THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #586 - November 5, 1997



Magical Armchair Digest  Wednesday, November 5 1997  Volume 01 : Number 586



                          THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    Cleveland has got bootleg!!!! 
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #583
    desert requests
    Japanese SftD
    Lakewood (Cleveland) Ohio  Show
    one more comment about Ypsi...
    They Might Be Giants
    video of ypsi show?
    Sugarhill Gang, Desert Island, Matt? Steven? 
    Beck 
    The Charlotte Show 
    The Charlotte Show 
    Majosha/pots and pans
    TMBG
    Oh no you DIDN'T
    Robert is a dead man.
    bff in the nw

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

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 1997 20:31:41 -0500 (EST)
From: GrnEgNham@aol.com
Subject: Cleveland has got bootleg!!!! 

   I got to school early this morning, just so I could find my bootleg making
friend.  Without even asking, he said "I got it.  And it's good."  I was
concerned because they did not want any recording devices at all in the
theater.  But, he told them something on the internet said it was ok to
record shows.  They let him set up a tripod and everything. So, try using
that excuse if you want to record.

   As for the whole bootleg thing, I've never done it before.  I guess if you
want it you should privately e-mail me and we'll exchange addresses.  

  Everyone is talking about ordering cd singles from catalogs.  Mind sharing
phone numbers and prices?

   The Halloween show was awesome (you'll hear for yourself).  I'm a fool!  I
didn't bother to check my e-mail until the day after the show, so I wasn't
even looking for people!  Jess, I read your mail.  You were the clown?! I was
near you, I saw Ben took your roses and button (how sweet) and gave you a
high-five!  I was behind those two really short people (who knew Ben, but
were poopheads), directly across from Ben.  I wasn't too distinct looking if
anyone thinks they might have seen me.  I had the red *kiss my a** * shirt
on, with brown hair about 5'4.  real distinct!  I didn't even try to meet the
guys after the show.  I wanted to meet Darren, and thank him for the
interview (he's soooooooooooooo cute!)

    My two cents on the opening acts:     Verbow was ok.  The bassist was
awesome!  I've got to learn his little shimmy sometime!  I'm glad someone
else noticed the sweet home alabama rip off. I actually started to sing it
with my friends, heck it was better than what they were playing.  Kim Fox was
not good at all.  Maybe I wasn't in the mood to hear her baby stuff.  She
looked like one and played like one too.  I knew what was coming up next, so
that might have influenced my views. :-)
 
   Sorry for being so verbose.  Bootleggers:  E-mail me!

  Emily :-)

   "I was never cool in school, I'm sure you don't remember me...." Ben Folds
Five

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

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 1997 21:25:17 -0500 (EST)
From: Krosstown Traffic 
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #583

there was someone one here gooing to to the Philly show from DC right?
well I'm in COllege Park MD and I'm going too, e-mail me back,maybe we can
work something out..

Josh

I THINK THAT RICHARD NIXON WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS A TRUE FOLK HERO, WHO STRUCK
A BLOW TO THE WHOLE DISEASED CONCEPT OF THE REVERED IMAGE AND GAVE THE AMERICAN
VIRTUE OF IRREVERENCE AND SKEPTICISM BACK TO THE PEOPLE

- -William Burroughs

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

Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 20:25:55 -0600
From: Damian Marshall 
Subject: desert requests

I like this poll to choose our three fave Five songs. So, if I were
stranded on a desert island, here are my three:

1. Best Imitation---my fave song from my fave band.
2. Underground---the one the only.
3. Eddie Walker---my new Five fave.

But I must add, doing this poll is just killer.  I mean, this meant leaving
out "Kate", "Polka", "Alice", "Brick", "Evaporated", etc.  

Question: does anyone know where I can find MP3's/RA of the song "Protection"?

Damian P. Marshall
Northwestern University 2000
damer@nwu.edu
847-332-6236

"I've been afraid of changin' cause I built my life around
you."---Fleetwood Mac

"Two peas from the same pod yes we are, or have I read too much fiction?
Is this  how it happens?"---The Sundays

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

Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 21:38:27 -0500
From: Carrie Shanafelt 
Subject: Japanese SftD

>  OK....Shannon - that BFF tape you gave me is awesome! Do you (or anyone
>else know) where the Japanese version of Song for the Dumped was recorded?
>Has Ben played it on more than one occassion?

Actually, at the Lawrence show this spring, Ben did a verse in Japanese --
It was awesome, and there were at least 15 or so people singing along!  The
crowd in KS tends to be really intense fans and the guys really picked up
on that.  At the Halloween show, someone called for Emaline and someone
else for Fanny Packs, and Ben was like "Wow, you guys have a great
knowledge of our songlist!"  In Lawrence, people were screaming for a whole
pack of songs I, at the time, hadn't even heard of, even though I was on
the list.  Anyway, point being, yes, they did a Japanese verse of SftD.  I
get a little carried away about Lawrence... I miss it!  >sniff!<

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

Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 21:44:03 -0500
From: Dan 
Subject: Lakewood (Cleveland) Ohio  Show

Ok.. I have finally been to my first BFF show... And I must say...
!!!!!!!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was cool to see them.. Especially b/c the venue was my High School's
Auditorium, and it was on Halloween night... Darren Jessee came dressed
as Ted Nugent  {nice hair Darren}  Ben Folds was "death" and Robert
Sledge came as some weirdo, F**ed up space dude.  You guys looked
stranger than some of the audience (let me tell you... it was an odd
bunch of people)  Its amazing all the "Punk-Rock Sissies" that would
come to see a show at a High School....

