153 -- Ben Folds -- Monday, April 28, 2014 -- George Washington University, Lisner Auditorium -- DC

Psyched to unexpectedly see Meghan Rose O’Neill at the start of the show!  Live commentary on the performance below…

--- He continually apologizes for telling stories…when the stories make every song better!  We learn that he’s spent the last year writing a full piano movement, he spent his first year in DC opening for a dinosaur band, 73-year-old Burt Bacharach and his 2-year-old kid were the last people standing during an all-night-party, “One Down and 3.6 to Go” referred to having 4.6 required songs left on Ben’s recording contract, Ben does a spot-on Paul Schaeffer impression, and he dedicated “Best Imitation of Myself” to Stephen Colbert!
   
--- Who knew Ben Folds had a song covered by Bette Midler?!  “I wrote ‘Boxer’ as a wimpy rebellion song against my publisher.”  The best song so far, especially the pounding part.

--- Ben’s “Denny’s” dad informed him that the surest way to tell if someone’s working class is a loose collar and a thick wallet. 

--- “You guys are so patient.  I mess up more than any performer I've ever met.”

--- “Effington” and “Eddie Walker” are much better than I remember.  Always knew “Jesusland” was good.

--- Tough not to like the Plinko-sponsored “Annie Waits” and the James-Porter-sponsored “Still Fighting It.”  Great transition to the encore.

Grade, before the encore: A-   A number of hyper-obscure tracks gave it the minus; the vocals, piano, stories, and spontaneity gave it the A.  Bonus points for the hardcore crowd and being able to sit the entire time.

Grade, after the encore: A+  Every Ben Folds song I had never heard live before appeared in one sprint!  “Zak and Sara,” “The Luckiest,” AND “Rocking the Suburbs” were there.  Throw in “Landed,” “Kate,” “Not the Same,” and a DRUM EXPLOSION, and you had the non-Bruce musical moment of the year.  It’s hard for me to do justice in describing the drum explosion.  Out of nowhere, he got up and rhythmically destroyed a drum set.  He did it in a way neither Imagine Dragons nor Franz Ferdinand could match.  Not bad for a guy known for the piano…