THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #202 - March 21, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #202
REMINDERS:
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message (not "The Magical Armchair, Issue #nnn").
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* If you attend a show, you must post a review!
Topics for Today:
www.bffweb.com
Brainwashed by Ben Folds Five
sony web site
So embarrassed!
Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #200
Re: The Mystic Maji of Furniture
Record Review in Delaware paper
whatever...
Tape?
who can help me?
Battle Hits Chicago Airwaves/Looking for Chi-town BFF Fan
Alex Clilton or Alice Childress... the debate goes on... :o)
Got the new album!
just obeying the rules
Fannie Packs, obsession, and Cool Whip
BFF Concert review: Munich 16/03/97
Whatever CD vs. Real Audio
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 03:58:16 -0500
From: Fred Antonangeli <fantonan@bcn.net>
Subject: www.bffweb.com
Hey, has anyone else really had a hard time getting to their official
webpage? I've tried like a million times, just to see like tour dates
and also I heard about the whole coupon business and wanted to see if it
applied to any stores in my area, but I just can't get on the darn
thing. I'm nearly at my wits end..and Frank, thanks for putting the
sound clips off of "Whatever and Ever Amen" on your page, they put a
smile on my face after UMass' loss tonight..but that's an entirely
different story :)
Sarah :)
[I can usually hit it once out of 3 or 4 tries. -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 16:04:50 -0500 (EST)
From: Landohappy@aol.com
Subject: Brainwashed by Ben Folds Five
In response to the several mishapen reactions to the FREE discs we have
received here in the grand 'ol USA, I have to say, I just love the damned
things. It has been brought to my attention that several viewers have
different opinions of the special gifts bestowed upon us, so AM I THE ONLY
ONE WHO HAS BEEN BRAINWASHED? Another reason I think I may have been
brainwashed is because I hate cussing in music because its getting so
pretentious and frivolous, but when Ben sings "motherf***er," I just can't
help but think how nice it sounds. It makes me happy to hear that. Boy, does
it ever.
Because we in the US have been neglected by the fabulous Five, I consider the
free gifts a nice gesture, so to those who feel otherwise, just remember what
your mother said when your grandmother knitted you that sweater with the
large sheep on it "it IS the thought that counts." In cases like this. Not
that I'm doggin' the discs, my brothas, you bettah recognize that these
jiddoints is full of some funky s***, ya know what I'm sayin'? I really dig
the fanny pack song. I've been inspired to learn the language of
bidialecticism, better known as Ebonics.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I appreciate the FANTABULOUS singles they
have given me, it really made my day. I went to the local death metal indie
store, where they only employ the apathetic. I actually walked away with four
cds for free because I said I liked free stuff, so the guy behind the counter
just handed me whatever he could find that would not be missed. What a great
day I'm having.
Off the topic here, I thought I'd mention some other great albums out right
now: the new nick cave is very very good. better than murder ballads. I have
just been introduced to Space, who are very clever, and the new James is good
too. Hey, I'm going to the University of Florida this June, so I was curious
if there were any students on this mailing list attending? I would like to
hear what it's really like.
I'm currently standing on my head,
natalie.
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 17:26:22 -0500
From: Dean Drouillard <droulard@MNSi.Net>
Subject: sony web site
I'm just curious if anyone else has had any trouble getting on BFF's Sony
web site. I have not been able to get past the first introduction page for
about a week now. Some sort of error keeps coming up.
Also, after the last issue I guess we're all pretty straight about
the Alex Chilton thing. I hope we didn't gang up on Allan too much.
Dean
RACECAR http://www.mnsi.net/~racecar
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 11:44:23 +1100
From: Rebecca Gorrell & Lance O'Brien <lotto@netspace.net.au>
Subject: So embarrassed!
I am sooo.. embarrassed!! I said "Forever...." instead of "Whatever..." for
the album title in issue #200. I don't know what possessed me. Please
forgive me for this blasphemy.
By the way, RedTV (Cable music station in Australia) showed both BOWCCL and
Underground videos in a block this morning followed by a Counting Crows
block which paled in comparison (but I'm just biased)!! It was the first
time I had seen any of their videos and it made my day!!
Ciao all,
Rebecca
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 19:57:54 -0500 (EST)
From: Kari Cohen <karic@email.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #200
For those of you who are wondering if Ben et al. are ever seen around
Chapel Hill--
I live right near the UNC campus, and about 2 weeks ago, I was
walking to my girlfriend's house when I saw Ben and who I presume to be
his wife riding their bikes down the road. I stared at him to make sure
it was him, and he stared back at me, and I finally said, "hi," and then
he said Hi back. He had this old grandma bike.
