Ben Folds and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra: Live in Perth

Epic Music Video DVD
Filmed: March 12th and 13th, 2005
Released: December 6th, 2005
Genre: Piano-driven Rock & Roll with both acerbic and sweet sides. Also known as "Elton John on crack."

I've seen Ben Folds live a few times in Nashville and Louisville. He'll usually play about a show every year or two in Nashville, being that this is his hometown. I actually almost rolled his front yard one Halloween, but he kept his lights on all night. Asshole.

If you haven't seen Folds live, I would strongly recommend it. It's a blast, and he has the best between-song banter in the business. He claims he can't stop over-introducing or explaining the songs, which is good. I think it gives a nicely different perspective on the performance, and also lowers the pretention value of a musician onstage.

Ben Folds is at his finest in this DVD, teaming with a 90-piece orchestra in Perth, Australia. He introduces "WASO" as his new band, and notes that he's going to start touring with them. It'd be a good idea. The orchestral arrangments fit perfectly with the original compositions, without detracting from the brilliant piano performance.

They also selected the right songs to arrange. It would be borderline painful to listen to an orchestral version of "Rockin' the Suburbs," (Rockin' the Suburbs, 2001) or "Song for the Dumped," (Whatever and Ever Amen, 1997) but the arrangers do take some chances, i.e. "Rock This Bitch." The rest of the songs are pretty much ready-made for symphonic alterations, but become accentuated with the instrumentation, not overwhelmed.

Some highlights include "Smoke," which again is a song ripe for arrangement; "Fred Jones Part 2," which is probably my favorite Ben Folds tune; and the aforementioned "Rock This Bitch," in which Folds manages to improvise with a 90-piece orchestra and an operatic tenor. You just have to see it to understand.

There are few concert DVDs that I watch more than twice, let alone in the first month, but this is one (see also Purple Rain). It's just a lot of fun, and it's truly amazing to see one of our generation's purest musical talents on display with an alternative environment. It's also a cheap buy. I got it for $11.99 at Tower Records. Run out and get this one.

Also, if it gets you interested in Ben Folds, check out the Complete Sessions at West 54th (2001) DVD. It's actually Ben Folds Five in concert, so you see three intimidating talents instead of one.