After huge production numbers and band members donning big, yellow smiley faces and frowning faces while Folds climbed atop the piano, many in the crowd stuck around chanting “We Want More,” and "Let's Go, Ben Folds" even after “The End” flashed on the screen and the “om” chant returned, underscoring that Ben Folds will most assuredly be able to rock both the cities and the suburbs for quite some time. Needless to say, next time the bitch goes nutz (or nuts, depending on the version), I’ll be there to relish in the musical aftermath.
Set List:
"Way to Normal"
"Brainwascht"
"Effington"
"You Don't Know Me"
"Annie Waits"
"Lovesick Diagnostician" (fake version of "Dr. Yang")
"Dr. Yang"
"Cologne"
"You to Thank"
"The Frown Song"
"Landed"
"Free Coffee"
"Free Coffee Town" (fake song)
"Bitch Went Nutz" (fake version of "Bitch Went Nuts")
Encore:
"Still Fighting It"
"Fair"
"Underground"
"Rockin' the Suburbs"
"Kate"
"Philosophy"
"Not the Same"
"Brown Anthem" (fake "Frown Song")
Article comments
1 - Lisa Solod Warren
Your review DEFINITELY made me wish I had been there.........
2 - El Bicho
See, I knew you would do just fine. You did a great job of capturing the show. Although it's unfortunate to learn you are one of those people. Glad you weren't in front of me. Get a photo pass or stop ruining the show for everyone else. One demerit.
3 - Jen
Thanks for the compliments! That's okay, Bicho, I'll take the demerit because man, do I love geeky piano players and my phone is smaller than an iPod. Plus, he totally dug it, smiling and posing for some of us-- he seriously lives to entertain. It was a great, great show! :)
4 - Jordan "Boss" Richardson
Nicely done!
5 - Pico
Sounds like a fun time was had by all, but I'm a little surprised he didn't play "Hiroshima (B-B-B Benny Hit His Head)"?
6 - Jen
Good call, Pico-- I was hoping for that one myself!
7 - Mat Brewster
Nicely done.
8 - Pico
I was remiss in failing to mention myself that this is a nicely done article. Thanks for a good read :-)
9 - Tom Johnson
Damn, that sounds like a great show. Great write-up, Jen, it was almost like being there. So good it actually makes me want to break down and pick up the album, despite not being totally thrilled with about half of what I've heard off of it so far (and really disliking Silverman as a whole.)
10 - tink
Hard to believe this is your first live concert review. Has everything in it that makes it a good read for me...links to info, pix, insight into his tunes and the overall performance.
GREAT stuff!!!
11 - Mark Saleski
yeah, i have to say that this was a great concert review, first time or not.
heck, it almost makes me want to buy a Ben Folds cd, despite disliking (almost) everything he's ever done.
12 - Jen
Wow, thank you so much to all who've read the piece and/or taken time to comment either here, on my site, or via e-mail. It means a lot. Having studied, lived, breathed, and written about movies for fifteen years, it's been a wild adventure moving into music this year but I'm loving it.
Also, for those of you guys on the fence about Folds-- he's one of those musicians best appreciated live but luckily, in addition to the YouTube bootleg concert footage you can see here, there's also a cool Live album, DVDs, and for this tour, he's recording a number of singles live from various cities you can find right here via iTunes.
I actually ended up buying the new album right off iTunes since it came with some hilarious music videos in the Deluxe version (little did I know some of them were also on his MySpace page)!
Again, I really appreciate all the feedback and am looking forward to tackling another concert soon should another cool one hit the Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale area. :)