K&K's Artist of the Month: Ben Folds

April 2004

Ben Folds made his mark on the public conscience as the leader of the Chapel Hill, NC trio Ben Fold's Five. The group's 1995 debut ben folds five followed by the platinum-plus whatever and ever amen, and 1999's the unauthorized biography of reinhold messner exposed millions to Ben's quirky pop sensibility. His solo career debut was the 2001 highly anticipated and critically acclaimed release rockin' the suburbs.

Ben uses K&K's Pure Piano pickup and says: "If you're going to move a one ton instrument and tune it nightly then it's gotta sound real or you might as well just hook up one of those ironing board looking electric things. My piano sounds like a piano and it's loud as hell and that's because the Pure Pianos have been a major part of my piano sound for years now. Punchy, bright and real sounding. Whether mixing it in with mics and other sources or using it solo, the Pure Pianos provide the air and ambience that keeps the piano sounding acoustic and not electric."

Ben's sound enginner, Leo Overtoom, echoes this sentiment: "I think it was 1997 when I first happened on the K&K website during a desperate Google search to find a stable, good sounding piano pickup for my friend Ben Folds' piano. I ordered a Pure Piano pickup and a Pure Preamp completely as a shot in the dark, and 8 years later it remains a staple of the Ben Folds piano sound. From club gigs to to Royal Albert Hall to Japan's Fuji Fest, K&K has always been hiding under our piano. I thank them for their consistency and support. I never leave the house without my PP."

Ben Folds hits the road with a new album due out this summer. Folds will start the spring off playing a series of solo piano college campus gigs. After spending the summer of 2003 on the Lottapianos Tour with Tori Amos, Ben is back to showcase songs from his upcoming release as well as compositions from his recent EP's and esteemed catalogue of albums.

Last winter saw Ben Folds dive into uncharted waters and accomplish something no other artist has. Using the speed of digital technology, Folds released two solo EP's - speed graphic and sunny 16 along with a group project called The Bens, featuring Ben Folds, and fellow Ben's - Ben Lee and Ben Kweller. The music was sold on the Internet and available to fans within only a couple weeks after its recording via www.attackedbyplastic.com.

The following dates are confirmed and additional dates are to be announced.

WWW.BENFOLDS.COM

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