Lawrence University’s Student Organization for University Programming (SOUP) welcomes singer and songwriter Ben Kweller to campus on May 14. The concert, which features opening sets by the Lawrence student group Denes and another act to be announced, will take place at 7 p.m. in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel.
Kweller, originally the front man for the band Radish, self-released “Freak Out, It’s Ben Kweller” in 2000. He followed that collection with his 5-track ATO Records debut, “E.P. Phone Home” in 2001.
In 2002, “Sha Sha” was released, which included the very radio-friendly and popular single “Wasted and Ready.” Encompassing anti-folkadelica, indie-punkpop, and soaring ballads, Kweller’s warm, whimsical wordplay, and unstoppable power-pop hooks are in full effect on “Sha Sha.” Recorded in New York City during the summer of 2001, “Sha Sha” sees Kweller backed by, among others, bassist Josh Lattanzi and old friend and drummer from Radish, John Kent. The album pops with the same infectious energy of Kweller’s acoustic performances and home recordings, through fleshed out to feature a more fully realized sonic approach.
The much-anticipated follow-up to “Sha Sha” is Kweller’s “On My Way.” While “On My Way” offers a more consistent sonic vision than its gleefully genre-hopping predecessor, Kweller’s inexorable knack for music diversity continues unabated. Recorded in just three weeks at Sear Sound in New York City, “On My Way” sees Kweller backed by bassist Josh Lattanzi, guitarist Mike Stroud, and drummers Fred Eltringham and John Kent.
Kweller and his band have toured international and throughout the United States, both as headliners and alongside such bands as the Strokes, Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band, Dashboard Confessional, Adam Green, and Brendan Benson.
Tickets for Kweller’s concert are $10 for the public and are on sale at the Lawrence University Box Office, located in the Music-Drama Center, 420 E. College Ave., Appleton, or by phone at 920-832-6749.
