The “Ben Folds and A Piano” tour stopped at the historic Robins Theatre in Warren, Ohio, on April 13, 2025, to deliver a night that balanced musicianship with his trademark wit and storytelling.
The evening opened with Lindsey Kraft, who set an intimate tone foreshadowing what was to come. It would be Ben Folds, later in the evening, who revealed Kraft had only taken up playing piano a few years ago.
A Night of Storytelling and Songcraft
Folds took the stage at 7:35 p.m., launching into “So There.” Audience participation would come early and often, as someone let out a well-timed “woo” before the song’s final verse, causing Ben to pause and laugh.
The first Ben Folds Five song of the night was next with “Don’t Change Your Plans” from ‘The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner.’ After the house lights came on, he took a moment to admire the restored theater’s charm.
One of the best things about a Ben Folds show is how much he shares between songs. Before “Fragile,” he told a wild story about a burglar who broke down crying mid-crime and ended up giving his victims $250 before leaving. That led to reflections on toxic friendships and the strange ways people can surprise you.
He also discussed Pete Townshend encouraging him to write a musical and his own experience seeing “Rent” in New York. At one point, he riffed on the whole “Wizard of Oz/Pink Floyd” urban legend, before getting a huge cheer when the crowd recognized the beginning notes of “Philosophy”.
Intimate Moments and Audience Connection
Folds’ humor shone when he recounted taking a DreamWorks contract in hopes of impressing his kids. “Didn’t work,” he quipped before launching into “Still.” His playful side continued as he encouraged the audience to sing Regina Spektor’s part during “You Don’t Know Me,” and later praised the crowd’s vocal abilities.
The emotional peak of the night came when Ben spoke about his twins, who were born five or six hours apart (and without an epidural, as he pointed out with a wince). “Still Fighting It” and “Gracie” hit especially hard for the parents in the crowd, given the context.
Setlist Highlights and Encore Energy
The energy continued to build with favorites like “Annie Waits,” “Landed,” “Missing the War,” and the energetic “Kate.” When he stood up at the piano for “Zak and Sara,” a part of me wondered if maybe this older version of Ben Folds still bounced stools off the piano keys. But no, this Ben Folds is wiser and more polished these days.
Ben took Lindsey Kraft’s suggestion of letting the crowd handle all of the vocals on “The Luckiest.”
He closed the main set with “Army,” turning the theater into a makeshift horn section, a tradition that never gets old.
For the encore, Folds spotted a fan’s sign and appreciated the obscurity of the request by playing “One Down,” sharing the backstory of fulfilling a record contract under less-than-ideal circumstances.
The night ended with the explosive “One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces,” leaving the audience on their feet and smiling.
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