Student Events announced Thursday night that Ben Folds is coming to Brandeis for the fall 2009 concert on Thursday, Nov. 5 in Shapiro Athletic Center.I tried to gauge other students' reactions right after the announcement. There were a couple of overjoyed screamers, but for the most part, there was indifference as students piled back to their dormitories. As I walked down the aisle of Sherman Function Hall, I overheard a student allude to the fact that Student Events usually gets a performer that was popular five years ago.

But since Ben Folds' appearance has prompted two of my friends who go to the University of Florida to come visit me, I would have to admit Student Events is doing much better than the pattern I overheard the student talking about. Ben Folds Five came out with its first album, Ben Folds Five, in 1995, (14 years ago actually), and Ben Folds started his solo career in 2001 with the album Rockin' the Suburbs. A year later, he came out with, Ben Folds Live, and in April of this year, Ben Folds Presents University A Cappella.

Folds is not just a singer-songwriter; he also plays a plethora of instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, keytar, melodica and maybe even more. (Did I mention he Tweets?) Folds' studio album, Way to Normal, released on Sept. 30, 2008, came out at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. Moreover, Folds gives back to his community whether it's for charity such as concerts for Operation Smile or to his music community as an inaugural member for the Independent Music Awards' judging panel. On Folds' Web site, he jokes that his cover of Dr. Dre's "Bitches Ain't Shit," which reached No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100, is his "biggest hit." That came out in 2006 on the album The Supersunnyspeedgraphic.

Tickets to the Ben Folds concert will go on sale this Thursday, Oct. 15. Tickets cost $10 for Brandeis students and $15 for nonstudents.