Ben Kweller

Kweller’s musical history began at the ripe old age of 8 years old. Where most kids are sat playing video games, Kweller was tapping the ivories beside his dad’s buddy Nils Lofgren. Years followed and Kweller was not only able to play piano, but drums and guitar as well.

Enter 1993, after forming a myriad of garage bands, his first success was in the form of his first real band Radish. One year later they had put out an EP entitled ‘Hello’ and were blazing the Dallas music scene with there grungy garage rock tunes. That same year they released their first full length album entitled ‘Dizzy’ and were soon signed by Mercury Music, which incidentally led to the release of their most popular and critically appreciated album ‘Restraining Bolt’. Restraining Bolt was to be Radish’s last album together, after touring throughout Europe and America together; the band called it a day in 1999.

It wasn’t until Kweller’s relocation to Brooklyn NY that his solo career got underway. His first Ep ‘Ep Phone Home’ and then first album ‘Freak Out, It’s Ben Kweller’ were recorded at home using a Protools program, the album that featured a few ‘demo’s’ that then appeared on his first major release ‘Sha Sha’. ‘Sha Sha’ was released through ATO Records, Kweller’s second major label signing before his 20th birthday.

2002 saw his popularity soar in Australia, Europe and on his home soil. Ben Folds and the Australian singer songwriter Ben Lee were both quoted as saying they were fans of Kwellers music. So 2003 saw the three Bens tour Australia together under the aptly titled moniker ‘The Bens’ a limited edition EP was released under the same name. This tour saw each member play songs from their colleagues back catalogue and was hugely successful.

2004 saw the release of Kwellers second major label solo release ‘On My Way’ and his reunion with Radish drummer John Kent for touring and recording purposes. Most of this album was recorded ‘live’ in a room with minimal overdubs.

In 2006 Ben Kweller released his third major label solo album. His self titled effort saw the musical prodigy play all instruments himself.

Discography:

Freak Out, It's Ben Kweller (Independent Release) 2000
Sha Sha, (ATO Records) 2002
On My Way, (ATO Records) 2004
Ben Kweller, (ATO Records) 2006