


Ben Folds has always been a pop craftsman who avoids cliches, manipulates emotion and occasionally adds humor.

"I like to write a song that I would listen to," Folds said. "I like to laugh."

"I'm rockin the suburbs/like Quiet Riot did/I'm rockin' the suburbs/except they were talented," are the couplets from the hilarious and hook-laden "Rockin' the Suburbs." 

The track as well as a number of others from Folds' deep canon are akin to what fellow vocalist-pianist Randy Newman has created during his storied career. There are not enough amusing, provocative narratives written.

"I've always liked writing stories you can step into and listen to," Folds said. "I like writing songs that make you remember a moment or a song, which makes you feel cool. A lot of people who do this today do it differently but I like doing it my way. Songs today don't all have to be modern furniture."

Folds, 51, doesn't pander or repeat himself. The quirky entertainer, who will perform Thursday, Oct. 19, on the Asbury Park Press Stage Count Basie Theatre, can't help but take chances, even if it might alienate his base.

Show Thumbnails
Show Captions

"When I made 'The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner,' a lot of my fans didn't know what to make of it," Folds said. "I went on this chat (line) to connect with them. The fan base was so upset about the record. I just wanted to tell them why I made it.

"The consensus early on was that they hated it and I found myself saying if this isn't a commercial success you'll love it later on. I just told them it would take a while for it to sink in. I never tried to say that it was a work of art genius. Now I find the fan base uses that album as the gold standard of my writing. That disc was different from what I had done. I'm not going to make the same album again and again. I'll grow and I hope my fans can grow with me.

 Part of Folds' appeal is his lack or pretension and sometimes he can't help but mock the posers. "There's no shortage of people telling you how real they are," Folds said. "There's a shortage of people being themselves."



Liz Phair wondered if the clever Folds song "All is Fair in Love and War" was supposed to be "All Liz Phair in Love and War."

"Yeah, yeah," Folds said. "I almost called the song that as a joke. I didn't want (Phair) to think I was stalking her. I discovered it that way after the fact. Hey, that's what it is. Sometimes that happens when you write a song. You never know what's going to happen when you get into songwriting mode."

Show Thumbnails
Show Captions


WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19

WHERE: The Asbury Park Press Stage at the Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank

TICKETS: $35 to $45

INFO: 732-842-9000 or

Read or Share this story: