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| Ben Folds / Duncan Sheiklive in New York City2002 live show  Review by: Pat See others by this writer Only registered users can post comments 
 
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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Ben Folds flat out kicks. 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. ben folds is a brilliant piano player and musician, regardless of what genre of music he plays. 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. old ben folds five stuff sure as hell should be called punk. Is it just me or does the new AFI single remind anyone else of Saves the day's "stay what you are" album? well ~inagreendase if you didnt know the goo goo dolls use to be punk. 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 i hope this is a joke. 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" Maybe his name should be Ben Blows! AHAHA. for that guy who said where is thea new AFI cd, i hope it sounds like ben folds just to piss you off. no, all his stuff is not accoustic now. he has plenty of plugged in full band stuff. Its really not that different, some songs have guitar, which is different from the piano/bass/drum line up of old. If anything its more dynamic. This shit aint punk. Fuckin pussy music. Fuckin pussies runnin this site. Fuckin. Where the new fuckin afi record? Annnnnnaaarccchhyyy. how come he went solo, is all of his stuff acoustic now? Ben Folds is really really great. He always plays 21 up here, so in 6 months I'll finally be able to see him live. Punk or not, whatever. He is a truly great musician. hey, I liked that song "brick". that makes me punk :) i haven't decided whether or not to classify this as uh...no ben folds is not punk. i'm a fan of his and have no problem with it being posted here, but what ben folds does is not punk. it's just rock. to answer the question of what's so great about him it's this: he's a good songwriter. yes, it is mostly him and his piano. that's his primary instrument for song writing and performing much like most of your favorite artists primary instrument is guitar, but his albums are not only him and piano in the least. many of his songs include a full band. He really does know how to rock. he's not just some stupid ballad writer, and he's actually a good songwriter. something that not every artist is. Thank you Catpain, I appreciate it. At the Detroit stop, Duncan did play that song you refer to, Wuss. two things. Brandon I want my Ben Folds CD's back or I'll mutilate you. did he play that 'zak and sara' song...? i like that one. brandon always plays it in the van- everyone makes fun of him for liking ben folds... but the way i see it is.. you gota stick to your guns.. and thats why brandon is cool. cause despite what dan or whoever say about sappy ben folds.. brandon will always play that cd.. if he can find that is and if its not too scratched up. if you cover ben and duncan you should do a review on aimee man she is 100 times better than those two dudes. Ben Folds owns. Thats all there is to it. He is a wizard on the piano. I've been lucky enough to see him 3 times in the past year, and I would have to say he is the absolute best live act around, even if you know none of his songs. The first time I went earlier this year (March at the Michigan Theater) I had never heard anything by him except for Brick. Ever since then I have been hooked. He definitely leads the league in creativity. Music needs more minds like Ben Folds. and by "brickhouse", i'm assuming you mean "brick" Eh...didn't like his song "Rockin' The Suburbs" although, the video was pretty damn funny. hey drewcifer, I think it would help if he was making bombs and drowning babies on stage. melvyl, your just a douche bag with a keyboard. haha, if your biggest problem in your life is ben folds having a review on punknews.org....well, i want your life Or maybe it's just because "punk" means absolutely nothing. if u dont call what ben folds does punk, then you really dont know punk. explain why this review is on PUNKnews.org but hey it was pretty good even tho there not a punk band or did he go solo, i dont no would it help if he was defusing bombs and saving drowning babies while merely singing and playing piano? i never got this. could someone please tell me what's so good about ben folds? If any one of you fucks with Ben Folds, you have to answer to me. |
