Ben Folds Five, Numbers,Houston,
February 12, 1998
Opening Act - Robbie
Fulks
My fourth time seeing Ben Folds Five over the past year, and they just keep getting better. Less than a year ago, I saw them at the small venue, Urban Art Bar (read that review), and now this trio from Chapel Hill, NC (home of my alma mater, University of North Carolina) is playing to sold out crowds at Numbers. It's amazing how a little national TV exposure will promote a band, BFF having been on Saturday Night Live, Letterman, Leno, and Keenen this year. I was very happy to see the crowd into the set and singing along with more than just the singles, specifically during Fair with the crowd providing a harmonic background during the chorus. With great songs like the current single, Brick and last year's Battle of Who Could Care Less, Ben Folds played his little heart out on the grand piano. Not to be outdone, Robert Sledge, the very accomplished bass player, stepped out front for a diva dance party with a Donna Summer song and then a transition to Night Ranger's Sister Christian. Ben even sang a little song about Robert and him showing his ass. Other highlights included long intros to Song for the Dumped and Underground and a cover of the Flaming Lips She Don't Use Jelly. From the newest live compilation, Naked Baby Photos, they played Eddie Walker, a great song that was omitted from either studio album. Other favorites of mine were Philosophy, Jackson Cannery, and Kate. Closing with 200 Solemn Faces and One Angry Dwarf, and Ben climbing on a speaker to hurl his stool at the piano for the perfect finish, the crowd was left wanting more, but the midnight curfew at Numbers wouldn't allow it.
Opening act, Robbie Fulks provided an alternative country flair with cute songs like She Took Too Many Pills and Died and NC is the Cigarette State. They were so good that I picked up their CD and chatted a bit with Robbie after the show. Having grown up near Durham NC, (obvious in his song influences) he currently lives in Chicago. He was a very friendly fellow and obviously serious musician who is happy to be on such a high exposure tour. He commented on how he liked Houston better than Dallas, since we didn't throw full beer cans at his head during his set.
On That Note, I'm outta here......
