Picture this: a man, a piano and a choir. Only, there was no actual choir. The choir was the audience, captivated by the incredible sound screaming from the sole instrument on the stage.
For those of you who didn’t go, I’m not lying when I say that you missed a powerful show. Prior to attending Ben Folds & a Piano at The Blue Note, I had only listened to him through my headphones and laptop speakers. There was no way of knowing exactly what I was in for until I got to the concert. The atmosphere at the show was unlike anything I had ever been a part of. My jaw was dropped in awe for 98% of his performance. To say that I was mesmerized is an understatement.
Fun fact: Artists who sell out shows at The Blue Note or Rose Music Hall get shiny gold trophies with a plaque that says “Sold out! Fuck yeah!!” Here’s Mike handing one off to Ben.
Not only was the crowd entranced by Folds’ undeniable skills on the keys, but also by his constant interaction with the crowd. The only word I can think of to describe the whole experience is intimate.
His constantly changing body language, the movement of his hands and the intensity of his words screamed of a connection that no one on the outside could understand. Folds would stand up from his bench and lean into the piano while his hands stroked each note and chord. One minute, his performance would be sharp and intense and the next it would be soft and delicate.
But it was the crowd’s interaction that really kept me mesmerized. For the most part, the audience just stood there soaking in Folds’ performance, but at other times it sounded as if he had an entire choir singing in unison with him. Every single person knew every single song and it blew my mind. Not only did they know his lyrics, but they also knew the right moments to join in and sing along with him.
All I can say is that Ben Folds is a master behind the piano. I highly recommend that everyone attend at least one of his concerts because when you do, you’ll never want to stop listening. Never underestimate a man and his instrument.
This post was written by Alyssa Michaels, contributing writer for The Blue Note and Rose Blog.
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