photos by Bridget McQuillan | words by Michael Todd

He almost didn't make it, and when he did, it wasn't for long.

Yes, Ben Kweller came to Omaha on Friday night for a concert at Slowdown sponsored by Creighton University. The show was free for Creighton students, but non-Bluejay folks like me could also get in to the semi-private event as guests of a student (thank you, Bridget).

Unfortunately, that exclusivity made for a fairly small and less attentive crowd. Tara Vaughan opened the show with a low-key solo performance, including a closer that expressed a love like a Tim Burton movie. Rock Paper Dynamite upped the volume for their Nebraskan southern rock set before Kweller took the stage.

He mentioned a delayed trip to Omaha nearly prevented him from playing, and once the Texan rock 'n' roll songwriter with a knack for hooks started, he kicked his way through a handful of standbys such as "Commerce, TX," "Falling," "Wasted and Ready" and "Thirteen," and a few new ones. An extended set of solo songs in the middle seemed a bit too long, especially with foot-stompers like "Fight" lacking drums.

At the end, Kweller came back for a one-song encore of "Penny on a Train Track," perhaps one or two songs short of what a semi-private event deserved. He said he'd be leaving Omaha on a 6 a.m. flight. Until next time, Ben.

Tara Vaughan

Rock Paper Dynamite

Ben Kweller

Bridget McQuillan is a Hear Nebraska contributor, and Michael Todd is Hear Nebraska's managing editor. Reach them at bridgetm@hearnebraska.org and michaeltodd@hearnebraska.org.