THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #515 - October 7, 1997



Magical Armchair Digest    Tuesday, October 7 1997    Volume 01 : Number 515



                          THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    The Supper Club 
    concert dates
    Dr. Pyser / RealAudio = RealLucky
    Re: Who is Dr. Peyser
    the trash in julianne
    the bodacious lorenza violin player babe
    Charlotte show tickets 
    jewish ben folds?
    Re: video killed the radio star and the string quartet 
    video killed the radio star
    Re: Who Is Dr. Peyser
    Moshing
    Video Killed the Radio Star 
    video killed the radio star/lounge-a-palooza
    LIVID...about moshing 
    RECOVERY

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 20:23:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: FineExampl@aol.com
Subject: The Supper Club 

Hello all!  who's going to the Supper Club gig?  I have a pair of tix here
with nobody t go with!  hmm...hope i find someone!  I'd ask yu Jessica237 if
you would go, but alas you are too young!  seein as its 21 n up!  
One good thing is i wont hafta see my ex at the show like at the Irving plaza
gig last time round!  THANK GOD FOR BEING 23!!!

anyway, locals get in touch with me!  maybe we "can say...hey" or something!

i think i'm gonna make myself a Tshirt with an armchair on front and back for
the gig!  i just got silk screening stuff so after i finish what i am working
on i will have the time!

later!!!
always,
John H.   NJ    USA

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 18:31:54 -0700 (MST)
From: Stacy L Flatt <stacyf@U.Arizona.EDU>
Subject: concert dates

Hi there!!

Ok, I haven't heard any AZ dates for sure yet...  But I am detirmined to
see BFF live.  I don't have web access, so please someone email me or post
here what some dates are that are close to AZ.  HAve the CA dates been
confirmed??  ANyway, also, if I do go fly to see them (My parents don't
want me to drive--they think LA is too dangerous to drive in) is there
anyone familiar
with the LA area that could help me out finding a place to stay and how to
get around??  Also, is there anyone that would be interested in going with
me (if you are from AZ) or meeting me at the show?

Trying to make things work out...
Stacy

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 21:13:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: Steve Clay <fender@grove.ufl.edu>
Subject: Dr. Pyser / RealAudio = RealLucky

Hey Brant!
	Today marked the 1st use of my new RealAudio plugin (yeah, I
know...welcome to the 20th century) and I heard this instrumental for the
first time at http://www.liveconcerts.com, or something very close.  There
you click on the radio station call letters K??? and that takes you to a
list where you'll find 3 seperate BF5 live performances in RealAudio.  Ben
explains that the song is an original and they stole the "Pyser" from a
Norwegian expression for the...well...a male organ.  Figure on Ben to be
so classy!

Steve
18 days 'till the State Theatre show!

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 19:06:17 -0700
From: "Doron Richartz" <rich5363@tao.sou.edu>
Subject: Re: Who is Dr. Peyser

I've been a long time reader, but this is my first post on the Armchair and
so I thought I'd take this opportunity to answer Brant Jones' question about
"Theme from Dr. Peyser".

Well, here goes... Ben said in an interview that Peyser is a 'dirty word' in
Norwegian. Ben said that everybody was yelling it, he also says it means
what it sounds like. But I'm not sure what that is...

He thought it would also make a good title for a song, and no it's not a TV
show. That's what I thought it was too, before I heard the interview.

Doron

Ps: Is there anybody on the Armchair from Oregon?
One final note, I don't know what everybody is complaining about, there
aren't any BFF shows scheduled in the Northwest.

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 20:35:17 -0600
From: "Jon Tycksen" <jon@ns.cyber-west.com>
Subject: the trash in julianne

> - Matt was asking about the song 'Julianne' where Ben sings "I got 
>my bag of trash...I'm walking up and down and dragging it up and down 
>the road.." and what it means. I always took that to mean that Ben (or 
>whatever person's point of view he's singing from, at least; it doesn't 
>have to be him) has a...hmm, shall we say 'colourful' past, and he is 
>wondering how someone could "miss a man" who drags his past and memories 
>etc. around with him. He's the kind of guy who doesn't "give a shit" 
>about things that others deem morally wrong (ie: his friend who told him 
>she felt sorry for him, that the truth would come "crashing down" on 
>him, etc. etc.). Any other thoughts?

	I always thought Ben was just referring to the literal Bag of Trash that
gets kicked around while they recorded the tune.  As a percussionist, I got
a big kick outta this part of the song.  Any band that adds to their music
by kicking around a bag full of glass, and cans gets my vote any day!
	At first he sings about the trash: "I gotta bag of trash! I gotta bag of
trash! I'm walkin' up and down and draggin' it up and down the road" 
	And then he ties it in to the song and to julianne by saying:  "How could
she miss a man who drags a bag of trash down the road!"
	whatta great guy ben is

just "another thought"

- -jon

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 20:56:09 -0600
From: "Jon Tycksen" <jon@ns.cyber-west.com>
Subject: the bodacious lorenza violin player babe

hi all

 And then, with BFF's 
name in bold, it reads, "Lorenza Ponce, currently winning acclaim for 
her debut album Imago, will be performing Oct. 3 at Webster Hall in New 
York City. This emerging vocalist/violinist recently completed a 6-week 
run on the highly successful H.O.R.D.E. tour, performing alongside 
pop-rock group Ben Folds Five."

