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Not everone's been lucky enough to see a show or meet the band in person, but here's the stories of people who have. Thanks heaps to all these great peops!
Read Monique's wonderful story!Mike's stories..."Trackers" My friend and I arrived in N.Y.C. at about 2:00 and decided to be way early for the taping (people were supposed to be there at 3:15), so we walked down to the building where the taping was held. When we get there 3 guys are in the lobby screaming because Ben just walked past them, which was kind of dissapointing because being he is my idol, I would have liked to meet him. Anyway we go up to the eighth floor and were standing in this hallway for about an hour, but we got number 8 and 9 for our tickets, which meant we were among the first ten to go in. Finally after an hour of torture (because we heard the boys sound-checking and we couldn't go in) they let us in. Well when we first went in, there were two stages set up. One for the boys, and one for the plain tv show. In the middle of the two stages were long boxes (the only way I can explain their shape is using the video-game tetris. They were like that shape where there are 3 boxes on the bottom, and one on the top forming a triangle...anyway) These would be our seats and when one stage was being used, you'd face that one, and when the other was being used, you'd face that one. Well the boys came out and played Your Redneck Past to start off the show and it sounded great. After that they took a commercial break and when they returned interviewed the five. It was cool because Darren was running around the studio after he claimed to have played football in high school. Then Robert came on and did Yoga with some girl. That was pretty cool. After the Yoga segment was the first time the audience had to get up and face the other stage. Well I was the only one who didn't do this because Robert was standing right in front of me on the stage!!! So I called his name and when he turned around he started walking towards me and shook my hand. I introduced myself and asked him to sign a couple of cd booklets I had brought. He did and was very cool about it. I then asked him to take a tape of my demo that I recorded about a month ago, and he said he'd listen to it. I was pretty pysched about that. Anyway, after about another hour, they came back out and closed the show with Mess. It was awesome, and very full sounding. After the song they got up and walked over to the front door to sign autographs. Well because we were the first ten in, we were the last ten out because they were letting us go in groups of 10. Well we're sitting there, waiting for like 20 minutes when all of a sudden Ben gets up and leaves. I was pissed and so was everyone in my little group of ten. Well, by this time only Darren and Robert were left so I decided to scream out Darrens name really loud. Well when he turned around I waved him over and he came!! It was incredible. I told him that I play drums and how he is definitly one of my all time favorites. I then asked him for a pair of his sticks, and he very graciously gave me a pair right from his set and signed them along with my cds that Robert had signed earlier. Well by this time my heart was going a mile a minute and I was sweating!! But I hadn't met the man yet...Ben!! I talked to some guy who said he had left about 10 minutes
ago on the elevator, but I was determined to find him. When we walked out
into the street there was noone around, and my friend and I thought we were
out of luck. So we started walking back to Penn Station, when none other
than Rob Darren and Ben, oh yes, Ben came walking out right in front of
us!!!! I couldn't believe it. I had Ben sign and complete my cd booklets
and I will definitly be pysched for the rest of...my life.
My sister, her boyfriend, my sisters friend and I, all went around the side to the stage door where the stupid guards were getting all the people across the street so they couldnt crowd and mob the boys when they exited. Well I definitly could not stand there knowing that the guys were in the building while I was standing out in the cold rain. Anyway, I found a spot where the guards couldnt see me, and it was right next to the stage door. So after some thinking I decided to just walk in. I did and got in. While I was walking around I started to see signs saying BF5 dressing rooms upstairs. So upstairs I went. While I was walking around everyone was actually saying hi and stuff instead of get out you little freak. It was great. Well it was
quiet on their floor and all the doors to the dressing rooms were shut. I
heard Robert talking to someone through one door and knocked. He asked who
it was so I opened it and he was on the phone. (I guess he remebered me from
TRACKERS because he was like, "Hey man what's Up"? So I closed the door
cause I figured I'd leave him alone while he was talking. Meanwhile I had to
pee like mad so I ran into the bathroom (that bf5 probably used) and hurry'd
up thinking I might miss something. Well as soon as I was going, I heard a
door close and knew it was someone from our beloved little group. So I open
the bathroom door, and Darren is walking away from it with his back to me, so
I said his name and he turned around. After a discussion about his drums and
mine, he signed this drum head I brought. Then Robert came out and said he
remembered me from last week at TRACKERS because I'd given him a demo. Well
I asked him to sign the drum head, and after he left, I took his empty
Heineken bottle, gave it to my sister, and she had it signed. Unfortunatly
we missed Ben, but this definitly was a great night.
