew up with Kweller's father in Maryland. Lofgren was impressed with Radish and recommended them to Roger Greenawalt
who was producing Lofgren's album Damaged Goods at the time. Greenawalt took Radish to a studio to record a demo tape which was subsequently sent to record labels nationwide. After an unexpected bidding war for Dizzy, Radish signed to Mercury Records
to release the full-length Restraining Bolt.
Radish made appearances on The Weird Al Show
, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
and Late Show with David Letterman
, but despite a much-hyped signing, the band failed to strike success. Radish earned a cult following in the United Kingdom with its top-40 hit "Little Pink Stars". The band went on multiple European tours, including opening slots for Faith No More
and Main Stage at Reading Festival in 1997. Radish released two singles.
In 1998, Radish became a quartet; it featured Joe Butcher of the Polyphonic Spree and UFOFU on lead guitar and Debbie Williams on bass. Radish went to Muscle Shoals
Studio in Alabama
to record the follow-up to Restraining Bolt, provisionally titled Discount Fireworks. The band recorded with producer
Bryce Goggin
(Pavement
, The Lemonheads
). While mastering Discount Fireworks in NYC, Kweller and Kent met bassist Josh Lattanzi, who would become Radish's fifth and final bass player. As a result of Polygram
's merger with Universal Music Group
, the 18-song album was never released and Radish secured a release from their contract with Mercury Records.
s, comprising some of the unreleased Radish Discount Fireworks recordings and other songs recorded in his apartment on a laptop computer. It was one of these EPs, Freak Out, It's Ben Kweller
, that caught the attention of Evan Dando
of The Lemonheads
. Dando invited Kweller on tour with him. Jeff Tweedy
, Juliana Hatfield
and Guster
also noticed Kweller and took him on tour with them.
' first worldwide signing and released a 5-track EP
entitled EP Phone Home. In March 2002, Sha Sha
, Kweller's first solo studio LP
, was released. Sha Sha
included the radio-friendly and popular single "Wasted & Ready", which reached #29 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album featured John Kent on drums and Josh Lattanzi on bass, and showcased a wide variety of sound from quirky pop
, to folk
, to punk
. The album grew in popularity with a grassroots effort based on his website
and a promotion group called teamBK, which promoted via word-of-mouth advertising. To support the release of the album and EP, he put together a live band, initially comprising Lattanzi on bass, Fred Eltringham on drums, and Mike Stroud on guitar and keyboards. Towards the end of the Sha Sha album cycle, the four-piece performed on PBS
's Austin City Limits
and Ben Lee
as The Bens
. The trio produced an eponymous four-song EP, with each member taking lead vocals on one song, and a final song in which they all contributed vocals. In an interview on October 14, 2006, Ben hinted that The Bens may do another album.
. Kweller and Guster co-wrote the song after a late night jam at Guster's Brooklyn
studio. The song is prominently featured in the movie Wedding Crashers
.
, took a new direction. The album, produced by Ethan Johns
, was recorded 'live' - there were limited overdubs and no use of headphones. After the release of On My Way, Kweller embarked on more touring. On these tours, Kweller played for his largest audiences ever, including a US tour co-headlining with Death Cab for Cutie
. By this point, the lineup of his live band had changed to include John Kent on drums and Jason Roberts on guitar and keyboards, after Mike Stroud left to concentrate on his own band Ratatat
and Fred Eltringham left to play drums in The Wallflowers
.
with producer
Gil Norton
. Unlike the previous studio albums, Kweller played all the instruments
on this record himself. Kweller continued to tour to support his self-titled album, and expanded his band into a five piece, which grew to include Dan Horne on bass, Mark Stepro on drums, Jay Barclay on guitar and organ, and Jason Roberts on lead guitar. Kweller continued to play guitar and piano on this tour, but it also gave him the opportunity to just sing on certain songs. The Montreal group Sam Roberts Band, and New York based Hymns
, opened for Kweller.
