THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #198 - March 13, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #198
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:
Eastern US Dates?
Duel CD singles really f***ing blow
BFF
Ben loves the ARCHERS
ukukukuk
ANYONE WANT TO TRADE?
A few Responses
Sheffield Gig
I made Ben sick?
Ben Foldbergstein
Fatal Mail Error!??@%
#BFF
Alex Chilton....
ct: re: Counting Crows are big fans!
oi oi rudies!!!
New album: A statesider's reaction
BFF in Berkeley
Folds Five Rock The Leadmill Cliche Shocker!
Norwich gig
bf5concerts?
Hang on, a good subject line will come to me in a minute....
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 16:18:23 -0500
From: Holtgraver Family <holtgash@erinet.com>
Subject: Eastern US Dates?
That is the most boring title I could possibly come up with, so now that no
one is reading this I'd like to post my little quetion.
When is BFF coming to Eastern USA??? Like, say, OHIO???
Here in Ohio, I live a humble existance. All I ask is my favorite band in
all the world come to town for just a few days!
Anyhow, if anyone has access to this invaluable info, please lie, cheat,
or steal your way to getting it. I NEED BFF!!!!!!
a new girl,
Ashley
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 15:46:55 -0600
From: "Clasen, Benjamin P" <BPCLASEN@CSBSJU.EDU>
Subject: Duel CD singles really f***ing blow
I need to post an argument, even though im a pretty argument free-passive
person. While the concept of having a 2 cd single release may blow pretty
hard, I have to say that I completely disagree with NEAL A. on the quality and
content of the other 4 b-sides. I think that, despite the s***ty recording
quality, the b-sides really showed a piece of BFF that you can only hear in
live performance (which I have not yet had the pleasure of being graced with).
ESPECIALLY "for those of y'all.." I need to quote a friend of mine. She
wrote me last night after having the new singles on repeat play all weekend.
she said "Okay, I have something to confess. To Those Of Y'all Who Wear Fanny
packs is rapidly becoming one of my current favorite songs." I dont know how
anyone can disagree - but I understand that there are people that might - and
there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. just thought id share. I love
it. love it. love it.
ben clasen
bpclasen@csbsju.edu
ps - the "battle" video was on 120 minutes last week. I have never laughed so
hard. Ben in my biggest hero of all time.
pss - anybody hear anything about a minneapolis show??
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 18:35:52 -0500
From: Jason Miller <jasonchibari@mindspring.com>
Subject: BFF
The song Ben is contributing to the Lounge compilation is a cover of the
Flaming Lips "HIT" song "She dont use Jelly". I'm sure they will do a
fine job, but for a lounge compilation?? I was looking forward to them
doing a Burt Bacharach cover. Oh wel l.
Jay Superstar Miller
jasonchibari@mindspring.com
**insert meaningful song lyric here**
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 06:59:13 -0500
From: "Bryan L. Brown" <idaho@appstate.campus.mci.net>
Subject: Ben loves the ARCHERS
WHOA! The Swedish guy posted an interview with Ben in which Ben stated
that he thought "Web in Front" by the Archers of Loaf is perhaps a perfect
pop song. I don't know about a perfect pop song, but the Archers write
some great stuff. If you're not familiar, they are also from Chapel Hill
and are sort of harshly eclectic punk pop. You can even visit Matt at
Franklin Street Cycles (if he still works there). Anyway, the Archers are
also an excellent band (with little or no resemblence to BFF, however) and
if you haven't already check out the album Icky Mettle. I'm just amazed
that Ben mentioned them. Color me thrilled. Go HEELS!!!