Anthony's story..."You'll be fine. Just stand there and bop. You can do that" So said Christine in trying to allay my fears about getting dancefloor tickets to Ben Folds Five. "Just Bop". It's almost a Nike slogan, but it's definately not a quality that you can pick up for a measly 500 bucks at a Rebel sportstore near you. And for someone like me who has all the co-ordination of Gumby and who can't even remember the complicated steps that comprise the "Chicken Dance", bopping is something that comes as easily as knitting a jumper with a pair of chopsticks and 10 metres of bubblewrap. But battling the onset of the flu, depression after a poor uni assessment and general apathy, ticket number 973 to the dancefloor at Sydney's Horden Pavilion was snagged and the scene was set for a superb night of jumping up and down on the spot, bopping on the spot, and generally just standing/sitting on that same damned spot. Being the classy and efficient organisation it is, Cityrail managed to ensure that I was 45 minutes late meeting Christine and Andi, both of whom showed generally superb emotional control in not getting shitty at my lateness. That is, if you ignore the fact that they didn't talk to me for the rest of the night and just generally had private conversations between themselves! Hmmmph! Just joking. It wasn't until about 9pm that Polyanna dragged their crappy second-rate butts off the stage and Ben Folds and two guys that he met out in the carpark before the concert came up on stage and rocked the place. And it wasn't until after 1 hour and 45 minutes of standing under the sweaty armpits of some wannabe basketballer, doing the spot thing while wearing my new BFF t-shirt, that I realised Christine and Andi had done the harry bolt on me and had taken off right up the front. Ben Folds was brilliant. Simply put, the guy is a wasted talent on the piano and he should take up an instrument on which it's harder to knock out catchy melodies in each song. Like the triangle. In some songs he seamlessly switched his playing between two pianos, and at one time he was facing the audience with a big shit-eating grin on his face while he played a solo with a hand on each piano. After a range of songs off their albums for a good hour and a half, with an expected emphasis on songs off the new album, they went off stage to visit the little boys room as the crowd yelled their appreciation for the members of the road crew who came on stage to check the instruments. Their names must have been Ben as well. On the eventual encore return of Ben Folds Five, the $49.20 that I'd forked out was justified about 3 million times over. Having saved up their big hits, BFF slapped the crowd around the face with a lyrical finale including "Brick", "One Angry Dwarf", "Underground", and "Song For the Dumped." All in all a great night, marred only by Ben Folds failure to bang out a version of the Chicken Dance. Maybe he can't remember how it goes either. Carla's story...I got to go to my very first BFF concert on Oct 24,1999 when they were in DC at the 9:30 Club. It won't be my last BFF concert either because if they come back to the 9:30 next year I will be there. I was also lucky enough to be able to go backstage and meet them after the show. Two guys who worked at the club remembered me from when I was there in May and July to see Owsley. Well one of them was sweet enough to promise to vouch for me with their road manager telling him that he's seen me at the club before. The guy came through for me. I was the only person who was taken backstage (as far as I know) that didn't have a backstage pass to meet them. I was also the very first person to be taken back there. Doug Goodman (at least I think it was him since I have no idea what he look like) introduced me to Ben,then Robert (who came up behind me),and last Darren (who was sitting down on the couch). Ben told me,"Come on in and sit down.". When I did I saw that they had friends and family who had come to the show to see them. So I decided that I wouldn't take the band's time away from them so I told Ben,"I can't stay long. May I get my picture taken with all of you.". I also knew that they still had to meet with the people I saw walking around wearing backstage passes and I didn't want to take their time away from the band either. I gave my camera to this lady backstage so she could take our picture. As I'm standing their with Ben,Darren,and Robert talking to them while they signed my things the lady took our picture. She wanted to get a "candid photo" of us. Ben asked me where I was from so I told him. Then he said, "I thought you were form Missouri because you have an accent. I have friend from Missouri.". Then after that we had our picture taken together again (this time posing). I was right between Ben and Robert and Darren was to Ben's right. Ben layed/leaned/rested/ (whatever you want to call it) on my shoulder in that picture. The lady told us "Now get closer like you like really like each other." (I was very nervous). The lady was very nice and she said, "I sometimes cut heads off in pictures. If its Darren's