Last night I went to see Ben Folds Five with my friend Emily.
They were playing at The Tabernacle, which is an old church and one of my favorite venues.
I’ve seen Ben Folds solo before, but never with the whole band, who apparently just got back together after a 12 or 13 year hiatus. They played for about two hours – mostly a combination of songs from their new album and really old stuff from Whenever and Ever Amen (the one with Brick, which they did play) and some other songs from their other albums that came out in the late 90s.
It was fun and they were good, but I have to say that I like Ben Folds’ solo material better. Aside from Landed, they didn’t play any of his solo stuff. That’s a shame because Rocking the Suburbs is one of my all-time favorites (title track not withstanding). Nevertheless, it was a fun show and I was reminded, as I am every time that I go to a concert, especially in a small venue, that I really like going to see live music and that I need to do it more often.
The show ended around 11 and after walking back to the car and dropping Emily off, I didn’t get home until midnight and didn’t get to bed until probably 12:30. That’s the one bad thing about concerts; they always mess with my sleep!
What’s the last concert you went to?
I am SO jealous!! Ben Folds is my favorite singer of all time. I’ve only ever seen him solo – did you see him play at the 9:30 club for the “Ben Folds and a Piano” tour? Man… Rockin’ the Suburbs is SO good. I need to break it out and just listen to the whole thing over and over again. I like Ben Folds 5 too (Whatever and Ever Amen is the best, IMO) – but nothing beats his solo stuff.
I need to go see him again!
The last concert I went to was Colin Hay (the singer from Men at Work- we see him every year when he comes to town). I love him. But man, I used to go to a concert every other weekend when I was in college- now it’s like once or twice a year. Sad.
I saw him in Atlanta, maybe 3 years ago? It was when that You Don’t Know Me song with Regina Spektor had just gotten sort of popular.
Ooh, I love Colin Hay’s “Beautiful World,” “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You,” and “Waiting for My Real Life To Begin”! Good stuff.
I love Ben Folds! that is too bad he didn’t do more solo stuff though. I always wonder why I don’t see more live music after every show I see.
Last one for me was recent – Indigo Girls at the Botanicals last Friday. It rocked.
I saw my first concert at the Tabernacle! The Strokes in 2002. Good times.
I love live music! I think the last show I saw was Band of Horses/My Morning Jacket in August.
I’m seeing Ben Folds this Sunday night in Dallas, but hadn’t even noticed it was Five and not solo! I’ve seen Ben Folds solo before so this will be interesting to compare.
I’m so jealous! Apparently they are playing at the NY Comic Con that Tony is attending in October and I’m not going then either! I don’t remember the last concert I went to…it may have been to see John Mayer at The Tabernacle. I personally am not a fan, but I went with a friend of mine that LOVES him. The things we will do for our friends…
I’m so sad I didn’t know about this! Since we just moved down here to Atlanta I’m a little out of sorts and not on my game.
I used to be obsessed with him. Rocking the Suburbs is by far one of my favorite albums ever, yet I have a hard time listening to it since it’s so haunting. Funny, b/c the only song I’m not in love with on that album is the title song hehe. Glad you got to make it to the concert though!