Bryan L. Brown
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 19:06:07 -0500 (EST)
From: jenn halter <jenno@email.unc.edu>
Subject: ukukukuk
seems like everyone on this list is from the uk. so i'll say "cheers!"
well, the five is playing the cat's cradle in carrboro (chapel hill) on
mar. 28. the tix are $7 and have not gone on sale as of today (tues. 11).
i'm just letting those of you who may be within driving distance and who
have never been to the cradle. you should definitely try to make it here!
need directions? i might possibly get tickets for people who can't get
them where they live. let me know via PRIVATE email.
cheers--
jenn
jenno@email.unc.edu
http://sunsite.unc.edu/5e
"It is unfortunate that many dismiss sounds as poor and
unlistenable due only to their unfamiliarity."--?
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 18:23:01 +0000
From: Geof Goldbogen <goldbogen@earthlink.net>
Subject: ANYONE WANT TO TRADE?
Been a BF5 fan for a year or two and I looking for tapes to trade. I
have lots of tapes espacially phish about 100hrs. If any body could help
it would be greatly appreciated. I'll send blanks as well.
Jere
goldbogen@earthlink.net
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 19:54:56 -0500 (EST)
From: THE YANKEE <mcdonpj3@wfu.edu>
Subject: A few Responses
1. While BFF may not be as huge in the U.S., that doesn't mean we aren't
good fans. Frankly, I'm glad they're not so big over here anymore- odds
are I will still be able to talk to Ben and hand him some cookies after
the show on March 27th at Ziggy's. However, I'm afraid we'll never get
another Q+A on the armchair since its grown too big. (no offense to
recent joiners, everyone deserves to enjoy BFF!)
2. As for the singles, I haven't heard them, but I've got my coupon from
www.bffweb.com and I'm running to the Indie store of my choice tomorrow.
I don' think this was a "sell-out" tactic on the part of the band,
especially if they're being given away free nationwide. (check the
website) Finally, if the single is being sold anywhere, its massivce
giveaway is surely undermining its true spread, thus not affecting the
charts (directly). IN the end, I'm sure it's something the record
company is doing. If it means free CD's for us, can you argue that much?
3. I will be at the show with friends on March 27th at Ziggy's-if
anyone's going to be there, look for a guy about 5'9" holding a sign
that says "Keen Baked Goods".
Patrick J. McDonough
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 02:03:43 +0000 (GMT)
From: "C. Mosier" <cm235@hermes.cam.ac.uk>
Subject: Sheffield Gig
After thanking a girl near the front for a card in the shape of a piano,
asking the guy who had Ben's shoe to raise his hand(it appeared that Ben
had lost it during an earlier show??) and thanking someone for returning
his ring(which he said was one-of-a-kind enscribed with "Love Debbie") the
Ben Folds Five took to the stage at Sheffield.
A qulaity gig all-around which turned up-tempo for the whole second half(I
was jumping to tunes I don't jump to when I listen at home). After seeing
the trio perform in Nashville, TN about a year ago it was interesting to
see the differences between the shows and the crowds. Ben was the same Ben
Folds with less banter between tunes than in Nashville, but Robert was a
lot of fun to watch and seemed to come into his own on stage doing hand
motions and really getting into it on stage. Darren continues to rip it up
on drums.
They opened their encore by throwing bananas into the crowd and and saying
that they were going to play a song about fruit. They proceeded to play
the first verse of Julianne witha latin beat before opening it up. The
encore seemed to be cut short as the stage divers appeared to steal the
energy from the band. May they continue to rock the halls of this
world, Whatever Amen.
Chris M.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 22:31:46 -0400 (AST)
From: Daniel MacEachern <dmaceach@is2.dal.ca>
Subject: I made Ben sick?
> and how Ben got sick reading a digest where one of us was debating whether
> Ben's hands were big enough to play those mondo chords he plays.
>
> So fess up. Which one of us has that much time on his/her hands?
>
Uh.
I was one of the people talking about big hands, but it was about big hands
in general, not whether or not Ben's hands were big enough. Still, I feel
awful, if it made him sick!
I meant no disrespect! please, YOU MUST BELIEVE ME!
