Ben Folds @ Carling Academy
Maybe this time it's a case of a little less would have been more
| 12 Mar 2007
After striding on stage to 'The Final Countdown', Ben Folds is effortlessly infectious from the first note he plays. Everyone around is smiling, laughing and singing along to every word. Folds sings, he improvises, he even tells stories. He's a brilliant performer and it's hard not to be swept along by the mood in the room.
Half way through tonight's set, however, Folds is left on stage by himself, alone with his voice and piano, and the mood turns altogether more sombre. It's not that this wouldn't be a welcome change, but after what has gone before this feels a little flat.
As his band return he picks it back up and even includes a couple of covers in Dr Dre's Bitches's 'Ain't Shit' and Postal Services's 'Such Great Heights'. With these, Folds proves that he has the knack of turning almost anything into his own brand of quirky piano pop. With 'Underground' even surpassing the first half of his set, it seems a little unfortunate that he is unable to keep this high quality up throughout the evening. Maybe this time it's a case of a little less would have meant a lot more. [Garry Thomson]
Half way through tonight's set, however, Folds is left on stage by himself, alone with his voice and piano, and the mood turns altogether more sombre. It's not that this wouldn't be a welcome change, but after what has gone before this feels a little flat.
As his band return he picks it back up and even includes a couple of covers in Dr Dre's Bitches's 'Ain't Shit' and Postal Services's 'Such Great Heights'. With these, Folds proves that he has the knack of turning almost anything into his own brand of quirky piano pop. With 'Underground' even surpassing the first half of his set, it seems a little unfortunate that he is unable to keep this high quality up throughout the evening. Maybe this time it's a case of a little less would have meant a lot more. [Garry Thomson]