Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #27 - February 1, 1996
Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #27
Topics for Today:
Elton John sound
BFF radio station
Sony
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest (95.5 BRU)
More BFF on the web
(no subject)
joing the list
WENZ playing BFF
underground lyrics
You want an answer Marc?
Re: bff
bff airplay
Radio & Ben Folds Five
bff Tribune article (for your hompage, Frank)
Ben Folds Five Radio Station
first BF5 video!!
BFF in Cleveland
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 07:38:58 -0500 (EST)
From: Stuart Kazanow
Subject: Elton John sound
Interestingly, it's not "Philosophy" that sounds as much like E. John
to me, as "Alice Childress" does. At times, I swear Ben has lifted the
chord structure of "Tiny Dancer" and has nonetheless come up with
something entirely unique.
I have sorta given up listening to anything else in the meanwhile,
though the new Aimee Mann album is supposed to be out now, so who knows?
Still, I'm ready for another go round with Alice, Walter, and Howard.
See you on the flip side.
-Stuart
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 96 9:15:39 EST
From: mpowell@Trellisnet.com
Subject: BFF radio station
Another station that has played BFF is 92.5 (The river) in central MA. In
addition, they also play Barenaked Ladies (Another great band!!). 92.5 has
been playing some great (pardon the expression) "underground" stuff....
Matt Powell
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Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 10:23:02 -0500
From: SSK17@aol.com
Subject: Sony
CONGRATS for BF5/Sony deal...This will be the start of something
big...looking foward to the new disc.
I did not get issue 21-25 of the digest...did anyone else have a problem?
It would be great if anyone who knows of upcoming radio and TV appearances
could alert us to when they are going to happen.
Maynard...thanx for the digest...doing an outstanding job!
George Gross
ssk17@aol.com
[George: I occasionally get reports of non-delivery to AOL addresses,
but I don't get a bounce message from their mailer, so I don't know what's
going on there. Back issues are available at
http://oeonline.com/~maynard/bff/list/]
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 15:32:47 -0500 (EST)
From: Somebody
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest (95.5 BRU)
Speaking of 95.5 BRU, I think that they've turned to alternative for
their own good. Last time I was up in the area I didn't know any of the
songs they were playing. Sure its great to be progressive, but its also
good to play the mainstream music that people will kick back and listen
to and can sing along to. Now I much rather listen to 101.7 FNX. But
since I live in Washington DC, it seems that Im confined to listening to
WRGW 540 AM.
erica
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-So, if you meet me, have some courtesy, have some sympathy and some taste.
Use all your well-learned politesse, or I'll lay your soul to waste-
@Look at all you lucky people, Think of all the things you do,
Look at all you happy people, I wish I could be like you.@
............I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think that they will sing for me.............
contact http://gwis2.circ.gwu.edu/~erica67
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 96 14:35:05 -0600
From: Mike Allen
Subject: More BFF on the web
Hey BFF fans: I found a site on the web called "The Difference
Companion", which lists the playlists for each episode of a radio
show called "The Difference With Todd Rundgren." He's played
Jackson Cannery, Underground and Where's Summer B on four of the
episodes. Check it out at
http://www.roadkill.com/cgi-roger/diffcomp. There is also a link to
cdnow, a cd shopping service which sells the BFF disc and also has
a BFF discussion group. Later.
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 96 00:39:55 -0800
From: "Bill Elftman Jr."
Subject: (no subject)
I saw you guys at the Hard Rock Cafe around Christmas time and you guys
ROCKED!!! I also saw you on the Conan O'Brien show...How long have you
been together? I would love to be on your mailing list so I can see you
guys perform next time you are in town!
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 96 17:15:58 -0800
From: Brad Lantz
Subject: joing the list
Hi. I would like to join the Ben Folds Five mailing list! I just saw them
last Thursday here In Cleveland and it was one of the best performances of
any band I have ever seen (and thhat's quite a few). It was great and I
loved them. Me and my friend run a new 'zine here in town and we did an
interview with the guys and they were great. They were really nice even to
do it and the whole time they treated us well and were really cool. just
an experience i thought i'd share... -brad
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 96 17:23:38 -0800
From: Brad Lantz
Subject: WENZ playing BFF
Hi. It's me again. Just noticing the station's that play Ben Folds Five
and my fav station wasn't on there. That's how I got connected to this
page. The station is 107.9 WENZ Cleveland. I hooked up to their page and
they have a hyperlinked playlist and concert schedule that got me hooked
up to your site. They are #15 this week on the playlist for 'Underground'!
As for WMMS, i have never heard them play it. But WENZ can be reached at
http://www.americast.com/wenz and look under the playlist!
