Some strange machine repeating beats and thumping bass!

[Jamison Kane]

Head to the replies for my review of tonight's Ben Folds/Guster/Rufus Wainwright show. It is long, self-indulgent and somewhat funny.

[Jamison Kane]

I am recently (meaning tonight) of the opinion that no one should be allowed to play shows at any venue other than the Fox Theatre, ever again. Ever. No one. It makes every aspect of a performance that much better. It’s such a beautiful place, honestly. For those not from St. Louis, it’s an old theatre-style building, that looks like it’s constructed almost exclusively of gold and statues of lions. I have a theory that says that girls look prettier once they’re in the building. How can I justify this outrageous claim? Well, inside the show there was about a 2:1 ratio of hot girls to not-hot girls, whereas the outside was more or less 1:8. The facts speak for themselves. Anywho, it’s just a fantastic venue. Enough said.

I was really pissed off on the way there, because my jaw was still aching from my trip to the dentist earlier that day. Luckily, the Midol- Er… I mean Tylenol kicked in within the hour and I was relieved.* I filed into the building, stood in line for about ten minutes to finally buy Ben’s new EP, which I had put off for far too long. I’m glad I paid money for it, too. Sometimes supporting artists feels good… Sometimes. Anyway, the show started right as I sat down, so I had just enough time to scope my section for any pretty ladies. There were many. Thus, I happily subsided into my evening of musical love making.

Rufus Wainwright was entertaining for the most part, and flaming gay. He made several jokes about it, which were mostly funny. Also humorous was the fact that he wore a diamond broach. I don’t care if you’re gay or not—wearing a broach can only be interpreted as hilarious. One song he sang was called “Homosexual Jesus” or something to that effect, and I decided that Normal Jesus and Homosexual Jesus are mostly the same, except Normal Jesus doesn’t dress as well and Homosexual Jesus’ cross has a rainbow behind it. Anyway, Wainwright’s set became droning after a bit. His songs are all the same. Though one tune, which I was told is on the “Shrek” soundtrack, called “Hallelujah” was absolutely awesome. I downloaded it when I got home and I am now totally in love with the song. Seriously, you need to download it. It's the most beautiful tune I've heard in I don't know how long. It's completely captivated my evening.

Ben Folds played second. Oh dear. What can you say about gold ole Ben? He’s easily my favorite person alive today, save maybe the Olsen Twins, or Lindsey Lohan, or any hot girl at all, for that matter. Let’s say he’s my favorite person alive who is male. The set list (as best I remember it) is below. He, of course, did the token choral directing in “Not the Same” and “Army,” which if you’ve never taken part in, is more fun than anything you can imagine. Anyway, I love Ben Folds, and you should too, and his set was phenomenal and I will never, ever miss a show of his in my town.

Guster played last. I’ve always wanted to be a fan of Guster, but never really got the motivation. This was actually the second time I’ve seen them at the Fox. They’re always good, but not good enough to make me pay for their albums. Anyway, the singer told a very funny story involving the local Six Flags amusement park and TeenPeople.com, so I give them credit for that one.

Overall, it was a great night. Man... What a terrible way to end a review. I wish I was more creative.

Ben’s set list:

1. Don’t Change Your Plans For Me
2. Zak and Sara
3. Some Ray Charles cover
4. One Down
5. An unreleased song about the comical aspects of drug use
6. A song about his daughter Gracie that will be on his next full-length
7. Philosophy
8. Some George Michael cover with Rufus Wainwright
9. Kate
10. Army
11. Not the Same
12. (Encore) One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces

* Note: This is a joke. I did not use Midol.

[dillionotdillyo]

You amuse me, Jamison.

[Jamison Kane]

That, sir, is precisely my goal.

[ghostyouare]

I love you Jamison, you used an asterisk to point out your joke.. Classic.

[JimmyIymmiJ]

i saw the show on sunday night when it was in detroit, and it was great here too... ben did a very similar set list though, which is strange to me, cause he has such a knack for taking requests and just flat out pulling stuff out of his ass... we did get treated to "rock this bitch" though.....

[dang]

im seeing that show in about a week at wolf trap, another awesome venue. i can't wait!

[Jamison Kane]

we did get treated to "rock this bitch" though.....
You seriously have no idea how envious of you I really am.

[bossman calling]

hilarious review

but why the hell is someone like ben folds opening for guster? when did guster get that big?

[CROMagnon]

I have a theory that says that girls look prettier once they’re in the building. How can I justify this outrageous claim? Well, inside the show there was about a 2:1 ratio of hot girls to not-hot girls, whereas the outside was more or less 1:8. The facts speak for themselves.

