Piano as percussion instrument
by goodnightnurse on 4/11/10Hershey Theatre - HersheyRating: 5 out of 5Saw Ben in Hershey, PA last night. What an amazing experience. I laughed, cried and shivered by turns. Having listened for just a couple of years, I'm relatively new to Ben's orbit. That gave the vaguely uncomfortable, but deliciously outsider sense of "not quite getting the joke". It's obvious he's got a devoted fan base and the entire spectrum was represented with a heavy accent on geekdom. I'm quite sure that particular piano never produced such sounds in its life as came out of it last night. I saw Warren Zevon and a piano at the Forum in Harrisburg, PA in the early '80's, This was certainly on par, perhaps even better, given the intervening years have allowed me a much deeper appreciation of the artistry required. Ben pummeled his hands bloody for our benefit. His opening act was a delightful surprise too. Kate Miller-Heidke is possessed of a truly alien set of pipes and her accompanist played the guitar, "like ringing a bell" to nick Chuck Berry.