His tie-in 'Trio on the Train Track Tour' included a new live band comprising Chris Morrissey
on bass
, vocals & keyboard
and Mark Stepro on drums
, vocals, glockenspiel
, percussion & "whatever else he feels like" during appearances in the United States. During the Australian leg of the tour, the band was composed of Jay Barclay on guitar
, keyboard
& vocals, Dan Horne on bass
& vocals, and Mark Stepro continuing his previous roles.
is Ben Kweller's fourth studio album, which was expected for release in September 2008 but was pushed to February 2, 2009, in Europe and February 3, 2009, in the United States through ATO Records
. Kweller has described the new album as being more country
in style than his previous releases. The album features his rhythm section Chris Morrissey (bass) and Mark Stepro (drums). It also debuts the talents of Kitt Kitterman, who played pedal steel guitar
and Dobro
. On November 23, 2008, the full album was leaked to the Internet. In a statement, ATO Records
said the leak was not the final version of the album. The song "Hurtin' You" debuted on Stereogum
, and the whole album was made available to stream exclusively on Last.fm
.
In April 2009, Ben Kweller appeared at Australian festivals such as Chill City, East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival
and West Coast Blues & Roots Festival
.
. In earlier interviews, Kweller had stated that it would be released as early as March or April 2011. However, a conversation with the manager of The Noise Company
revealed that it is now set to come out either late January or early February 2012. The delay in release is a result of Kweller's parting ways with his former record label, ATO Records
. This was confirmed by Kweller himself while onstage at Stubbs in Austin, Texas, on April 16, 2011. More recently, Kweller posted on his Twitter
account that "Kite's" released date will be February 12, 2012. This was followed by a tweet saying that it will be available for pre-order in October.
As his first release solely on a new label, Kweller opted to take additional time to ensure the album is just right rather than rushing it. Kweller has stated the album will be very electric and energetic while dealing with some darker topics. It will be accompanied by a comprehensive world tour and several media appearances.
He returned to the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2004 when he performed on the Bank of America stage.
As part of his 2006 tour, Kweller played the Austin City Limits Music Festival
, where he was plagued by a severe nosebleed for the entirety of his set. After covering his guitar in blood, he attempted to stop the flow by inserting a travel-size tampon thrown onto the stage by a fan, which expanded painfully during a performance of "This Is War". After attempting to play "Falling" at a piano which he also covered in blood, Kweller was forced to end the set early.
In spring of 2007, Kweller co-headlined with his label-mates Gomez
. He continued through the summer with his own string of headlining dates which eventually ended at ACL fest. This time, he did not get a bloody nose; however, commemorative T-shirts were sold at the merch booth with fake blood stains that said "ACL 2007: The return of Ben Kweller".
Immediately following his performance at ACL, Kweller began recording his fourth full-length LP, Changing Horses in Austin, Texas on September 21, 2007.
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
.
Early life
Ben Kweller was born in San Francisco, CA in 1981. In 1982, his family relocated to Emory, TexasEmory, Texas
Emory is a city in Rains County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,021 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rains County. Previously known as Springville, the city is named after Emory Rains who was a legislator from the area. Rains was the author of the Homestead Law of Texas...
, where his father, Howard Kweller, became the town's first doctor. In 1986, the Kwellers moved to a much larger city, Greenville, TX. Kweller was exposed to music at a very early age. Howard taught Ben how to play the drums when he was seven years old. For the next year, they would play together almost every night after Howard got home from work. Howard sang and played guitar while Ben played the drums. The duo played songs by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, and other artists of the 1960s. Howard is also a longtime friend of Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
, a neighbor of his. Kweller has mentioned in interviews that meeting Lofgren greatly helped his exposure to music. When Kweller turned eight, someone showed him how to play "Heart and Soul" on the piano and the youngster immediately began to create his own songs using the same chords. By the time he was nine, he had a dozen original compositions under his belt and entered a songwriting contest sponsored by Billboard magazine
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, where he won an honorable mention.
Adult Years
Kweller married his girlfriend, Liz Smith (the subject of the song "Lizzy") and they have two sons, named Dorian Zev Kweller, born in May 2006, and Judah Evan Kweller, born April 3, 2010. At the time of Dorian's birth they lived in New York City, but they later moved back to Kweller's home state of Texas and currently reside in Austin. Ben's middle name, Lev, means "Heart" in Hebrew and his son's middle name, Zev, means "Wolf". Ben has said in interviews, "Together we're Heart of the Wolf..."Radish (1993-1999)
In 1993, Kweller became friends with a local musician, drummer John Kent, and formed the band RadishRadish (band)
Radish were a self-proclaimed "Sugar Metal" band formed in 1993 by Ben Kweller, John David Kent, and Bryan Blur.-History:The trio played locally in and around Greenville and recorded two independent releases, Dizzy and Hello . Kweller sent a copy of Dizzy to Guitarist Nils Lofgren who grew up with...
with bassist Ryan Green. The trio played locally in and around Greenville
Greenville, Texas
Greenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557....
and recorded two independent releases, Hello (1994) and Dizzy (1995), with Martin Baird at Verge Music Works recording studio in Dallas, Texas. Around the time of the release of Dizzy, Green left Radish to focus his attention on school. Lorin Hamilton stood in for Green for a few months until Bryan Bradford, also known as Bryan Blur, joined on for most of the band's career.
