Rock artist Ben Folds has been on tour for the greater part of the past two years. Since September 2008 he has not only traveled all over the country for shows, but he has also performed concerts in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France.

Folds' first Bellingham performance will be on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mount Baker Theatre. The concert will be presented by the Nightlight Lounge.

From emotional ballads to hard rockers, Folds writes songs intended to pull fans’ heartstrings, such as “Gracie,” songs to skip through campus to such as “Zak and Sara,” and songs to jam out like a total badass such as “Rockin’ the Suburbs.”

“There’s slow songs and there’s more punk-ish songs,” said Western sophomore and Bend Folds fan Cassandra Allen.“When I listen to Ben Folds, it makes me feel happy and relaxed. It puts me in a better mood.”

“He brings the sunshine even when it rains,” Western senior Alexander Kelly said.  

Folds has performed many of his concerts on the East Coast with full symphonies, several have also been solo shows where Folds plays his music without accompaniment. The concert at the Mount Baker Theatre will be a solo show, so it will just be him, his piano and his audience, Folds said.  

“[Solo shows] are essentially what I do,” Folds said. “It’s my natural habitat.”

Folds released his sixth album, “Way To Normal,” in September 2008, but he  plans to play an assortment of songs, old and new, at his upcoming show.

“His concert will probably be epic,” Allen said. “There will definitely be a wide variety of audience members and he’ll have fun with it.”

Folds said he likes to keep his shows fresh and unpredictable.

“Anything goes at my gigs,” he said. “Sometimes there will be requests and sometimes I’ll change the set list completely.”

Folds’ show is bound to be a captivating one. He said he realizes people have paid money for a ticket and have taken time out of their schedules to see him sing.

“You’re the one person in the room being paid to perform, so you perform graciously,” he said.

Folds said he also believes that the key to a great show is a combination of confidence and humility on his part.

“[My music] is about capturing the moment you happen to be in at that moment in a way you wouldn’t expect,” Folds said.

Tickets are on sale at the Mount Baker Theatre box office or on the theatre's Web site for $25, $33 or $38, depending on seat location.

 

Q & A with Ben Folds

WESTERN FRONT: What motivates you or inspires you to make music?

Ben Folds: There’s not one thing. When I was young I had a sense I was good at it. Music always made sense. It’s something I practiced and practiced in my room without the idea that that’s something I’d do publicly.

WF: What’s your favorite thing about performing?

Folds: Music. Music is my main interest. People tell me that I’m a great performer but I don’t feel like a performer, I feel like a musician.

WF: How do you connect to your audience when you’re on stage?

Folds: I find that the most connecting component is a good song that people can relate to.

WF: What is different from your new CD “Way to Normal” compared to your previous CDs [like Rockin’ The Suburbs and Songs for Silverman]?

Folds: For this CD I had a producer. The past CDs I’ve been producing on my own.   
 

Be first to comment on this article

Only registered users can post comments.
Please login or register.