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LIVE IN CONCERT!

BEN FOLDS FIVE

Reviewed By Bob Cohen Club Rio Tempe, AZ 2/10/98

The bartender, at Tempe's "Club Rio" was telling me about how intoxicating two of their infamous "De-railers" can be, so three of them later I was full of excited anticipation, waiting for "Ben Folds Five" to take the stage. While judging from their title, one may assume that the band is composed of five members but the name is rather deceiving. The three, extremely talented young men have managed to create a guitar-less sound, refreshingly uncommon in a time when punk is considered poppy.

Their sound consists of a piano, drum, and bass trio, tastefully accented with some fuzz and auxiliary wind-instruments from time to time. Coming from North Carolina, they have been touring clubs around the world and are now earning their way into slightly larger venues, such as "Club Rio." They took the stage, and while it was difficult to break through the arm-crossed, I-want-to-hear-that-song-that-they-made-a-video-for fans, I was content with my position, off to the side of the stage; I was closer to the speakers. They opened with "One Angry Dwarf" and "200 Solemn Faces," a high energy song with a powerhouse piano riff and equally powerful lyrics.

Ben Folds (lead vocalist/piano player) demanded the crowd's attention, banging away at the keys, like a cross between Jerry Lee Lewis and the drummer that Ben always wanted to be. The drummer came out of him though, as he ended the song with a Keith Moon worthy smashing of his piano seat (which happens to be a drum throne) onto the keyboard. They greeted the audience and, recognizing two bar room brawlers from their last Tempe performance at "Gibson's," broke into a stunning rendition of "Reunited." The crowd joined in, ". . . reunited and it feels so good . . ." Other highlights included bassist, Robert Sledge, performing "Black Sabbath's" "Iron Man" solo on an upright bass, and the performance of their own song "Steven's Last Night in Town," about a guest that Ben once had in his house for way too long.

Ben came to the front of the stage playing a flute-like keyboard. Another song off of their current album, "Smoke" incorporates Ben strumming the actual strings inside the piano. After they broke into a cover of "Cross-Town Traffic" by "Jimi Hendrix," there was basically nothing left to say. While the majority of the audience didn't give off quite as much energy as the band gave to us, after an overwhelming encore of "Uncle Walter," from their self titled debut CD, I can safely say that everyone there was thoroughly impressed and entertained. "Ben Folds Five" is by far one of the best new acts around. Whether in a small, intimate club or in a larger venue fitting a few thousand fans, the three of them leave an impression that you may not soon forget.

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