THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #424 - August 2, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Saturday, August 2 1997 Volume 01 : Number 424
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
Super Crazy Fun
and the rest are here on gilligan's island
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #422
I wish I had a nametag.....
Soul Coughing
shoulda seen that old bastard jump...
liveconcert.com
BFF----ites?heads?
BFF----ites?heads?
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #423
One Angry Dwarf Video
promos and ice cream
Columbus HORDE review...a stagehands perspective
Australian Tour - MELBOURNE Info.
Launch CD rom
YES!!!! The Oz Tour!!!!
frank maynard's cool.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 21:10:43 -0400
From: percystar@cyberdrive.net (percystar)
Subject: Super Crazy Fun
Hello Fivers :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Yo! I am in the best mood ever. Yesterday I booked it down to
Columbus for Horde, ok, really for pretty much just Ben Folds Five. It is a
night that I will never forget. This is quite a story, so bear with me
(everyone is allowed a really long post every now and then, right?). First,
me and my friend, Ilille, met up with Fellow Fivers on the AC! Hiya Dave
and Andrew! Awesome string section, the violinist with the dark hair
(Heather?) rocked the house down. Set list seemed sorta different though:
OAD, Kate, Smoke, Philosophy, Dr. Physer, and ... maybe I am missing
something or they're out of order, sorry.
2 minor problems. Of course, the set was too short. And, there just
isn't enough room to dance at a BF5 show. Their music naturally lends
itself to jumping up and down, but I want to run around and spin sometimes
too and thats rather difficult in a crowded crowd. This weird guy in front
of me, (probably a primus fan, not really BF5) was causing trouble. He had
a weird mustache with 3 spikes on it and was a really bad vibe during the
performance. Freaky. I guess thats actually 3 little problems with the
show. But I am totally not complaining, just observing.
Ok, then we scooted over to the autograph booth, got the CD done up,
and pics of the boys. To top off the eve, as we were listening to Morphine,
who should we spot, but Darren just watching in the crowd. So, we started
chillin with him and ended up watching Neil Young together. It was so cool.
He told us some of his ideas about music, touring, Young (and a beautiful
moon), and just being. Super nice guy (and super sexy too!).
Then, when Darren returned to his bus to leave, I bought some rice from
the nice rice lady and she told me that she tries to make her mounds of rice
into mountains like the mountains of mashed potatos in "Close Encounters of
the Third Kind".
LISTEN UP FIVERS: be on the lookout for our beloved gang after or
before performances. Because it kinda makes sense. There's this whole big
party (HORDE) with music, performance, and festivity going on outside of
your bus (home on the road) so why not join in the fun?! I certainly had
fun with Darren! I keep telling myself that it was some dream like others
on the list post on here, but its reality! :) That kinda stuff doen't
happen everyday, so I thought you should know.
Did anyone tape the Columbus show or any HORDE or BF5 with strings
concerts? I would be willing to trade BF5, Toad, Himalayans (old Counting
Crows), Jellyfish, Bare Naked Ladies, or Phish. (I am always willing to
trade for any other cool stuff too).
I feel like my fingers have been jammin on the keyboard like Ben's do
on the piano, and as his probably get tired, so have mine, so I think I'll
stop now. Thanks for listening to me. I am just so happy about Ben Folds
Five, the best band on the planet. Peace out, have a great rest of your
day/night. Luv,
Peanutt (Heather)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 18:29:14 PDT
From: "toby oler" <mrtatemyballs@hotmail.com>
Subject: and the rest are here on gilligan's island
I know this has probably been asked before, but who does the writing on
the backs and inside of the albums? hmm?
tobyoler
mrtatemyballs@hotmail.com
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 22:10:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: Buzz12746@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #422
For all those asking about the "Todd Rundgren influence":
Todd Rundgren is from the Philadelphia area (Upper Darby).
He was a member of a band called Nazz in the early seventies
(where he wrote and arranged the material and played a mean
lead guitar but did not sing lead vocals).
