THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #232 - April 16, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #232
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Topics for Today:
Stephens Last Night lyrics - the debate continues...
Lyrics and their REAL meaning, GUV'NOR
BFF pima county fair show
KATE army and boston
Review of Salt Lake Show
BFF and piano
bff in ky
Japanese copy of _Whatever_
benny and the boys interview on WWW
Add San Antonio to tour list, please
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 97 11:42:00 PDT
From: "Riley, Adrian D [DBE]" <A.D.Riley@lmu.ac.uk>
Subject: Stephens Last Night lyrics - the debate continues...
I think they're singing "Kick that chutzhay".
Unfortunately I've no idea what a chutzhay is or what it means. Hmmm.
It's also possible that they're singing "Kick that chutney".
But that would be rather messy and there's no reason to go around kicking
sweet fruit pickles.
[Because of the participation of the Klezmatics, I think it's
something in Yiddish. Any guesses? -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 13:46:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: BEEFTODD@aol.com
Subject: Lyrics and their REAL meaning, GUV'NOR
Question: "Why for the past x number of issues has everyone been discussing
the meaning of the lyrics of Brick?" Not wanting to sound outlandishly
obvious BUT if you counter analyse the content of such lines as......"They
call her name at 7:30, I pace around the parking lot........", it's a blatant
skit on life as a schoolchild within PE lessons where the best players choose
who will play on their respective sides. ie, "they call her name" equates to
her, the female of the song being chosen quite arly on within the procedure,
thus indicating she is a good player. Ben,"............pacing around the
parking lot......." simply means that his mind is an emotional rollercoaster,
wondering if once again he will be chosen last, again, much to his
embarrasment in front of his peer group at being the worst sportsplayer, the
fiend of the social group. These similarities prevail throughout most of the
song. Its a Whatever and Ever version of Underground. So that's it, subject
sorted.
"Most of the time you're happy- you're a wierdo"- THE CHARLATANS.
Bye bye,
Stephen.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 15:46:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: MissDa@aol.com
Subject: BFF pima county fair show
i went to the show at the pima county fair last night, and it was great! the
boys were way on, (except when the upright bass was broken so robert had to
play the whole song on electric bass, once he handed the big hulking upright
off stage) and ben even swung around from the bars on the ceiling! it was
cool because it was such a small show (the last one i went to was opening for
counting crows at a huge amphitheater). i totally bopped out to the whole
show and sang along the whole time... my friends (who aren't such big fans)
thought i was nuts! i could only see one guy having a better time than me,
and i'm totally convinced that's because he was all the way up in front
against the guard rail. before the show i saw darren walking around by the
carnival rides but i was a moron and didn't go say hi... after the show i saw
robert as he was going offstage into the dressing room and i said "great
show" and he said "thanks"... no big deal really but i was totally psyched. :
) anyway, sorry for the long message, i just had to share.
amanda
missda@aol.com
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 17:00:03 -0400 (EDT)
From: "yellosno@tiac.net" <mail@tiac.net>
To: maynard@oeonline.com
Subject: KATE army and boston
Hello,
i assume the linear note for "whatever and ever amen" were written by ben.
why does he write the word "ARMY" next to Kate?
it bugs me i don't know.
also,
may 27 the avalon in boston
may 28 lupo's heartbreak hotel in providence
life is good.
yellosno@tiac.net
p.s. doesn't smoke sound kinda like TMBG?
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 15:17:43 -0600
From: "A. David Wright" <adavidw@infocreations.com>
Subject: Review of Salt Lake Show
Sure it's a little late, but I thought I'd post my impressions of the show
in Salt Lake last week.
The show was held at a place called the Zephyr Club. I've been there for a
number of shows, and I really like it there. It's small, so it's easy
enough to get up close to the band, but it's big enough that they can book
bigger name bands there. More importantly, all of their shows are over 21.
When I was younger, it really bethered me when my favorite bands played
shows that I couldn't attend. Therefore, I'm in favor of the all ages show
in principle. In practice however, at least in the Salt Lake area, it's not
such a good idea. All of the all ages shows I go to around here culminate
with me getting hurt, or at the very least, distracted to the point of not
being able to enjoy the show. When I go to a show, I want to hear clearly,
I want to be close enough to see everything that's going on on stage, and I
want to be able to be focused. Too often, however, I can't focus on the
stage, because I have to keep looking behind me to keep from getting kicked
in the head by a crowd surfer, or otherwise mauled. I've had two pairs of
glasses broken after being kicked off by crowd surfers, and suffered
countless cuts and scrapes.
Everyone enjoys a concert in their own way, and for some people, the form
of enjoyment is violent movement. This is fine and all, but I remember a
time when other people's enjoyment of the show didn't conflict with
people's right to enjoy the show injury free. I've been to many shows where
the whole crowd was slam dancing, and it was a good thing, because it was
about the communal movement, and contact with the other people, and not
about hitting people really hard. Slam dancing in the old days was really
about looking out for your fellow concertgoer. Now, these kids today, with
their "moshing", and "stage-diving", and "crowd-surfing", are causing
problems for everyone. I wouldn't really mind an all ages show in another
area, but Utah kids are unbearable. Many theories have been floated as to
why this is, and most of them center on the fact that these kids raised in
an repressive envrionment will look for the first chance to act out their
inner hostility which isn't allowed out normally. Of course the 21+ show
isn't perfect either. Add alcohol to the mix, and you can expect a similar
amount of morons and dimwits, but at least they annoy, rather than hurt.
Anyway, even though many of my friends would have been able to come, had
it been an all ages show, I'm sure we would have seen some crowd surfing to
"Philosophy". Come on!
