Australian musician Ben Lee’s acoustic performance Wednesday, February 22 at Brighton Music Hall in Allston, Mass. was both an excellent and touching show. Backed up by backing vocalist, lead guitarist and keyboard player, Nicholas Jones, the two performed songs to no more than a couple dozen people, making it the most relaxed and intimate show I’d ever been to. Lee not only toke a number of song requests, but also interacted with the audience with the biggest of smiles, especially when he misplaced his guitar pick and I gave him mine. Even when a bit self-loathing, claiming one of his songs to be “a thinly veiled plea to a women to make out with me”, that ear-to-ear smile never left his face.
Though Lee’s origins lie in punk as a member of the band Noise Addict, most of his songs reminded me of Coldplay, Elliott Smith, Blitzen Trapper and 1960s and 1970s pop and rock. The licks, chords and arpeggios played by Jones on both electric guitar and keyboard also added some sparkle and shimmer to all of Lee’s songs. Lyrically speaking, Lee’s songs revolved around the themes of overcoming life’s obstacles, connecting with others around you and the subconscious.
He started off with some requested songs like “Rise Up” and “Lean Into It” with lyrical, vocal and piano melodies that reminded me of songs off Coldplay’s first album Parachutes. In between songs, Lee continued to joke with the crowd. When a man in the audience asked Lee about his newly grown beard, the Australian replied, “It’s a side project.”
As the show went on, Lee started playing some more upbeat, jubilant songs like “Faster Side Of Normal”, revealing his poppy-er, Paul Simon-esque side. The tune “Gamble Everything For Love” reminded me both of Elliott Smith with Jones’ backing vocals and sparkly keyboard playing, as well as Blitzen Trapper from Lee’s country-style finger-picking in songs like “Black River Killer”.
Before ending the show with his most powerful and psychedelic song “Song For The Divine Mother Of The Universe”, reminiscent of George Harrison, Lee made a short speech: “I think there has been a change in me. I used to look at the audience and quite actively dislike them…the dregs of society. Now, I feel gratitude. Here’s to an increase in self-esteem.”
By: Michael Leone