With his quirky lyrics and stunning piano skills, Ben Folds captivated the crowd of almost 1,800 Northwestern students Thursday evening in Patten Gym.

Sponsored by A&O Productions, Folds was the second on-campus concert this fall. Its strong start follows a disappointing season last year when many students complained about a lack of on-campus concerts.

“This was one of the most amazing shows,” said Jonathan Berman, A&O chairman. “It was a real treat to see him play. It couldn’t have been a better second show. We’ve seen two groups at the top of their game.”

On Oct. 7, A&O presented the hip-hop group Jurassic 5 in Patten. The organization does not usually bring two concerts in the same quarter.

Sitting alone at his piano on a large stage, Folds played a range of songs from his solo debut album, “Rockin’ the Suburbs,” to songs produced during the 1990s when he was part of the progressive rock trio Ben Folds Five.

“Good evening,” he said to the audience. “I hear Evanston likes to rock.”

Folds weaved a range of recognized favorites like “Zak and Sara” with older Ben Folds Five pieces like “Philosophy” and “One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces” and a barrage of improv pieces and covers, including Burt Bacharach’s “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.”

During the song “Steven’s Last Night in Town,” Folds sprang from his seat at the piano to perform a solo on a drum set that crew members assembled as he played.

Audience members, some wearing shirts proclaiming “We Love Ben,” cheered, danced and sang along.

In some songs like “Not the Same” and “Army,” Folds solicited audience participation, directing the crowd to sing harmonies like a choir conductor.

To the enjoyment of the crowd, Folds improvised long piano solos in variations on some of his most popular songs and even incorporated lyrics considered “a little too harsh” for his albums.

For example, during his final song, the popular “Song for the Dumped,” Folds added profanity appropriate for the song’s angry tone but not considered appropriate for an album.

Also, he sang a Christmas song calling Santa “a big fat fuck.” He told the audience it was originally written for a Ron Howard Christmas movie, which at the time he didn’t realize was a children’s film.

Between songs, Folds joked with the audience but turned serious when he explained his expressive lyrics.

“If you’re going to play something 100 times in a row, it better mean something to you,” Folds said.

Following his tour from February to July 2002 entitled “Ben Folds and a Piano,” Folds will continue to visit major U.S. cities until the beginning of December.

He is scheduled to play Nov. 27 in Chicago at The Vic.

The $5 tickets to Thursday night’s campus show sold out last week in less than two days.

Berman said the turnout was impressive. A&O often shies away from bigger venues because they cost more, he said.

“I think this has allowed us to figure out what works,” he said.

Duncan Sheik opened for Folds and played nine songs, ranging from his pop hit “Barely Breathing” to a rendition of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees.”

During his set, Sheik elicited a few cheers from the crowd, cheers that grew especially loud when he praised Folds.

“You guys excited for Ben?” he shouted. “He’s a genius.”

Attendants said they enjoyed Folds’ music and his stage presence.

“It was a really good show, because he interacted with the crowd,” said Weinberg sophomore Rachel Clark.

Others said that although the crowd was large, the venue was small enough to allow audience participation.

“I saw him when he was (in) Ben Folds Five,” said Weinberg sophomore Sherri Berger. “This was so much more intimate.”