Singer-songwriter Ben Kweller has spent his brief but prolific career crafting smart pop songs, rarely tapping into the country sounds he absorbed in his Texas youth. But Kweller\’92s life \’96 and recording career – has come full circle since relocating from Brooklyn, N.Y. to Austin, Texas, In February, Kweller released the countrified Changing Horses, his latest release on ATO Records. On Friday, March 6, Kweller will return to WorkPlay with The Watson Twins opening the 8 p.m. show.\
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Stylistically closer to the sounds of honest \’9170s country than overblown \’9190s country, Changing Horses finds Kweller handling his own production duties for the first time in his career. Recorded over 11 days in an all-analog Texas studio, the disc sounds reverent and relevant at the same time. Summing up his new existence, Kweller says in the disc\’92s press release, \’93After our son Dorian was born, [my wife] Lizzy and I started to crave open spaces. Wanted to simplify. We needed nature. I was growing tired of writing songs in my apartment. I used to write outside all the time. I missed that. As a new father I started thinking about my parents and my roots, which were in Texas.\’94 Openers The Watson Twins are best known for their work with Rilo Kiley vocalist Jenny Lewis. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $18 ($20 day of the show) and can be purchased at\’a0 www.workplay.com or by calling (205) 380-4082.