THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #123 - July 31, 1996
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #123
REMINDERS:
* Change the subject of your reply to something pertaining to your
message (not "The Magical Armchair, Issue #nnn").
* Don't quote excessively, or quote the entire digest, when replying.
* Please keep non-Ben Folds Five content to a minimum.
* If you attend a show, you must post a review!
Topics for Today:
Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #122
Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #122
Re: Robert Sledge's Gear
Review of BFF show @ Lollapalooza, 7-16-96
Crowded House Cross Pollenation
UPDATED Review of BFF Show @ Lollapalooza - 7/16/95
Twin Falls
CD Single NEWS!!
BFF: extra tickets for 8-13-96
BFF in Canada
New Listener
"this scene"
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 10:27:13 +0000
From: "Pam Stong, Eric Stong, and Collin Stong" <"pss41 "@frontiernet.net>
Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #122
Rique,
I have no idea, I just like their music, I don't know very much about
musical instuments...Sorry, e-mail me anything you find, ok?
Eric
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 96 11:59:18 -0000
From: 4rachuck@cris.com
Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #122
> Robert had a weird hybrid of amplifiers and
> cabinets.
I've talked to Robert a couple of times about bass stuff,
I'm pretty sure he usually bi-amps w/ the orange and a
trace elliot. His favorite speakers are 12"
>What kind of bass is it?
It is a gibson, but I don't know about the neck.
>And how does he get that tone? Is it a regular distortion pedal? A
> fuzz-box? Overdrive?
He gets that tone because he's good!
He uses a big muff, and plays with a pick.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 11:54:58 -0500
From: M W N <mnick@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: Robert Sledge's Gear
> I'm wondering what kind of equipment Robert Sledge uses.
He does indeed use Orange Cabinets. As far as his amp head I don't know, it
used to be an old Fender but I think he may have switched to an Ampeg. And
yes that bass is a Hamer. But now he has acquired a Fender Jazz bass that
he used to record bass parts for six songs for a new CD by Big
Deal/Caroline recording artists Gladhands (a Rundgrenesque, Posies style
group from Chapel Hill - pop gods themselves!). That distortion box is an
Electro Harmonix Big Muff ¼ fuzz box. Whether it is a vintage one from the
'70's or one of the new Sovtek reissues, I haven't seen it that closely.
Further BFF news: Their road manager just rented a digital multitrack from
a friend of mine for recording new songs at Ben's home. I guess thay have a
little time off from the road before going out with Neil Young & Jewel.
Nik Pappathanasou
Chapel Hill, NC
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 13:35:17 -0400
From: NBoski@aol.com
Subject: Review of BFF show @ Lollapalooza, 7-16-96
O.K. here goes, BFF played their last Lollapalooza date on July 16 at Charles
Town Race Way, West Virginia. Myself beong a veteran Lollapalooza attendee,
I was very psyched to see that BFF was playing the second stage. Before they
even took the stage I could see that BFF were the obvious darlings of this
tour. Numberous crew, personnel and band members were running around in BFF
t-shirts. Not only that, numerous fellow musicians came on stage during the
BFF set to pay tribute.
Musically, the show was great, which is usally the case for the BFF. There
was a nice mix going for being an outside show, and needless to say, BFF
surprised everyone at Lollapalooza with their 50-minute sets. One of the
highlights has to be "Steven," which I don't think is available except on
bootlegs. I was a little disappointed that they didn't play their cover of
"Video Killed the Radio Star," which I have seen before and is definitely a
show stealer.
Overall, it was nice to see a band like BFF on Lollapalooza. This year
definitely stayed true to the diverse nature of the festival.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 14:43:58 -0400
From: DMedsker@aol.com
Subject: Crowded House Cross Pollenation
Being a member of both BF5 and Crowded House digests, I recently dropped off
the Crowded House list, most because the band broke up and there's nothing
left to say. But also because the digest, save list leader Marc Bailey, was
not all that interesting, though they made tons of references to BF5 (one
guys told someone else to look for him at a concert: ''I'll probably be
wearing my Ben Folds Five T-shirt'). I also dropped off a few other lists
because I was getting too much junk. But this list, I'm staying on, because
you guys talk about the fact that other bands exist besides BF5 and you don't
analyse lyrics like twelve year olds (like they do on the Tears For Fears
list). Plus, Ben Folds Five happen to be one of the best bands of the '90s,
and history will vindicate them. Anyone know if they're coming to Chicago
anytime soon? Please email me privately.
