Ben Rector, a 29-year-old pop musician who has already reached the Top Twenty on the Billboard Album Chart, visited Calvin on Tuesday to play for a sold-out crowd in the Covenant Fine Arts Center.
He is currently on tour for his new album, “Brand New,” which came out this summer. According to his website, “Rector has written hundreds of songs and played thousands of bills in his young career, but in the writing and recording of ‘Brand New,’ he re-discovered the energy of his early days, with songs that have all the punch, power and promise of a debut record. Filled with rich string arrangements, percussion, pounding piano chords and effortless melodies, ‘Brand New’ sounds anthemic. At the same time, its message is both sincere and humble, anchored by songs that are honest and meaningful. It’s pop music with a purpose.”
This classic feel-good record isn’t afraid to investigate the many twists and turns life takes. His music stays true to a catchy pop style that won’t get annoying or tiring from ultra-positivity and a depiction of a false reality.
Ben Rector’s “pop music with a purpose” was richly displayed on Tuesday night. The crowd was receptive, and most knew the words to every song, constantly singing along. Rector wooed the audience with his laid-back charisma and a bit of goofiness thrown in for good measure. He had plenty of good things to say about the attentive “Michiganders” in the audience and got everyone dancing along on his song “The Beat.”
At one point, Ben and his four band members came down from their designated spots on the instrument-filled stage to stand near the front to create the living room environment of Ben’s earlier days. They performed “Forever Like That,” complete with accordion and ukulele solos. An unexpected acoustic cover of One Direction’s “Steal My Girl” gave the song a more laid-back and sophisticated twist.
Before the last song of the set, Ben facetiously explained the concept of an encore to the audience and announced with a wink, “This is our last song,” knowing the band would be brought back by the cheers of the audience as soon as they walked offstage. Overall, Ben and his band’s performance was flawlessly executed without being overly stuffy, and the space was filled with the positive energy of a house packed with dedicated fans.
