Thursday, May 21, 2009

Ben Folds Concert 5/20/2009

Thoughts and observations from last night.

First, what's the deal with ticket scalpers and people trying to run scams/sell unauthorized merchandise at events?  I don't understand how it works exactly.  We were standing in line and these three black guys keep walking up and down the line asking if anyone has extra tickets.  Extra tickets?  You got extra tickets?  Extra tickets anyone?  Anyone have an extra ticket?  They do this about 3 times each.  They are all middle aged, dressed casually.  Maybe I'm naive but what's the gist of this game?  They are not Ben Folds fans.  I'll tell you why.  First, they are the only black people there.  I'd estimate the crowd at about 3,000 white people, 3 asians, 5 mexicans, and ZERO black people.  Second, they are careful not to cross paths with the employees of the Palladium.  They worked separately, not acting like they are together, but after they've each worked the line they go across the street and stand behind some newspaper dispensers and stare at us.  At all of us standing there.  When we go inside they are still standing there, staring.

What I want to know is how exactly does this game work?  Are they asking people if they have extra tickets to sell looking for someone who says "No, I NEED a ticket actually!"?  Do they do this because they'll get in trouble if they just go around trying to blatantly sell tickets?  I'm curious because it seems like they were just lame and wasting their time.  No one can make money scalping tickets at a Ben Folds concert.  If that's what they were doing.  Maybe someone can englighten me on this...

Moving along...later I was a little perturbed that teenage girls do not understand my humor.  There was this gaggle of little high school girls behind us and to my right.  I say little because they were all very very short.  And teenagery.  Anyway, we got there way early to get good seats...err...good places to stand as there were no seats.  And then all these other latecomers come and crowd in and I feel bad because they won't be able to see.  But too bad, right?  One of the teenies says "This is my sister and it's her birthday and she loves Ben Folds sooo much and do you think you could make some room and let her squish up so she can see?"  I turn around and say "Well...I'm a little hungry, do you have any snacks?  Maybe some cheez-its or gummy worms?"  They all look confused.  I tell the girl that once the concert starts everyone will squish and move around and she will be able to see.  I tell her sister "And you didn't need to make up that whole story about 'she's my sister' and 'it's her birthday,' you can just ask nicely!" in the sillyest tone I can muster and she says "No she is my sister!"  And they all look confused and I give up.  Minutes later, Ben comes out to introduce some A Cappela groups that are singing his songs (like on the CD: Ben Folds Presents University A Capella).  Everyone screams and goes crazy.  The b-day girl is right next to me.  I say "Can you see him, can you see him?"  "YES!"  "Happy birthday!"  "Thank you!"  lol...

On Ben's album he does a song called "You Don't Know Me" with Regina Spektor.  I was thinking what they would do when they got to that song, since it's a popular song from his new CD.  I thought since it's in LA and everyone lives in LA maybe there would be some surprise guest to sing it.  I told Kendra if Regina Spektor showed up to sing it I would pee my pants.  Thankfully (for my pants) she wasn't.  Sara Bareilles showed up.  She sang that song with Ben AND she played MC to introduce the A Capella groups and judge which one the audience liked best.  I was actually more excited to see Sara than I would have Ms. Spektor.  Surprisingly, I didn't pee my pants when she walked out!  But then she brought out Josh Groban.  It was too much and I crapped my pants with excitement.  Twelve times.

The concert was incredible, of course.  Ben played 6 or 7 songs from his new CD (which we familiarized ourselves with during the ride to Hollywood) and many classic songs.  I pretty much cried when he played "Gracie" live (it's our daughter's name and her official song).  Rocked out when they played a lot of high energy songs like "Army" and "Underground."  Almost cried again for "Fred Jones."  It's just so touching...  And one final time when he brought out Josh Groban at the end to sing the song that Ben wrote for his son, "Still Fighting It."  Beautiful!

I later learned (on Twitter) that Weird Al and Kenneth from 30 Rock were hanging out back stage and Bob Saget was in the audience somewhere.

Here are the two best pictures I got with my iPhone.  The first is Ben and the band and the second is Josh Groban.  None of my pictures of Sara turned out but Kendra took a ton (and a few videos) with her digital camera.


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