The set list is as follows:
Missing the War
Emmaline
Philosophy
Selfless, Cold, and Composed
The Last Polka
Alice Childress
Kate
Steven's Last Night in Town
Brick
Video
Jackson Cannery
One Angry Dwarf
Fair
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Battle of Who Could Care Less
For Those of Y'all Who've Been Down From Day One
Where's Summer B?
Theme From Dr. Pyser
Song For the Dumped
Uncle Walter
Underground
-------------------
Your Cheatin' Heart
Smoke
Julianne
("The Ultimate Sacrifice" is the metal-sounding one with lyrics like
"SAAAATTAAAANN, BEEEELLZZEEEBUUUB!", etc. They said they just recently
wrote this. I've never heard "Satan is my Master", so I don't know if this
is in any way similar. "Down From Day One" is explained below. "Your
Cheatin' Heart" is a cover of an old country song.)
Before the show, my friends and I were hanging around next to the Piano
when I noticed Ben's set list down near the pedals. We were debating the
ethics of actually taking the set list before the show. (Would that come
back to haunt someone in musical karma fashion?). I wouldn't have taken the
set list anyway, but it's a good thing I didn't, because it didn't really
bear any resemblance to the actual list they played. This discussion got us
thinking that a funny thing to do at a show would be to bring your own set
lists, with all the songs you wanted to hear in the perfect order, and
replace the band's own set lists. One of my friends said, "Be sure to put
Fanny Packs on your set list." This got me thinking that if I wrote a nice
note, maybe they actually could play "Fanny Packs"?
Just then the band started coming on stage, so I didn't have time to write
a nice note. So, I just scrawled "Play Fanny Packs!" on the back of an
envelope, and threw near the set list. Ben read it, but didn't do anything
until halfway through the show, when he read the note aloud, and said it
was from someone who worked at Microsoft. (See, there was a Microsoft logo
on the envelope. It was from junk mail they sent me). He asked who there
worked at Microsoft, and the silence was deafening. He explained that
"Fanny Packs" was a one off, and they didn't really remember it, but that
he (Ben) has been "down from day one". Ben and Robert went back and forth
("I've been down from day one, have you been down from day one?"). Then Ben
yelled out "This is for those of y'all who've been down from day one". They
proceeded to play essentially the same thing as "fanny packs" with most of
the same parts, only minus the "fanny packs" chorus, and with the addition
of a "Been Down From Day One!" chorus. It was great, and definitely the
highlight of the evening for me. Other highlights included Ben's dead-on
Michael McDonald impression while standing with the melodica before
"Steven's" (You see, he bought a Doobie Brothers Farewell Tour '82 shirt at
the Salvation Army that afternoon...)
I don't really know what to say, as everything else was excellent. The
merchandise selection was kind of crappy, I thought. I liked the T-shirts
better the last time around. The other notable thing was that the intro to
"Underground" was word for word like the album. From all the talk on this
list, that sounds like a rarity.
-David
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 19:31:19 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ranvac@aol.com
Subject: BFF and piano
Hey people! the excitment in Kansas in mounting... BFF in only 6 days!!!
YAHOO!
actually this is supposed to be about your favorite intrument and mine...the
piano!! I've been playing for 10 years. I started in 2nd grade. Many times
i had to be bribed, begged and beaten into continuing, but today I have to
say it was all worth it. I play mostly classical. I'm much more technical
then creative so playing like Ben is pretty much out. Right now I play in an
Electronic Keyboard Ensemble at a community college. We use computers and
keyboards to create different sounds, effects etc. It's awesome. But I'm
not going to be a music major next year when I go off to college (any Indiana
University students out there?) so piano may have to be put on hold for
awhile. But i would encourage anyone of any age to try it out...it's one of
the most worthwhile things I've ever done!!
see all my fellow Kansans soon!! I can't wait!!
anna
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 23:34:38 -0400
From: srtown0@pop.uky.edu
Subject: bff in ky
hey jessica
i did not know if there was another bff fan in ky. i am in lexington, a new
member of the list. are there any intentions of them coming nearby, or is
chicago the closest. i first heard them a year ago, and being a piano
player for all my life, i loved them instantly. i am dying to hear them
live, especially since a bunch of my buddies are in school in the unc area
and rave about it all the time. i am also looking for any imports, sheet
music, or merchandise. talk later scott
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 22:14:29 -0600 (MDT)
From: James Robert Campbell <jrcampbe@mines.utah.edu>
Subject: Japanese copy of _Whatever_
Noticed in passing last night that my Japanese copy of
_Whatever.._ has a time length of 55:56. It would seem that
they attempted to go all 5's but someone screwed up. Perhaps
if they had started the "hidden track" at 6:01 on 'Dumped'....8^)
Given that the domestic release doesn't have the 13th track,
I'm sure that the length doesn't approach 55:55, but I still thought
it was cool to note...
Cheers,
--James
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 23:37:04 -0500
From: Eric Trondson-Clinger <holyboy@minn.net>
Subject: benny and the boys interview on WWW
came across an interview of bff on the web...here's the URL for all of the
interested parties....
http://www.allstarmag.com/intr/
guten nacht
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Trondson-Clinger holyboy@minn.net
Holyboy Road
http://www1.minn.net/~holyboy/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 00:34:09 -0500
From: Ktocs <nolajuka@world-net.net>
Subject: Add San Antonio to tour list, please
I'm really excited that BFF will be here in San Antonio on Thursday,
April 17. They will be at Sneakers, opening will be Kolmeda.
Please include this stop on the list. San Antonio rarely gets the truly
*great* shows here. They usually go to Austin. BFF played at the 1996
South By Southwest in Austin, and I was very disappointed they didn't
come by San Antonio at that time. I've had to wait a whole year.
Please give this backward town some recognition when it finally does get
a good show.
Thanks.
Karen Scott
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As weeks went by it showed that she was not fine