THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #562 - October 26, 1997



Magical Armchair Digest    Sunday, October 26 1997    Volume 01 : Number 562



                          THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    Oct 23 show (St.Pete,FL) setlist
    Sonny's questions.... 
    Something really cool....not related to anything
    tickets for NY show 
    countdown
    Taping
    The philly Show at the electric factory!

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

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 11:58:55 -0400 (EDT)
From: Steve Clay 
Subject: Oct 23 show (St.Pete,FL) setlist

Hey all,
	Yep, drove from Gainsville to St.Pete (100 or so miles) with a
friend to finally see my second show.  I won't waste time telling you
about the mediocre surf band that opened up, but from what we heard it was
*supposed* to be Fleming & John (whom I would've liked to seen with Ben
playing drums on their album, etc.) but oh well.
	The guys took the stage at 10:30 and I only remember that Dr
Pyser, BOWCCL, and Philosophy were 1st in that order.  They encored with
Song For the Dumped and the rest of the songs were scrambled in there
somewhere.

Dr Pyser - Cute, but missed the strings I'd hear about.
Battle of Who Could Care Less - No bass during the pre-bridge vocal harmonies.
Philosophy - A little fast w/extra piano-bashing at end.
Missing the War - Straight from record.  Splendid.
Fair - 1st half of verses without piano.  Saw the disco ball spinning, but
	they never turned the lights on it like I've heard they do.
Brick - Straight from record (w/ Robert on stand-up bass).
The Last Polka - Noisy intro.
Steven's Last Night in Town - Ben's piano dancing intro, Ben on melodica.
	The PA and acoustics made the melodica sound way out of tune until  
	the last verse, sort of like when you're listening to something
	quiet in the car and your ears can't find exactly what key it's in
	until a loud passage comes.  I think the fuzz on Rob's bass made 
	it sound out of tune through the PA because when he turned it off
	it was fine.
Kate - Cute, adorable solo piano waltz intro.
Julianne - Unusually arranged first verse (sorry, can't remember how),
	but then they played the rest ferociously fast.
One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces - Out of control near the end.
Selfless, Cold and Composed - Bliss, perfect.
Underground - Short, minor key piano piece before intro: Darren walks up
	to Rob's mike says something about the croud being really
	attractive, points out exceptions, then they did their thing.
Jackson Cannery - Intro had the piano solo near end of recorded version.
short, free-jazz break - 10/15 seconds of screwing around, but fun.
Boxing - Perfect, just w/o strings.
Song For the Dumped - Stopped before last chorus.  Robert used the input
	jack on his bass to start the song back up with a morse-codey buzz.
- ---------------------covers (short unless specified)--------------------
Song 2 - Before "Steven's..." Ben was down in front of Rob's mike. Someone
	in the crowd yelled the "woo-hoo" and Rob started playing with Ben
	singing random, unintelligible words.  Darren didn't jump in ;(
"a Cannibal Corpse song" - Rob was saying something about "one of (their)
	favorite bands, Cannibal Corpse" and this was one of the two songs  
	they knew.  Just a brief blast of noise.
Free Bird - More noise with Ben yelling a verse.
Sweet Home Alabama - Complete with a couple new lines.  "'Cause I'm a
	piano-playin' asshole..."
She Don't Use Jelly - Fantastic, but really strange to see them do
	something like this.

	The only thing that bothered me about the both shows was how, in
the roudier songs, Ben tended to bash the piano a little more than
necessary, at times for an entire lyric line.  Oh well, The more serious
songs were perfect and I have the records so who cares.  Also I would've
liked to have heard "For Those of Y'all Who Wear Fanny Packs", but St.Pete
wasn't treated to such high art.

Steve,
who missed both Alden and Kerry seeing the show from the balcony.  Sorry
guys!

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

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 13:35:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: GrnEgNham@aol.com
Subject: Sonny's questions.... 

