REVIEW: Ben Folds with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Live at Atlanta Symphony Hall - ATL
- Olivia Smith
- Sep 29
- 5 min read
Folds takes the stage with the ASO, telling fans to “express like there’s no tomorrow”
Some folks have Dave Matthews Band. Others have The Grateful Dead. I have Ben Folds.
My earliest exposure to Ben Folds was similar to that of many other Gen Z’ers: his soundtrack for DreamWorks’ Over the Hedge went platinum on my grade-school radio. But as I’ve grown older, his larger catalog has completely captivated me. I’ve fallen in love with this piano man’s penchant for storytelling, comedy, and more. Thus, I decided that as long as Folds was still performing, I’d see him every time he came to Atlanta.
This weekend marked my third and fourth Ben Folds shows. The award-winning singer-songwriter tends to tour with just a piano, but occasionally, he’ll play alongside orchestras from across the globe. Friday and Saturday’s performances with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) were certainly nights to remember.
With a discography spanning three decades, you never know what kind of setlist you’ll get when you see Ben Folds. Though it was less varied than the songs sung on his requests-based Paper Airplanes tour, Folds still performed a wonderful range of deep cuts, new hits, and fan favorites. After a cinematic, triumphant opening with “But Wait, There’s More” from recent album What Matters Most, the show officially kicked off with “Capable of Anything.” Folds is a mastermind on the piano, and the ASO’s string section elevated this song to the next level. Later in the night, he invited the audience to join the performance and partake in a long-standing tradition: the crowd became a chorus and took over Regina Spektor’s backing vocals on “You Don’t Know Me.”
At his core, Ben Folds is a storyteller. Though I’m not a songwriter myself, the screenwriter in me deeply admires his ability to capture time, place, and people. Folds finds inspiration everywhere. “Fragile” was developed while teaching a songwriting course, transforming a headline about an apologetic burglar into an exploration of abusive relationships. “Still Fighting It” came from watching the birth of his son and realizing that “life is a series of stuff we’re not prepared for.”
The most fascinating musical backstory might stem from his breakup ballad, “Cologne.” Folds proudly announced that he wrote the song on drugs—that is, codeine drops for a persistent cough. While under the influence, he freestyled onstage for 12 minutes about newspapers he read on his European tour, ultimately creating a moving account of letting go of a lover...and former astronaut Lisa Nowak’s pilgrimage to attack her ex’s new girlfriend. You can watch him create the song in real time here—if you look closely, you can see the moment “when the comet comes by” (as Folds explained) and the song falls into place.
Folds’ more comedic tracks exist in a thought-provoking intersection of humor and emotion. For example, “Kristine from the 7th Grade” is a reply to politically-charged emails from a former classmate. The audience always laughs at the absurdity of the sender’s tin-foil-hat conspiracies—we all know a Kristine—but the final verse reflects a familiar exhaustion over the current state of society: “But if these days, it’s really ‘us’s’ and ‘them’s’ / Then maybe you should just take me off both of those lists.”
Folds effortlessly rocks the house when he's flying solo, but something magical happens when he’s accompanied by a full orchestra. Conducted by Jacomo Bairos, the ASO was firing on all cylinders and served as the perfect accompaniment to the weekend’s headliner. From cellos and clarinets to flutes and French horns, the sheer beauty of the music moved me to tears both nights. Folds thanked different sections of the symphony in between songs, and he proclaimed that Atlanta’s company was one of the best orchestras in the world—one night at the ASO and you’ll be bound to agree.
As the set came to a close, Folds took a moment to emphasize the importance of supporting the fine arts. He cites his early years in public school youth orchestra for teaching him the fundamentals of civilization ("People working together for something greater,” in his words). He encouraged the audience to continue supporting the ASO and other institutions, stating that “we need them more than they need us.”
In February, Folds took to Instagram to announce he’d be stepping down from his role as the National Symphony Orchestra’s (NSO) artistic advisor after eight years. His resignation was prompted by shifts in leadership at the Kennedy Center helmed by the current administration. Folds implored young creatives to remain true to themselves, in light of and in spite of these changes: “If you're an up-and-coming artist, don't do what my generation did and do the whole ‘shut up and sing’ thing. Sing what you believe. Be who you are in all of your art. Express yourself while you still can [...] because that’s what human beings do.” On Saturday, he closed his speech with a simple sentiment: “Uncle Ben’s advice is to express like there’s no tomorrow.”
For his encore, Folds returned to the stage to play “The Luckiest,” a timeless love song that some may recognize as the theme from About Time, starring Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson. Both performances were marked by standing ovations, with the crowd letting out an audible groan when the lights came up—it’s over already?
As always, Ben Folds delivered a fantastic show. Even if you’re not familiar with his work, he still puts on a show that makes for a memorable night out of live music and laughter. I highly recommend joining my mission and catching him the next time he’s in Atlanta.
Moreover, may this review encourage you, dear reader, to support the fine arts. You might not listen to Ben Folds’ music, but you should listen to his words of wisdom: “If you’re gonna become a symphony junkie, this is the time to do it.” The ASO is absolutely remarkable—from classical to rock to movie soundtracks, the team has truly perfected their craft on every level. This musical gem exists in your own backyard, waiting to be explored. “It may seem like a fancy affair, but it's not,” Folds reminded audiences. “All you have to do is bring your heart and your ears.”
Thank you so much to Ben Folds and the ASO for providing this opportunity! To find out more about ASO, visit their website for upcoming events and more details. Below is a gallery of highlights from both nights.
Article by Olivia Smith. Photos by Mikey Smith. Please credit @mts2.photo or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.
