It’s true, folks! After ten years, on September 18th, BFF will be playing a reunion concert in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It’s a little too far from home for me to go, but maybe this will generate enough buzz to make them do a tour again. They’re performing the Reinhold Messner album in its entirety, and nothing else, so it seems like they’re testing the waters too see what kind of response they get. Anyone who goes should report back immediately!
I saw them perform Reinhold in its entirety at American University shortly before the album was released (or shortly after?) It was possibly the best show I’ve ever been to - and I’ve been to a lot of shows. That album is really meant to be played live.
I like Ben’s solo albums (save for the first one) and I absolutely loved him when he did a “just me and a piano” solo tour, but the couple of times I’ve seen him with some impostor band it has been hard to stomach. I am looking forward to seeing if there’s still the old chemistry between the three. I’m guessing there probably is.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Chapel Hill and I’m tempted to go down to see them but I think it’ll be a bit of a clusterfuck. Hopefully I’ll be able to watch from the comfort of my own home.
I’ve found that bands who perform an album in its entirety will often also throw in a few other songs to round out a show. That article doesn’t say anything about “nothing else” so I’d expect a healthy dose of other BFF material mixed in.