Daniel
Halifax
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 19:14:12 -0800 (PST)
From: Adam Gimbel <dumyhead@millennianet.com>
Subject: Ben Foldbergstein
Reading someone's posts about a setlist saying "Smoke, Uncle Walter" I
couldn't help but sing it to the tune of Deep Purple's "Smoke On The
Water". :)
Just got the free import discs & they were worth every penny. One thing
that freaked me out was noting that Ben did "Hava Nagila" in GERMANY. My
apologies to any eastern block fans but I dated a girl from Poland who told
me that anti-semitism is still pretty popular in those parts. My first
reaction was "WHAT BALLS!"
Adam ||||| (rear view)
The Artist Formerly Known As Dumyass |||||
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 22:43:05 -0500
From: zerocool@magg.net
Subject: Fatal Mail Error!??@%
To the person with this address <yellosno@tiac.net>
who was interested in a copy of the bf5 compilation tape I
have, I can't send any information to you because your address
is causing a fatal mail error and bouncing the mail back. Sorry...
I need a valid email address.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 06:53:46 +0200
From: rsnead@awod.com
Subject: #BFF
Hello Ben Folds fans. All are invited and welcome to come to the Ben Folds
Chat on IRC. The chat will be at the server neato.ca.us.another.org on the
channel #BFF Monday and Tuesday (for those of you who will just be getting
the album) all day, so no matter where you are in the world come and chat.
Please if you have no idea what IRC is go to http://www.irchelp.org/,
download the software, and come chat with all the other fans, even you aol
users can go to this page and get IRC to work for aol. IRC is free, so
don't be hesitant. If this works out, there will be a chat every Monday
and Tuesday. If you have any questions, just email me at rsnead@awod.com
Hope to talk to you soon
Fruvous
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 23:22:02 -0500
From: Allan Hsu <Animate2@broked.underworld.net>
Subject: Alex Chilton....
Ok.. sorry to double quote, but here goes:
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 17:59:05 +0000
From: Marsh
Subject: re: Counting Crows are big fans!
yellosno@tiac.net wrote:
>... Anyway.. In the song "Mr. Jones" Adam Duritz changes
> "I want to be Bob Dylan,
> Mr. Jones wishs he was someone just a little more funky."
> to:
> "I want to be Alice Childress,
> Mr. Jones wishs he was someone just a little more famous."
Are you sure he's not saying "Alex Chilton"? that's what's on some of
my boots....
Chris
It could very well be Alex Chilton.. Alex Chilton was a punk rocker-type
person from the late-70's, I think. I haven't heard much of his work,
but what most sticks out in my mine is this weird cover of "Sugar Sugar"
(the song from the cartoon The Archies). It's a really punky, distorted
version that I won't forget;P I think a few months ago there was a
re-release of some old Chilton stuff...
Allan
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 00:14:29, -0500
From: MS KIMBERLY HORN <QPQJ32A@prodigy.com>
Subject: oi oi rudies!!!
aloha...
just wondering...
out of all of the fellow ben fold 5 obsessors...
who likes ska? and/or britpop?
also, where is everyone from and how old is everyone?
aloha!!!!
from a 16 year old resident of hawaii that is an anglophile and
wannabe-rudie...
aka seferina lozano
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 01:00:28 -0600
From: Katharine M Lowe <kmlowe@students.wisc.edu>
Subject: New album: A statesider's reaction
Well, I just got a new copy of the new BFF album today (March 11). I must
say it sounds a wee different from the first (although I expected that,
judging from the reactions of Armchair readers abroad). I'm still
digesting it... I mean, it's good, don't get me wrong -- I just take a
little while to adjust to things that are new. It could stand a little
more of the harmony that was so present on the first album and maybe a bit
less horns. But I suppose I shouldn't dig my heels in the sand, the mark
of a truly good bad is the ability to evolve and tread unchartered waters.
By the 12th listening I'm sure I'll be in love with it.