Oh, and it was my mom that made the Beatles comment, though it was when she
heard Jackson Cannery and not Underground. But the influence is in everything
they do.
See ya,
David
dmedsker@aol.com
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 15:04:18 -0400
From: NBoski@aol.com
Subject: UPDATED Review of BFF Show @ Lollapalooza - 7/16/95
O.K. here goes, BFF played their last Lollapalooza date on July 16 at Charles
Town Race Way, West Virginia. Myself beong a veteran Lollapalooza attendee,
I was very psyched to see that BFF was playing the second stage. Before they
even took the stage I could see that BFF were the obvious darlings of this
tour. Numberous crew, personnel and band members were running around in BFF
t-shirts. Not only that, but numerous fellow musicians came on stage during
the BFF set to pay tribute.
Musically, the show was great, which is usally the case for the BFF. There
was a nice mix going for being an outside show, and needless to say, BFF
surprised everyone at Lollapalooza with their 50-minute sets. One of the
highlights had to be "Steven," which I don't think is available except on
bootlegs. I was a little disappointed that they didn't play their cover of
"Video Killed the Radio Star," which I have seen before and is definitely a
show stealer.
Ben's onstage antics were deinitely highlights as well. This included
conversing with the rest of the band in "Gangsta'" speak, making fun of (but
respectfully) The Ramones, who were playing on the main stage at the same
time, and climbing the speaker stack after the last tune and throwing his
piano stool in the the Baby Grand. Finally, I had the chance to ask Ben what
he thought of the Lollapalooza headliner, Metallica. Doing a dead-on air
guitar of any of the members in Metallica, his reply, "Those boys sure love
to play their guitars."
Overall, it was nice to see a band like BFF on Lollapalooza. This year
definitely stayed true to the diverse nature of the festival.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 16:42:08 -0500 (EST)
From: jpinkos@lakers.lssu.edu
Subject: Twin Falls
Lyrics to Ben Folds Five cover of Built to Spill's song, "Twin Falls".
They didn't play this one at the Detroit show(too bad!), but it's a great
little tune that tey do live. By te way, Frank(or any other 7th House
attendees), did we see the only Michigan BF5 ever?
Twin Falls:
Christmas Twin Falls, Idaho's
Her first memory
She was only two
It's the first time she felt blue
Cafeteria Harrison Elementary
Beneath the parachute
I saw her witout shoes
7up, I touched her thumb
And she knew it was me
Altough she couldn't see
Unless, of course, she peeked
My mom said she got me out of
Twin Falls Idaho
Before I got too old
You know how that goes
Back when she still was a star
We turned seventeen
Nineteen-eighty-three
Three weeks after me
----------------------------
Hows about another for good measure? This one they wrote and played in
Detroit.
Tom And Mary:
For the benifit of Tom and Mary
Before our guests arrive
If they haven't found out already
It's gonna blow all thier minds
Will they find the strength to find
The will to testify
That for the benifit of Tom and Mary
There's something we can't ide anymore
Everybody here knows the story
Some have fabricated extra parts
See the sisters shouting whispers
Feeding hot air to the sparks
Put a damper on the party
It will lighten up the room
For the benifit of Tom and Mary
They've got to see the truth today
Ms. Powers son says, "here they come"
And all the chatter and the smiles, they come undone
And you could here a pin drop on the carpet floor
Everyone's pretending not to here the knocking at the door
For the benifit of Tom and Mary
Before our guests arrive
If they haven't found out already
It's gonna blow all of thier minds
And yet the seams all seem to show
That for the benifit of Tom and Mary
For the benifit
For the benifit
For the benifit
------------------------
Sorry about spelling, I have a bad hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. -Jared
Later This Week: "Video Killed The Radio Star"!
[Jared, your question about Michigan appearances - they played at the
Shelter in Detroit in September '95 on the Heather Nova tour. I missed that
show but I believe at least one listmember was there. -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 17:08:04 -0500 (EST)
From: jpinkos@lakers.lssu.edu
Subject: CD Single NEWS!!
