I complain all the time that bands that I like never make it down to Tampa, so you can imagine my surprise in finding out that Ben Folds is coming here. Though his latest album Way To Normal was a bit of a switch from earlier albums and his time with the 5, overall I was fairly impressed with it (especially “Kylie From Connecticut’), and being able to see Ben Folds live makes one less thing on my shows to see before I die list. I’m psyched. Tickets for Tampa go on sale this Saturday, February 28 at 10:00am.
[Begin promo text courtesy of statemedia.com ]
Over the last 15 years, Ben Folds’ first-class melodic gifts, irony-laced lyrics, and punk-rock tendency to play piano as if it were a contact sport have earned the North Carolina native a legion of devoted fans of all ages. These people, quite simply, are going to go nuts for Way To Normal. The album, Folds’ third solo studio release, is dominated by the kind of irresistible hooks and piano-pounding pandemonium that listeners haven’t been treated to since Folds’ years with his previous band, the platinum-selling Ben Folds Five. Way to Normal is an exuberant, raucous, and sometimes profane mix of sure-fire crowd-pleasers (“Hiroshima,” “Bitch Went Nuts,” and the frenetically fuzzed-out “Dr. Yang”), cheerful snark-fests (“The Frown Song,” “Brainwascht”), and thoughtful, moving ballads (“Cologne,” “Kylie From Connecticut”) that Folds wrote at the end of 2007.
[End promo]
Tour dates:
Feb 25 2009 Durham PAC- Durham, NC
Feb 26 2009 N. Charleston PAC- Charleston, SC
Feb 27 2009 Tabernacle- Atlanta, GA
Mar 1 2009 Ovens Aud.- Charlotte, NC
Mar 17 2009 Music Hall- Omaha, NE
Mar 18 2009 Val Air Ballroom- Des Moines, IA
Mar 19 2009 Eagles Ballroom- Milwaukee, WI
Mar 21 2009 Murat Theatre- Indianapolis, IN
Mar 26 2009 Wellmont Theatre- Montclair, NJ
Mar 27 2009 Boston College- Chestnut Hill, MA
Mar 30 2009 Univ of Mary Washington- Fredericksburg, VA
Apr 1 2009 Hard Rock Live- Orlando, FL
Apr 2 2009 Florida Atlantic U. – Boca Raton, FL
Apr 3 2009 The Ritz Ybor- Tampa, FL
Apr 4 2009 U. Of North Florida- Jacksonville, FL
Apr 7 2009 Ryman Auditorium- Nashville, TN
