A long line of college students, shivering in the brisk October night, extends from the closed doors of the Rec Center, snaking its way to University Avenue. The air is full of disgruntled mumblings to the effect, "I can't believe I had to pay 10 bucks for this and they make me wait outside." It can only be one thing: you guessed it, Sunday night's Ben Folds and Duncan Sheik concert.
Having had to wait an hour longer than expected and feeling thoroughly chilled as a result, the initial complaints of the crowd were to be expected. Or perhaps it was just the idea of sitting through a set of Duncan Sheik. Though Sheik has had widespread success in recent years with hit singles like "Barely Breathing," without the benefits of a studio and full band, his songs leave much to be desired.
Sheik strutted onto the stage accompanied only by a bassist. After briefly greeting the crowd, Sheik started into his first song "Drugged Out," a slow-moving and painfully repetitive song that had heads bobbing, not in enjoyment, but slumber. Strangely, as if aware of that his songs would not exactly get a crowd going, following "Drugged Out" Sheik encouraged the crowd to sit down.
Sheik continued with his set, playing to a half sitting, half standing crowed. Following another stereotypical "emotional college rock" song, Sheik retreated to the more familiar grounds of pop.
With the exception of "Barely Breathing," the only real crowd pleaser of his set, Sheik filled the remaining time playing songs off of his latest release Daylight.
Having endured the opening act, and offered the obligatory "I heard they could have got Dispatch to open" comment, the crowd began to energize in anticipation of the main act, Ben Folds. They would not be disappointed.
Following his act Sheik migrated from the stage to the merchandise desk, affording time for a distraught team of roadies to wheel a large, black, grand piano to center stage. Folds emerged a short time later, prompting a roar from the crowd which resonated throughout the whole building.
Upon offering a brief "How ya guys doin," Folds tore into his opener, "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces." The song's explosive energy, hard-pounding chords and great solos were just what the crowd needed. Folds spent little time sitting during his first couple of songs, being thrust to his feet by the intensity and feeling with which he was playing.
Bringing things down a little after his first three songs, Folds prefaced the fourth, "Silver Street," with the first of several funny anecdotes that he offered throughout the night. "I didn't finish anything in college ? this song ? music theory ? western civ." Although not as upbeat as the previous songs, "Silver Street" had a great, soft, jazzy intro and wonderful bridges which showcased Folds technical ability, and kept the song interesting at every turn.
Folds really worked the audience into a fever of excitement and dancing with the much beloved "Philosophy," followed by a Skynyrd inspired "Sweet Home Johns Hopkins," sung in a comically high-pitched voice. This was followed by a series of slower, expertly played piano ballads, wrought with unique build-ups and break-downs that had fans asking, "How does he do that?"
The mood picked back up with the 14th song of the set,"Army." Like many of the songs of the night, "Army"had the crowd cheerfully clapping along and singing at any chance Ben would offer.
The highlight of the set's finish was a great rendition of "Stephen's Last Night," from which Folds broke into a solo drum jam on a set of drums that was assembled by roadies while he was playing them.
After closing the set with "Not The Same," Folds left the stage, but it was fairly obvious that the crowd would not let him get away without an encore. The audience chants of "Ben" were quickly answered as Folds reappeared on stage with a fresh towel, a new bottle of water and an intention to give the crowd what it wanted.
Following a beautiful playing of "The Luckiest," "a love song to the couple who requested it," Folds played two more songs with a softer feel, "Emaline" and "Jane." Folds closed with "Song for the Dumped," playing it differently than in the past in a minor chord. Folds led up to the song with a hilarious story of his high school study hall antics, and an accompanying rap, assuming the identity "Shortbus Ben." The audience loved the story almost as much as they loved screaming out the chorus of the final song, "give me my money back, YOU BITCH!"
Folds ended the song and jumped atop his piano with arms outstretched, thanking the audience and bidding them farewell. From the hordes of college students, to the jeans-and-button-downs thirty-something professionals, to the one lonely hippie twirling gleefully in the middle of the floor, by the end of the show, not a face was seen without a smile.
