Never one to be lacking new ideas, Ben’s latest is to assemble an a cappella performance piece with parts recorded by the audience at the midwestern US shows this month and next, in the manner of the vocal chorus to Army or Not the Same that’s become a staple.  Ben says it’s a fairly involved arrangement in the VideoSong style (as pioneered by groups such as Pomplamoose), meant to work together after recording the parts at eight different shows.  He plans to edit it after the US tour leg finishes up in February, and hopes to release it before beginning the Europe tour in mid-February. The first part, comprising the bass and vocal percussion parts to Working Day, was recorded at the Minneapolis show Sunday night (January 23, 2011). Check his YouTube channel to see how the audience did as performers.
Interesting or weird stuff
Crowdsourcing a cappella
Now there’s proof Merton and Ben are different people
Remember “Merton”?  He is the Chatroulette wunderkind who noodled around on the piano and made up lyrics for random visitors to the video chat site about six months ago. Many people were convinced he was, in fact, Ben Folds in disguise, and he attracted considerable attention at the time. We wrote about him back in March.  Both Merton and Ben denied that it was a stunt. Now there is video proof showing them both, side by side, after the Denver show last week (though, after seeing the Winklevii portrayed in The Social Network, I am still skeptical). Merton, who lives in the Denver area, contacted Ben, who agreed to meet up with him after the show.  The meeting resulted in a video which was posted on Mashable.com along with a story about how the meeting came about, and how Merton pledges he will never reveal his actual identity.  We’ll see.
“Saskia Hamilton” video
Charlie McDonnell, prolific video-maker known on YouTube as charlieissocoollike, and who happens to turn 20 today, has made a video for the new song Saskia Hamilton starring, well, Charlie McDonnell. Ben says it’s the “official” video, even though it’s not issued through Nonesuch, as Ben did ask him to do it. Anyway, have a look and add your comments along with Charlie’s gazillion other fans. Update: As of October 9, Charlie says he’s had a half million views.
Who’s that mysterious piano player?
For a week or so now, there has been speculation that none other than Ben himself has been on the random one-on-one chat service Chatroulette, making up songs at the piano in response to suggestions by random participants. The guy looks a bit like Ben, plays the piano sort of like him, and actually sounds somewhat like him too. But, as Ben confirms, he’s not the one calling himself ‘Merton’ serenading random strangers. Drummer Sam Smith points out that in a post on Drowned in Sound as well as on The Huffington Post, Ben is featured in a video clip from the Charlotte show paying tribute to ‘Merton’ in an improv tune of his own. Watch the original Chatroulette clip on YouTube. Salon.com has an interview with the real Merton about the whole affair and what’s been happening. And Ben’s about to move along past the Chatroulette fad, posting the Chatroulette Endmost Piano Ode, recorded at the Charlottesville and Richmond shows.
Shatner in new TV series
Not exactly Ben Folds news, but: William Shatner, who has collaborated with Ben on many an occasion, is set to star as the dad who speaks his mind in the pilot episode of a sitcom based on the Twitter postings of Justin Halpern under his $#*! My Dad Says account (caution: crude language on this site). This, according to a post on mashable.com. The Archie-Bunker-esque postings from Halpern’s dad read like a sitcom in and of themselves. Any speculation as to whether Ben will provide the soundtrack?
Update: The show has been picked up by CBS Television and will be part of the fall 2010 schedule.
