
We've been big fans of Bob Weir's fantastic Weir Here since it debuted last year. The semi-regular web variety show, which is broadcast live from Weir's TRI Studios, has featured members of the Grateful Dead and its extended family swapping stories and performing a mix of tunes. During a recent episode, the former Bobby & The Midnights lead singer revealed that he will take the show on the road this fall, where he will be joined by Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Jonathan Wilson, Jay Lane (Primus), Jason Crosby and Jeff Chimenti (Furthur, RatDog), as [...]

Alt piano-rock types, Ben Folds Five have unveiled details of their first-ever live album release. The LP, imaginably-titled Ben Fold Five Live , will feature a number of live recordings taken at several of the band's shows over the last year or so. It'll drop on 4 June, with the career-spanning tracklist looking like below: 1. Jackson Cannery (The Warfield, San Francisco CA, 1/31/13) 2. Erase Me (The Warfield, San Francisco CA, 1/31/13) 3. Selfless, Cold and Composed (House of Blues, Boston MA, 10/13/12) [...]
FANS of modern day groups such as The Hoosiers, We Are Scientists, Scouting For Girls and other similar rock-band-playing-pop groups would do well to turn their attentions to the absolutely brilliant Whatever And Ever Amen. The 1997 peak of Ben Folds Five - who were a trio, by the way - and unmatched by Ben Folds solo output, the album has its fingers in many tasty pies, with tear-jerking ballads, tongue-in-cheek rockers and jazz-out improvs all the order of the day. Recorded on a budget lower than a midget limbo dancer - as testified to by the phone [...]
The End Records has signed the Mission U.K. and will issue the band’s 12th studio album on September 9. A supporting North American tour is planned for the fall ... The first-ever live album from Ben Folds Five is slated for a June 4 release via ImaVeePee/Sony. Ben Folds Five Live was recorded during the band’s [...]
Ben Folds Five are releasing their first live album, Ben Folds Five Live, on June 4th. The band will be in town on Thursday, July 18th at The Mann Center with Guster and Barenaked Ladies. Go here for tickets and more information about the show. Ben Folds Five were on World Cafe in November, 2012. ... Continue reading

Ben Fold Five lanzará su primer disco en vivo, Ben Folds Five Live El 4 de junio, la reunida banda Ben Folds Five lanzará su primer disco en vivo. Titulado simplemente Ben Folds Five Live , el trabajo contiene 15 temas que abarcan toda su carrera, incluyendo tanto clásicos del pasado, como cortes de su álbum de reunión, The Sound of the Life of the Mind . Todos los temas se grabaron de las diferentes ciudades que visitó el trío [...]

Ben Folds Five lanzará su primer disco en vivo, Ben Folds Five Live El 4 de junio, la reunida banda Ben Folds Five lanzará su primer disco en vivo. Titulado simplemente Ben Folds Five Live , el trabajo contiene 15 temas que abarcan toda su carrera, incluyendo tanto clásicos del pasado, como cortes de su álbum de reunión, The Sound of the Life of the Mind . Todos los temas se grabaron de las diferentes ciudades que visitó el trío [...]

On June 4th, the reunited Ben Folds Five will release their first live album. It's titled - wait for it - Ben Folds Five Live and contains 15 tracks spanning their entire career, comprising both past classics and cuts from their reunion album, The Sound of the Life of the Mind . The recordings are taken from various cities along their 2012-1013 tour, including San Francisco, Boston, Tokyo, and their beloved Adelaide, Australia. Check out the full tracklist below. Ben Folds Five [...]

