Campus Connection

For new and old fans alike, the 44-year old piano rocker Ben Folds and his accompanying band didn’t disappoint, executing an energetic, 90-minute performance at Rams Head in Baltimore on February 12. Remarkably, the crowd was very eclectic, with fans ranging from giddy high schoolers to middle aged couples.

After a decent 30-minute opening by the group The Miniature Tigers, the main act started off on an unusual note. Folds introduced Treble in Paradise, a women’s a cappella ensemble from American University with whom he’s been collaborating.  The group sang three numbers: Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby,”   “Hey Ya” by Outkast, and Ben Folds’ own “Zac and Sara.” Though the group sang well enough, the first two songs seemed extremely out of place and felt like a bad inside joke.

Aside from this awkward interlude, the rest of the night went smoothly. Folds is notorious for surprises, and last night was no exception.  Rather than simply plug his new album like most artists, Folds played several farcical pieces that he himself posted on the internet as a fake “leak” of his latest album “Way To Normal,” songs with different lyrics but the same titles as real songs on the album. For example, the alternative version of “The Bitch Went Nuts” is about a conservative lawyer who brings a girl he barely knows to meet and impress his bosses, only to find out she was “some crazy Jane [expletive] Fonda” who curses Dick Cheney and pukes on the floor.  This is a stark contrast to the real version which, much more predictably, describes the wrath of a woman scorned.

Another surprise for the audience was Folds’ musical ingenuity. In addition to making maracas cool again, Folds revealed that the metallic sounds in the song “Free Coffee” are made from tins of Altoid mints suspended on the strings of his piano. 

Folds’ main appeal, however, is pretty basic: he writes meaningful lyrics and is a beast of a pianist.  It’s no surprise that he shone the most last night through lively renditions of three heartfelt classics: “Army,” “Philosophy,” and “Annie Waits.” His style is an intriguing blend of classical arpeggios, fifties pop, and jazz progressions.  His candid and sometimes profanity-filled lyrics are a mixture of melancholy and satire. He talks about personal struggles such as leaving a bad relationship or watching his daughter grow up and playfully mocks pretentious suburbanites in the same breath.

Getting the opportunity to see Ben Folds perform was the highlight of my week; getting to meet him briefly after the show was icing on the cake (photo evidence provided). Even though he is a bona fide rock star,  he seemed humbled by his fans’ praise and personally acknowledged everyone that endured the cold just to shake his hand.  Ben Folds, I’ve concluded, is a true class act.

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