Then, two days later, I was at this Thrift shop, purchasing a
whiffle ball bat for $.50 when I see Robert S. walking around with some
old guy who I presume to be his father. Robert was buying like 10 old
lps, I didn't get a really good look at them. It was funny, though,
because the cashier kind of dropped my bat off of the counter and it fell
onto Robert's shoes (those powder blue ones he has) and he picked it up
for me. Helluva nice guy.
Kari B. C.
"http://www.unc.edu/~karic"
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 00:22:07 -0500 (EST)
From: Jennifer Delamar <47km67nb@abaco.coastalnet.com>
Subject: Re: The Mystic Maji of Furniture
Well, well, well,
I have just checked my snail mail and lo and behold! Bryan D.(as in
Darling) Snead has send me some BFF for my perusal. I must say a great big
thanks and many hugs to a darling darling friend. Thank you Bryan, and I
hope you read this in its glory...THANKS!...
I was wondering, is anyone in this an NC native as I am? If so, I am
interested as to how far away you might be, or if you live in the Research
Triangle, and you are really into BFF. Please reply.
Thanks again, Bry,
Jenni D.
aka Karaoke Queen
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 11:31:29 -0500 (EST)
From: "Donna L. Hokanson" <hokansod@goldey.gbc.edu>
Subject: Record Review in Delaware paper
Here is the record review for Whatever and Ever Amen that was in my
Sunday paper:
"On the trio's major label debut, songwriter Ben Folds' piano-driven
altnerna-pop tunes recall the shiniest moemnt of Burt Bacharach, Elton
John, Todd Rundgren and other 70s pop giants. A little grit makes it
rock, while Folds' warped lyrics provide the irony that keeps it all fun.
Play this swinging stuff in elevators and doctors' waiting rooms, and the
world would be better off."
I listened to the album on Sonic Net one day last week while working (so
I didn't really get to concentrate) but what I heard I liked. I can't
wait til Tuesday. I stopped at my local record store yesterday hoping
they might have advance copies but no such luck.
By the way -- if you are into acoustic singer/songwriter music -- folk
music, if you see Martin Sexton at a place near you, I highly advise you
checking him out. He is incredible. I've seen him twice and both times
I was amazed at his talent. He's cut catchy tunes, wacky lyrics and some
serious songs, and he can hit any note, low-high and everywhere in
between. I highly recommend him!!!
Donna
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 16:32:41 +0000
From: Alex Torrance <mabp65@dial.pipex.com>
Subject: whatever...
Hi,
firstly i'd just like to say congrats to Frank for getting his name in
the new album ;D. I'd also like to say that whoever that girl was who
invaded the stage 4 times at the Astoria on the 7th, kicked me in the
head at least twice! ouch.... It was a really good gig and i know this
is a bit late but i've not been on the net for a while. nice to see that
George Dawes has good taste (he was in the balcony). Komeda were quite
good, but they looked like Eurotrash rejects. Ballroom on the other hand
sounded like geneva and were boring. I tried to get backstage but the
meathead bouncers wouldnt let me. so we waited outside the stage doors
for a while, got bored and put a copy of my zine under the windscreen
wiper of their tourvan, at least i think it was the tourvan (black, the
number plate said JAZZ so it must of been.) oh well goodbye.
Alex =D
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/9206
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 14:46:43 -0500 (EST)
From: KurtCCrow@aol.com
Subject: Tape?
I was wondering if anyone has a BF5 boot from a Madison,Wi show lasy year?
thanks,
Kurt (be happy for me, I've been reading this list for over 8 months
and this is my first post!)
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 18:29:08 -0600 (CST)
From: sam jacob lewis <sjlewis@students.uiuc.edu>
Subject: who can help me?
Hello my fellow fivefoldians,
I have my spring break coming up starting next Monday (3/24) and I was
planning on seeing the five in North Carolina for their two shows but a
flight from Chicago is around $500 round trip, which I can't afford.
Since I don't have a car, my only other option is to rent one and that
could be expensive. I was considering saying 'screw it' but I gotta go,
they're my fav band in the world. Plus snuzz is playing...
So, I ask if anyone will be passing through Chicago or near cities
(Champaign, Peoria, even Indiana and stuff) to give me a lift to see BFF in
NC. My friend and I will provide gas $$, beef jerky and hours of fun.
Please respond quickly so I can make my plans soon.