Come back to Cleveland soon guys!!!
(do they even read these things?)

Dan

BTW if anybody has info on their opening band "Verbow" please send.. I
liked 'em

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

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 1997 22:48:35 -0500
From: "Cameron Hamilton-Wright" 
Subject: one more comment about Ypsi...

first of all, I noticed a post about ben sitting int he front row... I
thought it was quite interesting how he leasurly walked out from back stage
and sat down, and everyone around was pointing fingers and whispering...
man, I'm glad I'll never be famous...

Um, about the United States Three (that was their name, wasn't it?), did
anyone else notice that the base player was Steve Page?  No doubt about it,
Steve has quit BNL to be a bassist for US3.  Ok, well maybe not, but anyway,
they look so much alike, it's unbelievable...

Oh, and shannon, if this BF5 tape is as good as Amit says it is, why don't i
have a copy yet??? ;)

Cam

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

Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 20:19:42 +0000
From: Chris Robles 
Subject: They Might Be Giants

This message is about something other then BFF, and is in response to
John's question about They Might Be Giants.

They Might Be Giants, are a duo that have been putting out some of the
best and craziest music since the mid 1980's, any BFF fan will probably
really enjoy TMBG. Its really hard to describe there music, and you
really have to hear to believe it.  There music is just fun,
intellectual, crazy, and catchy.  They have released 7 albums, and their
most recent release Factory Showroom (1996) contained such truly funny
tracks as XTC vs. Adam Ant and How Can I Sing Like A Girl.  There are
hundreds of They Might Be Giants sites on the web, and you can probably
get much more information and hear some sound clips.

They Might Be Giants are really a must for any music fan.

Oh by the way this is my first posting (everyone always sounds so stupid
saying that, but I couldn't help it).

Chris

My site has a TMBG link page for interested parties, but the best way
to find them is to use a search engine.

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

Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 00:06:01 -0500 (EST)
From: X97NARDI@wmich.edu
Subject: video of ypsi show?

just a question to see if anyone snuck in a camcorder to the ypsi show...or
to any show for that matter...if so i would like to get a copy of
it...perferably the ypsi show....just let me know...keep those BFF cd's
permantly in those players at all times!!
Mike

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

Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 00:11:59 -0500
From: Rebecca.Cole@mail.cc.trincoll.edu (Rebecca Cole)
Subject: Sugarhill Gang, Desert Island, Matt? Steven? 

>there is a SUPAH PHAT remix of "Rapper's Delight" The song is undeniably
>cool, >and here is my BFF
>tie in, it has a really smooth bass line that about %75 percent of all
>music is based on (Something I heard a long time ago, maybe it's not true,
>but atleast 5 songs have the bassline note for note)

"Rappers Delight" uses a sample from Chic's "Good Times." It isn't
original. But, yes, a bunch of songs use this bass line (mostly rap). Not
one of which is a Ben Folds Five song, though.

I refuse to answer the desert island thing because I would NEVER be stuck
with just three Ben Folds Five songs on me on any trip long enough to get
me near an island. I never leave home without both albums and like 6
singles. Crisis neatly averted.

By the way, a brief personal: Matt or Steven from Western Illinois/London,
do you subscribe to this mailing list? I'm one of the two girls of Red
Power Ranger fame who you met at the Astoria in March...write me if you
feel like it.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming,
Rebby


***
Ben Folds: Don't touch that.
Robert Sledge: What, you dive in it and I can't touch it?
Ben Folds: I don't dive in this piano. I dive in the other piano.


                                       

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

Date: Tue,  4 Nov 1997 00:18:16, -0500
From: JLPD@prodigy.com ( SADIE   RUMSEY)
Subject: Beck 

"In Beck's case, 
it's cheesy 90's music.  No one is clamoring for the worst of the 
80's 
nowadays, and down the road Beck won't be much more than a footnote 
from the 90's.  In terms of pure song writing ability, Ben Folds has 

more talent in his pinkie finger than Beck will ever exhibit in his 
career."

Ummm...okay.....well, I just hope you're not basing this on a couple
of retro-music vids, in which case I could maybe almost see where
you're coming from.  However, I just can't.  I am completely in awe
of Ben Fold's talent in both writing and performing, and I think 
that
BFF puts out some excellent pop music; however, Beck is a 
completely separate category, and it ain't the cheese section. 
Beck's music encompasses an entirely new generation of thought,
both in music and in the opinions which he expresses through his
songs, while BFF puts out wonderfully thought-out and beautifully
presented pop songs.  Please don't flame me, I am a tremendous
fan of Ben Folds, but I don't believe there is any doubt that Beck
will be the page in the history book, and BFF a footnote.  No, that
doesn't mean that they're not a great band with solid musical 
talent, just that they will never be (and from what I understand 
never planned or need to be) the innovative and influential 
artist that Beck is.  And all the proof you need of this is to get
one of his albums and LISTEN.

