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Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation.
He's created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records. His last album was a blend of pop songs and his Concerto for Piano and Orchestra that soared to #1 on both the Billboard classical and classical crossover charts.
For over a decade he's performed with some of the world's greatest symphony orchestras, and currently serves as the first ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.
Folds released his first book - a collection of interrelated essays, anecdotes and lessons about art, life and music - in 2019, which debuted as a New York Times Best Seller, and is currently hosting a podcast series spinoff of his book entitled "Lightning Bugs: Conversations with Ben Folds." In addition to solo rock and orchestral touring, he's also developing a new unscripted tv series with Fred Rogers Productions, continues to appear in various film/tv guest starring roles, and is working on two new albums.
An avid photographer, Folds is also a member of the prestigious Sony Artisans of Imagery, has worked as an assignment photo editor for National Geographic, and was featured in a mini-documentary by the Kennedy Center's Digital Project on his photographic work.
An outspoken champion for arts education and music therapy funding in our nation's public schools, has served for over five years as an active member of the distinguished Artist Committee of Americans For The Arts (AFTA), and serves on the Board of AFTA's Arts Action Fund. He also served as Chairman of the Arts Action Fund's ArtsVote2020 national initiative that encouraged voter engagement in the 2020 US elections, and continually advocates for improving public policies for the arts and arts education.
Set 1:
Intermission
Encore
Encore
Encore
The show last night blew my mind. I sat in the choir loft and the view was great. Ben was dynamic, and I thought the symphony arrangements were wonderful. One of the best shows I've seen.
This was such an unforgettable concert! Ben Folds with the symphony was epic.
My daughter and I are HUGE Ben Folds fans and have been to many of his live shows in NC. This show stands out as one of the best we've ever been to. Having the symphony play his music was really beautiful and Meymandi is a gorgeous place to listen to music. We loved every minute of it last night and hope he comes back to play there again. We love you Ben!
The first concert I ever saw was in when I was in 9th grade, Deep Purple in about 1972. Loving Ben Folds music I went to his concert my first concert since 1982(WHO and Clash, Shea Sadium). Amazingly WEIRD. I think that the NC Orchestra (they played with Ben) added amazing sonic vibes. Their formality and the ambience of the theater froze the Ben Folds fans in the audience into an uncertain stupor. Now, I haven't ben to a concert since 1982, never have I been to a concert where the audience was so quiet, polite, behaved, seated and most criminal of all, no pot smoke. Ben Folds was out-frigging- standing. With the Orchestra or as in the last encore, solo he rocked or tried very hard. I have a feeling that mr.Ben was more than aware about the audiences trepidation. He did, vastly sucessfully;WORK at gettting the audience involved in the show and out of the intimidation that the concert hall radiated. BOTTOM LINE- I'd go again, and again, and again, ad neuseum.
Awesome night at Meymandi! We had box seats with a great view. The sound could have been better, otherwise four star night!
Show was great because it was with the NC Symphony Orchestra. The only negative thing I can say is that I wished the acoustics were a little better. When Ben spoke to the audience it was hard to make out what he was saying at times (even some of the lyrics were hard to hear). Overall good show, but it could have been a little better.
The show was great. The vocal/audio control was a little off for the first two songs, but perfect after that. The venue was great. We were 12 rows off the stage in the center section with aisle seats. This put us slightly above the stage with a great view of it. My only complaint is with the venue's box office. I called yesterday morning to verify the start time and they told me doors at 7, show at 8. We were seated at 7:20 and Ben came on at 7:32. The hall was only half full. By 8 the hall was almost completely full. Not a big deal, but it was a little distracting with people walking in.
just plain spectacular. arrangements were thoughtful and memorable.
Ben Folds tickled, stroked, cajoled and pounded the Steinway grand into submission. Orchestration was gorgeous and in keeping with his work, even with the 'rockers.'
This concert was fantastic! We really enjoyed the interplay between Ben and the orchestra. I feel like sometimes the orchestra was dragging tempo a bit more than Ben would have preferred, but it still worked. :)
Absolutely amazing concert. Like another commenter said, if I could follow him around the country, I would....
Ben Folds is awesome! It was the 3rd time I've seen him live & he keeps getting better. I've been an avid concert goer for 27 years, and no show is as interractive as Ben Folds.
My first time to see Ben Folds in person...he is so talented and his impromptu skit with Skype was hilarious! Went with a group of ten people and we all had a blast! Will definitely go next time he is in the area.
Awesome show! If you like Folds, be sure not to miss him live.
A very good show. A must see for Ben Folds fans. He constructed a tidy setlist with a nice mixture of new songs & old classics. Even played some brand spankin' new ones that will be released on a collaboration with a film-maker, Nick Hornby (High Fidelity). Chatroulette was a funny twist to the evening, but because of the technical difficulties, it went a little long for me. Ben Folds never lets you down. Very engaging onstage. Great songs. Great sense of humor. All in all, a very good show.
Mr. Folds is an amazing artist, creative genius and a consumate performer! Every time we see him in concert, the show is as good as the anticipation- Our entire family, (my husband and myself, our 18 year old daughter and 23 year old son) enjoy his music and his showmanship.
Ben totally rocks, he just keeps getting better and better!! GO SEE THIS SHOW!!
Amazing show and innovative! Used a MAC to interact in real time on chatroulette and it was HILARIOUS! Definitely go see his show
By far, this was one of the most creative concerts I've ever seen. Who would have thought just one guy playing a piano could be so much fun?!?
It takes a lotta balls to step onto the stage with just your voice and a piano (and a laptop). It was a great show, lots of fun interaction between Ben and the crowd. I now know that I'm not the only one who knows all of his lyrics. Good Stuff!