Thanks,
Sam
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 01:02:18 -0600
From: "John P. Scholtes Jr." <punkerthanyourmom@screenz.com>
Subject: Battle Hits Chicago Airwaves/Looking for Chi-town BFF Fan
WOW! Battle of Who Could Care Less is now in regular rotation on Q101
(WKQX), WXRT, and WCBR in Chicago. It's so cool to hear a band that I've
loved for quite some time on the radio... I just hopw they don't wreck it
for me like they have some of my other favorite bands....
I'm also looking for a Chicago-area BFF fan of the female side of our
species for friendship and concert going. I'm 19, and am looking for
someone in my age range.
Pouting in
Stereo,
Johnny
punkerthanyourmom@screenz.com
http://members.tripod.com/~punkerboy/index.html
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 01:16:34 -0600
From: "John P. Scholtes Jr." <punkerthanyourmom@screenz.com>
Subject: Alex Clilton or Alice Childress... the debate goes on... :o)
I saw Counting Crows on tour with none other than Alex Chilton here in the
Windy City (Chicago, duh) back in August of '94. While singing "Mr. Jones",
Adam did change the line from "I wanna be Bob Dylan" to "I wanna be Alex
Chilton" during that performance. I don't see why it wouldn't be possible
for him to change the same line to "I wanna be Alice Childress" now and
then, esspecially since they were recently on tour with BFF, and I'm sure
are therefor familiar with the song.
Recommended
by 4 out of 5...
Johnny
punkerboy@goecities.com
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 18:40:07 +1000
From: Alyssa O'Gorman <ogorman@brighton.starway.net.au>
Subject: Got the new album!
Just wanted to drop the world a line about how excited I am! I have
finally had the pleasure of buying a copy of the new album (released today
so naturally, I bought it today), clutching it in my stickly little hands
on the bus trip home, bursting in the door, racing for the stereo,
switching the volume up so loud the windows began vibrating, and pressing
*PLAY*. I have been waiting for this moment for absolutely ages.
And the verdict?
Absolutely fantastic! Brilliant in fact. Yet another success for Ben,
Darren and Robert. To give you some indication of how much I like it,
it's currently playing for the ninth time since I got home. Need I say any
more?
Actually, I'll shut up right here and now before I bore you all with a
novel on praise for Ben Folds Five!
Cheers,
Alyssa
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 10:53:25 GMT
From: sammy <eco6sj2h@EAST-01.NOVELL.LEEDS.AC.UK>
Subject: just obeying the rules
after reading the reminders for the first time every i found out that
i should really wright a review. So here i go.....
the gig got off to a really good start before id even got there
because chris and myself had such an amazing laugh on the train from
leeds to sheffield and were in an extremely good/stupid mood before
we'd even got to the leadmill.
The support band were crap and the bass player and guitarist had
obviously been practising their angst ridden faces all day and
worrying about their hair. By the time BFF came on it was like a
breath of fresh air and i was just amazed. I get the impression that
they started off with a few slow ones just to tease the crowd but by
the time philosophy kicked in at no.3 everyone was jumping. The sheer
tightness of their playing and singing just amazed me and all the new
songs sounded even better live, mainly because the vocals were more
in your face (i think that they seem to have been toned down on
whatever..).
The high spots for me were:
1. general antics on stage by all members of the band.
2. Ben introducing where's summer b as 'sexy motherf#?ker'
3. Darren looking like the devil half the time and seemingly
chuckling to himself everytime he pulled off a roll.
4. the stage diver who thought that it would be funny to do a circuit
around Robert before hurling himself off stage. The only problem was
that by the time he did it was away from the front of the stage and
he hit the floor bigtime in the superman position!! I laughed.
5. 'stevens last night in town' which Ben played on a small toy piano
which you blow through. There was quite a built up to this one
including Ben doing some unusual dancing and asking Darren 'do you
wanna see cool???' as he slipped into another wierd dance.
6. Roberts bass palying all the way through especially on 'song for
the dumped' and 'uncle walter'.
there are probably countless more things that i have forgotten but
they were some of the highlights. The gig was by far the best ive
been to and really just blew my mind.
The night was made even more unusual by the fact that there were no
more trains back to leeds that night by the time we got to the train
station and so we had to go on a wild goose chase aorund sheffield
looking for kates cousin (no relation to the subject of the BFF song)
we finally found her house st the second time of asking and had to
sleep on her floor. things were made better in the morning because
kates cousins boyfriend offered to give us a lift back to leeds in
his van. 90mph and half an hour later we were back tired and
obvoiusly forced to spend the day in bed and miss a day of uni.
a cool end to and even cooler gig...
later
sam
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 13:50:35 +0000
From: Rebecca Cole <9613527c@student.gla.ac.uk>
Subject: Fannie Packs, obsession, and Cool Whip
For whoever asked who was doing what in "For Those of Y'all Who Wear Fannie
Packs":
My best friend and I spent WAY too long listening to that song until we
figured out who was saying what. Here's our theory.