One song he sang was called “Homosexual Jesus” or something to that effect, and I decided that Normal Jesus and Homosexual Jesus are mostly the same, except Normal Jesus doesn’t dress as well and Homosexual Jesus’ cross has a rainbow behind it.

lol
best parts of the review

[Jamison Kane]

hilarious review

but why the hell is someone like ben folds opening for guster? when did guster get that big?
I believe they alternate every single night, for the whole stretch. I think it's kind of a "between friends" sort of tour.

But why hasn't anyone commented on "Hallelujah"? Seriously, folks. I am in awe of how good this song is right now. Someone needs to download it and back me up.

[munkivelli]

I believe they alternate every single night, for the whole stretch. I think it's kind of a "between friends" sort of tour.

But why hasn't anyone commented on "Hallelujah"? Seriously, folks. I am in awe of how good this song is right now. Someone needs to download it and back me up.


Yea, Hallelujah is a great song.

Actually, that song is a cover of an old Leonard Cohen song. While Rufus Wainwright's cover is better than the original, in my opinion, another cover of that song worth checking out is the one by Jeff Buckley...not to say that its better than Rufus' version but its got a slower, and more depressing vibe to it. Some other dude covered the song for the soundtrack for the tv show Scrubs a while back too, but i wasn't a fan of that version.

[Jamison Kane]

Yea, Hallelujah is a great song.

Actually, that song is a cover of an old Leonard Cohen song. While Rufus Wainwright's cover is better than the original, in my opinion, another cover of that song worth checking out is the one by Jeff Buckley...not to say that its better than Rufus' version but its got a slower, and more depressing vibe to it. Some other dude covered the song for the soundtrack for the tv show Scrubs a while back too, but i wasn't a fan of that version.
You rule my life as of right now.

EDIT: I just got the Leonard Cohen song. It sounds like William Shatner and is horrible. Dang it. Oh well. I found a Bob Dylan version too, which is still coming.

[Corrie]

I just saw Rufus and Ben at Ravinia in Illinois about a week ago. Rufus did Hallelujah and it's definitely an amazing song. Someone said that Jeff Buckley actually did the song for the soundtrack. I have no idea.

In reference to Ben... he is the best! He played Zak and Sara, All U Can Eat, Gracie's Song, Late, Philosophy, Chopsticks, Army, Kate, George Michael Cover, The Last Polka, Boxing, Rockin' the Suburbs, Not the Same, and a Ray Charles Cover. I'm seeing him again tomorrow in Milwaukee. Ben twice in one week? Yeah, I'm just lucky.

I'm hoping for Rock this Bitch tomorrow. The song he played about drug usage... was it about crack and trailor parks and whores? i heard it once last year. it is hilarious.

[fullcollapse88]

the jeff buckley version of hallelujah is by far my favorite, i've been listening to that song a lot lately. for all of you OC fans, that's the song they played during the final scene of the season finale. guster is pretty freaking huge, at least here in the northeast, amsterdam got loads of radio play in a few different formats. however i think the order of the acts rotates on this tour. not the same and zak and sara are two of the top three songs on rockin the suburbs. i've never seen ben folds live, but i know on the ben folds live disc, he plays a couple songs from his days as ben folds five. does he still play any of those? i think hearing brick live would be a real treat.

[munkivelli]

the jeff buckley version of hallelujah is by far my favorite, i've been listening to that song a lot lately. for all of you OC fans, that's the song they played during the final scene of the season finale.


Yeah, that Jeff Buckley version, I think, was what made the end of that O.C finale twice as depressing as it should have been to watch....a lot of emotional resonance there :lol2:

[Thomas Sway]

Yeah I fucking love the Jeff B. version of that song. So friggin awesome.


I still think Ben Folds should play a different version of Rock This Bitch at every show. Or more Wham covers.

[oxfordqueef]

im going to see ben and rufus tomorrow at summerfest.

on the way by, great review.

[70x7]

guster played at my high school five years ago... the pietasters played before them and blew them away. the best rufus song is his cover of across the universe

[jacobe]

One song he sang was called “Homosexual Jesus” or something to that effect

The song is Gay Messiah. It will be on his next LP "Want 2".

I can't imagine seeing him in an big venue. He is better when at a smaller place.

[handsdown29]

the jeff buckley version of hallelujah is by far my favorite, i've been listening to that song a lot lately. for all of you OC fans, that's the song they played during the final scene of the season finale.

Ah, pop punk kids. So sad.

[ghostyouare]

What people here listen to something good like Jeff buckley, I think his music is even sadder knowing he is dead and the way he died.