Remember “Merton”?  He is the Chatroulette wunderkind who noodled around on the piano and made up lyrics for random visitors to the video chat site about six months ago. Many people were convinced he was, in fact, Ben Folds in disguise, and he attracted considerable attention at the time. We wrote about him back in March.  Both Merton and Ben denied that it was a stunt. Now there is video proof showing them both, side by side, after the Denver show last week (though, after seeing the Winklevii portrayed in The Social Network, I am still skeptical). Merton, who lives in the Denver area, contacted Ben, who agreed to meet up with him after the show.  The meeting resulted in a video which was posted on Mashable.com along with a story about how the meeting came about, and how Merton pledges he will never reveal his actual identity.  We’ll see.
Ben on Nashville morning TV
Ben’s appearing today (October 7) on WTVF-TV Nashville Channel 5’s morning show, Talk of the Town. Â In between the recipe for wild rice with sausage dressing and Ms. Cheap’s moneysaving tips, Ben will discuss the upcoming benefit concert with the Nashville Symphony. Â Nashvillevanians can catch replays of the show on cable channel 250 Thursday at noon, 4pm and 9am Friday. Update: A clip from the interview is now up on the show’s website.
Fan club members can ignore expiration e-mail
“Saskia Hamilton” video
Charlie McDonnell, prolific video-maker known on YouTube as charlieissocoollike, and who happens to turn 20 today, has made a video for the new song Saskia Hamilton starring, well, Charlie McDonnell. Ben says it’s the “official” video, even though it’s not issued through Nonesuch, as Ben did ask him to do it. Anyway, have a look and add your comments along with Charlie’s gazillion other fans. Update: As of October 9, Charlie says he’s had a half million views.
Talk with $#*! creator
Justin Halpern, the creator of the Twitter phenom known as $#*! My Dad Says, will be chatting live with fans following Thursday’s episode of the new CBS-TV series based on the Twitter feed. Â Potential chatters should register here.
This has relevance, of course, because Ben’s new track Your Dogs is the theme song for the show and Ben’s piano licks provide the interstitial music in and out of segments. And,  William Shatner, who has collaborated with Ben musically, plays the “My Dad” character.