Later , he discovered his singing voice and went out as a solo artist.
Thru the seventies he put out a series of records where he sang,
wrote all music, played all the instrument as well as produced and engineered
(and hey-this was before digital studios and computers!).
The first album was called "Runt" and produced a regional hit single
called "We gotta get you a woman".
Second album called "The ballad of Todd Rundgren"
(no hits from that one) but is actually better than "Runt"
Third album was the bullseye: "Something Anything".
This record produced the top ten singles "Hello it's me" and
"I saw the light". Was included on a Rolling Stone listing
as one of the top 100 influenial albums of the decade.
The sound of these three records is heavy on the piano (although
Ben is ten times the player that Todd is). Todd has a high voice
somewhat similar to Ben. Music style is "power pop" with lots of
Beatlesque harmonies (of course, all by Todd).
So what happened to Mr. Rundren? In the eighties he discovered
synthesizers and in the ninties, computers. He stopped making
classic 3-minute pop songs with traditional instruments and
got into long electronic pieces. Now he is more known for multimedia work.
If you like Ben Folds, you would love the first three albums listed
above, as well as a later record called "Hermit of mink hollow"
(where he goes back to his original stlye). Also "Accapella",
which is all vocals and no instruments at all (he sings everything).
Actually, Todd is one of the most amazing artists and musicians
working today, and all of his albums (there must be twenty or so--
all available through Rhino records) are interesting.
It's just that the first three are classics, and somewhat
in the "Ben Folds" sound.
I realize this is a long note, but now you all know.
Tom
(BUzz12746@aol.com)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 22:19:14 -0400 (EDT)
From: BFRsDj5@aol.com
Subject: I wish I had a nametag.....
Hello to all of you
My name is Kim and I am new to the list.
I am finally deciding to post after about a week of just lurking
I just love being able to discuss a great band with people who actually think
these guys are cool.( My friends have all told me that BFF suck, but hey,
that is their loss)
Anyways I really dont have much to share but i just wanted to put something
on here
*Kim*
PS- to the post about Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor for BFF I definitely
think it should be named after something really corny ( I dont know i am not
that creative)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 00:56:12 -0400 (EDT)
From: TheDanOne@aol.com
Subject: Soul Coughing
It seems there are a good number of Soul Coughing fans and Minnesotans on
this list. I was just wondering if anyone has a bootleg they would be willing
to trade of any of the Soul Coughing shows last weekend.
Dan Haugen
TheDanOne@aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 01:51:45 -0400 (EDT)
From: Puppycrush@aol.com
Subject: shoulda seen that old bastard jump...
puppycrush@aol.com
_last night, ten-ish, I was driving through down town in my friend's, brand
spankin' new (well, new to him. actually i think it was made in the late
seventies. so i guess, really, it's pretty far from new --especially cause it
looks like shit--and was really a stupid thing to open up with, but) brand
spankin' new, chevy one-ton monster truck with three-foot lifts and one
mother of a bad-ass roll bar that towered so far it would probably annoy the
fuck out of god. And we're barrling down the city streets at an absolutely
obseen speed when my friend spies an elderly couple crossing the street from
a quickly approaching quiktrip on the drivers side of Main St. on the radio,
a commercial came to an ubrupt end only to be relieved by the opening bars of
One Angry Dwarf...
_my friend, possibly possessed by the melody of the BFF phenomina, slams the
gas pedle to the floor and vears accross two lanes of traffic making a B-line
directly for the couple crossing the street.
_the couple freaks, dives back to the curb to, most likely, to slip into a
duo of massive heart-attacks. my friend's only excuse for this carnival of
destruction was this: "hey, they shouldn't a-been out this late."
_i think all know what really happened here.
:::::::puppycrush
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 01 Aug 1997 00:43:03 -0700
From: Jeffrey Coleman <reason9@idt.net>
Subject: liveconcert.com
Thanks guys! I just spent THREE hours checking this out. Great BFF w/
strings. How was the Columbus show? They built Polaris after I moved
to Chicago. Have they ever played a small venue there? Like Stache's
_before_ my former landlord (grrrrr) tore it down? BTW,have fun shopping
at the new,convenient GAP! :-P
Frances
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 04:35:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: Kmrafter@aol.com
Subject: BFF----ites?heads?