You're very inquisitive!!!  The only one I can help you out with is the
Sports and Wine thing.  They do play that in concert.  In fact, Darren told
me (I interviewed him a few weeks ago) that Sports and Wine is his favorite
song to do in concert because of the drum solo.  He said a few years ago they
played that song in Dallas and instead of doing the drum solo, he stood up
and did some "serious karate moves."  So, they do play it.  I think they
played Uncle Walter last year in Cleveland, but I might be mistaken.  

   Emily :-)

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

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 13:50:18 -0400
From: Bart Smith 
Subject: Something really cool....not related to anything

Hey everybody,
	This is big news....well for me it is.  Today at 3:00est the Sci-fi
Network is showing a low budget science fiction movie starring Judge
Reinhold, C Thomas Howell, Jennifer Rubin, and Billy Wirth. 
Wow,....exciting, huh?
	Okay...here's the significance:  The movie was filmed inside my house
and around my home town.  If you watch the movie, the big tan-colored
house with the picket fence is mine.  I think they show it near the
beginning of the movie, so at least watch the first few minutes of the
movie if you get this email in tiime.  I know I'm sending it kind of
late, but I meant to do it yesterday.  Come on - watch it, it'll make me
feel like a big time movie star....sort of....


========================================================================
	Bart Smith			Bart_Smith@bigfoot.com

	page me with ICQ at http://wwp.mirabilis.com/3529601

	"Could I have been.....anyone other than me?"
					- DJM
========================================================================

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

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 14:01:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: Znice@aol.com
Subject: tickets for NY show 

hi.

i just wanted to let the NY fans know that i just managed to get tix to the
show at the supper club (11/6) from ticketmaster online (lets not start the
debate again) after being told for a week, by ticketmaster, that they were
sold out. i don't know if its an error or if they released more tickets, but
i figured i'd let you know about it.  See you in Boston on the 4th and NY on
the 6th..   young eric.

i'll be wearing a "walter" nametag, will you???

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

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 12:17:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: bwjones 
Subject: countdown

Hey, I just read that Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles will likely be inducted
into the 1998 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Which got me to thinking....

Countdown until Ben Folds Five is eligible for induction into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame:

22 years, 2 months, and six days (or so)

ROCK ON PYSERS!
Brant Jones
University of Southern California

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

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 15:15:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: Frank Maynard 
Subject: Taping

Jessica asked about taping and specifically how to go about getting a 
soundboard feed.

The band has never allowed soundboard feeds but they have allowed 
individuals to make recordings on small portable hand-held recorders for 
their own use.  The reason for no soundboard feeds, besides the technical 
issues, is that the front-of-house mix is supplemental to the acoustics 
of the piano and drums and is not a complete mix.

I'm informed by management, though, that officially, at the moment, no 
taping is allowed.  (That's all I'll say.)

  -fjm
                           You're my hero I confess

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

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 15:30:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jay Perron 
Subject: The philly Show at the electric factory!

On Sat, 25 Oct 1997, Magical Armchair Digest wrote:

> Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 02:04:22 +0200
> From: Magical Armchair Digest 
> Reply-To: armchair@ford.il.fontys.nl
> To: armchair@ford.il.fontys.nl
> Subject: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #560
> 
> 
> Magical Armchair Digest   Saturday, October 25 1997   Volume 01 : Number 560
> 
> 
> 
>                           THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
>                     The Ben Folds Five Mailing List
> 
> TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THIS MAILING LIST
>    Send an e-mail message to armchair-request@maillist.il.fontys.nl with
> the word 'unsubscribe' (without the quotes) in the message body. Please DO
> NOT POST UNSUBSCRIBE REQUESTS TO THE LIST ITSELF! If you are having
> trouble, send mail to owner-armchair@maillist.il.fontys.nl and I
> will try to help you. To change your address, first unsub yourself from
> your old address, then subscribe using your new account.
> 
> MULTIPART MESSAGES
>    Please do not post multipart messages. These are messages which
> contain images, html or other non-text parts. They greatly expand the size
> of the digests, which are already running fairly large these days, and may
> inconvenience many readers. If you wish to post a picture, put it on your
> web page and post a message with the url, or post a message saying you
> have a picture and will e-mail it to people on request. If you are not
> sure how to post text-only messages, check with your system administrator.
> 
> WHEN REPLYING: Please change the subject of your reply to something
> pertinent to the message. Don't leave it as "Magical Armchair Digest,
> V1 #xxx" unless your mail client won't allow you to change it.
> 
> TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
> 
>     Ben Folds Five Home Video
>     Fillmore Correction
>     Thanks Chuck and Snuzz
>     [none]
>     Summer B., Steven, songs, theme, singles, and a ringing phone!! 
>     Evaporated Live
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 15:09:43 -0400
> From: Kerry 
> Subject: Ben Folds Five Home Video
> 
> My fellow Armchairians/Helmet Heads/ Etc I've decided to post yet again
> and decline from lurking for months on end.
> 
> 	Wouldn't a Ben Folds Five home video be great?  Does anyone know if
> there have been talk of this or if they're planning on doing one?  I
> mean, I for one cannot get enough of their music or them.  And we fans
> are quite rabid...it would definitely sell.
> 
> 	Just a thought.  Does anyone agree/disagree with me though?  We could
> have all their music videos that don't get played (which is a good
> thing) and have a little footage of the guys doing interviews, talking,
> concert footage...sort of a compilation.
> 
> 	Take care all again.
> 
> 		Kerry
> 
> http://www.mindspring.com/~kgarvin
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 13:44:33 -0700
> From: Kent Hillman 
> Subject: Fillmore Correction
> 
> oops,
> 
> That cut and paste from the Fillmore's site is incorrect, their date Sunday
> Nov. 28 should read *Friday* Nov. 28th...sorry for the confusion.
> 
> Kent
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 17:40:21 -0400
> From: "Yates Dew" 
> Subject: Thanks Chuck and Snuzz
> 
> I just want to applaud Chuck Folds for sharing with the Armchair so
> regularly.  He has opened himself up to all of us fanatics, and for that,
> we should commend and thank him (and not bombard his email box).
> 
> Also, be sure to listen to and support his latest CD with his new band,
> "Snuzz" - it's excellent, and I am thrilled with my purchase of it - email
> me (or him)  - - I'll be glad to tell you where to order it.
  > 
> Yates Dew
> United Hotcake
> ydew@legnetwork.com
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 19:12:30 -0400
> From: Carrie Shanafelt 
> Subject: [none]
> 
> Ok, I forgot who suggested playing Hearts vs. Ben, Robert, and Darren, but
> I think it was a great idea.  The freaky part is, Darren wins every time...
> Blast!  Foiled again!  .... Curses!
> 
> Increasingly unable to control my bladder when thinking about the Halloween
> show ONE WEEK from now,
> Carrie
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 19:25:18 -0400 (EDT)
> From: BenFoldsJ@aol.com
> Subject: Summer B., Steven, songs, theme, singles, and a ringing phone!! 
> 
> Fellow Armchairers,
> 
>      I got a ton of things to say - okay, not a ton, but a few - so please
> gimme a listen. 
>      Okay: Summer B., Songs' hidden meanings, Happy B-Day, Win95 Theme,
> Singles on disc, the ringing phone, the story of Steven, my favorite album,
> and the CD's in my CD player!
> 
>      First, in response to Marc Kaplan's letter on Summer B. and it bein' a
> play on words. I don't think so, Marc -- although I could be wrong. If you
> look on the inside cover of the S/T disc, you'll notice in the Special Thanks
> area that is says "Summer Burkes." That happens to be either Darren of Ben's
> ex...can't remember which. I doubt it's a play on words. 
> 
>       Second, in response to Chris K.'s question about the phone ringing and
