Father, Son, and the Suburbs: How One Ben Folds Fan’s Musical Journey Led to a Family Band
For longtime music fans, musical rediscovery is often cyclical. For Philadelphia-based pianist and songwriter Brian Anderson, the latest turn of the wheel came with an unexpected co-pilot: his teenage son.
Brian’s Ben Folds fandom began on December 26th, 1995, when he caught Ben Folds Five’s combustive performance of “Underground” on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. A lifelong piano player, he remembers his head “just exploded.” From that moment, Folds’ singular approach to songwriting, unorthodox trio setup, and dense harmonies became a lasting influence. “At the core, it was the songwriting,” Brian says. “And then, three guys, no guitar, all singing harmonies really grabbed me.” (more…)
