Ben Folds

Smith College

Nov. 9 7 p.m.

$14-$17

By Bradley Farberman

Collegian Correspondent

NORTHAMPTON – Smith College’s John M. Greene Hall welcomes the talented Ben Folds to its stage this Sunday, at 8 p.m. Folds is touring in support of his acclaimed 2002 release, “Ben Folds Live,” and in anticipation of his forthcoming release, due in 2004.

Though Folds’ former unit (the erroneously titled Ben Folds Five) disbanded in 2000, the singer released a solo record, “Rockin’ The Suburbs,” in 2001 and embarked on the solo piano tour that provided the material for “Live.” His performance Sunday night, like his most recent appearances, will be unaccompanied, just Ben and his piano.

North Carolina native Folds put together Ben Folds Five in 1993, a collaboration with bassist Robert Sledge and drummer Darren Jessee that went on to produce four albums and a hit single, “Brick,” a moving account of his one-time girlfriend’s abortion.

“I was asked about it a lot, and I didn’t really want to make a big, hairy deal out of it ’cause I just wanted the song to speak for itself,” said Folds during a spoken introduction to the tune on “Live.”

“But the song was about when I was in high school, me and my girlfriend had to get an abortion and it was a very sad thing, and I didn’t really want to write the song from any kind of political standpoint or make a statement, I just wanted to reflect what it feels like. So if anyone’s gone through that before then you’ll know what the song’s about.”

“Now that I have found someone/ I’m feeling more alone/ Than I ever have before,” he sings. The ache and defeat in his voice speak volumes about the subject matter.

However, despite the bleakness of his biggest hit, the majority of Folds’ songs tend to deal with the lighter side of life.

“I wish I hadn’t/ Bought you dinner/ Right before you/ Dumped me on your front porch,” he sings on “Song For The Dumped.” The context may be serious, but the singer’s take on it is often far from that. In “Rockin’ The Suburbs,” the namesake tune of his first solo outing after the demise of the Five, he sings “Let me tell y’all what it’s like/ Being male, middle-class and white/ It’s a bitch if you don’t believe/ Listen up to my new CD.” Clearly, one of Folds’ biggest weapons is his sense of humor.

And his superior musicianship is not to be overlooked, either. His virtuoso piano playing aside for a moment, consider his horn arrangements on “Army,” and his choral arrangements on “Not the Same.” His flexibility and masterful approach to music is sublime; additionally, he is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, as, according to VH1.com, he’s played drums for Christian pop acts and played bass for a Broadway show.

However, when Ben Folds brings his matchless brand of pop/rock to Northampton on Sunday, those in attendance will have to settle for his phenomenal piano playing and outstanding vocals. Tickets are $14 for Smith students, $17 for 5-College students. Doors are at 7 p.m. Duncan Sheik opens the show.

Information from VH1.com was used in this article.