The main rapping is Darren (as in "hey D...you gonna let me in D?").
Ben sticks in the random "sh*tsyeah it's cool!"s, the "bass in your face!"s
and the weird unintelligible rapping in the middle after the piano solo(the
high point of the song, in my opinion).
Robert does the low "oh goddamn!"s and anything else along those lines.
Obsessed? Yes, but it sure is fun. I highly recommend listening to this
song with headphones...you hear a lot of subtleties that are just
hysterical.
And a question for whomever--
I saw lyrics for several unreleased BF5 songs ("Cool Whip," "Protection,"
etc.) on the UK website. Where can I get my hands on these songs? Does
anyone have them? I'd send a tape. E-mail me if you would be willing to
copy them for me. Thanks!
-Rebecca, aka Crack Spice
*******************************************************************
"Ride to live. Relax...and...um...Biggie fry."
-Ben Folds, on his philosophy
*******************************************************************
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 09:36:56 -0500
From: Steffen Donath <106270.3527@compuserve.com>
Subject: BFF Concert review: Munich 16/03/97
Last night I went to see BFF playing the Cafe Muffathalle in Munich. A very
small venue but a great concert.
First of all the setlist:
Missing the war / Emaline / Philosophy / Selfless, Cold and Composed / The
last Polka / Alice Childress / Kate / Stevens last night / Brick / Video /
Wheres Summer B. / One angry dwarf and 200 solemn faces / Fair / BOWCCL /
Theme from Dr. Pyser / Song for the dumped / Uncle Walter / Best Imitation
of myself / Underground / 1st encore: Smoke / Julianne / 2nd encore: Boxing
/ Jackson Cannery.
Before the show I was talking to Doug, their Tour manager and he introduced
me to Ben and Darren. I told Ben that I would write a review about the
concert for the Magical Armchair and he offered to give me his setlist
after the show which he did. When I told him that I had not been able to
get hold of a copy of BOWCCL / Hava Nagila / For those y'all... Ben went to
the tourbus and gave me one of his copies. He was very nice and asked me
some questions about the magical armchair. He thinks that the Frank Maynard
does and excellent job ( and I agree with him).
There were about 200 people at the gig and everybody seemed to enjoy the
show very much. Best songs of the evening were Stevens last night, Dwarf
and Dr. Pyser when the crowd went absolutely wild. But the slower songs
from the new album like Missing the war and Brick are also great live.
Shame they did not play my favourite new song Evaporated. To sum the
evening up: BFF are great on record but they are awesome when they play
live cos you can really see how they enjoy playing.
Go and see them live.
STEFFEN
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 10:08:13 -0600
From: Trendmasters Web <WEBMASTER@trendmasters.com>
Subject: Whatever CD vs. Real Audio
Being a fan of Real Audio, I was obliged to spend a better half of a day
at work last week, listening to the new BFF on headphones. I can't say
that it grabbed me right off the bat. Good, really Good, but perhaps
not as evolved as the debut. The songs from the first one impress me as
compositions honed, carefully modified over time as they were played
live again and again...
[ I think this is why many bands do the "sophomore slump" thing.
They've had years to hone that first album's worth of material. Then
they tour, then they rest, then they have less than a year to come up
with a whole new album. ]
However, don't even think of getting a good, solid first impression off
of Real Audio. I managed to get my hands on a promo of "Whatever" on
Friday and had it in my car CD player all weekend (this is where I
introduce myself to new music --- in the car you can become immersed.)
And I have to say, fantastic album!! It's like getting together with
old friends. . . enjoying that same sense of humor you remember from
before etc. And if you're the sort of person who associates albums with
seasons, this is definitely a Spring, early Summer album [ Example: Red
House Painters new one: Fall/October, Tears For Fears "songs from the
big chair" is definetly Spring. ]
The production on the album is fantastic, my only problem is that the
vocals are dropped a little lower in the mix on some songs. But the
album is very rich, and perhaps produced even better than the first. So
don't worry if you don't like the album via Real Audio and make sure
that when you get your hands on a copy of the CD - listen to it on
headphones or in your car those first couple listens.
Best regards,
Craig Mitchell, Trendmasters Toys, Inc.
http://www.trendmasters.com
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