THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #116 - July 16, 1996
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #116
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Topics for Today:
Hello, I sure would like to rejoin the list.
Ben Folds Five
That "strange instrument"
BFF in B'ham
More brief MTV exposure for BFF! (SPOILER for Week in Rock)
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #114
sheet music
BFF Thoughts and What-not
BF5 at last year's Mac fest
Where's Summer B?
testing, but read anyway
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 96 11:24:44 -700
From: dgibson <dgibson@AZStarNet.com>
Subject: Hello, I sure would like to rejoin the list.
Hello!
I was on the list last semester, and only just now regained my
internet connection, but anyhow, i found the Where's Summer B?
import single yesterday. I paid a little too much money for
three songs, but the track listing is...
1. Where's Summer B? (edit) 4:06
2. Tom & Mary (live) 2:51
3. Emaline (live) 3:40
anyhow, sorry if this is old news. I have to say that Emaline
is probably one of my favorite BFF songs now. If anyone would
like the lyrics (or a taped version) let me know.
Thanks,
dan gibson
dgibson@azstarnet.com
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 16:24:55 -0400
From: "Scott S. Anthony" <santhony@scudder.com>
Subject: Ben Folds Five
I would love to be on the mailing list. I caught them last time they
were in Boston. Excellent show! I can't quite muster up the
enthusiasm to catch them at lallapalooza currently. Any solo gigs
between lpza and neil young?
also, whats up with Barry Black? i think this is an Archers of Loaf
spinoff which Ben plays on, is this correct? worth checking out?
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 16:41:46 -0400 (EDT)
From: THE YANKEE <mcdonpj3@wfu.edu>
Subject: That "strange instrument"
The "lyricon" someone described may be the answer. It may also be an
EWI(Electronic Wind INtrument), which I believe is made by KAWAI.
Michael Brecker, a sax-for-hire style musical gunslinger, most notably
showcased on Paul Simon's last Concert in the Park double live CD, is
considered the world's expert with the EWI, showing versatility across
this wind instrument's EIGHT-OCTAVE(!!!!) range.
Patrick J. McDonough
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 96 00:15:00 -0600
From: MICHAEL DAVIDSON <michael.davidson@the-matrix.com>
Subject: BFF in B'ham
Hello all. About a month ago, I attended a BFF show here in sunny
Birmingham, AL. I am ashamed to admit that I only tonight noticed that
concert reviews are manditory. Sorry. I'll keep it brief.
The show started with an awesome version of Chopsticks. What really
made it perfect for me was Robert Sledge doing the feedback perfectly
AND the fact that Ben didn't change the words. ("I met her at a party"
just would sound geeky.) The setlist was pretty standard from what I
ascertain here on the list. They played all of the album except for
Video; they did play Steve's Last Dance, Song for the Dumped, the dwarf
and faces song, and a few others that I don't remember the name of. (I
may not have those names right. It's been a while.) They closed with
Video Killed the Radio Star. Great song.
A few notes that distinguish this show. Ben introduced Philosophy by
saying, "This song was inspired by the Nerd Deli. It's called 'Hand Me
My Fillafel Please'". (Sorry for that gross misspelling. It's late and
I'm without a dictionary.) Underground was introduced when Darren came
down from his drums and stood in front of the microphone used for that
wacky instrument discussed last issue. Ben said, "This is a song about
the Gulf War. It's called 'How Can We Be Lovers If We Can't Be
Friends'". Darren stood there for a while, looked goofy, said "Hi.",
and finally started in with "I was never cool...". We all laughed.
All in all it was a great show. The only problem was Ben seemed a
little bummed. Apparently someone did a bad job tuning his piano. He
advised us all never to get our piano tuned in Gainsville.
