Ben Folds Five - One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces (from Sessions at West 54th)

Music video by Ben Folds Five performing One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces (from Sessions at West 54th). (C) 2001 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
vevo.ly/Blj7cL

[@billvill61]

This is Ben trying to see if he can play it too fast for his bandmates.

[@williamhornabrook8081]

I like how they sometimes perform their songs at a way faster tempo than the recording. It gives it a new energy.

[@noahpacheco944]

Still think the solo is a mf masterpiece no one can ever tell me different

[@patriciofernandez2711]

I wouldn't dare telling otherwise. This dude can really play

[@roswell_that_ended_poorly]

YEAH ME TOOOO

[@uubuuh]

Yeah and that last note is mf solid too. Talkin some energy here. I have to guess that maybe a stage producer told the audience to sit still; there's a freaking volcano under way and they're like, hey did I notice the vending machine on the way in had twizzlers?

[@beng4151]

It is. And super rare to have a piano solo like that in the 90's. This man is super musically talented.

[@JoeHuman]

Aint no one ever gunna! ✌🏾🎹🤟🏾

[@high-defRJ]

I've played piano since I was 4, and almost entering 40s, and Ben Folds' piano skills are beyond amazing, and whenever I hear this song being performed live, is when my jaws drop from when his solo and into the "you'll be sorry one day...." part, while having crisp low piano 16th notes played with both hands. How he can sing while doing that is beyond my comprehension.

[@exmagnolia]

On top of that he's a great singer.

[@ezrac704]

Robert Sledge doesn't get enough credit for his bass playing on this song and "song for the dumped". Not only does he play it extremely quickly, but the bassline itself is super awesome

[@chrisg6729]

I have played this live 3 times - and it took me years and years and years to master it. Years. The look on peoples faces is always worth that effort. This is a misunderstood masterpiece but anybody with eyes and ears comes to a stand during the performance. Every. Single. Time.

[@sarahbamberger8735]

playing and singing or just playing the piano? regardless thats insanely impressive

[@RancidRandalI]

Being a Ben Folds Five fan brought me here.

[@wokeupdead3428]

No shit

[@chrissycuz]

Ben folds is a brilliant pianist

[@tvscribe]

He's the best ever.

[@high-defRJ]

Ben is a technically gifted pianist. He can be a concert pianist and also a music college piano professor if he chose to.

[@oktg91]

as a young bass player back in the day, this song single handedly made me want to buy a distortion pedal

[@bobwiegers]

its the only bass pedal I own and will ever need

[@ezrac704]

For some reason I was convinced that he only used a fuzz pedal, but now I hear it. This is distortion, not fuzz, right?

[@bobwiegers]

I think it's a bass big muff pedal, or at least something close. That's what I've got and it sounds just like his tone

[@patton303]

This is the most vicious band I’ve ever seen live in concert. And I’m including bands like Pantera and Gojira. Intense bands but the BF5 dudes played so fucking angry and unhinged you thought that they’d never make it through the whole show. Unbelievably amazing to see in concert.

[@LEARNCREATIVEART69]

dude he can play INSANELY fast lmao, such a treat to watch

[@frarfarf]

he can play the bejesus out of that thing

[@steverebman7918]

Not sure if was the fact that they were playing for "sober people" or being on camera but they really pulled out all the stops for this song, best version ever.

[@dmjbass]

Somehow even more energy than the original... Holy $#&* guys!

[@MikeGervasi]

I saw them many times in the early days. Every show was like this and everyone was drenched with sweat afterwards.

[@christopherkish1997]

This has got to be one of the best songs ever written and performed. It's a masterpiece.

[@RustinChole]

This whole session was incredible. Still have the dvd.

[@tvscribe]

I bought it, but my dad stole it lmao!

[@johannamost4387]

@@tvscribebad dad!! But good taste 😌

[@tshandy1]

The nineties were fun. I'd go back and live them again if I could.

[@OlafProt]

Oh HOW I wish I could’ve seen them perform. Unbelievable energy and playing.

[@tvscribe]

I saw them play in Princeton, Philly, NJ, and LA. Best was Princeton bc it was just him, and the audience was maybe a few hundred people. Played for about two hours.

[@JoshPCohen]

Seeing Ben Folds Five live back in the 90s was incredibly fun. Very high energy, indeed.

[@DeViLzzz2006]

Insane .... Probably the greatest piano performer of my lifetime. Been around for 48 years.

[@wincup]

90's rock was the best of the best.

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

Back when we wore pagers, the service would send random sports-news-weather-entertainment updates which I’d just delete and ignore. But one time (1997) and one time only, I decided to read one. It was a review for his Whatever... release. I bought the CD that day. I’ve been a fan ever since.

[@adamhagen5704]

I saw them in 1999 in Seattle at DV8 for less than $20! the sounded even better than their studio recordings. they really played to their audience while having a blast...Ben was doing all kinds of crazy shit like laying on his back on top of the piano and playing upside down and backwards! the music industry is sorely absent of true talent like this these days...

[@DustinBeckMusic]

I love when the live version sounds different than the recording. It is why performances are still worth going to.

[@AyngeMackay]

of all my DVDs, i definitely play this one the most. by far

[@vansnbandsoyoinkshire3003]

They were running with this one big energy faster than recorded version

[@schoolybear1]

What an underrated band they were, and Ben doesn't get the credit he deserves, even now, for all the awesome music he's written.