Kweller sent a copy of Dizzy to guitarist Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
who grew up with Kweller's father in Maryland. Lofgren was impressed with Radish and recommended them to Roger Greenawalt
Roger Greenawalt
Roger Greenawalt is an American music producer and musician known for discovering singer Ben Kweller. A story on Greenawalt's efforts to get Kweller signed to a major label appeared in the New Yorker on April 7, 1997.-Background:...
who was producing Lofgren's album Damaged Goods at the time. Greenawalt took Radish to a studio to record a demo tape which was subsequently sent to record labels nationwide. After an unexpected bidding war for Dizzy, Radish signed to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
to release the full-length Restraining Bolt.
Radish made appearances on The Weird Al Show
The Weird Al Show
The Weird Al Show is a television show hosted by "Weird Al" Yankovic. Produced in association with Dick Clark Productions, it aired Saturday mornings on the CBS TV network from September to December 1997. The show was released on DVD on August 15, 2006...
, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
and Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
, but despite a much-hyped signing, the band failed to strike success. Radish earned a cult following in the United Kingdom with its top-40 hit "Little Pink Stars". The band went on multiple European tours, including opening slots for Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
and Main Stage at Reading Festival in 1997. Radish released two singles.
In 1998, Radish became a quartet; it featured Joe Butcher of the Polyphonic Spree and UFOFU on lead guitar and Debbie Williams on bass. Radish went to Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett , Roger Hawkins , Jimmy Johnson and David Hood left FAME Studios to create their own studio...
Studio in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
to record the follow-up to Restraining Bolt, provisionally titled Discount Fireworks. The band recorded with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Bryce Goggin
Bryce Goggin
Bryce Goggin is a record producer and sound engineer. He began his career in the early 1990s working at Baby Monster Studios. He first received acclaim for mixing the album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain by Pavement...
(Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
, The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
). While mastering Discount Fireworks in NYC, Kweller and Kent met bassist Josh Lattanzi, who would become Radish's fifth and final bass player. As a result of Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
's merger with Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
, the 18-song album was never released and Radish secured a release from their contract with Mercury Records.
Solo career
At age 19, Kweller moved with his girlfriend, Liz Smith, to New York, where he began his solo career. He played acoustic shows and self-released four EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s, comprising some of the unreleased Radish Discount Fireworks recordings and other songs recorded in his apartment on a laptop computer. It was one of these EPs, Freak Out, It's Ben Kweller
Freak Out, It's Ben Kweller
Freak Out, It's Ben Kweller is Ben Kweller's self-released demo. Ben recorded the tracks on his computer in his apartment in Brooklyn.-Track listing:#"BK Baby" – 1:50#"Walk on Me" – 3:55#"How It Should Be " – 1:41#"Make It Up" – 4:06...
, that caught the attention of Evan Dando
Evan Dando
Evan Griffith Dando is an American musician, most famous for fronting the alternative rock band The Lemonheads. He is the only original member left in the current Lemonheads line-up, having served as lead singer since the band's original formation in 1986...
of The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
. Dando invited Kweller on tour with him. Jeff Tweedy
Jeff Tweedy
Jeffrey Scot "Jeff" Tweedy is an American songwriter, musician and leader of the band Wilco. Tweedy joined rockabilly band The Plebes with high school friend Jay Farrar in the early 1980s, but Tweedy's musical interests caused one of Farrar's brothers to quit...
, Juliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield , is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter and author from the Boston area, formerly of the indie rock bands Blake Babies and Some Girls. She currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
and Guster
Guster
Guster is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1991, the group is known for its live performances and humor, founding members Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller, and Brian Rosenworcel came about to begin practice sessions while attending Tufts University in Medford,...
also noticed Kweller and took him on tour with them.