that's okay.". So Darren said, "I only show up in pictures if my eyes are closed." (jokingly) and then the lady said,"Its a vampire thing.". I wish I would have asked the lady her name. Then after that I left. As I was leaving Fleming was introducing someone to Ben so I stopped long enough to give Ben two beanie babies for Gracie and Louis. I also gave him two Halloween cards for Gracie and Louis since they are too young for candy. Fleming even said hello to me because she remembered me from when I met her and John out in the club after their set. I even asked the guy who works at the 9:30 Club (the one who vouched for me) for his address so I could send him a thank card for being sweet enough to get me backstage to meet them. During their set the guy was down watching the door and he told me,"As soon they are done I'll be back up there so you won't have any trouble.". A third guy who worked at the 9:30 Club allowed to stand on the steps (there were only 2 steps) that lead up to where the spotlight was. People who had these black and yellow passes were allowed to go up in that area. He then told I could go up and stand by the spotlight so I could see better. But I didn't because I didn't want to risk him getting into any trouble and besides he was nice to allow to stand there so I could see (I'm short as you can tell). Brent's story...It was a beautiful afternoon out, even if it was a little cold. Maybe it was so beautiful because I knew I was going to see Ben Folds Five in a couple of hours, but then again, that's a little too sentimental and mystical. I think it was a beautiful afternoon just because it was. Whatever the case, it was perfect weather to stand in line for two hours, but it could have been pouring and I still would've been there. My main goal was this: to give to Ben, personally, a drawing I'd done of him, and a rare, old Burt Bacharach songbook. I'd been waiting four months not only to see the show, but to put those two gifts directly in his hands! You see, I wanted to get a big group together to see Ben Folds Five, but I don't have very many friends who are big fans, so it ended up that my sister, my friend Sam, and I, took the jaunt downtown with my parents to see the band. As I said, it was a long time standing there in line. But it was still fun. We talked to fans and got accosted by a young shaven-headed Buddhist "trading" homemade books for money, actually got conned into "trading" one for five dollars. My mom kept popping up out of nowhere with food and drinks: from in front of us, from behind us, repelling backwards down the building; I think my mom is Batman. Oh! Lest I forget, we also spent several minutes mocking a strangely limping woman selling shoddy Ben Folds Five t-shirts, (she was pegged with several items by passing motorists) $10 for white or black, $13 for green. Why was green more expensive? I guess it's is a rare color. I had a camera. I was going to take pictures if it killed me. It nearly did. I had slipped the disposable camera down the front of my pants thinking no security guard would touch my crotch. I was wrong. He shoved me against the door with his hand against my unmentionables and yelled, "What is THIS?" (Listen to me: have you ever been SO caught off guard, and SO frightened you forgot how to speak?) You see, I had no problem removing the camera from my pants. The trouble was I couldn't remember what it was called. "It's my, uh, uh ... um, what's it." The security guard looked at me quivering there in the doorway. "Camera," he said profoundly. "Yeah, camera," I replied, and he shoved me past. I guess it wasn't illegal to take pictures. Or maybe he didn't want it after where it'd been. It was dark inside, but I was so happy because there were maybe only twenty people by the stage. I grabbed my spot like a cat in heat. I wasn't moving. I'd piss in my pants if I had to, I wasn't moving. Except I wanted to buy some merchandise, so instead, I told my sister SHE wasn't moving, even if SHE had to piss in HER pants. Speaking of pants, I finally succumbed to sticking the book and picture there, against my belly, tucked under the waist band of my khakis. It seems like a lot of things were stuck there that night, but I was tired of holding the book. Needless to say the corners were poking my legs the whole concert. Hmm, the price you pay, I guess. A girl standing next to me, once I was back in the theater, wanted to see the picture. I showed it to her and she started showing it to all her friends. Soon it was getting further and further away from me, and I yelled for it back. I think people were kind of stunned, and I felt kind of bad, so apologized. I turned out, lucky me (HA!), that the girl was "publicity for the band," and she "knew the band," and "knew Frally," and had "stayed at their Adelaide home," and had a "backstage pass" she didn't feel like taking out. Uh-uh. I'm sure over half the people in that room would've told me they were publicity for the band. Jude was great, I'd never heard them, and they were fantastic songwriters. I feel bad for opening acts, I guess, because no matter