bReview: Ben Chavasse

bReview: Ben Chavasse

at The Button Factory, Saturday 27 September 2025
Written by Zanoor Penny
Photography by Amanda Li

I was nervous about going to a gig alone, so I managed to convince my friend to join me at the last minute. After a speed walk down Ponsonby Road, we arrived at The Button Factory just in time to see the opening act, Benjamin Mack begin. After the show, I asked him about his set list and was shocked to find out the songs were all unreleased. He did give me the working titles, though. But it was exciting to get a sneak peek at songs that are still being built. 

(Benjamin Mack at The Button Factory / Photo: Amanda Li)

The lights were red and the room was lowly lit. The zing of the electric guitar created a dream-like atmosphere. “Come closer”, Benjamin called as the song started. The crowd responded instantly. The atmosphere shifted slightly as the audience became more engaged with what was happening on the stage, gathering closer. The first two songs they played were tendentially titled ‘Old Man’ and ‘Let the doorbell ring’. It’s the kind of music I picture myself playing on a road trip, speeding (at the legal limit) down the highway. Next is a cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Queen Jane Approximately’. As the song's vibe shifted to a more groovy tone, the audience began to move in sync with the music. ‘Stargirl’ was a song that made me feel like I could drift away listening to it. Like I was floating on a cloud. The next song was a cover of Kevin Morby’s ‘Rock Bottom’. My toes tapped along. Benjamin said he wrote the last song a few nights ago about a dream he had. He said it was quite violent, which is unusual for him. He called it ‘Close Friend’. I kept getting drawn back to the electric guitar. Its sound permeated throughout the room. Upon asking my friend (an engineer) how she would describe the music, she helpfully supplied, “It was chill and vibey”.

From the moment I walked in, I could pick Ben Chavasse’s band members out of the crowd as they were all wearing tidy white button-ups and ties. Very dapper. I could see the uniformity as they all arranged themselves on stage. Ben stood out in the middle, his denim jacket buttoned up, revealing just a peek of a red-striped tie underneath. 

As the first chords of ‘Clouds’ rang out, the crowd packed in closer to the stage. It was a softer song that eased everyone into the show and set the tone for the album, which is largely a reminiscence of adolescence. ‘Pip Dog’ began with a soft rock vibe, but as the violin intensified, the folk elements shone through. This song introduces the more angsty side of the album's themes of self-discovery. 

‘Better’ is a slower song with a stronger Jazz influence, and I felt myself start to sway along. The saxophone and violin added beautiful layers to the song, creating a whimsical feeling. The lyrics have a sense of longing that I can relate to, “And I don’t wanna be forever misunderstood, I'm hanging it up for good”. ‘She’s Gonna Leave’ began with simple plucking at the guitar. The song built as the violin joined in from the second verse. The lyrics and overall vibe of the song address the idea of sentimentality. 

Ben mentioned that he wrote the next song, ‘Echos behind,’ 10 years ago when he was 16. The album itself took about two years to record and was a huge collaborative effort featuring many contributing musicians, many of whom were in attendance at the show. However, they had to make new musical arrangements for this live show, as there were only seven musicians for the performance. “I hope it represents what’s on the album”, Ben said. The song began with just the guitar, then built as the violin joined in, and finally, the drums started. After the chorus, the ziggy sound of the electric guitar added more dynamic. I have to give a shout-out to the violinist. The consistent violin throughout the entire show was definitely the highlight for me. 

Ben mentioned that ‘Stakes’ was written about a friend in another country, and that he was happy to get their blessing to release the song. The song is narrative-heavy and encapsulates the awkward but genuine feelings of teenagehood. Ben explained that the neck ties, purposefully reminiscent of school uniforms, highlight the idea of adolescence that the album focuses on. It represents a time when you are not as understood as you want to be. This motif was also present on the merchandise available for purchase at the show. Which was also the perfect segue for Ben to introduce his unreleased song, ‘Merchandise’. It had a funky vibe with the saxophone and strings coming together to create an interesting sound. “The strings really add depth to this song,” my friend helpfully added.

We transitioned to a more punk rock vibe as the electric guitar and drums kicked in for ‘Dry’. Although the instruments were stronger, there was still a certain softness in the vocals. The electric guitar was certainly more gnarly, though. ‘Dry’ transitioned straight into ‘Surrender’, a far more upbeat style, which made everyone bop on the spot. The crowd were getting into it and dancing along, which Ben noticed and seemed to enjoy. The final song of the set was an unreleased song, ‘Sitting Beside’. Riding the high of the previous song, Ben encouraged everyone to keep dancing. The song was a folk-pop kinda song, which had people clapping along as they danced. The song ended and everyone cheered loudly. “ONE MORE SONG, ONE MORE SONG!”. Ben and his band were still on the stage. There was a pause. “Did I hold that long enough to be convincing?” Ben joked before launching into his pre-prepared encore songs. 

(Ben Chavasse at The Button Factory / Photo: Amanda Li)

‘Letdown’ is actually the opening song on the album. It is noticeably more moody than most of the other songs, but it showcases the versatility of Ben and this album. The guitar created a gloomy hollow feeling. Again, the violin stood out to me. But to end on a livelier note, they immediately swung into ‘Chugga’. I heard the elements of folk and rock, as the sounds of the violin and electric guitar mixed. The song ended to the thunderous applause and stamping of the crowd.

I could really feel the sense of growth throughout the songs in the setlist. As I continue to listen to the album and properly hear the lyrics, I find it more and more relatable. It fits perfectly with my current stage of life, where I don’t quite feel like an adult but am definitely no longer a teenager. As I reflect on my teenage years, I think of them fondly, but I also realise how different situations affected me and shaped me as a person. 

It was a pleasure to see this performance and celebrate the release of Ben Chavasse’s debut album. I look forward to what is to come for him in the future.