caption website associated_acts years_active label article_title landscape background genre image origin name
ben 18 , 2008 in chapel hill , north carolina . folds five at their reunion concert on september current_members = -lcb- -lcb- unbulleted list fear , caleb southern , fleming and john of pop , hotel lights , international orange 1993 -- 2000,2008,2011 -- present passenger , caroline , 550 ben folds five
 yes group_or_band alternative rock , power pop benfoldsfivereunionlive.jpg chapel hill , north carolina ben folds five
ben folds five

ben folds five are an american alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in chapel hill , north carolina .
the group 's members are ben folds -lrb- lead vocals , piano , keyboards , melodica , principal songwriting -rrb- , robert sledge -lrb- bass , contrabass , synthesizer , backing vocals -rrb- , and darren jessee -lrb- drums , percussion , backing vocals , songwriter -rrb- .
the group achieved mainstream success in the alternative , indie and pop music scenes .
their single `` brick '' from the 1997 album `` whatever and ever amen '' gained airplay on many mainstream radio stations .
during their seven years together , the band released three proper studio records , one retrospective album of b-sides and outtakes , and eight singles .
they also contributed to a number of soundtracks and compilations .
ben folds five disbanded in october 2000 .
the group reunited for a one-off concert on september 18 , 2008 , where they played their album , `` the unauthorized biography of reinhold messner '' , in its entirety .
in 2011 , ben folds five reunited to record three tracks for ben folds ' '' '' .
it was announced on folds ' twitter in january 2012 that the band had reunited to record a new album , released on september 18 , 2012 , titled `` the sound of the life of the mind '' .
as of march 1 of the same year , at least three tour dates have been added , including the bonnaroo festival in manchester , tennessee , deluna festival in pensacola , florida , and the mountain jam festival in hunter , ny .
in july 2012 the band announced us and european tour dates for fall 2012 .
