Ben Folds at Tannahill’s Tavern in Ft Worth on September 21, 2025.
Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor Nicole Pollock
I got to take a trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards on the 21st night of September to attend the Ben Folds and a piano Tour. It was a busy night around the stockyards but nestled in the chaos was the Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall. The venue was small and packed with chairs. I was told that the show was sold out, meaning that we would be sitting shoulder to shoulder. As soon as we walked in we saw the Steinway & Sons grand piano on the stage, reinstating the anticipation that was felt leading up to this night. The room’s set up made it feel like we were attending a piano recital but if the performer helped write the Over the Hedge soundtrack or if piano recitals had bars on either side of the audience.
The beautiful and talented Lindsey Kraft took the stage (and piano bench) first. From the beginning of her performance she displayed humor and charm, being interactive with the crowd even during some of her songs. Some of her songs were funny, some were heartfelt, and some were both. Kraft welcomed Ben Folds on stage for her final song which they performed together with Folds on keys and the both of them singing.
They went straight into Ben Folds set with no time between. He carried on the humor from Kraft’s set and kept the audience engaged and laughing. Between songs he would make jokes or give backstories to the songs he was performing. If I am not mistaken, I think each night of the tour has a different setlist. The crowd clapped and sang along to “Zak and Sara” and also sang Regina Spektor’s part of “You Don’t Know Me.” There were times that Folds’ made his piano sound like thunder which we could feel through the floor. Of course he played “Gracie” which is one of my personal favorites and other fan favorites like “Effington” and “Army.” This piano recital/ concert had an encore in which Folds left the stage and then came back to play “One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces” and everyone sang along. Once the song ended, the fans stood to their feet to applaud Ben Folds. The tour isn’t even halfway through but I am glad I was able to catch it and hear some of the songs that hold a place on my playlist.
Photos by The Pit Magazine photographer Nicole Pollock in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ©2025.
Follow The Pit Magazine on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, and Spotify!
Listen to The Pit Magazine Pitcast on Amazon, Apple, Deezer, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Spotify, iHeart OR right here in The Pit!
Subscribe to The Pit Newsletter today!
Support this and other fine local & touring artists, dig and buy their music, and get some merch!
