Ben Folds is coming to Pittsburgh on February 16 (to Club Zoo of all places, a random under-21 club in the Strip District). I must be there, even though I just received yet another bill in the mail today. I shall work it out.
In case you can’t tell/didn’t know, I’m a huge Ben Folds dork, the Five included, but more so his solo stuff. I can just hear you all asking, How big of a dork are you, Andrea?, so I’ll let you in on it. The last time he was in Pittsburgh was two years ago for a free show in Oakland, next to the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt. I went with about a dozen kids from school to see him. I was standing in the crowd, soaking up the Fold-ness, when I realized that everyone I came with was gone. I texted one of them, and she said they got bored and went to a bar nearby. This is the crucial moment, the ultimate decision I had to make: beer or Ben. Ben or beer. Cool or dorky.
I snapped shut my phone and moved closer to the stage. The only song that is capable of making me cry everytime I hear it is was written by that guy pounding away at the piano keys right in front of me, and I was going to leave? Not happening. And even though I know he always splits the crowd in two and has them harmonize on “Not the Same,” I still thought it was the most awesome thing ever.
I left glowing, everyone else left drunk, and it was a good time for all.
So you see, I must go.
(That song is Fred Jones Part 2, in case you were wondering. Or not.)
7 Comments
January 8, 2009 at 2:06 pm
As long as you recognize that you’re a dork. That’s what matters.
January 8, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I am torn — TORN — between my love of Ben Folds and my hatred of Club Zoo. I just don’t understand why they hold shows there. Maybe I’ll just send you in my place.
Fred Jones is tied with The Luckiest as my favorite Ben Folds song. And my favorite version of Fred Jones is the one with John McCrea.
January 8, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Dork/Nerd Pride. I like it.
Me too except, I don’t know who Ben Fold is. I’m more R&B myself.
January 8, 2009 at 3:13 pm
HEY! That song makes me cry too!
I was at that show, p.s.!
January 10, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I went to that concert with you! Let’s go again! Yay!! lol
January 10, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Umm, that’s dedication! I would have done the same thing if I had been there with you.
And you need to go for those of us who aren’t lucky to have Ben Folds visiting our towns. (Or any towns near our towns.) … Just saying…
January 13, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I’m a huge Ben Folds fan, though I’ve never gotten to see him live. I do have the Five’s DVD of their performance. LOVE.
The song that gets me every time is “The Luckiest.”