Live Music: Ben Kweller and Delta Spirit at the Hifi
Tuesday, October 5 2010
Words and pictures: Kate Scantleton
It has been over 18 months since Ben Kweller last graced the Australian stage, and over 2 years since Delta Spirit were here at Splendour. For two outstanding live performances to have taken so long to come back to us is quite the tragedy. Luckily, they made it up to us through song tonight, and we’ll forgive them for now… as long as they don’t keep us waiting again.
I was a little alarmed when I first arrived to find the gig hadn’t sold out. With a double-up of talent such as these, I’m not sure what kept the punters away. I’m going out on a whim for Brisbane’s sake and hope it was the dreadful weather because there really is no excuse. Shame, Brisbane… if you weren’t there, you missed out on a great treat.
Starting the evening off with the delightful gentlemen known as Delta Spirit, the crowd was warmed by the soulful delights of tracks from their two albums, Ode to Sunshine and History From Below, the highlights being People C’mon, Trashcan and Children. Smashing out powerful tune-after-tune, I’m certain that the entire set was enough to turn any sceptic of Delta Spirit into a true believer.
Next up was the truly amazing Ben Kweller. Even though he was suffering from throat/illness issues, he managed to put on a perfect set, wooing everyone in the crowd. With a nostalgic mix of songs from albums all the way from his debut Sha Sha and his most recent release Changing Horses, Kweller’s set tried to please all – and the whistful looks from the crowd showed that he truly delivered.
Mixing the set up with banjo-country tracks, piano-gospel, acoustic songs (notably the sweet On My Way), the extended instrumental of Red Eye, and a whole host of precious pop-country-rock songs inbetween, Kweller really showed how he is such an established musician. Finishing off the set with his most well-received single Wasted & Ready, it could be said that the crowd definitely got their money’s worth.