Ben Arnold + special guest Bret Tobias at Rivet!
About this event
Rivet is proud to welcome the legendary Ben Arnold and his band to the Rivet stage on Friday, April 28th!
Event Details & Tickets
- Doors: 7:30 PM. Show: 8:00 PM.
- Tickets: $18 in advance / $20 day of show.
Ben Arnold
Ben Arnold is reintroducing himself. A songwriter, musician, performer and producer, he remains longtime fixture on the Philadelphia musical landscape. He has toured regularly throughout the country as well as Europe for the better part of the last 25 years. Originally signed to Columbia Records in the 90’s, Ben has since released countless label supported and independent records over the decades. Always down for the challenge of re-invention and experimentation, you will see him constantly visiting far-flung points on the musical map. He has for many years been involved in collaborative projects such as 4 Way Street (Sanctuary/BMG), US Rails (Blue Rose/Europe) who will be touring extensively throughout Europe in spring 2023 in support of their new record “Live For Another Day”, the Los Angeles based indie rock band Pistol For Ringo which is also releasing a new record this year “Audio Surrender” in tandem with a major film release (“Rumination”) as well as continuing to support David Uosikinnen’s In The Pocket: Essential Songs Of Philadelphia.
His constant output of new material is a testament to the continual growth of his creative muscles as well as a product of the many worlds in which Ben Arnold operates. His most recent releases “Lost Keys” and “Sunday Morning Meltdown” explore the feel, culture and politics of American music of the 60s-70s thru the lens of the questions of the here and now. He has also just released a full band live show titled “Go Play In The Backyard!”
With a crusty, curmudgeonly, but loving take on the world around, Ben Arnold continues to reveal more of himself with every record and live performance. Always a different day, another mood and another view on the human condition. This is not an artist who has simply paid his dues. Ben Arnold is compelled to doing what he does, and does so with one of the most unique, if little known voices in music today.
Bret Tobias
In the early aughts Bret Tobias co-fronted Philadelphia’s The Bigger Lovers, whose twin guitar assault never overlooked the pop hooks at the heart of its songs. He’s back with sack full of dyspeptic pop numbers that draw blood and humor in roughly equal measure. Though not entirely dissimilar from his former combo’s output (TBL’s drummer, Patrick Berkery, features on most tracks), there’s evidence that Bret has recently acquired a chorus pedal and combo organ and isn’t afraid to use them. Shades of post-shoegaze/pre-Britpop acts such as House of Love and the Mighty Lemon Drops peek through the character-driven tales of self-reflection (“Good Morning, Sunshine”), self-exploration (“Dishonest Guy”) and self-loathing (“Bit of a Dick”). If you crave tuneful, feel-bad music for now people, you’re in luck.