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 17:24:01 EST
From: MR MARC FACTOR
Subject: underground lyrics
hey,
about the underground lyrics. when i saw bff on conan obrien the
beginning part attracted me to the group because their lyrics are
honest and down to earth. in a time in rock and roll where
everything has to be alternative and appealing to little teenagers,
bff really takes a stand and appeals to the average music lover.
they are unique and no matter how many albums they sell, i will love
em. take care everyone.
brian
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 17:00:37 -0500
From: IamFult@aol.com
Subject: You want an answer Marc?
Hey Marc,
I felt bad that no one answered you so I called my friend who has the
BF5 on tape and compared it to my CD (which I scammed for free from
Caroline). Could the difference be the rather loud expleteive (for the
sanctity of this digest I won't write it, but is sounds like Buck Cough)
right after Ben sings, "things would be better it Uncle Walter was President,
but he's NOT!"
Wahoo, a free CD!
Anyhow, to all the other BF5 fans who are on other bands' lists, like I
am, I've noticed thatmost of the time is spent discussing trivial topics
about the bands. Therefore I've proposed my own dumb topic to keep myself
occupied. I've noticed that some people appreviate the Ben Folds Five as
BFF, and some as the BF5...which one do you prefer? We should have some
continuity here, folks!!!
That's my $.02, see you all later
Tongue stuck way too deep in my cheek,
FULT
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 1996 16:57:49 -0500 (EST)
From: JPINKOS@lakers.lssu.edu
Subject: Re: bff
Being new to the list, I would like to know about the other members out
there. I would appreciate a brief description so I know who else likes
Ben Folds Five. I'll start: My name is Jared Pinkos. I was born in
Pontiac, Mi and raised in Rochester, MI. I am 18 and a freshman at Lake
Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. I discovered Ben Folds
Five in August '95 on the September Disc from CMJ(If you don't know, CMJ
is the College Music Journal. It is published every month and includes a
free CD with about 20 new songs.) My brother and I looked for the CD, but
no one stocked it and we had to special order it for $17.99 a piece.
Other bands I listen to are TOOL, QUICKSAND, PEARL JAM, HELMET, PRIMUS,
SEVEN MARY THREE, 311, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, SMASHING PUMPKINS, and
3LB. THRILL. Please respond.(You don't have to use this much detail)
Thanks. -Jared Ryan Pinkos
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 1996 17:48:49 -0500
From: bobsta@novagate.com
Subject: bff airplay
88.7 wcmx Windsor/Detroit plays underground and commercials for the 7th
house show
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 1996 17:06:19 -0600
From: Steve Jacobs
Subject: Radio & Ben Folds Five
WZRH-FM 106.1 in Slidell, LA has been playing a BFF song (I think the
title is 'Underground') fairly heavily lately. Their listening market is
primarily New Orleans and the surrounding suburbs. They are also pushing
a BFF show on February 9th at a New Orleans club.
Sorry, I don't think WZRH has a URL.
--
* Steve Jacobs ** Sinclair@ix.netcom.com *
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/SteveJacobs
The molecules of your body are the same molecules that burn inside the
stars themselves. We are starstuff, we are the universe, made manifest,
trying to figure itself out. - Ambassador Delenn : Babylon 5
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 1996 18:49:44 -1000
From: Matthew L Mondlock
Subject: bff Tribune article (for your hompage, Frank)
Frank, here's something you could put on the homepage: From the
Tempo Section of the January 30, 1996 Chicago Tribune:
"Ben Folds Five Puts Spin on Spectacle"
For months now, music industry conventional wisdom has pegged
North Carolina pop trio Ben Folds Five as the latest indie act to turn
mainstream success, and it's an ascension that seems likelier every day.
When they last played Chicago in October, it was to a tiny and
largely indifferent crowd; three months later, their first local
headlining gig did turnaway business at Lounge Ax. It's an insurgency
fueled almost solely by Ben Folds Five's growing reputation as a
formidable live act, a reputation richly deserved, since lead
singer/pianist Ben Folds cuts quite a rug.
Folds can wrest more feeling, as well as more noise, from a piano
than anyone since Tori Amos, though it's doubtful that Amos, unlike Folds,
has ever played the piano with her feet. Folds attacks the piano with a
zeal that would embarrass Jerry Lee Lewis, throwing himself on top of it,
slamming away at it without mercy, even riding it like a horse.
To see an indie rock and roller unafraid of spectacle, unafraid,
perhaps even eager, to look goofy, is a rare thing, even if his Lounge Ax
show didn't find a strangely subdued Folds in typical high dudgeon.
Using only a piano, bass and drums, his trio moved easily from
rock to boogie woogie, from lounge to piano punk, and even, with a brief
Scott Joplin cover, ragtime. A tendency toward prolonged instrumental
fadeouts and, horrifyingly,m a brief drum solo were the evening's only
indulgences, as Folds, equal parts lounge lizard, ringmaster and beloved
entertainer, kept things moving at a brisk clip.
