Thursday, February 12, 1998
Group not your typical rock stars
MUSIC: After four years, the three members of ‘Ben Folds Five’
hit it big
By Trinh Bui
Daily Bruin Contributor
A few years ago an unknown trio from Chapel Hill, N.C., played
an unmemorable and under-appreciated opening slot at The Roxy on
Sunset Boulevard. Like most independent bands, Ben Folds Five
worked long and hard at their craft, hoping for a chance to break
into the mainstream.
For Ben Folds Five, four years of touring and recording finally
paid off with radio hit "Brick," the tragic abortion ballad that
has caught the attention of many ears. Returning to Los Angeles,
the trio is riding a wave of success that has pushed the band up
from an obscure college band into the spotlights’ of the sold-out
(but isn’t it always) Palace in Hollywood Sunday night.
With a recently certified gold album for the Billboard fave,
"Whatever and Ever Amen," tucked under their belts, vocalist Ben
Folds, bassist Rob Sledge and drummer Darren Jessee put on a wild
and loose performance for their loyal Los Angeles fans. A show
filled with improvisational numbers and Southern-tinged
showmanship, Five’s members showed what years of touring has taught
them.
The guitar-less band, led by talented pianist Folds, would be
unlikely to come across as rock stars. Folds walked on stage
wearing a mundane button down shirt and khaki pants, looking more
like an accountant than a member of a hip band. But underneath the
geeky facade, Folds and company carried a wry sense of humor that
influences most of their songs.
Their unmistakable wit surfaced early in the show with "Battle
of Who Could Care Less," the first single off of "Amen." The song
featured everything that Ben Folds Five is good at: tongue-in-cheek
lyrics, beautiful melodies and textured arrangements centering on
the piano. Folds strokes the ivory with the acumen of a classical
pianist trapped in the soul of a heavy metal guitarist. Not to be
mistaken for a younger Billy Joel, Folds displayed some bad-boy
rocker mentality by occasionally throwing his seat against the
piano keys.
Never a by-the-numbers production, the Five frequently threw
together clever impromptu lead-ins to songs that took advantage of
their on-the-spot chemistry. It became clear that on-stage impulses
rather than a written set list dictated the night.
The musical mayhem continued with songs that couldn’t help but
trigger images of absolute nonsense and high school nerdiness.
"Steven’s Last Night in Town" exemplifies the feeling with a
drawn-out jam, including heavy bass reverb provided by Sledge,
Jesse’s relentless percussions, and frenetic piano riffs (all
capped off with Folds posing like Elvis on top of his piano).
Things cooled down with "Brick," the only serious song of the
evening. A touching tale chronicling the travails of a couple after
an abortion and its effect on their relationship, Ben Folds Five’s
ability to smoothly transgress from mood to mood illustrates its
gifted musicianship.
The band immediately launched into three songs from their
recently released compilation "Naked Baby Photos," capturing the
catchy hooks, melodies and upbeat chorus of a younger Ben Folds
Five. "Jackson Cannery" stood out among the three tunes, combining
Beatles-esque pop and middle-class ideals into a sunny opus to good
living.
The in-between song banter was equally as amusing as the songs.
It was like listening to a close friend retelling anecdotes laced
with lots of swearing and deadpan. It wouldn’t be an authentic Ben
Folds Five concert without the quintessential break-up favorite,
"Song for the Dumped." A humorous ego-booster, "Dumped," taps into
the immediate anger and frustration of being dropped. Folds vocals
nab the urgent need to totally insult and humiliate the ex with low
brow ranting. Ben Folds Five concluded the show with its first hit,
"Underground," a song about pretty girl crushes and awkward
adolescence set to an addictive beat reminiscent of barbershop
music.
After some encouragement from the crowd, Ben Folds Five retook
the stage for the greatest encore ever seen at the Palace. Folds
paid homage to old school heavy metal and improvised a hilarious
rap showcasing his on-the-fly creativity.
Folds freestyled for six minutes, incorporating Snoop Dogg-ish
lyrics and metal banging, closing with Folds atop the speakers
slamming his seat for the final time at his piano.
These guys showed up with more spunk than any popular ska band
and made it hard to forget what they were all bout – having fun and
letting it all hang out.
Sony Music
(Left to right) Rob Sledge, Darren Jessee and Ben Folds are Ben
Folds Five.