Ben Kweller plays Buskirk

“Sometimes you write a set list, but when you get to a show you have to feel out the vibes,” singer-songwriter Ben Kweller said as he sat down at his piano and the lights changed from a honey gold to a deep purple. “And you guys seem like a mellower crowd. Why don’t we slow things down a bit?”

Relaxed and mellow were two common vibes permeating the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Saturday when Kweller took the stage.

But rather than the screaming groupie-type fans to which Kweller seemed accustomed, he was met with the calm eyes of Bloomington.

“We were kind of nervous coming tonight,” freshman Kendra Nelson said after hearing indie musician Julia Nunes, who opened for Kweller. “We really like old Ben Kweller music and hope he sticks to that.”

It was apparent that Nelson wasn’t alone.

As Kweller took the stage, through the energetic screams of audience members, people in the crowd could still feel a haze of uncertainty around Kweller’s set list.
After an introduction, Kweller dove in with “On My Way” from his second album.

This opener seemed to be enough to ease the doubts of fans and supplied momentum for Kweller’s hour-long swoop of songs.

Transitions and small talk were deemed unnecessary, giving the audience full opportunity to drink in Kweller’s musical sound — a mix of light, acoustic and boisterous strumming with a rock ’n’ roll feel.

“I love that his personality shines through during every song,” freshman Sarah Silcox said. “His sound is so natural, it’s like he doesn’t have to try at all.”