Which brings me to my next point. We all know Ben is a great songwriter
who can play the hell out of a piano, but I don't think we give Robert
Sledge enough credit. He is really awesome. It first struck me when I
heard Uncle Walter for the first time. Chopsticks cemented my opinion
of him as the best no-guitar-bassist this side of Mark Sandman. For
those interested, he appeared to be using a Big Muff peddle for
distortion. I really appreciate him because, unlike most modern rock
bassists, he doesn't merely follow the chord progression. (Which would
be a bit hard with Ben's piano playing, but nevermind that.) He really
does stake out and find a melody of his own. I would really love to
hear him play with a more conventional guitar-based band. He's more of
a guitarist than a member of the rhythm section. Hats off to you, Bob.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Anyone with any live BFF or copies of demos,
please e-mail me. I have lots of other bands that I'd love to trade for
BFF. Sorry for the rambling.
Michael
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 02:19:28 -0400
From: MandelI@aol.com
Subject: More brief MTV exposure for BFF! (SPOILER for Week in Rock)
Just minutes ago on the 2:00 AM MTV News report, oh-so-energetic Kurt Loder
introduced the much-anticipated story about the Lollapalooza second stage.
The bands covered included You Am I, Ruby, Girls Against Boys, Cornerstone,
and (drumroll please Anton)...Ben Folds Five! This time the wizards at MTV
treated viewers to a brief snippet of BFF's live rendition of "Underground,"
a quick interview with Ben Folds himself, and the report was capped off with
a clip of Ben throwing his stool at the piano. Again, while I'm glad that
they're getting exposure on MTV, it just wasn't enough coverage to satisfy a
BFF fan like myself. The "Underground" performance wasn't their greatest.
(In my opinion, an "Uncle Walter" clip would have jumped out more at the
average viewer) The interview lasted a matter of seconds and consisted of
Ben just talking about what a different venue Lollapalooza provided for the
band. You didn't even get to SEE Robert or Darren!! I was very pleased
though that they used the stool-throwing as the closer for the report though.
In any case check out this rare, brief BFF appearance on MTV's Week in Rock
this weekend...BTW, anybody know if "120 Minutes" will have any special
Lollapalooza-themed show or if there will be any Lollapalooza-themed block on
MTV in the near future?
P.S. Anybody have any details on the Australian band You Am I?...This was the
one non-BFF band in the report that caught my ear.
Mandel "Mandel-a-palooza" Ilagan
(954) 434-4894
mandeli@aol.com
ilagan@fas.harvard.edu
-------------------------------------------------------
"We probably make what you make if you
work at a Burger King. I say manager of
Burger King, I'm about manager tax bracket."
--Ben speaking about the band's
new-found financial success.
(7/2/96 at a Lollapalooza cyberchat)
---------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 09:25:13 -0400 (EDT)
From: fender@grove.ufl.EDU
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #114
Yeah, okay. The Gin Blossoms are pop crap, but they don't claim to
be anything more. Give 'em a break, guys. Are all bands with guitars
suddenly bad!?
Protecting the innocent,
Steve Clay
P.S. If I want to check out Jellyfish, what is a good record to start with?
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 1996 12:13:29 -0700
From: P Gilbertson <pgilber@spin.net.au>
Subject: sheet music
is there any way that i could get my grubby little paws on some sheet
music for underground. i have 2/3 ingreedients: a piano and a love of
"underground" but i need that 3rd ingreedient! if you don`t have it would
you know where i could get it? appreciate your help, thanx,
Bungle
[A songbook is reportedly in the works, so stay tuned. -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 1996 01:20:06 -0400
From: MandelI@aol.com
Subject: BFF Thoughts and What-not
Some random bits on my mind about BFF...
* It seems that the Lollapalooza Second Stage was bumped from this weekend's
edition of "MTV Week in Rock" due to extended coverage about the death of the
Smashing Pumpkins keyboardist. No word as to whether the report will pop up
on a future edition of the show. Kurt didn't mention it in the teaser for
next weekend's episode. I'm sure y'all can still find the report amidst the
MTV News reports that show up periodically.
