Here is my pick of the week...Ben Sollee caught my attention last year when he was named one of NPR's "Top Ten Unknown Artists".

Ben is off on his first solo tour and he has a new EP out, Something Worth Keeping. This disc is knee-deep in poignant imagery and, in keeping with the buildup to the recent election, there are a few songs with a political bent.

Check out the video for "A Few Honest Words".


Here are Ben's comments on the political songs on the new disc:

"The beauty of people is anchored in imperfection; it is not that we are destructive but that we are ignorant to a better way. We dream big with even bigger costs. Furthermore, we learn the lesson daily that we don’t know what we have until it is gone. Combined, these two qualities are child-like but ever present.

When I look around I see a lot of things that are worth keeping: the mountain tops of Appalachia, family and community farms, art and music in schools, and, most of all, a government by the people and for the people. But how? The challenge that our leaders and us face is that we don’t know how to accomplish these goals. There are many eloquent ideas out there about renewable energy, educational systems, and governing, but realizing them means trying new things; which is daunting at least, and terrifying at most. As my generation takes the reins we should not sacrifice some qualities of this nation and the land in its boundaries to the wayfaring spirit of economy. They are important for Americans, our children, and the rest of the world.

These thoughts inspired these two new songs. But they are only songs…" - Ben Sollee

I have high expectations for this show. Ben is playing solo with his cello and his stage set will be featuring the visual art of Phillip March Jones. Kim Taylor is opening the show and tickets are $12.

This is an early show -- Kim is playing at 7PM and Ben is playing at 8PM.

Links:
Ben Sollee's MySpace Profile