EP Phone Home and Sha Sha (2002)
In 2001, Ben Kweller became ATO RecordsATO Records
According to Our Records was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews , Coran Capshaw, Chris Tetzeli, and Michael McDonald as a division of RCA Records...
' first worldwide signing and released a 5-track EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
entitled EP Phone Home. In March 2002, Sha Sha
Sha Sha
Sha Sha is the debut album of Ben Kweller's solo career. The album was originally composed of outtakes from sessions for his former band Radish's unreleased album Discount Fireworks. It was self-released by Ben, via CD-R, in 2000...
, Kweller's first solo studio LP
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, was released. Sha Sha
Sha Sha
Sha Sha is the debut album of Ben Kweller's solo career. The album was originally composed of outtakes from sessions for his former band Radish's unreleased album Discount Fireworks. It was self-released by Ben, via CD-R, in 2000...
included the radio-friendly and popular single "Wasted & Ready", which reached #29 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album featured John Kent on drums and Josh Lattanzi on bass, and showcased a wide variety of sound from quirky pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, to folk
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
, to punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
. The album grew in popularity with a grassroots effort based on his website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
and a promotion group called teamBK, which promoted via word-of-mouth advertising. To support the release of the album and EP, he put together a live band, initially comprising Lattanzi on bass, Fred Eltringham on drums, and Mike Stroud on guitar and keyboards. Towards the end of the Sha Sha album cycle, the four-piece performed on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
's Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
The Bens (2003)
In 2003, Kweller toured Australia with Ben FoldsBen Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
and Ben Lee
Ben Lee
Benjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
as The Bens
The Bens
The Bens was a rock supergroup consisting of Ben Folds, Ben Kweller and Ben Lee when they toured and recorded as a group for their The Bens Rock Over Australia tour in 2003....
. The trio produced an eponymous four-song EP, with each member taking lead vocals on one song, and a final song in which they all contributed vocals. In an interview on October 14, 2006, Ben hinted that The Bens may do another album.
Guster collaboration (2003)
Late in 2003, Kweller provided lead vocals on the song "I Hope Tomorrow is Like Today" from Guster's album Keep It TogetherKeep It Together (album)
Keep It Together is an album by the band Guster released in June 2003. The album was recorded from 2001 to 2003 in Bearsville, New York, New York City, Burbank, California, and Shokan, New York. This is the first album by Guster that features Brian Rosenworcel on kit drums instead of hand percussion...
. Kweller and Guster co-wrote the song after a late night jam at Guster's Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
studio. The song is prominently featured in the movie Wedding Crashers
Wedding Crashers
Wedding Crashers is a 2005 American comedy film directed by David Dobkin. It stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, with Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams, Isla Fisher, Bradley Cooper, Diora Baird, Jane Seymour, and an uncredited Will Ferrell....
.
On My Way (2004)
On My Way, Kweller's second LPAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, took a new direction. The album, produced by Ethan Johns
Ethan Johns
Ethan Johns is a record producer, engineer, mixer, musician, and songwriter who has worked with such artists such as Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Ray LaMontagne, Kevin Prosch, Rufus Wainwright, Howard Eliott Payne, Emmylou Harris, Crowded House, Laura Marling, Luthea Salom, and Crosby, Stills and...
, was recorded 'live' - there were limited overdubs and no use of headphones. After the release of On My Way, Kweller embarked on more touring. On these tours, Kweller played for his largest audiences ever, including a US tour co-headlining with Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
. By this point, the lineup of his live band had changed to include John Kent on drums and Jason Roberts on guitar and keyboards, after Mike Stroud left to concentrate on his own band Ratatat
Ratatat
Ratatat is a New York City electronic music duo consisting of Mike Stroud and producer Evan Mast .-History:Evan Mast and Mike Stroud first met as students at Skidmore College, but they did not work together until 2001, when they recorded several songs under the name "Cherry"...
and Fred Eltringham left to play drums in The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by Jakob Dylan. Formed in 1989 and originally known as The Apples, the ensemble has gone through numerous personnel changes with Dylan the only constant....
.