Celebrate Brooklyn 35 Gala w/ Patty Griffin (06/05/13) Celebrate Brooklyn! 35 Opening Night Gala & Concert Featuring Patty Griffin Wednesday, June 5, 2013 Prospect Park Bandshell Save the date for a very special opening night to kick off our 35th Anniversary season! Free Opening Night Concert 6:30 pm Gates 8:15 pm Show with Patty Griffin 10:00pm After Party with DJ Rita Houston (WFUV) for Friends of Celebrate Brooklyn! & Gala Guests Since her debut in [...]
Dave Grohl gave an inspiring and insightful Keynote Speech at last week's SXSW [link] Cursive and The Good Life frontman Tim Kasher came to Folkadelphia in his solo acoustic capacity for this week's live session [link] Mondays' My Morning Download featured L.A. five piece The Lonely Wild and their track "Everything You Need" [link] Florida ... Continue reading
As we sit in our cubicles, school chairs or desks today, the Texas sky is relentless with its 73-degree beauty, tempting all of us to turn on some tunes, throw up our hands and have recess. Texa... Continue reading "This Week's Top Show Announcements: Divine Fits, Blue Oyster Cult, Ben Folds Five, Rob Zombie and More" >
Three bands who achieved commercial and critical success in the '90s are teaming up for a summer tour that will mostly hit sheds across the country (and one show in Toronto). The Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five and Guster will hit the road starting on June 17th at the Verizon Theatre on Dallas, Texas and ends six weeks later with a July 30th gig at the Prospect Park Bandshell in Brooklyn. The run is being billed as the "Last Summer On Earth 20133 and will hit a total of 30 [...]
The "Last Summer On Earth Tour," featuring Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five, and Guster comes to town at The Mann Center on Thursday, July 18th. Also performing is singer and comedian Boothby Graffoe. Barenaked Ladies are releasing a new album on June 4th and each ticket purchased for the performance includes a voucher for a ... Continue reading
The reunited '90s band has something new to say // Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.

Well, it took a bit longer than expected (losing your job in November and having a baby in January will disrupt the blog-writing process a bit), but Given and Taken in Ink's list for best albums of 2012 is finally here. This year, a handful of bands came out of nowhere and blew me away. I knew right away that debut albums from Drew Smith and The Rest would stand among the best releases of the year. They are joined by 28 other great albums, by artists well-known and obscure. I'm pleased that GTI's 2012 list is a [...]

What a great week for shows, including a first look at the 2013 Sasquatch! lineup with a Launch Party & festival announcement on Monday night at Neptune Theatre with Built to Spill, Cody ChesnuTT and a surprise guest! If that wasn't enough excitement, Ben Folds Five and Nataly Dawn are at Showbox at the Market. On Tuesday night, Big Freedia and Don't Talk to the Cops are at Neumos, and on Wednesday, Adam Green & Binki Shapiro are at Barboza. On Thursday night, we celebrate Soundgarden 's [...]
We're smack dab in the middle of SF Sketchfest, which we're happy to call the Greatest Comedy Festival in America, and Dakin's running around laughing himself silly, so I'm taking over the task of recommending shows for those of you who love music but hate laughing. That can only mean one thing, though ... [...] The post Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 1/31/13-2/6/13 appeared first on Spinning Platters .
Ben Folds Five have kept busy supporting last year's comeback album, The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind , most recently though with a late night stop at Conan. The band performed two tracks last night; playing their single "Draw A Crowd" for television proper and saving the slightly darker, more emotional "Erase Me" for a web exclusive. Say what you will about the band, but Ben Folds can still rock the hell out of the piano. Watch "Draw A Crowd" above, and "Erase Me" below. ( Stereogum [...]
Having officially reunited in 2012, Ben Folds Five has been promoting their comeback album, The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind . Last night, the nerd-rock band performed "Draw A Crowd" to a willing audience on Late Night With Conan O'Brien . And as a treat for online fans, they also performed "Erase Me", as Ben Folds channeled 90s grunge in a plaid shirt and newsboy hat quick change. Check it out below.

The reunited Ben Folds Five continued to support their new album The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind with an appearance on Conan last night. Folds led the band through a performance of “Draw A Crowd" for television proper, before changing clothes and keys for a web exclusive version of "Erase Me". Watch both performances below. The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind , the band's first album in 13 years, is out now through ImaVeePee Records.