Regards,
Katie Lowe
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 02:13:30 -0800
From: The Mighty Frozen Halibut <qreeus@uclink4.berkeley.edu>
Subject: BFF in Berkeley
Okay, so I think it sucks big fat rocks that BFF is opening for, of all
people, the Counting Crows. After the BFF set, I'm liable to just sit down
in the middle of the Greek theatre (where they're playing) and smoke and be
bitter. ARGH!
On a brighter note, I just wanted to give some advice to anyone plannning
on going to the BFF/CC show at The Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA on April
4. Parking sucks. I' mean it really sucks. Get to Berkeley early and
find a spot and walk, 'cause it's nearly impossible to find a parking space
here. Luckily for me, the Greek Theater is right next to my dorm...I cut
through it every day on my way to class. But for you unfortunate sods who
have to maneuver our fair city, I really suggest you get here early 'cause
not only is parking a problem, but so is traffic.
Swingfully,
Nathan
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:43:30 +0000
From: bADASS dUDE <JOA95JWA@sheffield.ac.uk>
Subject: Folds Five Rock The Leadmill Cliche Shocker!
Well I saw those Folds boys at Sheffield Leadmill on Sunday 9th and
they were damn purty. They opened with Missing The War and
then...well they played what I reckon must be a new song. Has
anybody heard one with a chorus that goes "money talks"? I don't
know the name but it was one funkin' number. Anyway, they did loads
of Whatever and Ever Amen, the best of which was Song For The
Dumped...or was it Kate...or BoWCCL? Um, it was all s***-hot really.
Ben introduced Uncle Walter as "this is about an ignorant old woman
who used to lock me up in her basement...she used to fondle me' which
was veeery strange ;-). The beginning to Underground is now out of
control, it went on for ages. Nobody danced on the piano this time,
but Robert played his double-bass like a king. Whatta man. Oh, Ben
did some really dodgy dancing to show us how to be cool just before
Steven's Last Night in Town as well. The encore was Julianne, which
started off Carmen Mirandha style as they wanged fruit out into the
audience, killing several people.
So, another exceptionally fine Five Live show. And they did Dr
Pfizer and a few seconds of 'Breathe' by the Prodigy.
JOHN A-HEY-HEY
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 12:39:43 GMT
From: Katy Appleton <K.Appleton@uea.ac.uk>
Subject: Norwich gig
Since I just saw this:
* If you attend a show, you must post a review!
in the header, I thought I'd better comply :)
Norwich Waterfront, Thursday March 6th
In short - mind-blowing! I can think of very few album tracks they
didn't play, they also did Emaline & Dr Pyser (sp?), and the famed
mouth-piano thing made an appearance for Steven's Last Night In Town.
I couldn't believe how well the studio sound translated live, it was
*so* good. One of the longest gigs (and definitely *the* best) I've
ever been to.
Not much talk to the audience, though. One guy took it upon himself to
put-down the drunk/stoned heckler:
Heckler - <unintelligible ranting at the band>
Audience member - "Shut up!! They're better than you!"
<cue wild cheering>
And at the end, as Ben crossed the stage to leave, everyone was
reaching out to him. So, nice guy he is, he starts shaking hands,
smiling, reaching back into the crowd... and gets pulled off his feet
and over the barriers. The expression on his face! :) Luckily for
him, 2 roadies had already come on to the stage to start packing up,
and they hauled him back.
May the guys come back to Norwich soon!
Oh, did Komeda support them on all the dates? I was not impressed,
really, just wondered what anyone else thought...
Katy
--
Katy Appleton * University of East Anglia, Norwich, England
k.appleton@uea.ac.uk * http://www.uea.ac.uk/~u9511237/
Change the world before someone else changes it for you
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 19:09:08 CST
From: muel9628@uwwvax.uww.edu
Subject: bf5concerts?
