THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #337 - June 6, 1997



Magical Armchair Digest      Friday, June 6 1997      Volume 01 : Number 337



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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    Top ten, starting at 2. 
    Special BFF Taping in NYC(That I need to go to) 
    BFF at First Ave in Minneapolis 
    Mitchell Lane
    assorted paraphernalia
    Top Ten 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 16:37:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: KNULPREK@aol.com
Subject: Top ten, starting at 2. 

Hi. Well, i wasn't really going to post my top ten, or top anything for that
matter, because i figured nobody would actually care, but i've noticed that
most BFF fans have such a diverse taste in music, that i thought i might add
to the mix. So therefore, here we are: (in no real order or anything)

2. Ben Folds Five- Ben Folds Five
3. Soul Coughing- Ruby Vroom
4. The Pietasters- OoLooLoo
5. The Mallrats soundtrack (except for the Silverchair song)
6. Soul Coughing- Irrestable Bliss
7. The Toasters- New York Fever
8. Self- Subliminal Plastic Motives
9. Rancid- Lets Go
10. Spring Heeled Jack- Static World View
11. Letters to Cleo- Aurora Gory Alice

Well, i know i have millions of other albums (well, not millions.. but maybe
tens) that i could mention, but i can't think of them, nor would you want to
read them, so i leave it at that. See ya!!
 -jason

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 17:22:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: Phishrman1@aol.com
Subject: Special BFF Taping in NYC(That I need to go to) 

There is special BFF-Sony Taping that 60 people are invited to and Im #94, so
I need a way to get in.  I am offering 2 backstage passes to any BFF '97 show
if you can get me and my friend in !!!!!!!  ME AM DESPIRATE!!!!!!!!!!


Thats all I know about it!!! If anyone has info please e-me directly!!!!

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 17:50:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: DEMesserly@aol.com
Subject: BFF at First Ave in Minneapolis 

Hi, there.  I've been lurking for a while, but wanted to post after the 
great show in Minneapolis last night.

The first time Ben Folds Five played in Minneapolis was January 96, and 
the night they played, it was 35 degrees below zero (I'm not even 
kidding).  We froze our asses off (it was at the Seventh Street Entry, so 
you gotta wait outside on the sidewalk), but it was worth it to see them 
in such a tiny venue.  This time, they PACKED the First Avenue Main Room 
solid, and since it was about 80 degrees outside, it was about 100 
inside.  I think Minneapolis wins for the widest temperature variance for 
multiple Ben Folds Five shows.

I was happiest when Ben was nice enough to offer us his condolences on 
the loss of our great REV 105: the greatest radio station in history of 
this planet, and the entity that contributed a lot to the popularity of 
BFF in this town.  

Sorry, I'm never going to remember their set list exactly, but the 
highlight for me certainly had to be that "Robbie Rob's in the mother 
f*ckin' house" jam and "Been Down Since Day One" (is this an original or 
some cover that I oughtta know?) with Robert singing/screaming the 
lyrics.  What an incredible jam!  I was standing behind the piano, and it 
was pretty unreal to watch Ben's hands moving at light speed.  They were 
just a blur.  Other great moments:  on "Smoke", seeing Ben play the piano 
and the ___________ (what's that thing?  a melodica or something like 
that? I forget the name) at the same time, alternating with scratching 
the mike across the piano strings; watching Ben swinging his hips back in 
forth when he was standing next to Robert during "Steven's Last Night"; 
Darren's & Robert's incredible harmonies on "Missing the War".  I'm 
psyched to see them back in this neck of the woods when HORDE comes 
through.

OK, I wasn't going to mention it, but I think it's too cool: I listen to 
"Whatever ..." in the car quite a lot, even when I'm carting around my 2 
year old daughter.  Yesterday before the show, on our way home, she was 
in the back seat, and she was almost shouting what sounded lie "Cake!"  
"Cake!"  Then I realized we were listening to "Whatever ..." and she was 
singin "Kate!" "Kate!" ...

