Ben Folds - It's all over

Immediately after the gig Ben's road crew take the rig down.

I sit here in my little house, with my ears still ringing with the beautiful noise created by Ben Folds and his tiny 3-piece band. It's been a tiring trip, but one that I have very much enjoyed. The chat on the way down and up was rarely boring and the music was sublime.

Piano, bass and drums don't often sound this good or, indeed, this loud. That said, my ears didn't hurt once in the entire show so it couldn't have been too loud really. Ben's tiny frame was a picture of enthusiasm and energy for the full 90 minute show - he stayed on stage the whole time.

All of this to a backdrop of committed fans who really did know all the words. Ben seems to attract young and old into his fold, and there was a good representation from most age groups there. Ben sings emotionally, with large crescendos from very quiet passages a common motif in his music. Nor was it all samey and predictable - not by a long shot.

His humour was apparent throughout, right from the playing of Europe's "The Final Countdown" at the start. He teased us with his little synthesiser and did unmentionable things to his very tasty grand piano, ending up by despatching his piano stool at the keyboard from about ten feet away. I actually winced on behalf of the piano.

I feel a bit guilty that I am not a better Ben Folds fan, but I certainly enjoyed what I heard. All three of them sang perfectly tuned harmonies to many of the songs, making the sound fuller and more impressive. At one point, all three of them were singing and Ben was playing synth and piano at the same time - a sound which would leave some bands needing seven people.

It was also clear that Ben's passion for the music enabled him to allow himself a few bum notes in the great and noble cause of "really going for it". Amen to that. Nevertheless,I shall be practising a few of his tunes on the quiet to see if I can get close to what he plays. Don't be misled by that comment, he is a very gifted keyboard player indeed. I'll be lucky if I can make my renditions just sound slightly like him.

Thanks to all of my fellow travellers for putting up with my lewd double-entendres for the entire afternoon and evening. It was a lovely, and we were the luckiest.

Comments

[Jason]

What a superb gig - I was absolutely delighted. Great performances of great songs. And the long drive was made all the more fun by the delightful company - good singing folks, even though I missed several turns through my inattentiveness. Sorry to those of you who this annoyed! We are groupies, aren't we?