September 10, 2006
Ben Folds rocked the Opera House
One of the scary side of working in the city is the overly convenient bars and pubs around town and excessive drinking. That's exactly what happened to me since last Wednesday, every night after work, drinking and late nights....scary. But is all good, nothing better than hanging out with friends, chatting over a glass of gin and tonic, or vodka and coke, take your pick.
Anyway, I was sooooo lucky to get the chance to see Ben Folds rocking the Opera House down last friday night. Liz from flickr was kindly enough offering her spare ticket to me, so we both rocked up at Opera House and ready for a great night. I have to say I haven't follow Ben Folds music for a long time since he went solo, after breaking up from his former Ben Folds Five band. I used to like Ben Folds Five alot, their songs are always fun and cheeky. So I was expecting a great night at the opera house, not to mention a great excuse for me to check out the concert hall, it was my first time.
Ben showed up on stage geekily wearing a navy blue shirt, and his dorky black framed glasses, then straight into playing his first song. During the first half, I don't know many of the songs that he played, but they were great nonetheless. Ben Folds also a very funny guy, and really got the audience into the mood, singing along with him. Then Ben Folds also asked for audience participation and split the hall in half, one part of Bass and another part of Tenor, and we had so much fun singing along with him. It was brilliant. Along the show, the songs getting older, from his first album with the band, and that's when the party started. Everyone suddenly can relate to the songs like 'Steven's last night in town', 'Brick', etc. Ben Folds totally rocked the house down, and walked out the stage with standing ovation from the crowd.
The night didn't end there, me and Liz caught up with Ben and Paul at 34B, for more Burlesque, strippers, jesus and nuns, it was a chaos in there. Afterwards, we embraced the night with great company and stimulating conversation. Then it was 3am before we called it a night....
Ben Folds Rocks!!
I too was lucky enough to see Ben live in the Opera House on the 7th of September and all I can say is that it was fricken BRILLIANT! What a performer. I have followed him and his music for the majority of my life and I consider myself a pretty loyal fan. I can really relate to all of his music and listening to his music has helped me get through a lot of stuff.
The best perfomance of the night was when he did a remake of his famous impromptu song 'Rock this Bitch'. This time there was a twist after hearing an audience member yell out Steve Irwin he wrote on 'stage' (not having planned it at all) Rock this bitch for Steve Irwin. It wasn't a mushy eulogy or anything and he said he didnt wanna do that for some guy he didnt know but instead he wrote a version that just put it simply that he was important guy who saved a lot of stuff in the world. At one point he said that if all the politicans and musicians saved half as much stuff as he did then we'd be sad when they went too.
This is what I find so amazing about Ben is that he has such a simple and artist way of looking at life and this is why he can write awesome songs that we relate to.
Having seen him for the first time in my life was an amazing experience and I recomend anyone who wants to listen to a pure musical genius, then go and see Ben Folds.
Rock on and stay cool Ben.
Steph