- -JLPD/Sadie

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

Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 00:35:34 -0500 (EST)
From: ChrltGirl@aol.com
Subject: The Charlotte Show 

Hey, fellow Armchairians! (Armchair-ers...Armchair-ists...?) 
anyway, I am muy excited about the upcoming Charlotte Show (12/5). Aren't you
guys? C'mon..yeah! So, my point is, I think that all of us who are going
should plan a little meeting place and therefore, enjoy the show more, since
we'll be in the company of "true" fans (not meaning to sound superior to the
hunderds of alterna-kids who will be at the show for the sake of hearing the
*other* bands--seeing as it is a radio-station-sponsored show). So, ya wanna?
 Just post back if so. 
Also, does anyone know when the BF5 piano book will be in stock? Doesn't it
seem like they've been "temporarily sold out" for... awhile now? Maybe it's
just my impatience talking. 
                                from,
                            Jessica!!!

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

Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 00:36:55 -0500 (EST)
From: ChrltGirl@aol.com
Subject: The Charlotte Show 

Hey, fellow Armchairians! (Armchair-ers...Armchair-ists...?) 
anyway, I am muy excited about the upcoming Charlotte Show (12/5). Aren't you
guys? C'mon..yeah! So, my point is, I think that all of us who are going
should plan a little meeting place and therefore, enjoy the show more, since
we'll be in the company of "true" fans (not meaning to sound superior to the
hunderds of alterna-kids who will be at the show for the sake of hearing the
*other* bands--seeing as it is a radio-station-sponsored show). So, ya wanna?
 Just post back if so. 
Also, does anyone know when the BF5 piano book will be in stock? Doesn't it
seem like they've been "temporarily sold out" for... awhile now? Maybe it's
just my impatience talking. 
                                from,
                            Jessica!!!

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

Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 00:37:07 -0500 (EST)
From: "Robert Stevie Berryman Jr." 
Subject: Majosha/pots and pans

Does anybody have the Majosha/Pots & Pans album they could sell me or know
where I could get a copy of this?

thanks
stevie

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

Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 16:53:05 +1100
From: Rainy City 
Subject: TMBG

>On this list and the Nancies, quite often I see people mentioning The
>Might Be Giants. I feel a bit dumb because I've never heard of them. I'd
>really appreciate it if someone could fill me in on who they are. For
>example, what type of music do they play?

   They;re heaps cool and they play all different types of music.  Most
famous song would be Birdhouse In Your Soul from the very ealry nineties...
 Umm...  If you have an mp3 player, grab an mp3 song from somewhere!!!
They Might Be Giants are up there with DMB and BFF and The Whitlams...
Cool...  It;s nice to know that fellow BFF fans are DMB fans and quite
possibly TMBG fans.  :)

BYE!!!

Ad.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
&                    Ironside                     &
&      "...the 17th best band in the world"       &
& http://www.healey.com.au/HomePages/ad/ironside/ &
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

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

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 1997 23:46:35 -0700
From: times@bordercity.com (Lloydminster Times)
Subject: Oh no you DIDN'T

>Apparently I've offended some Beck fans out there.  Since this is a
>digest devoted to BFF I will not belabor the point, but I think Beck

I think maybe you've offended some more! But you're right about having the
right to say what you think, even if I disagree with you. I think Beck is
one of the most talented songwriters playing today and I think his work
will endure LONG after the rest of the 90's stuff is left by the wayside. I
think he's Dylan with a drum machine.

Daniel
Lloydminster

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

Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 12:30:50 +1100
From: "BECK" 
Subject: Robert is a dead man.

Hi, just a quick note to say, Robert if
you're reading this, I'm going to take to your
skull with two slabs of concrete, a book with
piano transcripts is released but have any bass
tabs done? NO, what is the story bud! I think we
should all pester them until it is done!

Matt

PS: I'M ONLY JOKING! But I have been annoying the crap
out of my local music store, trying out distortions, trying
to get that right sound, be back in there tomorrow...

Later All!

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

Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 23:19:50 PST 
From: "ballet grrl" 
Subject: bff in the nw

this is to all of you weirdos in the nw who think that the boys are 
bypassing us AGAIN. i realize that they aren't coming to the northwest 
on this tour, but did you all forget about the horde tour?? my boyfriend 
and i drove from spokane to portland, a very long drive, to see them. 
(and the other grrovy bands, although big head todd did go on!!!) 

   so puh-lease!! i am begging you!! stop complaining that bff is not 
coming here AGAIN. because, they did come here. and it was great. and i 
got a bass string (my boyfriend already told you all about that, but 
anyways...i'm proud of it.) 

    next time they tour, i know that they will make a few stops in the 
nw, so just be patient. k? thanks!!!

   i love you all!!!!!

         sara  aka  grrl

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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #586
**************************************


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