Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #33 - February 15, 1996

                     Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #33
 
Topics for Today:
 
      Re: Ben Folds Five
      BFF: Attracting "that kind of crowd"
      Ben Folds Five popularity in ny
      Austin Chronicle article
      ben folds five
      Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #29
      Ben Folds Doing Covers
      Ben Folds Five Radio Stations
      subscribe me to the BF5 list, please.
      subscribe!
      Ben Folds Five
      BFF Mailing List
      BF5 on radio
      BFF Video on the Web
      SOng for the Dumped
      Underground clip
 
==============================================================================

 Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 17:21:25 -0500
 From: Alessandra Elizabeth Geboff <aegeboff@eos.ncsu.edu>
 Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five

 hey, happy valentine's day, hope you don't get dumped :)
 just kidding.  well, i was asked for the list of songs on the bff ep, so here
 goes:
 The Last Polka
 Where's Summer B?
 I Don't Miss Julianne
 Jackson Cannery
 Eddie Walker, This Is Your Life
 Boxing's Been Good To Me

 As you can see the names changed for the cd, as did the production. They were
 selling these cassettes at their shows before they went on tour with Heather
 Nova.  They may appear in some local record stores around here, but I don't
 think they were anything other than a gimmick to get people interested in the
 final product (the cd that hadn't been released yet)
 >  > In the case
 >  > of underground you see a hacked up and pasted together version created by
 >  > the inflated ego of the performer.
 Now, I don't think that was a very nice statement--whomever was the actual
 author.  Ben has been in this business for so long, one cannot blame him for
 being excited about making a video.  but i don't think ego had anything to do
 with it...he's such a down-to-earth guy, and the band tends to go along with
 almost anything. it's almost as if they don't care as long as the music gets
 heard. you've seen them on stage, do you really think they'd whine about a
 video for eMpTyV?   just my $0.02   --alessa

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 18:29:45 -0500 (EST)
 From: eric t beteille <beteille@mary.iia.org>
 Subject: BFF: Attracting "that kind of crowd"

  * So, the soundtrack with "Song for the Dumped" also features Shawn
    Colvin and Joan Osbourne? All the better! I'm not sure what one
    list member meant when wondering why BFF would want to get on the
    soundtrack and attract that kind of crowd... I have (and regularly)
    enjoy) BFF, Colvin, Osbourne, NIN, Crowded House, Jellyfish, Pearl
    Jam... ACK! I'm all over the musical map! So I have to agree with
    another member who stuck BFF in that black-hole of  a slot between
    Adult Alternative and Headbanger Alternative, whatever those labels
    mean anyway.

  * All that said, my prediction for BFF's success is this: Almost
    parallel to that of Crowded House. Start big, have one or two top
    ten songs... Build core of loyal, semi-rabid fans that live or die
    around album release dates... Release increasingly obscure, less
    mass-appealish albums... Have fans continue to defend obscure work
    and religiously wait for breakthrough comeback... And wait... And
    wait...

  * Or, BFF could be this side of the pond's version of Queen. Did anyone
    else see the VH-1 special on Queen recently? Hmmm, similar theatrical
    piano-based heavy pop with stellar melodies and harmonies? Hmmm.
    Does this mean Ben dies in 2001?

 --
 Eric

 "i've paid my dues"

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 09 Feb 1996 15:44:57 EST
 From: MR MARC FACTOR <RFAA93A@prodigy.com>
 Subject: Ben Folds Five popularity in ny

 hey,

 after reading how popular bff is in other parts of the country it
 sore of sucks to see that they arent big here in ny.  i havent heard
 any of their stuff on the radio.  i guess that is what happens when
 your indie,,,

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 17:16:53 -0500 (EST)
 From: Ed Zeitz <ez@en.com>
 Subject: Austin Chronicle article

 Ben Folds Five

 Electric Lounge, Sunday, February 11

 It's soooooo crucial to have a favorite new band. In a world that's rife
 with undependable boys and fickle friends, a favorite new band is a
 rapturous new lover that simply can't let you down. The record always
 plays the same way, and the more time you spend with it, the closer you
 two get.

