Ben Folds has pounded pianos into submission around the world for the past 25 years, playing everything from ballads to heavy-metal covers to symphonic pieces – often in the same night.
Now he has collected those experiences, and what he’s learned along the way, into a new book called “A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons.” He came by our studio in Charlotte the day of a recent show to talk about his lifelong obsessions, his bad decisions, and how they all became a part of his art.
One quick note: If this were a movie, it would probably be rated PG-13 for language. Just to let you know.
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Show notes:
- Info on his new book
- A YouTube compendium of "Rock This Bitch"
- A really good interview with The Guardian
- Taking song requests via paper airplane
Ben Folds music in this episode:
- "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces"
- "Boxing"
- "Phone In a Pool"
- "Rock This Bitch"
- "Emaline"
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SouthBound is a production of WFAE. Our host is Tommy Tomlinson. Our producer is Nick de la Canal. Our audience engagement manager is Joni Deutsch, and our main theme comes from Josh Turner.