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June 27, 2017 7:49 AM   Subscribe

 
It's thrilling to watch somebody be fearless and bold in a setting like that, and to have the tools -- the professional orchestra -- to execute. Ben sets up the chord progression and general shape, he composes a few simple loops, and then the conductor "plays" the loops around the orchestra while he bangs the piano and sings. It's silly, but really satisfying to watch.

He goes a bit off the rails when he starts playing blues runs against it, and he never gets his trumpet solo (although there is a horn, maybe a trumpet, playing some cute little bits toward the end), but in all this is neat as hell.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:22 AM on June 27, 2017 [2 favorites]


He does something similar (though simpler) with the Perth Orchestra in the new "Live in Perth" album.
posted by montag2k at 9:04 AM on June 27, 2017


Ben, thanks for sharing your fun creative talent with the world and totally being chill with me stealing the word five-tissimo.
posted by cmfletcher at 9:28 AM on June 27, 2017 [3 favorites]


We were lucky enough to see Ben Folds (solo) last October (for FREE!) at my son's university for their family weekend. HE WAS AMAZING. Just him and a piano. Easily one of the best shows I've ever seen.
posted by cooker girl at 10:35 AM on June 27, 2017 [2 favorites]


This was just a joy to watch. Thank you for posting it!
posted by sldownard at 11:05 AM on June 27, 2017 [1 favorite]


This is something he does with, I think, most orchestras he plays with. I know it's not all since he didn't do it the one time I saw him with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra last year, but there are a ton of videos on YouTube which can be found by searching for "Ben Folds Rock This Bitch".
posted by noneuclidean at 11:23 AM on June 27, 2017 [3 favorites]


One of my favorite concert memories is seeing him at the 9:30 club in DC sometime in the early 2000s. He broke the audience into sections and taught us the 3-part harmony glissandos from the chorus of "Not the Same." After the song was over, he had them bring up the house lights, then got on top of the piano and conducted us through it a couple of times for extra shits and giggles. The sound of 1000+ people mostly hitting a massive major chord in a smallish concert venue was just incredibly awesome.
posted by higginba at 11:30 AM on June 27, 2017 [11 favorites]


higginba: he did that when I saw him at Town Hall Theatre in NY two days later! (according to the tour dates I just looked up.)
posted by Navelgazer at 11:41 AM on June 27, 2017


higginba: He also did that when I saw him play with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra several years ago. It was awesome.

Also, obligatory drunken-yell-turned-improv-song.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 1:13 PM on June 27, 2017 [4 favorites]


Gah, I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but this was absolutely delightful. Thank you!! My only laugh of the day.
posted by greermahoney at 8:59 PM on June 27, 2017 [1 favorite]


Wow, that was fascinating!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 9:45 PM on June 27, 2017


AlonzoMosleyFBI: so I haven't been paying super close attention to Ben Folds lately, but that youtube video turned into a song on one of his albums, right?

I can't believe I still know html tags.
posted by higginba at 10:22 PM on June 27, 2017 [1 favorite]


He is amazing
posted by james33 at 5:04 AM on June 28, 2017


He did this when chat roulette was a thing, too: Ode to Merton.
posted by sockermom at 2:20 PM on June 30, 2017 [1 favorite]


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