On a cold, damp Monday evening, the Fireplace Lounge was warmed by the sounds of acoustic rocker Josh “Shwa” Losben. Concert-goers who braved the chilly temperatures were treated to a great night of music.
Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Shwa’s sound is similar to that of Bright Eyes, Dashboard Confessional, Elvis Costello and Damien Rice. With meaningful lyrics, heartfelt vocals and great guitar skills, Losben treated the small, but appreciative, audience to an intimate and entertaining set, complete with a rendition of Britney Spears’ “Baby, One More Time” (sung in Spanish no less!)
Another high point of the evening was when Shwa performed a song from his latest release entitled, “Hanging By A Thread.” After the show, he explained the deeper meaning to some of the song’s already powerful lyrics, “The ministers admit we were mislead… we’re wishing where we’d rather be instead… we’re hanging by a thread.”
“The song is about taking a step back, and carefully examining where you’re at in life. Appreciating things for what they are, both the bad and the good. There are people with real problems in life, nothing is ever as bad as it seems,” he said. After a pause he added, laughing, “…Wow, that came off way more pretentious than I intended.”
With audience banter and plenty of laughs between songs, Shwa kept the atmosphere comfortable and energy high all night.
Fans will find Shaw unusually sincere and approachable. It was refreshing to see and speak to an artist focused on a powerful positive message and commitment to his craft. Losben’s eloquent song-writing style and indie-rock sensibility sets his music on a higher level from so many other acoustic guitar-wielding solo acts. Shwa’s musical influences include Guster, Travis and Neil Diamond, to Radiohead and Michael Jackson. He does a remarkable job reflecting these influences; blending sampled beats and rhythms with acoustic guitar playing, rounding out his sound with breathy, intricate vocal work, clever lyrics and sincere delivery.
Losben cracked jokes and was affable and easy-going as he spoke with attendees about his favorite bands and experiences performing and traveling after the show. Students in attendance left the show with smiles on their faces and music in their hearts.
Often times some of the best shows one can see are put on by the acts that nobody has heard of, still on the rise, yet to be discovered by the mainstream. Keep an eye out for Shwa in the near future. This is one act with a creative drive and commitment to music that shows no signs of stopping.