Ben Folds and Jason Mraz Woo GWU

Friday night, George Washington University's Charles E. Smith Center was filled with students eager to hear pop-rock pianist Ben Folds and singer-songwriter Jason Mraz. The concert was sponsored by both Program Board and WRGW Radio, as part of the station's 80th Anniversary celebration.

Ben Folds was best known as the former front man of the group Ben Folds Five, but the group disbanded in 2000. As a solo artist, Ben Folds produces up-beat, danceable, piano rock that is evocative of the great Sir Elton John. Suffice to say, Ben Folds brings an infusion of quirky energy and wit to the stage that cannot be measured against Sir Elton's tempered elegance.

Ben Folds did bring that same energy to the Smith Center, as he began his dynamic hour and a half long set with his song ' Effington', 'Brainwashed', the ever-catchy and ever-popular 'You Don't Know Me', and 'Annie Waits'. The songs were a mix of his early solo attempts all the way up to his most recent 2008 release from Epic Records, 'Way to Normal'. Ben first captivated the audience as he shared the story behind the song 'Bitch Went Nuts' about a young woman and the errant Republican lawyer who loves her until one fateful office party. You get the idea. A hushed silenced fell over the audience as he explained what he could do by taping two Altoid cans inside of his acoustic piano. The effect: a faux-electronic, distorted, and yet oh-so-cool- rendering of a song entitled 'Free Coffee'. After captivating the crowd as he attempted to direct a kind of harmonizing vocal melody via crowd participation. The result? Masses of GW students moaning audibly and awkwardly as Ben Folds looked the part of a mad scientist-cum-orchestra direction, perched on said piano. The crowd's impatience was audible, as many had never heard of the talented performer and were merely waiting for Jason Mraz.

After Ben Folds did the real work of playing an hour-and-a half long set, entertaining with funny stories and anecdotes to the crowd, and getting masses of GW students to participate in one, singular activity -- all Jason Mraz had to do was stroll onto the stage and the crowd went nuts. Granted, Mraz has seen immense success from his latest studio album 'We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.', especially with his light-hearted, Grammy-nominated ballad 'I'm Your's'. But Mraz proved his vocal might and his quality as a true entertainer. Mraz was backed by a skilled band, featuring a dynamic percussion section and a mighty good horn section that created a wonderful harmony with Mraz's soaring voice. His music is filled with pop, reggae, funk, and even jazz elements that display his exemplary musical range. In between songs, Mraz started to get a little too message-y, as he was promoting notions of "self-love" and "sending out love to the universe" the day before Valentine's Day. Despite Mraz's tendency to get a little message-y, the crowd wanted more.

When he emerged for the encore, Mraz quipped "It's Friday the 13th and Jason is back".

- Shawn Willis