Pearl jam unplugged tape date6/17/2023 ![]() I didn’t want the band to play anything else - just Alice Childress over and over again. I can still see, and hear, Robert and Darren belting them out at the show - just wondering if I would ever hear this song again. The portion of the song that captivated during the live performance was the background vocals during the chorus. The song, Alice Childress, says so much, and hit me so hard. I wondered if the song was a cover, or maybe even a rare b-side, which I would have to buy off eBay via some obscure Australian or Japanese CD single. I remember hearing the name Alice over and over again. This was a time before cell phones, so I couldn't record it or open notepad. I did my best to try to remember what lyrics I could, and the melody/chorus. I just remember never having heard a song like this before. The fourth song played I had never heard before. Why was this show one of my favorites and on my top list of all time? It’s simple, this show opened my ears to new music, music that truly moved me, and still moves me to this day. The first 3 songs played were all off Reinhold Messner. I could write a review on just this track, but I’ll save it for a later article. It was the slow starting Don’t Change Your Plans - still one of my favorite songs of all time. Standing by myself, I wasn’t sure what the opening song would be. Ben waved to the crowd, took a seat at his piano, and waited for Darren and Robert to get situated. It’s hard to explain, but if you have ever discovered a band at ground level, you know what I mean. Watching your band grow up and graduate to bigger venues is always a bittersweet feeling. Looking back, I’m sure there were a number of local fans in the audience who had followed the band up to this point. As expected at a semi-homecoming show for the band, the place was packed. I ended up on the second floor, holding onto the railing, overlooking a massive grand piano. The Ritz in Raleigh was one of the larger local venues - 2 stories. I am also 99% certain I had a printout from MapQuest to guide me safely. On May 27th, I drove to Raleigh, which was only 30 min from home but felt like an eternity - new roads as a 16 year old can make you feel queasy. In my opinion the one track that sounded like any previous Ben Folds Five was Army, the first single from the album. Reinhold didn’t sound like their previous music - it was the band branching out and taking a leap of faith. I picked up a copy of the album the day it came out, and I’m fairly certain it rarely left my CD player leading up to the concert. The concert was supporting their new album, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, which was released on April 27th, 1999. So I did what any normal kid would do - I went out to the local record store (shout out to Schoolkids records) and purchased a single ticket for $15. I’m not sure how I heard about this show, but I was 16, and the show was on a school night. The best way to know if a concert or band was coming to town was the old reliable local newspaper. Some bands were advanced enough to have a listserv, which would send periodic updates if you signed up with an email account. I would attempt to check band websites for upcoming tour dates, news, and updates. Finding information on anything wasn’t easy - I still remember some instances of using the family encyclopedias for homework. ![]() The internet was, but wasn't a thing in 1999. Ben has continued to find new ways to keep his fanbase satisfied and earn praise from first time listeners. Widely regarded as one of his generation’s best songwriters, he never fails to disappoint, and like any true artist, continues to explore unblazed musical paths. To this day Ben Folds (and Ben Folds Five) remains one of my favorite artists of all time. ![]() To say I was immediately hooked is an understatement. I was in Chapel Hill (my hometown), and had no idea who Ben Folds Five was, or that the album I was listening to was recorded less than 2 miles from where I was hearing the unique blend of piano, mixed with drums, and fuzzy bass. It was the summer of 1998, and someone at a house party was playing their older sibling’s copy of Whatever and Ever Amen. I still remember the exact moment I first heard music by Ben Folds Five. Ben Folds Five - May 27th, 1999 Raleigh, NC ![]()
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