Just a thought. I've seen people write Armchairites, and BFF ites, what do
people call themselves who are "obsessed with BFF, like ourselves?? Panic.
Skineey
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 04:39:04 -0400 (EDT)
From: Kmrafter@aol.com
Subject: BFF----ites?heads?
Just a thought. I've seen people write Armchairites, and BFF ites, what do
people call themselves who are "obsessed with BFF, like ourselves?? Panic.
Skineey
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 09:02:55 -0400 (EDT)
From: Scoota97@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #423
hey gang,
Are any of you attending either the Hartford or Great Woods shows?? I'm
planning on going with a friend who is not really into BFF and would like to
hang out with some "COOL" people during their set :).... also, does anyone
know the taping policy on either venue (I've heard that Great Woods will not
allow taping of any kind even though the Horde Website clearly says that
there will be taping areas at each show) and I'll close with this......you
know you are obsessed with BFF when after racing from store to store on
payday, you pay 10 dollars a pop to pick up two imports you didn't have for
four songs you didn't have only to be pissed off when you can't find any
more!!!!!! (I never even thought of purchasing a "single",import or
not,before BFF!!)
later armchairites..
- -scott
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 01 Aug 1997 06:21:58 PDT
From: "Michael Mohan" <driver8_@hotmail.com>
Subject: One Angry Dwarf Video
I definitely agree with all the disappointed people. After seeing the
video I imagined 200 solemn faces staring at their screens thinking
'that's it?' Let's face it, if this was any other band we would have
thought the video was completely lame. They should have done something
like the new Dandy Warhols video, with lots of group dancing. I think
that Uncle Walter is definitely their best so far. What's next- Are they
making a video for 'Kate'??
- -michael
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 09:59:11 -0400
From: cynthia@people.timeinc.com (Cynthia Wang)
Subject: promos and ice cream
Hi y'all,
Yesterday in Bryant Park in New York City, Microsoft was promoting their
online city guide, sidewalk.com. In the morning, they gave out flyers that
said they were giving away 2,000+ free tickets to stuff in the city, things
from dinners at Daniel to sports tickets, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Now, the last thing you want to do is to tell New Yorkers en masse to line
up to get free things. I was a sucker, so I went. Of course, there are
THOUSANDS of people there, and by the time I arrived (12:45), everything
had been given out, including microsoft T-shirts. Like a lemming, I stayed
in line, following it to its inevitable exit.
But lo and behold! There was a free CD still available. And another lo! It
was a promotional HORDE CD, including album tracks from all of the
performers, such as... Ben Folds Five's "One Angry Dwarf." I was so happy.
So the moral of the story? Uh, um..... free stuff rules!
Oh, and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor? Why,"Ben Folds Fudge" of course,
with basic vanilla swirled with devilish fudge, and blueberries for
blue-eyed soul thrown in!
Take care y'all,
Cynthia
- -------------------
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 10:10:12 -0400
From: "Faix, Andrew" <AFaix@harris.com>
Subject: Columbus HORDE review...a stagehands perspective
Hey All,
Well, I would have loved to have posted this yesterday, but I had to
drive back to Rochester after forcing myself to wake up the
morning...afternoon after the show.
So here it is. I've been waiting to do this for weeks! Let me tell
you, actually working the HORDE was a terrific opportunity. I highly
recommend it for anyone who can manage.
I'll spare the grueling details of the whole day and just focus on the
boys.
Yes, obviously the show was great. I was very bummed that it was only
30 min. It seemed like they were just getting warmed up! The string
section was wonderful. I hope we see that on future, BF5 exclusive
shows. The best part was in the beginning of Fair, they were getting a
lot of feedback through their amps, and Ben started singing along w/ the
feedback. Very entertaining.
