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Ben Kweller takes to stage solo and begins to play “Park Harvey Fire Drill” from his 2025 album, Cover The Mirrors. Midway into the song, the rest of the band joins him on stage and they all sing around one mic. “And all the Kwellerheads say / Sha sha sha / Shashashashasha / La la la / Papapapapa / Papapapapa”. He’s quoting his own songs, “How It Should Be (Sha Sha)” and “Falling” from his 2002 album, Sha Sha!

On bass today is Christopher Mintz-Plasse. He plays a right-handed bass upside down. Many fans recognize him as an actor from Superbad and Kick-Ass. He is also spotted on the balcony next to the stage watching the entire set of The Format!

Kweller talks about how Chicago has always been one of his favorite cities to play. He says that Q101 was a huge key in his success as they were the first to put one of his songs in their playlist. It was “Wasted and Ready”, which they play next. This song is his most popular on Spotify with over 4.9 million streams. “She is a slut but ex thinks it’s sexy / Sex reminds her of eating spaghetti”.  He plays it with great passion and the audience eats it up.

Later on, they play “Starz” from his 2021 album, Circuit Boredom. “’Cause I can’t find my thoughts when the lights go out / I see stars / Brighter than the Milky Way / I see stars / Wishing that one day / They would be ours.” This is great new rocker that further proves he can still write great songs.

To close out the set, they play “Penny on the Train Track” from his self-titled 2006 album.  “I’m just a penny on the train track / Waitin’ for my judgement day / Come on baby girl let me see those legs / Before I get flattened away”. This is such a great song with a driving beat and the energy in the room is fantastic.

See a recent setlist here. 

Cost of a ticket: $65 (GA)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney