There's no Five with Ben Folds on his current tour — it's just the 43-year-old singer-songwriter, his musical weapon of choice and his current fascination with Chatroulette. His “Ben Folds and a Piano” tour has featured stripped-down versions of songs from his deep catalog (yes, he's played “Brick”), new material from his forthcoming album with novelist Nick Hornby and plenty of raillery, including storytelling and in-concert improvisations that include excursions into the Web cam-networking world of Chatroulette. Folds, supported by Australian songstress Kate Miller-Heidke, tonight plays the first of a two-gig stand at the Fonda Theatre.

Elsewhere: Speaking of people and their pianos, pop-soul chanteuse Diane Birch's show, originally scheduled for the El Rey, goes off at the Mint. And London soul singer V.V. Brown headlines the Troubadour.

Also: The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars at the Roxy; the Rouge at the Viper Room; Evan Voytas at the Echo; Johnny Osbourne at the Echoplex; Barrio Tiger at Spaceland; the Daylights at the Hotel Cafe; Baths at the Airliner; Ojos Rojos at the Silverlake Lounge; the Damn Sons at 3 Clubs; and Bipolar Bear at the Smell.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.