Immediately after the performance, I made my way to the stage, did my
WAYNE and GARTH back-stage-pass-flash and went behind the stage. I was
looking for a set list, but what I found was Ben and Darren just hanging
out and talking. So, I took a deep breath, walked over to them and
introduced myself. They were very cool! I think they're probably used
to nervous fans approaching and babbling at them. They didn't skip a
beat. I asked him if I could get a set list or something, and BEN
himself walked back up onstage and grabbed me a set list. I was so
happy. It made my week! Anyway, so I later had all of them sign it.
It was very cool.
Heather, glad to meet you. John, I think I was the guy that you think
cursed you out. If It was me then I apologize, that was not my
intention. Hope I didn't ruin your day.
Oh, and I hung out with Doug Goodman for awhile. Doug, I know you read
this so I just wanted to remind you to try and get the boys to Rochester
this Fall. If you do, I promise the place will be packed. I'll take
care of it personally.
Well, I could go on forever about my HORDE day, but I'm sure nobody
would be very interested in reading it so, I'll spare you.
Later all.
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.
- -Andrew (afaix@harris.com)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 02 Aug 1997 00:19:30
From: Paul Bland <arc01@pop4.ibm.net>
Subject: Australian Tour - MELBOURNE Info.
Melbourne, Australian Ben Folds Five people,
Just in case you haven't already heard, I'm here to spread the good news.
BEN FOLDS FIVE are playing Monash Uni (Chisholm Hall) on Friday, 26th
Spetember (7:30ish) Tickets are on sale NOW ($28.50), avialiable from BASS
(11 500). Cordrazine are supporting.
I got my ticket today, but there's only problem, it's an over 18 show, and,
well, I'm not. This is really annoying, because I only have a few months
before I am 18. I'm going to try my very best to get in anyway. Anyway,
I'll see all you Melbournites there (I'll be the guy standing out the
front, wishing I was allowed in)
Also, I just heard they have a second Melbourne show, October 8th at the
Prince of Wales (probably over 18 too) but I don't know any details for this.
Bye,
Paul B.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 10:34:48 -0400
From: percystar@cyberdrive.net (percystar)
Subject: Launch CD rom
Hiya Fivers!
I read about a free Launch Online CD with BF5 vid clips and stuff on it, so
I went to www.launchonline.com and subscribed, and then called the company
to make sure that I was going to get the one with BF5 on it. They said that
the issue that I ordered probably had the 3 vid clips or songs or whatever,
but the next issue, coming out on Aug. 2 or 3 will have a big interview and
section dedicated to BF5. Its a magazine CD or something for your computer
that you can buy at Tower Records or Barnes and Noble, or other places I'm
sure. Peace out.
Peanutt
"Got nowhere but home to go, got Ben Folds on my radio right now" -Duritz
visit my web site: http://www.cyberdrive.net/~percystar/
O \ O / _ O __| \ / |__ O _ \ O / O
/|\ | /\ __\O \O | O/ O/__ /\ | /|\
/ \ / \ | \ /) | ( \ /O\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 01 Aug 1997 11:32:34 +0800
From: Hitech World Cannington <hwcannig@git.com.au>
Subject: YES!!!! The Oz Tour!!!!
Hi,
YES!
Yes!!!
the bff are coming to perth!
i have been waiting for this event from the moment i first heard
"underground" and i cant believe that:
1. They are coming to australia
2. They are coming to perth
3. (and this is a big one) The tickets are so cheap!! ($27.70)
4. They are playing such a great venue......the ozone bar. You can get
up close enough to nearly touch them and certainly close enough to yell
out hi!!!
Woohoooo!!!!!!!
Greg.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 14:05:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: ShirowFan@aol.com
Subject: frank maynard's cool.
hey-- just downloaded the "underground" video off a bff website. it's cool,
and we have frank to thank for it. thanks frank. jesus, this is a stupid
post.
always a bridesmaid,
dave
"for god's sake, let the bear masturbate!!" --andy richter
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #424
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