how much I liked them, I was really waiting for Ben Folds Five, and after maybe six songs I was ready for them to move on. Don't get me wrong, I REALLY liked them, but I think if you're an opening act you better understand that 90% of the crowd isn't there for you. It, of course, seemed like forever before the lights when down again, the crowd's roar picked up, and Ben Folds Five took the stage. The girl next to me talked on and on about what the band was like personally, and kept offering to take my picture and give it to Ben. Yeah right. Anyhow, when Ben, Darren, and Robert walked on, the crowd went NUTS! They've joked about how no audience can really ever appreciate a ballad live after Lynyrd Skynyrd played "Freebird". I guess we're a "Freebird" ballad-type country. So, wouldn't you know it, they opened with "Freebird"!! And it was AWESOME! I knew right then that this would be an amazing concert. They went into 'Don't Change Your Plans' then, my second favorite Ben Folds Five song. Robert sang the fluegelhorn solo. I like the way he sings, all wide-eyed like Paul McCartney, very charismatic! The lighting was great, and the sound quality was fantastic. It was the same sound crew that did the Rolling Stones concert at Soldier Field. However, some of the concert is kind of a blur because a tall, fairly unattractive girl kept whacking me in the face with her elbow the numerous times she fished in her ear canal for something. She also had a habit of throwing her arms up to do the devil's sign and rubbing her armpit all over the side of my face. I doubt she was doing it on purpose, but I don't care if it was an accident while she was in the middle dying, it wasn't kosher with me. I asked her kindly to move over when she finally knocked my contact out. She looked at me like I had two heads, but when she saw my bloody, armpit-skanky, missing-contact face I think she got the point. Quickly, these are the songs Ben Folds Five played, though probably not in perfect order: Freebird
Ben finished it up by taking his shirt off. He reminded me of that girl in "Fame" who gets conned into doing a "movie" in some guy's apartment and he ends up getting her to take her clothes off, and she sobs disturbingly the whole time. Ben wasn't sobbing, but it was the same kind of feeling. Shirtless, he slid around the stage on his back and stomach, swearing like a drunken sailor. It was beautiful, memorable, and not for parents. I've heard rumors lately, that they don't improv as much as they used to, and I was worried it would just be a straight set, but they were so free and fun at this concert. They reminded me so much of the feeling on their first album. Excitment, they are still excited to play for a crowd. It was tough getting out of the theater at the end, but as soon as I saw pavement, I booked it to the side entrance, and stood for an hour and a half waiting for them. I met more fans, made fun of some foreigner playing guitar in the alley, and generally felt very cold. Several crew members came outside and dropped food all over the place, especially those little, round, sauteed potatoes. They were everywhere. I think they should've put up cones or something. Finally, the moment arrived: Ben came out first, and came straight over to me. He shook my hand and asked me what my name was. It was amazing. Not to meet him, but that I felt totally calm. I thought it'd be a repeat of the security guard incident, and I'd forget my name, but I was totally with it. I gave him the songbook, and the picture. Ben looked at it, looked at me, and said "I can keep these?" "Of course," I said, "I brought them for you, just a little present, you know? He immediately opened up the book and read the inscription I'd written inside, "Sometimes the random and pointless gifts are the best ones. Keep up the great music!" He looked at me and said, "This is the coolest thing anyone's given me!" My address and phone number were in the book and he said he'd be getting in touch!!Wow, even if that never happens, he at least thought he might, you know? He signed autographs then for the 30 or so people standing there, and talked then, with us for about a half hour, about why he didn't talk during 'Politically Incorrect' (he didn't want to, genital mutilation didn't "excite" him too much!) about how he hates the edited version of 'Army' ("We did it on Letterman and it just didn't seem right. I heard it on the radio, and I was like, 'This sucks.'" That's why he didn't edit it for Leno.) He said he doesn't wear a wedding ring because it messes up his playing, but he's getting it tattoed on his finger (hmmmmm.....). Also, about new unreleased stuff: Ben's words on 'Carrying Cathy' and 'Breakup at the Foodcourt', "I definitely want to finish those and release them." I got a picture with Ben, but the girl taking the photo for me didn't wait until he was actually looking at the camera, but at least I have something, right? I talked to Darren a bit, and asked him why he didn't take his shirt off too. He said, "Did you want me to, baby?" I laughed, and said, "I'm not gay, sorry," and he