Ben Folds OMG

Rachel and I got back from Melbourne yesterday evening, after spending the last 4 days shopping, eating, shopping, catching buses and trams, shopping, seeing Ben Folds live, and finally.... some more shopping for good measure. It was the best weekend I've had in memory, and it think will take an awful lot to beat it...

I'll gradually post up some photos/experiences of our trip over the next few days, but for now, let me tell you about going to see Ben Folds.... and how we saw him..... TWICE!!!! Yes! Let me explain...

After we went to dinner on Friday night, Rach and I were strolling (um... stumbling? - the sparking wine was great!) back along the riverside boardwalk at Southbank. As we started walking along, I noticed these 3 guys walking directly in front of us.... one of which I thought looked a lot like Ben Folds. But it was when I heard them talking to each other that I noticed Ben's distinctive American accent... and I knew it was him!!!! Ben Folds!!!! Walking 2 metres in front of us!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All I can remember doing was staring at him and saying "Oh my God, oh my God" over and over again (there was a fair chance I was also foaming at the mouth, but this is yet unconfirmed).

Anyway, I must have been saying it pretty loudly, because he turned around and looked at me, noticed that I was refering to him, and just nodded and said "yeah" (as in "yeah, it's me, and thanks for listening"!).

Not wanting to get arrested for stalking, we decided we wouldn't follow him (and subsequently ask him to autograph particular sections of our bodies we don't regularly wash), but instead, watched from a distance as he got in this really shitty, old, 1987 Toyota Corolla and drove off!! We assumed that he must have just finished his Friday night show and was being driven somewhere by a mate.

Yeah, we were pretty amazed by the whole thing... and it was a great prelude before seeing him live on Sunday night. He was so awesome... and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra was brilliant. I found it really hard to sit still in the chairs and just watch... I wanted to get up and rock out...! He was very funny and very entertaining.... worth every cent.

More Melbourne stories to come!

Cheers.