Immersed in the glamour of the decadent Bush Hall, ornate and crowned with chandeliers dripping crystals, the last thing you expect is your wine to be served in a plastic cup; neither do you expect to be surrounded by people more interested in sending texts, or taking photos than concentrating on the wonderful carefree sounds of Mister Ben Kweller.
It's a shame really, because here is Ben, stripped down to just him, a guitar and a keyboard reproducing tracks from his previous releases in a gloriously intimate style; 'In Other Words' and 'Falling' are somewhat haunting in their piano-led delivery, proving his appeal goes far beyond being just a creator of guitar-pop. This is a whirlwind adventure into the strange land of BK where he has a pet hedgehog and sex is like eating spaghetti; there's barely a stone left unturned as he dashes through song after brilliant song, each one forming a new high point in all of their sun beam sparkling splendour, quirky lyrics and sing-a-long oddities like sweets you can only buy in America.
Ben's clearly happy to be here, grateful in fact for such a turnout. A sold out Bush Hall of smiles, singing and hand claps his reward for playing the one-off date. Requests are readily suggested, and Lizzy is played. Friends are invited on stage, Pierre Guimard, two Fields and Russell Bloc Party, a ukulele is found and in typical Ben Kweller fashion impromptu covers of 'Maggie May' and 'Losing My Religion' are aired.
This show then, this energetic kid with a knack for heart-catching song-writing, forms the perfect antidote to grey winter skies, ushering in a fresh cornflower blue, he's a pale yellow sun pushing through wispy clouds provoking images of outdoor dining, long walks in the evening and the smell of new grass. He makes the next six months seem like they'll be better than the last, unadulterated optimism pouring from the stage, let's just hope it's not cold again by the time he returns to tour his just-finished 3rd album, because if new song 'Thirteen' is anything to go by, it's going to be pretty special.