[@chris.bcfc.keeprighton.5685]

Absolutely correct. Some of the finest music I have ever heard has been composed by Ben Folds.

[@frarfarf]

The dude has like 50 awesome songs, easy

[@VividFractals]

Love the manic energy!

[@chris.bcfc.keeprighton.5685]

The best gig I ever attended was Ben Folds Five in Birmingham, England. Absolutely superb.

[@jmcieslak0]

the single best live piano performance I've seen in my life

[@salliefouts4725]

I'd like to personally thank the 200 solemn faces for bringing us this AMAZING artist known as Ben Folds. With your bullying assholery in his youth this song and possibly Ben would not be possible

[@lilpoo95]

Love you from Japan😍

[@agnineko]

# Lil poo cool!

[@mhermit]

This has a Metal heart.

[@roswell_that_ended_poorly]

gotta love the faces he makes in the beggining. it looks like he's playing with the piano ahaha

[@aagrape3377]

soooooo fast!!!! uptempo!!!!!

[@williamkrieger7932]

In a decade full of MTV Unplugged and 100s of great televised sets, "Sessions" may be the greatest alternative live performance of the 90's. If not it's on the short list.

[@geologyjoerocks]

That was so good. I had to rev myself up right now and this was perfect. Love this band

[@pinkpolly88]

Brilliant!

[@earlysummer4336]

Ben Folds Five！ I Love Forever...！！

[@korbendallas7181]

Man up until 4 years ago, they were blocking the shot out of these videos. Glad they are finally up, even if vevo is involved.

[@JazzJonnie]

Magnificent.

[@bobwiegers]

the crowd really took the 200 solemn faces thing seriously

[@frarfarf]

plot twist: they are all Ben's actual childhood schoolmates

[@TheCitizenSirHC]

Monumental!

[@nessmain7116]

hes saying "big and important" but at first i heard "big angry hornet" Try unhearing that

[@davewestner]

man, I thought I had the player on 1.75 speed.

[@timsullivan67]

Ben's piano needed a cigarette after this song....

[@TomFynn]

You know a band is fast, if they sound normal on 0.75 playback speed.

[@russellryan3327]

I've always thought Sledge has the best use of fuzz on the bass.

[@TheDibAndBibFabulous5Creation]

i fucking love ben folds. YEEEES i love men

[@mat-rw6yk]

Mr. Weekes has taste I see

[@timsullivan67]

They played this so fast

[@MikeGervasi]

I saw and hung out with the 5 when the first album came out in a tiny bar in Providence. The show blew my mind and they had the guts to play and pull off Crosstown Traffic with no guitar. A shame it all went to Ben's head as they were the best live band I'd ever seen.

[@ezrac704]

I wish i had seen one of their early shows. I just recently started liking them.

[@t.a.m678]

“Shame it all went to Bens head?” The guys one of the most genuine sincere, humble down to earth celebs you’ll find in showbiz!

[@ezrac704]

​@@t.a.m678 He definitely still has an ego.

[@SuperImprovGal]

Thanks Dallon 😁

[@graceyhammer]

here cause of dallon weekes ;)

[@abhadas]

Same

[@factualfuck922]

Me too luckily

[@RancidRandalI]

here cause of ben folds five Welcome friends, be sure to check out their self-titled album and whatever and whatever amen. I hope you like them as much as I do. Enjoy.

[@alantaylor5221]

he got bullied in second grade this like his revenge song

[@BttrThnM]

When you come here after Dallon weekes tweet lol

[@kaytlingreen1948]

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes

[@zyph9966]

saaammmeew

[@brendonyuri1079]

same

[@robinbenshimol2318]

Lovely Bones the Soloman girl

[@Zak-yp9jy]

Is it just me, or does the bassist look like Shaggy Rogers?

[@chelseawho7221]

Yes u willl :) dont give me that bs

[@chelseawho7221]

Narcs, im big and important ha ha

[@kaytlingreen1948]

Dallon has some good taste

[@sblinder1978]

IT'S NOT A RACE GUYS

[@bobhope884]

It is. He won.

[@idkhbtfm]

dallon sent me here.

[@Aaron_Wells]

That crowd doesn't deserve to be there

[@btollmann]

The crowd is horrible. Ben Folds Five is the shit.

[@thegrubes8879]

It’s a recorded session, they have to be like that

[@Rick-zw7zv]

Ben starts the intro at the right tempo but the drummer didn't pick up on it. The 200 solemn faces in the audience didn't help the drummer with his nerves.

[@killemall69]

His hands are like iron

[@bossrabbit]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug!

[@anthonymcdibble9496]

Too fast

[@bpmoore2934]

The audience seem to serve no purpose?

[@dawndoty1571]

seriously what is wrong with this audience?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[@Jyvaskyla]

crowd is awful

[@CGingerbreadman]

They’re told to be like that since it’s a recorded session

[@Jyvaskyla]

@@CGingerbreadman Thanks for the info! It would be tough for me haha

[@derekdamned1]

This band needs a better piano player and singer....

[@Edgelord9000]

well what do you know anyway

[@Kazinga]

No

[@tvscribe]

Ben was such a little baby here 😭

[@bgbstrm2352]

Badass musicians - and never had a bass player meant so much for a band! Correction: no guitar player!!! 😂🙄

[@vita1ogy.]

They do have a bass player. They don't have a guitarist

[@bgbstrm2352]

@@vita1ogy. Yeah right, thank you, my bad. Tired I guess... 😂 Of course I meant they had no guitar player... 🙏👍