* For anybody still looking for the "Where's Summer B?" single in the US, I
was able to find it in the Imports section of a local Blockbuster Music.
It's a bit on the pricey side though ($13.99). They were also selling the
"Underground" single from the U.K. for $12.99. I did get the "Summer B."
single and it contains a neat picture of the boys playing cards in what seems
to be a Western-Eagles-like motif. Here are my takes on the two live tracks:
TOM AND MARY: Is it just me or does the bass line and chord progression of
this song have shades of the Beatles' classic "Lady Madonna?" Kudos go to
the catchy, bouncy melody backed up by a great bass line, rollicking piano
part, and punchy drum beat. Ben also throws in some early Elton-esque
falsettos. The only drawback was that there were no backing vocals by Robert
and Darren.
EMALINE: A good song, but my least favorite of the non-debut album songs that
I've heard. Pretty mellow compared to most of the other BFF songs. Still,
it's got some nice backing vocals and some great lines in the lyrics ("Money
talks, but I don't listen"). I also like the pushing of the beat in the
chorus ("I've heard enough...I'll tell you what...").
* Speaking of non-debut album tracks by BFF, have there been any leaks as to
which songs will make it to the second album?
* I downloaded a clip from the MuchMusic Web site containing Ben Folds'
recollection of the first song he ever composed...Very brief, but funny. I
was just wondering. Is there anybody out there with the full MuchMusic
interview on videocassette that would be willing to trade or make a copy of
it? Please E-mail me if you do!
* Has anybody gotten a copy of the German "Ben Folds Live" CD? I just wanted
some opinions on it before I went out and ordered a copy.
Just my two pennies...
Mandel "Mandel-a-palooza" Ilagan
(954) 434-4894
mandeli@aol.com
ilagan@fas.harvard.edu
-------------------------------------------------------
"We probably make what you make if you
work at a Burger King. I say manager of
Burger King, I'm about manager tax bracket."
--Ben speaking about the band's
new-found financial success.
(7/2/96 at a Lollapalooza cyberchat)
-------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 21:42:47 -0400
From: PowerVegan@aol.com
Subject: BF5 at last year's Mac fest
From a 7/15/96 Apple Computer press release:
"Apple is making possible the second annual Macintosh New York Music
Festival by way of title sponsorship, co-creation of the event and webcasting
support. The festival will feature 450 bands at 17 clubs, and as it plays out
more richly on the Internet this year, it is expected to be the largest live
online music event in history. Last year's acclaimed event included budding
artists such as: Ben Folds Five, Cibo Matto, Buffalo Tom, Squirrel Nut
Zippers
and Yo La Tengo, who are now blossoming into mainstream popularity."
The complete press release is available at http://www.apple.com
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 01:07:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: The Computer GEEK! <jgore@nrv.net>
Subject: Where's Summer B?
Well, I just got back from my trip up to New York to record some new songs,
and guess what I found?? The "Where's Summer B?" Import!!!! I flipped when I
found it too! I never thought I would've seen that. It's sounds so great
too. Go out and look for it! I found it at HMV Records in New York City.
**************************************************
Go ahead and laugh all you want
I got my philosophy
And I trust it like the ground
That's why my philosophy
Keeps me walking when I'm falling down
************** jason *****************************
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 16:36:13 -0500
From: Leslie Weiler <leslie@charybdis.com>
Subject: testing, but read anyway
Hey there! I had actually forgotten that i signed up...the mail was a
pleasant surprise. Are there any other albums by BFF floating around?
guess i should check the net...
your friend and mine
leslie weiler
[Just the one, plus a few import singles. New album is due out early
next year. -fjm]
==============================================================================
[Sorry about the long space between issues. Had a few days off.
Welcome to all the new folks on the list, particularly those from
Australia where radio JJJ has started playing BFF in fairly heavy
rotation. -fjm]
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I got this pain in my heart, that's all