WCU’s Student Activities Council (SAC) brought the University Ben Folds as the major concert of the semester. Ben Folds played at Hollinger Gym on Thursday, April 12 to a roaring crowd of enthusiastic students. As Ben Folds stood on the grand piano on stage, his arms cut through the air like a conductor in an Elvis Costello costume. He split the audience in two leading each side in a whirling, orgy of syncopated screams and trills.
Like a mad scientist possessed, Folds literally held the entire crowd at Hollinger gym on Friday in the palm of his hand, moving their voices with his fingertips and pulling rhythm and sound from the mouths of his fans as if they were grapes from a vine. And this wasn’t even the finale.
Playing to a fairly packed house (as far as West Chester University’s gymnasium is concerned) Ben Folds and his touring band consisting of a drummer and bassist, took the stage and seriously – sometimes hilariously – rocked the sea of student faces in front of them. Never too cool to give the crowd his hits but also a true recording artist, Folds played a healthy mix of new material and classical tunes. From his catchy ‘Emaline’ to an incredible cover of Dr. Dre’s ‘Bitches Ain’t Shit’ you never knew what was coming next.
Ben Folds blew away the audience with the incredible joining of a piano, drums and bass. All three performers must have shotgunned Red Bull’s before going on because not only were they completely on point, but everything they played was delivered with the angst of Kurt Cobain and eerie cool of Mr. Costello.
However, the best part of this band was their ability to simply jam. Their extended renditions of just about every song made this not just a college tour show where you get the hits, it was a legitimate concert experience.
The band also covered The Postal Service. Even though Folds was continuing the synth for a good amount of the jams, when audience members heard the beginning of ‘Such Great Heights,’ they erupted.
The musicianship of the band was inspiring. It continued through ‘Army’ to ‘Kate’ and ‘Annie Waits,’ all songs that have the ability to make your day but are guaranteed to make your night when seen live.
Ben Folds went solo in 2001 with the album, “Rockin’ the Suburbs.” His last release was “Supersunny-speedgraphic” in Oct., 2006. His former band, Ben Folds Five, released their first album, a self-titled release, in 1995.
The tour will take Ben Folds to other college campuses until the summer when he joins John Mayer’s tour across major cities. He and Mayer will be playing the Tweeter Waterfront on Jul. 20.