Ben Folds thrashed the stuff out of his Yamaha, banging out
rhythms without remorse. Showing complete command of the piano,
Folds schooled a crowd of over 3,000 in how he can rock the suburbs
and Midtown.

Ben Folds rocked the Simon Recreation Center on Oct. 8, the apex
of the Homecoming week activities and a crowning achievement for
the Student Activities Board.

“My mom and I rocked out the entire time. People kept staring,”
said freshman concert-goer Carly Caminiti. “But how could you not
want to shake it with a pianist like that?”

The concert began ill-fated with the change in location from the
Laclede Astroturf to the Simon Recreation Center, but it turned out
to be a good show apart from the blistering heat and awkward
set-up.

Ben Lee opened the show with a perfectly brief set, which failed
to incite the crowd to much more enthusiasm than a group of
youngsters being force-fed Vegemite.

Lee’s awkward stage presence didn’t generate much respect from
the crowd, though the audience appreciated his affability at the
merchandise table.

Lee played a mellow set that got the crowd ready for the other
Ben’s dynamic performance. Ben Lee played an ode to The Yeah Yeah
Yeahs and a superb cover of Modest Mouse’s “Float On.” He ended the
unimposing set with his own tune reminiscent of Coldplay, “We’re
All in This Together.”

Ben Folds was slated to take the stage at 9:15 p.m. He didn’t.
The second presidential debates took precedence over a collected
population of adoring fans. But he’s a giant nerd, so everyone
understood.

Oh well.

An avid throng in front of the stage stood resolutely in front
of their idol while music saturated the gym.

Those preoccupied with the beer table and the tap of the current
keg milled around the gym. People were dancing, rocking out and
making out all over the gym.

Folds’ mellisonant tones revived the crowd after Ben Lee’s
pallid performance. The crowd was completely enthralled with the
sound of Ben’s angry yet bitingly truthful lyrics, surging forward
to hear the next crash of hammers on strings and sticks on
skins.

His brand of ironic, melody ridden pop songs made for an
interesting concert experience for a generation who grew up on the
unadulterated guitar sound of Nirvana and Dave Matthews Band.

Folds started out solo, taking the stage unassumingly to a
thunderous yell from the crowd, and immediately started ripping the
piano a new one.

Folds played a few tracks from his forthcoming album, including
“Annie Walker” and a promising “dirty Broadway number” about a
crack-smoking stock broker. The new album will be finished in two
weeks, but in the meantime, fans can buy $8 EPs.

After playing a few songs, Folds commented on the acoustics of
the rec center saying, “I’ve played a lot of gymnasiums… and this
is by far the best-sounding gym.”

Jared Reynolds and Lindsey Jamieson joined Folds on stage,
playing the bass and drums respectively, which revolutionized the
whole show, because, believe it or not, piano isn’t the most
exciting instrument in the world.

The set list included all the Ben Folds classics, “Carrying
Cathy,” “Zak and Sara,” “Rockin’ the Suburbs,” “My Philosophy” and
the incomparable “Army.”

“Army” was killer live; Folds’ added a little political plug to
the anthem: “In this time of introspection, on the eve of John
Kerry’s election…”

Folds played far too many new songs and not enough of his
classics. A few glaring omissions on his part were “Annie Waits”
and “The Luckiest.”

“Brick” was undoubtedly the best song of the night, whether
drunk or sober.

The crowd sung along, everyone whipped out their cell phones and
waved them to the beat, letting mom or ex-boyfriend number three
hear the timeless, angst-ridden, almost love song.

What was supposed to be a 75-minute set turned into an
hour-and-35 minute show that sent the audience floating off into
the night on a concert high.

Two Bens, good music and being crammed next to a random dude
sweating profusely, what more could you want from a free
concert?