See ya August 1 at HORDE,
Dawn

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 22:52:48 +0100
From: "Paul May" <may@iol.ie>
Subject: Mitchell Lane

Hey all you people

I just bought the Kate single with Mitchell Lane on it.
This song has real emotion. It ranks right up there with Boxing and 
Selfless, Cold and Composed. Anyway, I transcribed the lyrics as best I
could.

I've got to go listen again, I'm having withdrawal symptoms.

ALl the Best,

Paul " The Irish guy on the List" May


Mitchell Lane                

Happiness and Bliss
Sunshine is amiss
You're happy when you're cold
You wanna be alone

He's a lot of Steam
She's a lot of breath
It takes a lot to see 
It takes a lot to beg

And it's just like Mitchell Lane
Everything's the same

You wanna kill your friends
Reminded you of when,
You're happy when you're stoned
You wanna be old

And it's just like Mitchell Lane
Everything's the same
So go on, and go on and complain

Remember when we were fifteen,
And Riley made that stupid face all day
I guess he made his point
'cause I'm still here
When I could be anywhere

Happiness and Bliss
Sunshine is amiss

And it's just like Mitchell Lane
Everything's the same
So go on, and go on and complain

And it's just like Mitchell Lane
Everything's the same
So go on, and go on and complain

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 19:22:53 -0500
From: "Cassandra Hughes" <cfh109@psu.edu>
Subject: assorted paraphernalia

Hello~I have a somewhat amusing story, well it amuses me, so here goes: I
work at a music store and last night just as we were about to close, I was
a bit delirious due to the fact that the mountain dew I had during my break
was wearing off, this guy comes up to the counter with BFF's s/t album. I,
needless to say was just elated that somebody had actually bought a good cd
(and not the usual crap that people around here walk out with) that I
practically jumped across the counter and hugged him as I asked him, ' oh,
are you on the magical armchair' 
'and what, pray tell, are you talking about' 
'the magical armchair, are you on it?' 
'no, i'm not' he said as he walked out of the store with his purchase
looking a bit confused.  I just thought this guy must live in a hole not to
know what I'm talking about. then I got to thinking, 'i bet i'd be a little
confused if some freak asked me if i was on some magical armchair too.'
Then I got to thinking a little more and finally came to the conclusion
that well, I didn't come to any conclusion. . .So, my point is. . .hmmm. .
. well i have no point, but, if I did it would be that any kind of
reference to this mailing list as a 'name' for ourselves is perfectly fine,
and most likely not going to be copied or even understood by most normal
people so it's a good thing that we've given that up (though whoever had
the idea of painting a 5 on our palms at shows had a pretty slick idea. .
.)

What I would really like to see is a Simpsons episode where they go to
horde and watch bff in cartoon form kind of like the lollapalooza episode.
. .

But I have to jump off the armchair and on to the bandwagon and include my
top several albums of the past 10 years (in no particular order):

BFF - both cds :-)
Phish - Rift
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes & Under the Covers 
The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie
The Beau Hunks - Celebration on the Planet Mars
Beck - Odelay
Pearl Jam - Ten
U2 - The Joshua Tree
the soundtrack to the movie Singles
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hot

That's it (finally!) 

~Cassandra

Loose ends tying a noose in the back of my mind
- --Beck

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 19:48:19 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jabberwo1k@aol.com
Subject: Top Ten 

Another (temporary) top ten (in no particular order) ...

1- BFF: BFF / Whatever and ever Amen
2- David Bowie: Diamond Dogs
3- Jason Falkner: J.F. presents Author Unknown
4- Weezer: Pinkerton
5- Pavement: Slanted and Enchanted 
6- Smog: Red Apple Falls
7- Elliott Smith: Either/Or
8- Manic Street Preachers: Everything must go
9- Beck: Odelay
10- Soul Coughing: Ruby Vroom
( 11: Pulp: Separations, 12: Number One Cup, 13: Built to Spill, 14...)

Judith 

------------------------------

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #337
**************************************


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