With just a few days before Thanksgiving, Ben Folds broke the seal on Christmas music in Tampa Bay last Saturday when he brought the Paper Airplane tour to downtown Tampa. The 58-year-old played his cover of Mel Tormés’ version of “The Christmas Song” in the all-request, second half of a 22-song performance inside Ferguson Hall at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Lindsey Kraft opened the show.

Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...