Ben Kweller (2006)
In 2006, he recorded his third LP, Ben KwellerBen Kweller (album)
Ben Kweller is the self-titled third album by Ben Kweller. It was released September 19, 2006 on ATO Records.-One Minute Pop Song:For the 9 weeks leading up to the release of the album Ben Kweller previously took footage of himself and made an internet mini-show called "One Minute Pop Song." Each...
with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
. Unlike the previous studio albums, Kweller played all the instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
on this record himself. Kweller continued to tour to support his self-titled album, and expanded his band into a five piece, which grew to include Dan Horne on bass, Mark Stepro on drums, Jay Barclay on guitar and organ, and Jason Roberts on lead guitar. Kweller continued to play guitar and piano on this tour, but it also gave him the opportunity to just sing on certain songs. The Montreal group Sam Roberts Band, and New York based Hymns
Hymns (band)
Hymns is an indie rock band based in Brooklyn, NY. Originally consisting of North Carolina natives Brian Harding and Jason Roberts , the band picked up Texas-based rockers Tony Kent and Matt Shaw upon arriving in NYC...
, opened for Kweller.
His tie-in 'Trio on the Train Track Tour' included a new live band comprising Chris Morrissey
Chris Morrissey (musician)
Chris Morrissey is a musician currently living in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Chris plays the bass. Chris currently plays with and has recorded with a number of bands:* Mason Jennings* Haley Bonar* Bill Mike Band* Tarlton...
on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals & keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and Mark Stepro on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals, glockenspiel
Glockenspiel
A glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
, percussion & "whatever else he feels like" during appearances in the United States. During the Australian leg of the tour, the band was composed of Jay Barclay on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
& vocals, Dan Horne on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
& vocals, and Mark Stepro continuing his previous roles.
Changing Horses (2009)
Changing HorsesChanging Horses (Ben Kweller album)
Changing Horses is the fourth studio album by Ben Kweller, which was expected for release in September 2008 but was eventually released on February 2, 2009 in Europe and February 3 2009 in the United States. Kweller has described the new album as being more Country in style than his previous releases...
is Ben Kweller's fourth studio album, which was expected for release in September 2008 but was pushed to February 2, 2009, in Europe and February 3, 2009, in the United States through ATO Records
ATO Records
According to Our Records was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews , Coran Capshaw, Chris Tetzeli, and Michael McDonald as a division of RCA Records...
. Kweller has described the new album as being more country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
in style than his previous releases. The album features his rhythm section Chris Morrissey (bass) and Mark Stepro (drums). It also debuts the talents of Kitt Kitterman, who played pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
and Dobro
Dobro
Dobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
. On November 23, 2008, the full album was leaked to the Internet. In a statement, ATO Records
ATO Records
According to Our Records was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews , Coran Capshaw, Chris Tetzeli, and Michael McDonald as a division of RCA Records...
said the leak was not the final version of the album. The song "Hurtin' You" debuted on Stereogum
Stereogum
Stereogum was one of the first MP3 blogs. It was created by Scott Lapatine in January 2002 with a focus on independent and alternative music news, downloads, videos, and gossip. Stereogum has received several awards and citations, including the 2008 Plug Award for best music blog, Blender's...
, and the whole album was made available to stream exclusively on Last.fm
Last.fm
Last.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
.
In April 2009, Ben Kweller appeared at Australian festivals such as Chill City, East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival
East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival
The East Coast International Blues & Roots Music Festival, also known as Byron Bay Bluesfest, is an annual music festival held for five days over the Easter long weekend at Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia...
and West Coast Blues & Roots Festival
West Coast Blues & Roots Festival
The West Coast Blues 'n' Roots Festival is an annual music festival held in Fremantle, Western Australia. It features many blues and roots performers, both international and local.-History:...
.
Go Fly A Kite (2012)
Kweller's fifth studio album, entitled "Go Fly A Kite," will be his first release produced solely by his own record label, The Noise CompanyThe Noise Company
The Noise Company is an American independent record label based in Austin, TX. The label was founded in 2007 by recording artist Ben Kweller. So far, The Noise Co. has 2 releases to its name - How Ya Lookin' Southbound? Come In... and Changing Horses. Both of these were co-released with Kweller's...
. In earlier interviews, Kweller had stated that it would be released as early as March or April 2011. However, a conversation with the manager of The Noise Company
The Noise Company
The Noise Company is an American independent record label based in Austin, TX. The label was founded in 2007 by recording artist Ben Kweller. So far, The Noise Co. has 2 releases to its name - How Ya Lookin' Southbound? Come In... and Changing Horses. Both of these were co-released with Kweller's...
revealed that it is now set to come out either late January or early February 2012. The delay in release is a result of Kweller's parting ways with his former record label, ATO Records
ATO Records
According to Our Records was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews , Coran Capshaw, Chris Tetzeli, and Michael McDonald as a division of RCA Records...