> the laughing in "Steven's..." It was on accident that it made it into the
> recording, but Caleb and Ben decided to leave it in, obviously cause it
> sounds cool right during the pause in the song. So, in other words -- it was
> an accident, but left in intentionally. I read this in an interview they did
> with some freelance journalist. Don't know for what magazine though.
> 
>       Third, Jeremy Davis mentioned something about a Win95 theme. No, I
> haven't come across one, and yes, I'd love to have one!! Please let me know
> when you get it completed!!
> 
>       Fourth, happy belated birthday, A A Donely.
> 
>       Fifth, how many different copies and versions are there of all their
> singles. I hear there's a blue and an orange copy of Kate, then there are two
> parts to that single. And then I hear of three different copies of BOWCCL,
> each with better bonus tracks. I mean, does anyone have a list of all the
> copies and versionsof all their singles? Please email me if you do or post it
> to the Armchair!! Thanks in advance!!
> 
>       Sixth, in response to Derek Scott and his post about the songs and
> their meanings. Basically, I wanted to comment on "Steven's...". I think it
> was at the Atlanta show, or maybe it was in an interview where they explained
> this, but anyway, the song was written about a guy who came to visit them.
> Apparently, Steven had decided to leave one night, and they threw a party for
> him, but the next day, he decided to stay. 
>       Then the same thing happened again, and again, and again. I think they
> claimed to have thrown something like 9 different going away parties for this
> guy in like two weeks. (Hence the, "Two weeks and seven days, our fair
> foreign friend, I have this feeling we might never see Steven again...")
> Anyway, to sum it all up, the songs about some guy that wouldn't leave,
> despite the parties they threw for him. So this was a parody on his long
> hiatus in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
> 
>        Seventh, I personally think the S/T album is better. Not to put down
> WEAEA -- It's also an amazing album. But I think the S/T one seems to really
> lay-out who Ben Folds Five IS. As that is true for most bands. The debut
> releases tend to be the best of the best, and represent who the band is and
> wants to be. Now, of course, I won't be violent about it, everyone's entitled
> to their own opinion. So if you think WEAEA is better, then you have my
> blessing. Overall though, I think the S/T is just the most ROCKIN'!!! ;)
> 
>                    Have a good one!
>                        ~Jordan R.
>                    "I know it's not your thing to care, I know it's cool to
> be so bored..."
> 
> P.S. Still wonderin' what Zildjian cymbals Darren uses!
> 
> CDs in my CD Player:
> Ben Folds Five - Ben Folds Five (Japanese Release w/ "Tom and Mary")
> Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen
> Ben Folds Five - UK Import of "Underground" Pt. 1 Single
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 19:56:49 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Patrick J McDonough 
> Subject: Evaporated Live
> 
> Is it true that this has only been done once?  In which case, I have heard
> the only LIVE performance of the song ever?  For those of you who are the
> boot-masters, you should be looking for a show at Ziggy's in W-S, NC on
> August 18, 1996.  Incidentally, this was the first time I saw BFF, and
> brought them cookies...coincidence?  I think NOT!  Ben introduced the song
> as "a risky encore."  Afterwards, i todl him i loved the song and that it
> reminded me vaguely of Jackson Browne.  (Listen to "Love Needs a Heart" on
> the Running from Empty album, armchairians)
> 	I will hopefully be at the Indy show at the vogue theater.  Look
> for a guy with some Wake Forest stuff on.
> 
> My god, what have i done?
> Patrick from Winston-Salem
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #560
> **************************************
> 
> 
>              THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR - The Ben Folds Five Mailing List
>                Submit articles to: armchair@maillist.il.fontys.nl
>    Send administrative requests to: armchair-request@maillist.il.fontys.nl
>                      WWW homepage: http://oeonline.com/bff
>                   List archive: http://oeonline.com/bff/list/
> 
Is anyone going to the philly show at the electric factory on nov. 9! Does
anyone from st. joe's in philly subscribe to the armchair. if so email me
at jp091901@sju.edu! Hope to see you at the concert.

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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #562
**************************************


             THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR - The Ben Folds Five Mailing List
               Submit articles to: armchair@maillist.il.fontys.nl
   Send administrative requests to: armchair-request@maillist.il.fontys.nl
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