Alright, I finally found a little time to make my post. Read my last post to hear about what I did Friday night in DC. Saturday we were back in Baltimore, and I pretty much didn't do much other than get up and watch an hour or so of The Fellowship of the Ring and then read and burn cd's all day and eat dinner and fix this labtop till about eight. At which point we went down to the gym where the Ben Folds concert would be the next day and help set up. We laid down this blue tarp stuff and taped it to the floor, but everything else was pretty much already set up. The rest would happen the next day when they brought the stage, the piano, the drums, etc.
So the next day I sleep in till maybe eleven I think and then get up and shower and get ready to head down the concert where my brother Joe and his roommate and everyone else had already been since 8:30. When I show up the stage was already built, which was amazing, the sound board was out (but not plugged in yet) and everything was looking pretty cool. Well, piano was supposed to show up around 1:00 and the tuner I think the same time, and actually both showed up early I want to say. Highlight of the piano were the instructions faxed to my brother from Fold's people which read "The piano must be rolled, it can't be lifted. The piano can INJURE or KILL someone if mistreated." The piano was setup and tuned, and Ben was supposed to arrive around 3:00 and do the sound check.
Unfortunately, only the Sheikster shows (Duncan Sheik opened (he's the "I am barely breathing, I can't find the air" song guy)). Ben got stuck in traffic till just before 7:00 or so when doors OPENED at 7:00. But his quick fifteen minute warmup/sound check was pretty groovy and he played a medly essentially of the songs he'd play that night. Then he went up to the hopsitality room that we'd set up for him. The doors were opened practically right as he was actually getting on the elevator. Now would be a good time to mention that I took pictures starting with the warmup and ben getting on the elevator. Those pictures are found in the Ben Folds - 02-10-20 directory.
Then the Sheikenator got out there to play his opening act, and for the first couple songs I hung out with my sister and this other girl who were selling the ben folds t-shirts. Then I went up to the balcony to take some pictures of sheik. Well, when I got up there I walk past the S.A.F.E. guy and showed him my pass, and stand behind a group of people. I'm just sort of standing there, and look at the person in front of me and make out the silhouette of Ben! This caught me by surprise, and at first, I didn't know what to do, I just sorta backed up and looked around as though I weren't supposed to be there, but then realized it was no big deal, and just went and leaned on a rail and watched Sheik's show. Later on Ben and his wife left (and I would have introduced myself then if he and his wife weren't together, in the darkness, sorta coudling almost watching the Sheik show ... I would have felt weird walking up saying "hey, I'm a big fan").
So then I stay there, because the balcony is actually the gym slash athletic center's track on the second floor, and it's also the only way Ben can get to the concert, so later on when Ben is to come on he and his tour managers and his wife and his nanny and my brother's roommate Aidin all came marching down the track and down the fire exit to lower floor behind the stage and ten ben went up and got on and started with Dwarf. Then the show basically rocked the caspa all night, I took pictures throughout, the first half of the show spent on the balcony, towards the lattef half moving backstage when they whipped out the drums. (Actually, a little before that) Yeah, Ben definitely played the drums. I know the tour was "and a piano live" but he also played the drums.
I could explain the shots I got, but you can sorta see for yourself. I'll add comments instead later on to the pics once I get more time. But basically afterwards Ben came down and we talked to him and got him to sign our staff badges. Aidin asked if he had a day off or if he had another show, and his response was both really, he had to play in Lexington, KY, that tuesday night. My sister Emily commented that she was from Louisville, KY, and that I was her brother. I then told him I had some friends going to that show, and he said that he'd been to louisville but not lexington, and I said yeah twice, and he couldn't remember the show, and his tour manager and I at the same time said Jillian's, and then I think Emily asked for his autograph and when he was done he went outside to talk to fans. Then we cleaned up and got out of their after 1:00 sometime. A lot of fun, and Joe compiled a stack of things to be signed by ben, which included my two solo albums, this guy Dan's complete Ben Folds and BF Five collection, Dan's poster, and then a bunch of promo posters (one of which will be mine, it's just I forgot to take one before I left Baltimore the next day).
So yeah, check out the pictures. It was a fun time.
Spork
Leave a comment