. This was confirmed by Kweller himself while onstage at Stubbs in Austin, Texas, on April 16, 2011. More recently, Kweller posted on his Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account that "Kite's" released date will be February 12, 2012. This was followed by a tweet saying that it will be available for pre-order in October.
As his first release solely on a new label, Kweller opted to take additional time to ensure the album is just right rather than rushing it. Kweller has stated the album will be very electric and energetic while dealing with some darker topics. It will be accompanied by a comprehensive world tour and several media appearances.
Austin City Limits performances
Kweller played at the 2003 Austin City Limits Music Festival at the conclusion of the sha-sha tour. He played the sha-sha album in its entirety in order.He returned to the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2004 when he performed on the Bank of America stage.
As part of his 2006 tour, Kweller played the Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
, where he was plagued by a severe nosebleed for the entirety of his set. After covering his guitar in blood, he attempted to stop the flow by inserting a travel-size tampon thrown onto the stage by a fan, which expanded painfully during a performance of "This Is War". After attempting to play "Falling" at a piano which he also covered in blood, Kweller was forced to end the set early.
In spring of 2007, Kweller co-headlined with his label-mates Gomez
Gomez (band)
Gomez are an English indie rock band from Southport, comprising Ian Ball , Paul "Blackie" Blackburn , Tom Gray , Ben Ottewell and Olly Peacock . The band is distinguished for having three singers and four songwriters, employing traditional and electronic instruments...
. He continued through the summer with his own string of headlining dates which eventually ended at ACL fest. This time, he did not get a bloody nose; however, commemorative T-shirts were sold at the merch booth with fake blood stains that said "ACL 2007: The return of Ben Kweller".
Immediately following his performance at ACL, Kweller began recording his fourth full-length LP, Changing Horses in Austin, Texas on September 21, 2007.
Albums
- Sha ShaSha ShaSha Sha is the debut album of Ben Kweller's solo career. The album was originally composed of outtakes from sessions for his former band Radish's unreleased album Discount Fireworks. It was self-released by Ben, via CD-R, in 2000...
, ver.1, 2000 (Homemade. Feat. Songs from the unreleased Radish album Discount Fireworx. Scarce quantities known) - Freak Out, It's Ben KwellerFreak Out, It's Ben KwellerFreak Out, It's Ben Kweller is Ben Kweller's self-released demo. Ben recorded the tracks on his computer in his apartment in Brooklyn.-Track listing:#"BK Baby" – 1:50#"Walk on Me" – 3:55#"How It Should Be " – 1:41#"Make It Up" – 4:06...
, ver. 1, 2001 (Homemade. Black & white artwork. Scarce quantities known.) - Freak Out, It's Ben KwellerFreak Out, It's Ben KwellerFreak Out, It's Ben Kweller is Ben Kweller's self-released demo. Ben recorded the tracks on his computer in his apartment in Brooklyn.-Track listing:#"BK Baby" – 1:50#"Walk on Me" – 3:55#"How It Should Be " – 1:41#"Make It Up" – 4:06...
, ver. 2, 2001 (Professional packaging with shrink-wrap, color artwork. Roughly 1,500 known copies) - Sha ShaSha ShaSha Sha is the debut album of Ben Kweller's solo career. The album was originally composed of outtakes from sessions for his former band Radish's unreleased album Discount Fireworks. It was self-released by Ben, via CD-R, in 2000...
, ver. 2, 2002 - On My Way, 2004 #83 US
- Ben KwellerBen Kweller (album)Ben Kweller is the self-titled third album by Ben Kweller. It was released September 19, 2006 on ATO Records.-One Minute Pop Song:For the 9 weeks leading up to the release of the album Ben Kweller previously took footage of himself and made an internet mini-show called "One Minute Pop Song." Each...
, 2006 #117 US - Changing HorsesChanging Horses (Ben Kweller album)Changing Horses is the fourth studio album by Ben Kweller, which was expected for release in September 2008 but was eventually released on February 2, 2009 in Europe and February 3 2009 in the United States. Kweller has described the new album as being more Country in style than his previous releases...