said, "Oh, that's too bad!" It was awhile before Robert came out. He was pretty quiet, I can bet he was tired. He signed my stuff, and answered some shop question I had about the pickups on his bass and the Fender Rhodes he plays. When a random person walked by and patted him on the back he turned like he was stunned. "Hey! Don't touch the star!" he said. Then he looked at me, and said, "Hey, you wanna touch the star?" I poked his shoulder and he said, "Like a rock, I'm like a rock!" These were funny guys, especially after a two hour show. I gave them a lot of credit. I tried not to say anything stupid that night, but my friend had dared me to ask Ben to sign my grandma. I yelled, "Hey Ben, will you sign my grandma?" He looked at me and I said, "You know, like, 'Hey, sonny, sign my chest!'", in a grandma voice and he started laughing. "Yeah! Bring her on!" It actually turned out kind of funny, except that my mom turned up right behind me (I told you, she's Batman!) Ben did a double-take and said, "Um, THAT'S not your grandma, is it?" My mom and I laughed, my laugh was mainly because I didn't know where she came from. But my mom was like a hawk attacking prey, and launched without warning into this long conversation with Ben about what a great influence he is. He seemed really receptive to her, however, and talked about how their opening acts always compliment the band on the crowds they draw and how awesome their fans are. My mom then, of course, mentioned me playing some of their songs at our shows, and Ben asked about it, laughing. I mentioned that I played One Angry Dwarf and broke the piano (the top slammed down during the solo). He said, "Wow, was it on the last note? That would've been great. You gotta teach me how to do that!" I then grabbed my mom and said, "Okay, enough embarrassing your son, Mom" and Ben cracked up. "It's okay, that's what moms are for," he laughed. That was the last of the night, folks, the drive home was the saddest but loudest drive ever, with Sam, my sister, and me going on and on about the concert. It was a great night, one I won't ever forget. I guess when it comes right down to it, music is one of the most important things we have. It's a way to express how we feel. The music we listen to definitely defines and describes who we are. And if there's anything I can take from Ben Folds' music, it's that letting your anger, sadness, and sensitive insides show is a beatiful thing. And the band really proved something at the concert, because they weren't rock stars signing autographs. They were normal guys chatting with friends, and they showed that no matter what, don't ever forget who you are. Sarah's story...So, last year BFF played a Chicago show on February 15. Now, of course there is no guy in my life ever, so Valentine's Day is not the most fun day of my life, needless to say. Well, one of my best friends at college (she's now my roommate) and I are huge Ben fans, so we had tickets since the moment they went on sale. This concert was going to make our weekend, even if it was Valentine's Day. So we head off Sunday night, way early - we want to be in the front for the show. But there's this huge line after it takes the train forever to get to the venue, so we were a bit upset. We finally get let inside, and we're just behind the people in the front, which isn't bad. The concert itself was great (as they always are), but the night was going to be even better than just a concert. I'd heard that the band would occassionally come out after the show and hang out with people who had hung around, so my roommate and I were all for staying there all night until the guys showed up. But about twenty minutes after the show, the security guards made us leave, which really upset my roommate and I. Bummed, we headed outside. As a side note, I saw my cousin who I hadn't seen in months as we went outside, which was nice for me. After milling about the front of the venue for a few minutes, we decided to check out the stage entrance. We head over there, and start chatting with some people over there, who basically guarantee us that the guys will come out and talk to people later. Of course, they don't tell us how long they're going to be. This being Chicago in February, it's not too warm out. So we wait around. About forty-five into our waiting, my roommate informs me that she's going to kill me when she warms up, because she has a midterm the next day which she has yet to study for. And then, I was saved. The security guard out back there opens up the stage door, and who should walk out but Robert! All twenty or so people hanging out at the stage door swamp him, talking, taking pictures, asking for his autograph. My roommate has him sign her pack of cigarettes, I have him sign my copies of the CDs, one for me, one for my siblings (who I obviously love, to part with something as precious as a Sledge autograph). After getting Robert's autograph, I was way psyched - I would have been happy with that alone. But then Darren comes out, and some of the people go over to talk to him. My roommate and I go over there, and I get my CDs