 Ben Folds Five couldn't be a more perfect crush. The boys of BFF, three at
 various stages of 20, are reminiscent of the goofy, normal guys you ran
 with in college. The beautiful fantasy of this trio is that they don't
 watch Monday Night football, rather they make pop perfection, complete
 with three-part harmony story songs, and a rarely found but greatly
 appreciated musical astuteness. Oh, and better still, there's no guitar
 player in the band. Ben Folds is a piano man "Yeah, there's the Billy Joel
 camp," says Folds about the comparisons that invariably come up because he
 sits behind a baby grand. "There's the people who are convinced we're
 Jellyfish or Queen. Then, there's the Squeeze people who usually travel in
 the same boat as the Joe Jackson people. And then there's the whole other
 area, which is, like, Todd Rundgren."

 Like a lot of artists who are accused of sounding too much like other
 you-know-whos, Folds only owns a couple of records by these supposed
 "influences." But the cadre is pretty limited when you're a kid looking
 for rock & roll piano mentors. So when did Folds decide he was allowed to
 play piano and be a rock dude?

 "Rock dude? asks Folds. "I gave myself rock dude privileges when I was
 about 10. I loved Little Richard and Elton John when I was that age."

 Aha! So how many Elton John Records do you have?

 "Oh. A lot. All of them up until fat Elton."

 But the cool police allow early Elton, don't they?

 "Ab-so-lute-ly. And if they want to cuff you and take you downtown for
 that, then they're sadly misinformed."

 Yes, my newest, truest love. And how I need you to save my life tonight.
 -- Mindy LaBernz

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 14:59:19 -0600
 From: shannon <shannon@yyz.com>
 Subject: ben folds five

 i wanted to add a date to the tour schedule...sat, feb 17th in san diego at
 the casbah (619) 232-HELL.  i'm really looking forward to the show!

 rock on,
 shannon

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 18:22:17 -0600 (CST)
 From: Levin <moxy@eden.com>
 Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #29

 Heya.. there's an article on Ben Folds Five here:
 http://www.auschron.com/current/music.roadkill.html

 Just thought I'd tell..

 And yes, I'm a Fruvous fan.  :)

 -shayna l.

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 21:12:11 -0500
 From: Seaforest@aol.com
 Subject: Ben Folds Doing Covers

 Hi everyone.  If you've seen BF5 live and seen them do covers, could you
 please e-mail me and let me know what songs (and the original band) that
 they've done covers by?  I'll compile a list and then post it to the digest.
  Here's what I've got so far:

  "Crosstown Traffic" - Jimi Hendrix
  "Free Bird" (in a very joking kind of way..)
   (theme to) "The Brady Bunch" - ?
  "Web In Front" - Archers Of Loaf
   (theme to) "Laverne and Shirley"

 Thanks.  -Chris Roush  (Seaforest@aol.com)

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sat, 10 Feb 96 19:50:06 UT
 From: Michael Schorr <Schorr@msn.com>
 Subject: Ben Folds Five Radio Stations

 	I first heard the band on WXPN, 88.5 FM in Philadelphia. When the
 band came to town they also played live in the studio.

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1996 15:33:10 +0000
 From: "GIBSON, DANIEL" <DGIBSON@west.cscwc.pima.edu>
 Subject: subscribe me to the BF5 list, please.

 Hey there,

 Please add me to the list.  Oh, here's a few dates that were missing on
 your tour dates list...

 2/13 albuquerque, NM  Golden West
 2/15 phoenix, az      Mason Jar
 2/16 tucson,az	      Club Congress

 Have a swell day,
 dan gibson
 dgibson@west.cscwc.pima.edu

 p.s. how is that mr wrong soundtrack?  is it worth dropping 10 bucks for,
 besides the ben folds five track?  just wondering.

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 12 Feb 96 07:48:34 0500
 From: "Craig E. Canevit" <canevit@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>
 Subject: subscribe!

