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There’s nothing quite like a Ben Folds concert. And, as proven this evening at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard, there’s especially nothing like a Ben Folds concert in combination with yMusic.
And very much unlike that last sentence, Folds’ collaboration with the New York City classical sextet was a lithe and elegant performance that proved just how compatible pop and chamber music really are.
The venue was packed with a crowd that extended solidly from the stage to the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard sign. And Folds’ show didn’t fail to disappoint the significant crowd, mixing a variety of Ben Folds Five and Ben Folds originals with new compositions including "I’m not a Fan," "Capable of Anything" and "Phone in a Pool."
Ben Folds! pic.twitter.com/qAAWwce3P2 — Chris Larson (@ChrisJLarson) July 10, 2016
Folds’ Summerfest performance came on the heels of a European tour focused on his new album, "So What," which features a 21-minute, three-movement work co-commissioned by the Nashville Ballet and the Minnesota Orchestra, as well as eight new songs with yMusic.
If you think that sounds boring, you’d be dead wrong. The fact is, from the time Folds rose to fame in the 1990s as frontman for the alt-pop Ben Folds Five, he has spent the remainder of his career creating music that’s not only clever and appealing, but also eclectic and expressive. And "So There" is merely a reflection of the deeply rooted respect for composition and artistic expression that’s always been at the foundation of his craft.
The evening began with "Beautiful Mechanical," a song off of the 2011 yMusic release of the same name. The song is whimsical and avant garde by any definition, with varying time signatures and dynamic countermelodies.
As the instrumental wrapped up and the crowd applauded, Folds appeared from backstage and took a seat behind the upright Yamaha to the rear of the stage, flashing his ever-affable smile. Without a word, his fingers began tinkling the keys, and the musicians took up their instruments, joining in on the introduction to "Capable of Anything," a song which intertwines jaunty piano with zippy horns, delicate strings and flute in a playful dance.
"You might notice we don't have a bass on stage," Folds remarked in his typical tongue-in-cheek fashion, "So we're going to let the other stage provide the low end."
From there, the crowd was treated to "Not a Fan," which Folds introduced with more deadpan humor: "And now a waltz ... integral to any rock festival." He followed that with "You Don’t Know Me," with yMusic’s Alex Sopp singing Regina Spektor’s part.
"Still Fighting It," a song from Folds’ solo album "Rockin’ the Suburbs," became the equivalent of a big sing-a-long, with the crowd contributing their portion to the jazzed up arrangement. All the while, you could see the members of yMusic – Rob Moose (violin), CJ Camerieri (trumpet/French horn), Gabriel Cabezas (cello), Alex Sopp (vocals/flute), Hideaki Aomori (clarinet) and Nadia Sirota (viola) – exchanging glances, clearly enjoying themselves.
(PHOTO: Paul Fredrich)
Just as I was growing ever-so-slightly disappointed that Folds wasn’t rolling out more of his clever crowd banter, things got real … and oh-so-very Ben Folds.
"I guess you've noticed there's cello feedback," he remarked to the crowd. "What note is that? ... G? Well, G is not happy."
Before folks had a chance to stop chuckling, Folds and his entourage broke into a seamless Summerfest version of "Rock This B*tch" (an ever changing improv tune Folds’ has been performing live for years) with lyrics that described both the surroundings – "... the Greek Village to the left of me …" – as well as unapologetic pride in his ability to create amazing pop-rock tunes with his non-traditional band. It's hard not to love a song with lyrics as kookily braggadocious as, "But we got cello b*tch, we got violin b*tch ... gotta flute, got a flute for you ... got a piccolo for your ass … we got Summerfest rockin’, b*tch …"
To top it all off, Folds ended the song with an announcement: "Thank you very much. We are Skillet!"
It was a hilarious moment. But it was also the juncture when I began to more fully understand the synergy between Folds and yMusic, a relationship he’s described in print as almost "telepathic." Their improvisation – even with something as silly as a jam session about Summerfest – was just as refined as their rehearsed pieces. And from there, the music just got better and better.
About halfway through the set, Folds took off the sweater he’d been wearing and showed the crowd his red Old Milwaukee tee. "I'm wearing my kick-ass Milwaukee shirt," he said, beaming. And the crowd beamed back with grateful applause.
Of course, that’s one of Folds finer qualities: the way he endears himself to a city, often mentioning (though he didn’t on Saturday) his trips to local eateries or his experiences with the locals.
And then, after "Music in Circles," another whimsical yMusic piece where clever instrumentation included percussive beats from the viola and "shushing" sounds on flute, Folds pulled out classics, including "Song for the Dumped," and "Steven’s Last Night in Town."
In the case of the latter, it was a version so familiar and yet like nothing the crowd had ever heard before – rife with jazzy interludes, funky drum solos (from Folds’ drummer, Sam Smith) and a clarinet solo from Aomori that prompted rhythmic clapping (yes, really). And as they wrapped up the number and said their goodbyes, the crowd would have provided a standing ovation, had they not already been standing on the bleachers throughout.
The band returned for an encore featuring an upbeat, ragtimey version of "Army." And even after Folds and yMusic gathered at the front of the stage, bowed and took their leave, the crowd continued to cheer and chant, pleading for "one more song" ... a collective wish which Folds generously granted with a closing solo performance of "Landed."
And as the crowds dispersed, I couldn’t help but bask in the glow of a performance that was even better than I’d anticipated – a show that was simultaneously challenging and entertaining, and which was so unlike any other I’ve seen at Summerfest.
Set list
"Beautiful Mechanical" (yMusic)
"So There"
"Capable of Anything"
"Not a Fan"
"Effington"
"You Don't Know Me"
"Still Fighting It"
"Rock This Bitch" (improv)
"Mess"
"Phone in a Pool"
"Music in Circles" (yMusic)
"Jesusland"
"Erase Me"
"Song for the Dumped"
"Steven's Last Night in Town"
Encore:
"Army"
"Landed"
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