I didn't see the tour; does anyone remember this artist? Was she 
notable?



- -yeah, I was at the Salt lake city Horde, ( gotta decent bootleg by the
way) and lorenza was one of the violin players in the bff's brass quintet
(string quartet)

I also happened to get not only ben's and darren's but all of the strings
players autographs, 

- -jon

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 23:02:18 -0400 (EDT)
From: KristiBS@aol.com
Subject: Charlotte show tickets 

Hi,

I'm looking for some info on the Oct 17 Charlotte show.  How much are tickets
and how do I get them?  Also, could someone give me directions to Tremont?
 You can e-mail me, so we won't clog up the armchair. 

Kristi
KristiBS@aol.com

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 21:21:44 -0600
From: "Jon Tycksen" <jon@ns.cyber-west.com>
Subject: jewish ben folds?

hi-

about an inquiry on ben's religion:

	i just assumed he was jewish, especially after hearing both Hava Nagila
and Stephen's Last Night in Town.  WAEA's stephen's has what is called a
kletzmer band (with the trumpet and accordian and clarinet and violin and
all,) which is a band that plays at jewish weddings and things.  I also
thought I heard some jewish lyrics, but I'm not sure- at about 1:58 into
the song, it sounds like "keep that shit say" but that doesn't make any
sense to me, so I just assumed it was something jewish or something.

	then again, he might not be jewish, there is that referral to christmas in
OAD after all... who knows, and if anybody does know, post it away!

- -jon

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 23:30:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: JohnH1968@aol.com
Subject: Re: video killed the radio star and the string quartet 

In a message dated 97-10-05 20:17:07 EDT, owner-armchair@ford.il.fontys.nl
writes:

>sorry if it has been covered already, or talked about- anyway, who is the
>original artist of "video killed the radio star???" 

Why, that would be The Buggles, the very epitome of one-hit wonder-dom.
Pretty good band from what I understand, but it's hard to follow up a song as
good as VKtRS, wouldn't you agree?

==
John Heaton
johnh1968@aol.com

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

Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 22:30:37 -0500
From: "Clasen, Benjamin P" <BPCLASEN@CSBSJU.EDU>
Subject: video killed the radio star

okay kids.  i finally have answers.  

"video killed the radio star" was released by the buggles in 1979 as a
7" and again on the "The Age of Plastic" LP in 1980.  ironically, the
video for "Video killed the radio star" was the first ever video to be
played on MTV.  unfortunately, the buggles died out shortly after
releasing another LP in 1981 that they tried to pull singles from until
sometime in 1983.  the Buggles' brief appearance in the modern recording
world clearly makes them kings of the "one hit wonders" class
- -especially since they have been reduced to the answer on the back of
the trivial pursuit card that asks "what was the first song played on
MTV?"

this is where ben folds five comes in.  sometime shortly after the
release of their self titled album, they were approached to cover "video
killed the radio star" for a record of one hit wonders.  they did it and
enjoyed it, but the album was never released - as ben stated in Dan
Goodspeed's interview, 6/97.  

i hope this helps.  i have been looking for answers to this for a
loooooooooong time myself.

ben clasen



"I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two, Lying awake intent at
tuning in on you."  

- -the BUGGLES 


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

Date: Sun, 05 Oct 1997 20:48:49 PDT 
From: "Courtney Knopf" <vegasbaby@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Who Is Dr. Peyser

>Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 16:04:38 -0700 (PDT)
>From: bwjones <bwjones@scf-fs.usc.edu>
>Subject: Who is Dr. Peyser?
>
Brant,
So I think "Theme from Dr. peyser" is something the guys decided to make 
up. I heard an interview with them or something and I remember Ben 
saying that Peyser is like dutch (?) for the word penis and people kept 
yeeling it at their shows. I could be wrong though.
 Oh, and just as a side not, are you the same Brant that went to high 
school with Steph? I'm a USC chick too--if you are, it's me Courtney. 
Steph taught us how to swing dance before Big Bad Voodoo Daddy last 
year. Neat-o coincidence.

~Courtney

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

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

Date: Sun, 05 Oct 1997 23:51:42 -0500 (EST)
From: Christina Scarmeas <15SCARMEAS@cua.edu>
Subject: Moshing

Ok, before this topic gets too overdone, I just have a couple things to 
say about it. First of all, moshing just is hell for girls who are under 
a 120 pounds, and even worse if you are 5'4 and under. If you want to 
experience guy's sweaty tummy in your face, more power to you. But gimmee 
a break, it sucks for us petite girls. The other thing is that why do it 
at all? What's the point. We all go to shows to enjoy the music and 
whatnot. But do we really go to exert our anger onto other concert-goers. 
I've gone to everything from They Might Be Giants, to Sebadoh and 
FUgazi. Now, if you can beleive it there was moshing at all three shows, and 
it totally ruined the experience. I hope when I go too the DC BF5 show 
this december, that everyone will leave the moshing to the next marilyn 
manson show.
Smile guys...it could get worse
Tina

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

Date: Mon, 6 Oct 1997 00:33:16 -0500
From: Jason Cooper <jwc5051@garnet.acns.fsu.edu>
Subject: Video Killed the Radio Star 

>sorry if it has been covered already, or talked about- anyway, who is the
>original artist of "video killed the radio star???"
>and....................

