Singer-songwriter Ben Rector crafts pop music that is so ebullient, bouncy, optimistic and squeaky clean that he makes Chris Martin look like Nick Cave. It’s an approach that not only has made him a favorite of both Madison Avenue and movie-makers — anyone who hasn’t heard his infectious “Brand New” in that inescapable Celebrity Cruises commercial must be living off the grid — but with a wide audience of parents and kids who want wholesome entertainment that is not necessarily marketed specifically as children’s music (or “kindie rock” as it’s sometimes called these days) or faith-based music.
And they turned out in droves Friday night (some from as far away as Boston, New York and South Carolina) at Jones Hall to see Rector, turn in a spirited set in front of the Houston Symphony as part of his Symphonies Across America tour, in which he, pianist/singer Jon McLaughlin and percussionist Jared Kneale recast his songs with more orchestral color. There were so many families and small children on hand, including at least one babe in arms, that it sometimes felt more like a field trip than a pop, or even a pops, performance. Rector, who plays both guitar and piano, even good-naturedly joked that he makes “uplifting, mid-tempo mini-van music,” a remark that elicited a wave of knowing laughs from the crowd.
It’s to Rector’s credit as a performer and songwriter that he managed to keep the attention of both the kids and their caretakers through 20 songs and roughly 2 1/2 hours, including a 20-minute intermission. In an era of shrunken attention spans and with a Jones Hall policy of forbidding the use of phones and screens during the performance, that in and of itself is a major achievement. Anyone afraid that the night might be ruined by a chorus of fretful infants or crowds of parents rushing to the exits to quiet them didn’t end up having to worry.
Part of Rector’s appeal is his laid-back, amiable personality that’s expressed in a style of self-deprecating humor that is reminiscent of a James Taylor concert or even a set by a comedian like Jim Gaffigan. Whether it was introducing symphony hall first-timers to the different parts of the orchestra (“I see you, flutes, I see you”), regaling everyone with a story of how he got into playing badminton, or why concert promoters who make money from selling booze might not be his biggest fans (“my crowd is a light drinking crowd” and more chuckles of acknowledgement from the audience), Rector came across like your favorite cool, grade-school teacher.
Then there are the songs, which can be touching (“The Men That Drive Me Places,” “Old Friends” with 39-year-old Rector’s Millennial memories of listening to Jimmy Eat World two decades ago), humorous (a new song he specifically wrote for Texas, part of a suite of songs devoted to different states), or simply come equipped with shout-along hooks sturdy enough to hang meat (the aforementioned “Brand New”). The symphony, under the direction of Steven Reineke, added depth and flavor to the compositions without overpowering them.
Rector turned over five songs in the set to McLaughlin who also showed off a dry sense of humor in the introductions to his songs though he takes a more ballad-heavy, serious approach in his music than Rector, who is far more whimsical. McLaughlin even performed an original instrumental classical piece. McLaughlin’s best-known track is “So Close” from the soundtrack to the 2007 Disney film “Enchanted” so that offers an indication of his style.
But the night belonged to Rector who, admittedly, has been chided in some circles for his relentless positivity and for being mawkish, safe and saccharine. American Songwriter magazine once wrote that one part of his “The Joy of Music” album was “another syrupy additive that could prove to be a diabetic’s downfall.” But the threat of a chronic metabolic disease didn’t dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm Friday night. After all, he received two standing ovations. Everyone was probably more worried about being up far beyond their bedtimes.