Ben Folds / Duncan Sheik

live in New York City (2002)
Tours

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Pat
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on January 17th 2003

Friday, January 10th, 2002: Tonite's Ben Folds show at the Beacon Theatre in New York City was originally scheduled for December 4th, but because Ben caught pneumonia, the show was postponed. I actually got tickets to this show via Ebay, but the auction markup I paid on them was most definately justified.

Duncan Sheik really did not interest me. The guitarist who was accompanying him, Mick "something," was an excellent player though. He used an electronic "bow" on his guitar to create some funky sounds, as well as some different effects pedal combinations. Aside from my own personal musical tastes, the crowd did seem to warm up to Sheik's acoustic/electric guitar duo of hip pop. He ended with a Radiohead cover that everyone (minus myself) seemed to know the words too, and walked offstage admist loud cheering and squeals from the female population of audience.

Thirty minutes later, the guitars, amps, pedals, and un-necessary wires cleared from the stage, the man himself strode up to the piano and all hell broke loose. The crowd, a healthy mix of college-aged, middle-aged, and prepubescent-Sheik fans, leapt to feat and welcomed Ben Folds with a standing ovation. Seeming slightly embarrassed, Folds jumped onto his drum-stool-turned-piano-bench and broke into "Boxing," the first selection in his almost two-hour long set of old Five tunes, covers, and new solo material.

Halfway through the set, to accompany him on "Fred Jones Pt. 2," a song from Fold's newest solo album, Folds invited singer/songwriter Joe Jackson onstage to sing harmony with the piano man. The audience gave Jackson a warm reception, and the touching ballad was well received. Nearing the end of his set, Folds shocked the crowd when a floor tom was brought out by a stagehead, and an entire drumset was build around him. Folds jammed for a few minutes, and invited Jackson out onstage again, this time Jackson singing lead and tickling the ivories while Folds tackled the skins, showing the crowd his multi-talented abilities.

Following his drumming stint, Folds played one more song, a cover of "Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head," thanked the crowd for a great night, and strode offstage. But, this crowd was not leaving for any reason, there were stilll songs to be heard. At least five minutes of "balls-to-the-wall" standing ovations later, Folds walked back onto the stage, sat back at his Baldwin, and started right into his signature cover, Elton John's "Tiny Dancer". Following the cover, he segued into what has become the most popular Ben Folds Five song, the touching, somber ballad, "Brick". The close of this song brought the crowd once again to its collective feet, giving Folds yet another standing ovation. After a long, deserving strech of applause, Folds played his final song of the evening, the comical and popular, "Song for the Dumped," fresh in a minor key, which as Ben put it, is "how songs about being dumped should be".

Following his final song, Folds was treated to yet another well earned standing ovation. He thanked the crowd, said "Good Nite" and left. The house lights came on, and the crowd shuffled out in awe of the spectacle the just witnessed.

This was a show filled with amazing musicianship, audience participation, sing-a-longs, and almost two hours jam packed with Ben Folds Five and Folds' solo hits and crowd favorites.

He even covered George Michael. and Chopin. The man is a genius.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (January 23, 2003)

Ben Folds flat out kicks.

I had tickets in Cincinnati a few years ago, but college finals nailed me. I hope he comes back to Cleveland sometime soon.

As for whether or not it should be posted on this site, I'm torn. While I'm glad it is, since work still let's me into this site and I don't go anywhere else for show reviews, I see everyone's point. You could make a case that he does what he wants and he rocks, he's certainly as punk or more than Weezer.

Painaxl

rightcliqificus (January 23, 2003)

um.. somebody below said that the goo goo dolls used to be punk.. i hope your skin falls off right as you're reading this. i hope that was a joke or sarcasm or something. anybody who would call what goo goo dolls are/were punk deserves to die. the used to have a heavier sound, yes, but that does not make them punk. do i have to put on another lesson about punk? hopefully not. fast drum beats and a pissed off singer don't make punk. sorry.

Anonymous (January 22, 2003)

ben folds is a brilliant piano player and musician, regardless of what genre of music he plays.

TJmoney (January 21, 2003)

that duncan sheik song is called "barely breathing" it's on the Publix playlist. Publix = the store I work at so I hear the song just about every time I work.

Anonymous (January 21, 2003)

old ben folds five stuff sure as hell should be called punk.

the guy is an amazing performer. and yes he played each instrument on the rockin' the suburbs album.

burstandbloom (January 21, 2003)

Is it just me or does the new AFI single remind anyone else of Saves the day's "stay what you are" album?

Ben Folds is freakin awesome. I'd say that having a radio single about going through with an abortion is a pretty "punk" thing to do. But it doesn't really matter, punk or not, his shit is gold.

Anonymous (January 21, 2003)

well ~inagreendase if you didnt know the goo goo dolls use to be punk.

douche.

Anonymous (January 21, 2003)

while you're at it, i was wondering when are we gonna get a review of the barenaked ladies/goo goo dolls concert because apparently anything can be classified as punk from some sort-of fucked up angle

~inagreendase

rightcliqificus (January 21, 2003)

i hope this is a joke.

CallingLondon (January 20, 2003)

i heard a new afi song. it wasn't too far off to be honest. not that it was bad, but i was thinking "hmm...some new pop-punk band with a girl singer"

Anonymous (January 20, 2003)

Maybe his name should be Ben Blows! AHAHA.

Anonymous (January 20, 2003)

for that guy who said where is thea new AFI cd, i hope it sounds like ben folds just to piss you off.

good day to your sir.

CallingLondon (January 20, 2003)

no, all his stuff is not accoustic now. he has plenty of plugged in full band stuff.