The Buggles did Video. You should also know that it was THE first video
ever played on MTV. Trevor Horne (of Buggles fame) spends his days
producing these days. Cool.

Jason

In the 5 disc...

Out of the Loop - The Brecker Brothers
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
RENT (both discs)
They Might be Giants - Flood

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

Date: Sun, 05 Oct 1997 21:37:06 PDT 
From: "Courtney Knopf" <vegasbaby@hotmail.com>
Subject: video killed the radio star/lounge-a-palooza

Well, for the person who wanted to know, "Video Killed the Radio Star" 
was originally by a band called The Buggles. You can barely even call 
them one-hit-wonders, but "Video.." was the first video ever aired on 
MTV.

on another note....I was checking out web sites for martini glass clip 
art and I came across Vik Trola's Lounge of self Indulgence (Better 
living through cocktail culture) and on RadioVik, you can download the 
studio version of "She Don't use Jelly" in real audio format. to check 
it out go here:
www.chaoskitty.com/t_chaos/radio/features.html

Oh, and does anyone know id they have finished (or started) filiming the 
Brick video. 'Cause there's a website with all the location shooting 
that's happening in L.A. and BFF weren't listed. so either it's over and 
done, has yet to happen, they're shooting it on a sound stage, or all of 
the above. whatevers.

~Courtney

"just one sign that'll show me that you give a shit...."

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

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

Date: Mon, 6 Oct 1997 15:40:05 +1000 (GMT+1000)
From: Mahon@mailbox.uq.edu.au (Sarah)
Subject: LIVID...about moshing 

        Well it's finally happened:
1/ I'm no longer just an armchair lurker
2/ more importantly, I SAW BEN, DARREN & ROBERT AT LIVID!!!!!!

        Yes I was one of the 40,000 ppl at the Brisbane Livid Festival.  It
was the first time I'd seen the guys live and I knew it would be fab from
having read the armchair.....BUT NOT THIS FAB!!
        Anyway you already know the set and Steven's was my fav too!!
        Terribly pissed that they only played for 35mins but I guess that's
better than none.
        While Reef played I made sure I took my position right at the dead
centre of the BFF stage and in the front row.  I had a fab view of the guys
and Darren cracked me up with the classic facial expressions that he pulls
while he's kicking ass on the drums (especially the way he shuts his right
eye ~ but this could have been from the smoke machine which was positioned
right next to him).  At one stage someone threw a water bottle onto the
stage and Robert decided to kick it straight off again, luckily it didn't
hit me ...but it managed to hit the girl next to me fair in the forehead.
Of course Robert looked terribly embarrassed and apologised straight away.
Ben got up to his usual antics and was a true showman but I thought he would
have talked a little more (at one stage he turned to the crowd and gave
everyone the finger ~ I have know idea whether this was in jest or if he
actually thought the crowd deserved it. I have a feeling that they cut their
act short because they weren't exactly having a good time ~ just a hunch
anyway).
        Now my 2cents about the whole moshing thing...(yeah yeah I heard
everyone sigh). Now I'm not anti-moshing but at the same time I ended up
spending half my time at BFF turning around to the crowd to see when the
next body was going to come flying across and crush us ~ I mean I went to
watch the band not to catch flying bodies and get kicked in the head. I
agree that Underground is paying out on exactly what the Livid crowd was
doing (ie. everyone looking the same, moshing the same, taking the same
subnstances all in the effort to be "different") Anyway enough of that!
        I'm not sure but I think Kate was just off to the right of the stage
filming most of the set and there was a pretty big crowd of ppl (including
the guys from Cake) gathering on the other side of the stage rocking away
with the BFF boys.  And rock they did!!  All in all I am so stoked to have
FINALLY seen the boys :)

Sarah

"hand me my cock ring" Darren

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

Date: Sun, 05 Oct 1997 23:18:54 -0700
From: "Julie Hurst" <sledgie@mailexcite.com>
Subject: RECOVERY

So it took me long enough to post but hey anyway I met BFF last saturday
for those who watched recovery I was the one from Ballarat with the sign.
They were so nice, I got to go backstage after their interview cause they
were so impressed with the fact that we woke up at 2:00am in the morning
for them, I gave them pressies, Ben loved his grumpy. darren out his arm
around me I called ben a legend twice and he flashed that gorgeous smile
that I love so much, Hey I went crazy when Robert waved to me before the
show even started, the guys at Recovery were good, they let us go
backstage. And the boys know all about every thing Kerri anne and friends
said and they're not impressed themselves. If there is any Gavin Rossdale
fans out there email me and I'll tell you what happened with him I HATE
HIM SO MUCH! He's a wanker and I told him.  YOOOOOKAYYYYYY



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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #515
**************************************


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