Touring in support of his first solo record, Rockin’ the Suburbs, Ben Folds took New York City by storm on January 9. Originally scheduled to finish touring the United States several months earlier, Folds contracted pneumonia and was forced to reschedule the last few dates of his hectic multicontinent tour campaign to accommodate his unanticipated illness. Best known for his work with the quirky trio, Ben Folds Five, the piano playing Folds has nevertheless created quite a name for himself as a critically acclaimed solo artist.
Assembling Ben Folds Five in 1993, pianist/singer Ben Folds and long time buddies Robert Sledge (bass) and Darren Jessee (drums) quickly gained a cult following in their oft-mentioned hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Unique in their noticeable absence of a guitar player, Folds compensated by using his baby-grand piano to pump out the main rhythm for the group while Sledge’s discordant bass riffs and Jessee’s aggressive drum play created a distinct sound for the group. Releasing four tremendous albums before calling it quits in 2000, the group temporarily flirted with stardom following the release of their hit single, “Brick,” a song which helped catapult Whatever and Ever Amen to unexpected platinum status.
Releasing Rockin’ the Suburbs in September 2001, Folds wasted no time before quickly launching a full-scale tour to support the new record. The Ben Folds and a Piano tour hit Philadelphia in June 2002. Exceeding every one of my admittedly high expectations, Folds put on a show that absolutely blew me away. His raw energy, humor, and unparalleled stage presence were simply top notch and despite my original reluctance to embrace the new Folds as a solo artist following the breakup of Ben Folds Five, his performance quickly quelled my apprehension.
Eagerly awaiting my next chance to see him playing live, I snapped at the opportunity to catch him in New York City over winter break. Playing the Beacon Theater, a venue more suited for a Broadway show than a musical concert, Folds invited good friend and talented singer Duncan Sheik to open for him.
It’s always interesting to note the diversity of the crowd at one of Folds’ shows and the evening of January 9 was no exception. An eclectic mix of fans of all ages eagerly packed the large theater to near capacity. Whereas a normal concert venue would be standing room only, the Beacon Theater unfortunately had assigned seating.
Hopeful that the crowd would collectively rise to their feet when Folds stepped on stage, I was greatly disappointed to find that most remained complacently seated the whole time. The mostly “older” audience seemed content to enjoy the music from their seats, making it rather uncomfortable for those who wanted to physically express their enjoyment brought on by the show.