signed, then she hands over her cigarettes, which leads Darren to comment, "Damn, woman, you smoke menthols?," and inspires a short conversation, which later led to my roommate naming our fish Darren. She is totally in love with this boy. At this point, I'm on cloud nine - I could have died then and been completely happy. But then, the stage door opens, and Ben steps out. My roommate and I ditch Darren - we have to meet Ben. So, after getting pushed into him by someone (who turned out to be my roommate, I'm not complaining here), I have to apologize profusely. He just seems amused at the incident. I hand over my CDs and the cigarettes, trying to explain that one CD is mine, one is for my siblings, and the cigarettes belong to "that girl behind me." He smiles and signs them. I, of course, can't think of a thing to say now, even though I've imagined meeting the guys for a long time. So, I just thank him, letting some other person talk to him while I stand next to him, savoring the moment. As a side note, Ben smelled absolutely fantastic. After only a couple of minutes, Ben politely excuses himself, and gets on the bus. My roommate and I, having met our fave band, are ecstatic, and we head back to the train to go home, guarding our autographed items like mad women. All in all, an awesome night. Adriane's story...last year, on february 22nd, ben folds five was coming to dc (i live nearby) but i got to the ticket window too late-it was sold out weeks before the show. luckily, a local radio show was having them as a guest. i called the station at the right time and won tickets to that show. I went with my friend kristin and got there early. when they finally came on, we freaked. it was an audience of about 50 people. they played a phenomenal set, although short, it was great, and they were all hilarious. afterwards, we stuck around and after a few, we found darren and robert lounging on a couch, eating bagels. we introduced outselves and told them how awesome they were, and then we sat and ate bagels with them for a couple minutes, talking. then we went to find ben, who we found in a different room, talking to some guy. i was in shock to be standing face to face with ben. i just shook his hand and fianlly uttered how incredible he is and my requests for that evenings performance, but stated regretably that i didn't have tickets. so this guy comes running over getting our names so that we can be on the guest list. we were so excited, to say the least. we chatted for a few more minutes, got lots of things signed, and ben walked us to my car and told us we better be in the front row. so we were and it was a great show. i will never forget that day. they are all such sweethearts! Adam's story...Check out the site for his band here! I met Ben here in Nashville during the summer. He was eating in a Restaurant with a couple of friends and i recognized him. He noticed that i (we) recognized him and the look we gave each other was that of 2 people who barely recognize each other. It was strange. I sat down in a booth right across from them and ordered and ate. Can you imagine how difficult it was to eat while trying to ignore that your songwriting hero is sitting 4 feet to your right?! When he got finished eating and was leaving, i decided to go for it. I said his name and he turned around and we talked for a minute. I asked for an autograph. He was so normal and tired and yet happy to meet someone who wanted his autograph. It was really eye opening. I meet my heroes all the time and i always notice how they're just incredibly normal people. Ben Folds is by far the most famous musician I've ever met, though. He was a really normal guy, though. His friends were giving him silly looks from across the restaurant 'cause they were on their way out the door while he was trying to figure out what to write on my napkin. He wound up putting a smiley face on it, "to adam" and his name. He signed my drummer's napkin and my fiancee`s napkin, too. Overall, Ben seemed tired, full, and *almost* annoyed but not quite. He seemed happy that i didn't bother him during dinner, which both of us knew i was bound to do. I think it was the way my mouth dropped open when i saw him. I asked him if he was going to play on this benefit record and he said he wanted to (which was TOTALLY an inside scoop) and i told that to the guy who was trying to get BF5 for the album and he wigged. THis guy's 21-year old girlfriend recently died of cancer and her name was Summer Brannin. Summer and this guy (also named adam) met ben and ben got HER to sign his CD once he realized that he was in the presence of one "Summer B."... it was a cute anecdote, but anyway. I wish i'd talked to him about how great i think he is and how i wish he'd hire me as a guitarist because... because... and "Selfless cold and composed" is such an awesome song.... you know. All the things any fan would say. Michael Bluejay even got to play with the band at a concert! You can read the story of this here. Hopefully more stories to come. If you've got one you'd like me to put up here, even a short one, email it to me! |