Leaving behind green beer and St. Patrick’s Day festivities, 1,577 people headed to the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday night to watch a sold-out Ben Folds performance.
Folds is a singer, pianist and songwriter known for his clever, tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
Folk-rock guitarist Zach Williams played a 30-minute opening set and told the audience he shared their excitement about seeing Folds.
Folds walked on stage and broke into the first few minutes of “Free Coffee” from the album “Way to Normal” before moving into “Annie Waits” from the album “Rockin’ the Suburbs.”
“Play some ‘Picture Window’ stuff,” a fan shouted between songs.
“You know the new album,” Folds laughed. “That makes me really happy, when people request songs that haven’t been released yet.”
Folds also played the hit single “Brick,” which he recorded with his former band, Ben Folds Five.
The concert was in honor of Jewish Awareness month and co-sponsored by Student Government Productions Music and Entertainment and the Jewish Student Union.
Folds was paid $35,240 to perform, according to Student Government Finance.