Must See: Ben Watt At Joe's Pub This June

Ben And Bernard

This is what Ben Watt 0the Everything in Everything But the Girl back in the day, has to say about Suede guitarist Bernard Butler performing with him at Joe’s Pub on June 11th (well, just has to say, I added the date in): “Bernard was one of the first people I turned to when embarking on this new road,’ says Watt. ‘His grainy sound in the perfect foil to my new open-tuned approach, and when he played unannounced on the recent sold-out London shows in August, it was just a great fit. He is playing a prominent role on the current album, and now to have him play with me onstage on all of these November dates is fantastic news. The combined sound is incredibly atmospheric and heart-felt. An amazing backdrop for the songs.’ 

I think that alone would be good enough a reason to check out the DJ, Brit pop star burning bright, returning, experimental mood music fellow who has two songs with Saint. Robert Wyatt on Ben’s upcoming solo album.

But there is more: if you like the off balanced experimental soft machine without the machine sound that Wyatt has been playing for years, Watt continues the concept though he remains completely true to his own vision of it. LIstening to his new album, his voice is all English poeticism and the guitar is atmospheric shadings of his voice.

I don’t know how this will work on stage. It could be a snooze but even if it is a snooze, what better place to fall asleep than Joe’s Pub.

On June 11th, so I guess I’ll see you there then.