this is my first visit to the list and i've enjoyed reading everyone's
responses on the new album..i think it's a very fine album especially the
songs "brick","battle of who could care less","song for the dumped",
"steven's last nite in town"also, the two set import singles are well with
the purchase to hear some live tracks..if anyone knows any concert dates
and when tickets go on sale for some midwest dates (i know the headlining
tour is april 13-30) i go to school at uw-whitewater wisconsin and i'm
from racine wisconsin which is about 20 miles south of milwaukee and 60
miles north of chicago.. i'm sure they'll be coming to chicago for one
nite and i don't want to miss it..thanks for a anyone's help..i really
appreciate it..mark mueller
"SEEN ALL THE GOOD THINGS AND BAD,RUNNING DOWN THE HILL,ALL SO BATTERED AND
BROUGHT TO THE GROUND, I AM HAPPY AGAIN, I AM DRUNK AGAIN" radIOheAddd d
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 13:01:13 GMT
From: Mark Piper <pipermf@ugs1.ph.bham.ac.uk>
Subject: Hang on, a good subject line will come to me in a minute....
Yet again, time to cast an eye over the latest Armchair. Buckle up, fight
fans....
Neal moaned that....:
> Secondly, the quality of the B-sides are absolutely deplorable. As amusing as
> they may be, they're basically throw-aways, even the Oasis cover. It's bad
> enough that the band (or label) released the single in two
> parts, but it's even worse that they put such filler onto the discs. As far
> as I'm concerened, NOTHING can justify this. I really thought BFF were above
> this kind of thing. In a nutshell, if you haven't bought the singles yet,
> don't. If you have, feel free to send in your thoughts on all this - I'd
> hate to think I was alone.
I can well see Neal's point of view on this. The releasing the single in
two parts business is annoying. It's not as thought the singles are
especially cheap either. I wouldn't mind so much if we were paying 99p or
something for each one. Rocket From The Crypt did a great thing with their
"On A Rope" singles. Three CD's , 99p each, with a wallet to collect them
all together in. I didn't buy them myself, but I got a copy, and that
#2.97 has filled a whole side of a tape. Anyway, back to the point of the
*quality* of the B-Sides, the songs are throwaways. Enjoyable ones, but as
has been pointed out to me, you're not going to be returning to them time
and time again. I still pull out my Where's Summer B single to hear Emali
ne and Tom & Mary. What I guess I'm really saying is that throwaways are
fun, but we could do with a little bit of substance there too. But hey, I
don't think it's wise to tell people not to buy the single. Let them
decide for themselves. I mean, you lucky US folks can get it free, so I
guess you don't have a reason to moan...
The boy Hewitt said:
> I think that they shouldn't have started with 'Missing the War' as
> people were talking during it and so it didn't get started until a
> few songs in
That's right. Everyone was waiting to flail around to Jackson Cannery or
something, I think most people were a little disappointed at that. Didn't
work at all. I guess there was some reason for it...
> Also does anybody there (Mark ?) know what it was that he played as
> the bass finally got fixed as I caught very little of the lyrics .
> Did he make it up on the spot as I seemed to hear him say something
> like :
> "I don't know the f^ck^ng words to this f^ck^ng song"
> or something along those lines .
That was the only lines that I caught too. I think he was making it up as
he went along...
>All except 'Jackson Cannery' (shame)
> 'Sports and Wine'
> 'Video' (I think , my memory is getting hazy now ..)
> 'Boxing'
I'm not sure whether they played Video or not. I seem to remember thinking
they played it, but I can't actually remember hearing it. Come to think of
it, I think you might be right...
Matthew noted...:
> Ben's sweat flew into my eye (I'll never wash etc etc etc).
Yeah, it was reaching me too, and I was a good six feet away across the
stage!! Does Ben hold the world sweat-flinging record? I think he spat on
me a couple of times too. That spittle really flies out sometimes... This
is getting gross. It may be Ben Fol ds, but it's still gross. Matthew, I
really think it would be in your interests to wash....
Oh, and interesting to note that Ben likes the Cardigans, cos I thought
Komeda were the Cardigans in disguise. And the drummer looked like Mark
Radcliffe's dad. Not that I know Mark Radcliffes dad.
Mark
Looks, Brains & Everything - http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/5430/bff.html
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