, 2009 #92 US
EPs
- Melange, 1999 (Homemade. Very scarce quantities in circulation)
- Bromeo, 2000 (Homemade. Very scarce quantities in circulation)
- EP Phone Home, 2001 (Limited Edition 2,000)
- BK, 2001 (UK version of EP Phone Home. Different songs. Limited Edition 1,500)
- SundressSundress EPSundress EP is an EP from the American rock musician Ben Kweller. It was released August 29, 2006.-Track listing:# "Sundress"# "Never Let You Fall"# "Magic"# "Sorry Signs on Cash Machines" # "Sundress "...
, 2006 (Limited Edition 2,500) - Live and Solo from the Artists Den, 2007 (Exclusive iTunes digital release.)
- How Ya Lookin' Southbound? Come In...How Ya Lookin' Southbound? Come In...How Ya Lookin' Southbound? Come In... is a limited edition tour EP by the musician Ben Kweller. It was released in 2008 to promote the Pre-Horses Club Tour which began September 25 in Dallas, Texas...
, 2008 (Limited Edition 2,500)
Singles
- "Wasted & ReadyWasted & Ready"Wasted & Ready" is the debut single of Ben Kweller. It was released as a single in 2002 and appeared on the Sha Sha album in 2002....
", 2002 - "Commerce, TXCommerce, TX (song)"Commerce, TX" is a single by Ben Kweller. It was released as a single in 2003 and appeared on the Sha Sha album in 2002. Despite the song's title, the lyrics indicate little, if any, relation to the city Commerce, Texas....
", 2003 - "Falling", 2003
- "The RulesThe Rules (song)"The Rules" is a single by Ben Kweller. It was released as a single in 2004 and appeared on the On My Way album in 2004. It also appears on the trailer of Choke the novel based film....
", 2004 - "Sundress", 2006
- "Penny On The Train Track", 2006
- "Sawdust Man", 2009
Other releases
- This Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based CompilationThis Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based CompilationThis is Next Year is a compilation album released July 17, 2001 by Arena Rock Recording Co.-Disc 1:#"Radio" – The Walkmen#"I've Got A Fang " – They Might Be Giants#"Wasting In The Sun" – #"Keep Your Feelings To Yourself" – Clem Snide...
: CompilationCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
track, 2001 - This Bird Has Flown - A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber SoulThis Bird Has Flown - A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber SoulThis Bird Has Flown – A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul is an indie tribute album by a variety of artists that commemorates, as the title suggests, the fortieth anniversary of the release of The Beatles' 1965 album Rubber Soul. It was released on October 25, 2005 by Razor & Tie...
: Wait - Stubbs the Zombie: The Soundtrack : A coverCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
compilation of hits from the 1950s : Lollipop - Wig in a Box - Songs from and Inspired by "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" (2003) - "Wicked Little Town (Tommy Gnosis version)" with Ben FoldsBen FoldsBenjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
and Ben LeeBen LeeBenjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake... - The BensThe Bens (EP)The Bens is the only release by the trio The Bens, consisting of Ben Folds, Ben Lee, and Ben Kweller. Released in 2003, the 3,500 original pressings were only available at concerts but quickly sold out. It was some months later re-released on Internet stores. "Just Pretend" was voted number 52 in...
with Ben FoldsBen FoldsBenjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
and Ben LeeBen LeeBenjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake... - Bright Eyes - Four WindsFour WindsFour Winds is an EP by the indie rock band Bright Eyes, that was released on March 6, 2007. The title track is the first single from their album Cassadaga. The other 5 tracks are exclusive b-sides from the 2006 recording sessions. It is marketed as being "quietly enchanting" and including "a...
(2007 · Saddle Creek) - Helio Presents: The Smashing Pumpkins Tribute CD
- The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary ShowThe Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary ShowThe Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show is a 2-disc compilation album of BBC Radio 2 popular music recordings, released in the United Kingdom in July 2007...
(2007) - "In Other Words" - "Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark MulcahyCiao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark MulcahyCiao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy is a tribute album to former Polaris and Miracle Legion front man Mark Mulcahy released under the Shout! Factory label in 2009....
"(2009) - "Wake Up Whispering" - "Lightning Runaway"(2009) - "Lightning Runaway" (with the pillowsThe pillowsThe Pillows are a Japanese rock band. The group has released more than a dozen original studio albums, along with several EPs, singles and compilations...
)