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The Boston Pops with Ben Folds

October 2, 2009
Ben Folds performs with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops! Sold Out!

The Boston Pops is proud to announce the return engagement of everybody's "favorite piano-rocking, Shatner-collaborating, sailor-mouthed goofball" Ben Folds. Joined by conductor Keith Lockhart, the evening showcases Ben's first-class melodies and irony-laced lyrics with songs from his new studio LP, "Way To Normal", as well as many of his greatest hits.

Ben Folds
Widely known for his prowess as a pianist, Ben Folds began his career in music as a drummer, and he is also adept at guitar and bass. Ben Folds is best known as a solo artist and as the frontman and pianist of Ben Folds Five, celebrated for a compositional style and playing technique remain wholly unique, combining elements of the 'singer/songwriter' genre, jazz, and power rock. Indeed, Ben Folds’ music is evocative of artists such as Joe Jackson and Sir Elton John, with an added edge and bold infusion of energy and wit.

Whereas most alternative bands of the '90s specialized in distorted teen-angst rock, the guitarless trio Ben Folds Five was a refreshing break from the norm. In addition to Folds on piano and vocals, the group also included a bassist and a drummer and the outfit’s sound was more akin to power popsters, but like punk bands, Ben Folds Five put on a high energy, blistering live show, turning the band into a must-see live act. The band was signed to an independent record label, resulting in their self-titled debut one year later. Quite a buzz was stirring for the band by the time of their second album, which was issued through Epic. Released in 1997, Whatever and Ever Amen was pure pop perfection, and included the ballad "Brick" that broke the band commercially.

While 1998 didn't see a new studio album by the band, Ben Folds Five's former label issued a 16-track rarities collection (Naked Baby Photos), as Folds released his first solo album, Volume 1, under the pseudonym Fear of Pop. Ben Folds Five regrouped with 1999' s The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, which was a more mature work than its predecessors, although the energetic lead-off single, "Army," showed that Folds' humorous approach hadn't dulled at all.

Due to artistic differences, Ben Folds Five broke up in 2000, and Ben’s next solo album, Rockin' the Suburbs, released in 2001, with Ben playing most of the instruments himself. A year later, he released a live album, Ben Folds Live, and followed it up with three EPs. In 2005, his latest solo work, Songs for Silverman, was released to critical acclaim.

Over the past few years Ben has also provided a number of songs for film soundtracks. Some of these include "Lonely Christmas Eve" for the Jim Carrey film How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000), and a rendition of the Beatles' "Golden Slumbers" for the film I Am Sam (2001). He has also done charity compilations, from singing "Wicked Little Town" (from film and stage show Hedwig and the Angry Inch) on the benefit album "Wig in a Box" (2003) to appearing on No Boundaries, a benefit album for Kosovo refugees, with the song "Leather Jacket." Ben is currently writing songs for DreamWorks Animation's upcoming computer-animated comedy Over the Hedge (2006).

Consistently touring, Ben Folds has earned a reputation his charismatic, energetic shows with his trademark wit and musicality. His latest release, supersunnyspeedgraphic, the lp, hit stores in October of 2006. Folds supports the independent music scene, having created his own record label (Attacked By Plastic) and doing promotional work for independent record stores across the country.