Folds bears an unmistakable vocal resemblance to Freddie Mercury
and a melodic resemblance to Billy Joel, qualities that might have stood
him in better stead in the piano pop-infatuated '70's than they do now.
It wasn't hard to read more irony into the band's encore rendition of the
Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star," the song that sounded the death
knell for, among other things, Folds' brand of '70's pop, than they might
have intended. Folds is the only indie rocker to wear his fondness for
Carole King like a badge of honor.
Despite a prototypically postpunk sense of irony and an often
lacerating wit, Folds' fondness for melody and sentiment have made him
vaguely suspect in indie circles, Satruday night's SRO crowd
notwithstanding. The trio recently signed a reportedly lucrative contract
with a major label; mainstream rock and roll consumers will almost
certainly be kinder.
Allison Stewart (special to the Tribune)
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Date: Thu, 01 Feb 96 17:16:31 -0800
From: "Richard P. Muller"
Subject: Ben Folds Five Radio Station
KSCA in Southern California plays the Ben Folds Five.
There URL is http://ksca.com/
--
________________________________________________________________________
Richard P. Muller, Ph.D. rmuller@rcf.usc.edu
Department of Chemistry 213-740-7671 Office
University of Southern California 213-740-2701 FAX
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 22:27:23 -0500
From: Allison375@aol.com
Subject: first BF5 video!!
hi all! i have been having problems with my mail, so sorry if this is a
repeat, but a friend of mine got an e-mail from ben - thought you might be
interested...
-------------------
... We have a cool western video coming out
that we really like. Caroline let us really have a lot of freedom with
developing the concept. It will be showing this Sunday on 120 min. Write
and tell me what you think so more bands can get creative control over
thier videos.
keep writing,
Ben
---------------------
SO EVERYBODY WATCH!!!
al
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 21:37:03 -0500 (EST)
From: Ed Zeitz
Subject: BFF in Cleveland
Mary and I went to see Ben Folds Five last night. This was probably one
of the weirder arrangements on the tour for them, since, due to some weird
scheduling and venue shuffling, they opened for a locally popular
deadhead-type band called Ekoostik Hookah (I am not making this up). I
was worried what kind of crowd response there might be, since it was
clearly an odd pairing. My indie-store pal Rusty was also in attendance,
and he commented "I was in college from '68 to '71. This place looks like
my dorm". Geez, tie-die, big goofy hats, that loopy stumbling dance, it
was quite the sight. And that was while Ben Folds was on!! Anyway, after
the first song "Best Imitation Of Myself", the band had the rather sizable
crowd, who was mainly there to not see them, on their side. The rest was
smooth sailing.
These are some impressive dudes live. I was not surprised at Ben's
performance given what I read in the past, but I was caught off guard at
the incredible harmonies (clear as a bell and twice as strong) and rock
steady playing of the bassist and drumme . Rusty had seen them play in
front of about 25 people 6 months ago and commented that last night's show
was infinitely better. There were three songs I didn't recognize, one
introduced as "Song For The Dumped" another as "One Angry Dwarf and 200
Solemn Faces (?), and a third that Ben played the bloworgan on.
I was glad as the opening act they got to play a full hour. Of course we
beat it out of there before the Hookah started. I told Mary that if it
had been a weekend night, we would have grabbed us a pitcher or three of
beer, headed up to the balconey, and watched them wacky kids in them wacky
clothes do them wacky dances. Just like they did 30 years ago when I was
too young to know anything about it. And now I'm too old to understand
why. Well, god love 'em anyway.
I was also gratified tonight that upon my arrival home from work, Mary had
the BFF CD cranking out of the stereo. Ahh, the girl is learning....
Frank: You'd have been in your glory last night. After the BFF show, you
could have walked two blocks and caught Moxy Fruvous for a couple of hours.
You're never too old to roadtrip, you know.
As you can tell from the above report, no 3 lb Thrill last night,
which sucks because it would have been a perfect evening since it would've
been great to talk to Matt Brown again. I gotten back in touch with him
through e-mail about a year and a half ago but then lost touch with him
again.
==============================================================================
[Thanks everyone for the radio station info. I'll be adding it to the
web pages over the next couple days, along with the Trib writeup.
And don't forget to set your VCRs for 120 Minutes this Sunday night...
-fjm]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ben Folds Five Mailing List http://oeonline.com/~maynard/bff/
Submit to: maynard@oeonline.com Admin. to: maynard@oeonline.com
Now if it's all the same, I've people to entertain
You can blow it off and say there's good in nearly everyone