ON AUGUST 26TH 1996, BEN FOLDS FIVE WILL RELEASE "UNDERGROUND"(PART ONE)
W/ LIVE VERSIONS OF "SATAN IS MY MASTER" AND "VIDEO", AND PART TWO W/
LIVE VERSIONS OF "UNDERGROUND" AND "JACKSON CANNERY". I CAN'T
WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-JARED
[Is this import or a domestic release? -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 18:03:23 -0500
From: John Kearney <jkearney@radix.net>
Subject: BFF: extra tickets for 8-13-96
Ben Folds Five is appearing at Stone Ridge (Nissan) Pavilion outside
Washington DC on 8-13-96. Also on the bill are Jewel and Neil Young.
I've got a few extra tickets to dispose of, all in section 102 (good
seats!). If you're interested, please reply by private e-mail to
jkearney@radix.net. Please do not reply to the list, no need to clutter it
up with private correspondence.
TIA,
jk
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 18:01:00 -0400
From: Neil Malhotra <nmalhotra@cyberus.ca>
Subject: BFF in Canada
I'm wondering if there are any Canadians out there into this scene? I saw
these guys for a total of ten seconds on Muchmusic (are equivalent of MTV)
during Lollapalooza and I was hooked. It took me a two weeks to track down
the CD and now I can't get enough. If anyone has any live tapes please
contact me.
nm
[There are several Canadian list members, and I've even seen the CD at
HMV in Windsor. -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 19:50:29 -0400
From: Scott Simons <scottwvu@iolinc.net>
Subject: New Listener
Howdy all,
I just started listening to Ben Folds Five recently and as a
pianist and composition major I am SO impressed and envious. Anyway,
here's my quick BFF story: The band was playing in Pittsburgh at a bar
called Grafitti's... I drove 2 hrs to see them and guess what... couldn't
get in... Im under 21... 19 to be exact. Boy was I pissed... So Ill just
have to wait until they come back around. Besides Im sure they'll be
around for a LONG while...
Scott Simons
Morgantown, WV
Junior Music Composition Major at West Virginia University
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 21:00:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jenn Halter <jlh4935@email.unc.edu>
Subject: "this scene"
Just wanted to make a little comment on the following exchange- and I'm
not leaning one way or the other:
>
> >> [...] BF5 does not seem to associate themselves much with this 'scene,'
> >>and vice versa. I think we can all live with that arangement. Not that
> >>they're not good at their thing, but they don't seem to get (or give)
> >>tons of support around Chapel Hill.
>
> That "vice versa" seems to imply that there's something called "this
> 'scene'" that deliberately doesn't associate itself with Ben Folds Five,
> an assertion that strikes me as so offbase as to be ludicrous. And the
> idea that BF5 doesn't "get" or "give" tons of support around Chapel Hill
> also strikes me as revealing more about Ruby, and her definition of Chapel
> Hill, than it reveals about the actual situation of Ben Folds and the
> local audience.
I think one reason BFF isn't currently "getting from" or "giving to" the
scene is because they are just really freaking busy. They are one of the
few Chapel Hill bands who are at this moment involved with a MAJOR tour
(Lollapalooza/Neil Young). After spending the past weekend emersed in "this
scene" (Vanish and the Cradle show), I feel that maybe many people here
(CH) think they are "too cool" to listen to a band who has become so
successful. Whatever. I'm tired of all the "hip scenester" crap.
Listen to what you like and support who you like. I know tons of people
in Chapel Hill who love Ben Folds. Gee, I guess that means they can't
like Polvo or Capsize 7...hey wait, there's the Caroline Records
connection. I wonder if the scene will stop "giving and getting" from
C7 too.
Sorry to anyone who could care less about this...but if you do, check out
alt.music.chapel-hill for more of the similar sarcasm and scenester
stuff. It's always very enlightning.
jenn i did stop politicking long enough to watch the sunset halter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR - The Ben Folds Five Mailing List
Submit to: maynard@oeonline.com Admin. to: maynard@oeonline.com
WWW homepage: http://oeonline.com/~maynard/bff/
List archive: http://oeonline.com/~maynard/bff/list/
Hey you with the long and lonely face