  I just bought Ben Folds Five after hearing several mentions on
 the XTC mailing list, Chalkhills. This is the most excited I've
 been about an album since Jellyfish's _Spilt Milk_! Please
 sign me up (and point me towards lyrics on the web)!

 thanks,
 Craig E. Canevit
 canevit@utkux.utcc.utk.edu

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 19:24:00 -0500
 From: Caroline Records
 Subject: Ben Folds Five

 Here's new stuff I know:
 Ben taped Space Ghost Coast to Coast in Atlanta last week.  The show won't
 air until June (drag!) but he got great questions like,"If you had more
 fingers would you be a better piano player" and "Have you ever been to
 outer space" and the usual.  Also, he played an intro for the show during
 his soundcheck the next day.

 Next Monday's show in Los Angeles at The Troubadour is going to be a scene.
 ABC In Concert is TENTATIVELY taping the show to air on March 1st.

 Almost all their shows in Japan are sold out!   We still don't have
 confirmed dates for the March tour yet.  I'll let you know - I'll fax them
 to Nikki.

 THANKS for your help!  I'll see them on Sunday and Monday next week and
 give them all their e-mail!

    [nb: This is the publicist for Caroline Records and she will be keeping
 us posted from time to time. -fjm]

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Tue, 13 Feb 96 15:00:13 0000
 From: Mindi Levine <levinem@omri.cz>
 Subject: BFF Mailing List

 Greetings,

 Question: I'm currently living in Prague -- any chance the boys
 are coming to Europe?

 Request: I'm a dj at Radio 1, top alternative station around here.
 I'd love to give you folks airtime but I can't get the merchandise
 (Eastern Europe, et al).  Any way to mail order?

 P.S. Please put me on your on-line mailing list, if such an animal
 exists.

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 13:29:46 -0500
 From: AJility@aol.com
 Subject: BF5 on radio

 KCRW 89.9 in Santa Monica, California. on the campus of Santa Monica College
 actually.

 Chris Douridas had BF5 live on his show "Morning Becomes Eclectic" some
 months ago. I heard that first. He has since played some of those live
 tracks, although I admit I haven't heard any of the album tracks myself on
 that show.

 they have a website...I'm sure it's listed...

 AJ

 Check our page:
 www.villagemac.com/tnpweb.html

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 23:13:10 PST
 From: Chris A Ruffner <cadcr@juno.com>
 Subject: BFF Video on the Web

 While poking around on the MTV web site today.  I noticed that you can
 pull down a copy of the Underground video from the 120 Minutes area.  So
 point your browser of choice to:

 http://mtv.com/music/120min

 and be the first on your block to own a quicktime (?) version of the video.

 regards

 Chris

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 23:31:10 -0500 (EST)
 From: KEITH MCMILLAN <MCMILLANKR@HIRAM.EDU>
 Subject: SOng for the Dumped

 Last night (Tues.) On the 11 o'clock News on WENZ 107.9 Cleveland, I was
 treated to hear "SOng for the Dumped"...what a great song!! Now I have to
 go buy the "Mr. Wrong" soundtrack...They did censor it, but what else can
 you expect.

 Hopefully, this will also get on the rotation, along with Underground

 Keith

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 22:25:58 -0500
 From: Tkuri@aol.com
 Subject: Underground clip

 MTV 120 minutes played the "Underground" clip again. I hope many requests
 came to MTV after the 1st playing.

 I still don't like the clip itself very much. From a film-making amateur's
 point of view, I think there are too many cuts in that video. I wish a
 re-edited version could be available.

 Kuri

 ==============================================================================
   [Hi all- sorry about the lapse but one must take a vacation once in a
 while. When we were at Disney/MGM last week I had on my Ben Folds Five
 t-shirt and at least one person recognized it and said something.
    I'll be updating the tour dates and radio station list in the web pages
 over the next couple days, so if you don't see changes right away, check
 again. On the radio station thing, to avoid cluttering the digest I won't
 be posting messages just to list radio stations but I will try to include
 them in the web page.  I will probably discontinue listing stations
 unless the stations themselves report in with a url or to mention that we
 are linked on their pages, because it's getting to where they are being
 played in most markets! -fjm]

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