THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #607 - November 12, 1997



Magical Armchair Digest  Wednesday, November 12 1997  Volume 01 : Number 607



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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    Flood Zone Show
    What did they do b4 they were BFF?
    "Sessions" airs in New Orleans 11/29
    Video of Them
    Looking forward to NAKED BABY PICTURES!! YEAH!

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Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 00:52:35 -0500
From: Ed Cowardin 
Subject: Flood Zone Show

Saw BFF for the first time live at the Flood Zone in Richmond tonight. A
bit disappointing. I love their songs and music on the two CDs, so I'm 
definitely a fan, but the live performance was basically a rote 
note-for-note regurgitation of what they've recorded. Let's just play it
just like it is on the record and keep 'em happy seemed to be the
attitude. Not very interesting. Instead of playing for each other with
sympathy for each other's talents and need to grow musically, they were
merely playing to the fans. As a band tonight, they had almost no sense
of play in their music other than hamming it up for a very young and
enthusiastic sold-out crowd. There was hardly any improvisation. Perhap,
as a band, they simply don't trust each other's musical instincts, but
surely it must get boring playing the same songs note for note night
after night. The rock star trip can't be that interesting. Yet sadly,
they seemed intent on patronizing the adoration of the fans in
attendance (who knew every word to most of the songs) and Robert,
particularly, seemed to be eating up the center stage role Ben has
surrendered. His bass sound was muddy and dominant and drowned out Ben's
piano again and again. Come on guys, turn it down just a little and play
some music.

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

Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 22:12:17 PST 
From: "Karen Tran" 
Subject: What did they do b4 they were BFF?

Hey all.
I was just wondering the other day what Robert, Darren and Ben did 
before they became Ben Folds Five. I know that Ben has been involved in 
other bands, but what about Robert and Darren? And how did they meet? 
Did they go to university, or college or whatever? Sorry for the flood 
of questions. I don't think this has been discussed on the Armchair for 
as long as I've been on, but I could be wrong. 
That's all I guess. Oh wait! The other day I was sitting in the library 
during my free period and I saw a tattered copy of the Bhagavad Gita 
sitting on the shelf so I had to grab it and have a look. It was big and 
thick. I did't read through it though. I spent the rest of my study 
period chatting with my friends. 
Well, later people!

Karen The Fly Tran.

Everyday I feel annonymous hate
                           -FF-


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

Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 20:37:26 -0500 
From: rosaliem@exoticomm.com
Subject: "Sessions" airs in New Orleans 11/29

Great news for New Orleans fans:

WYES (channel 12) will air the Sessions at W.54 w/Ben Folds Five on
Saturday, November 29 at 10pm. I called the station today to complain,
and they said they are running about 3 weeks behind, so keep watching,
they will eventually play it.

The funny thing is, when I called this morning, the guy on the phone
said, "I have never heard of Ben Folds Five, but I think every fan they
have must have called me this morning." HA! We are a loyal bunch.

Hi to all the Louisiana homeys!

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

Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 01:24:46 -0500
From: Heather Hurwitz 
Subject: Video of Them

Hiya all, 

I am totally up a creek without a paddle.  I missed Sessions.  I have never
seen the Brick video.  I have never seen the One Angry Dwarf video.  Such
is the life of a poor college kid.  Does anyone have a tape of this stuff +
other videos or TV appearances?  I would love to trade for it.  I have a
pretty good BF5 collection of boots and some other stuff.  Email me if you
managed to tape this stuff, or just some of it please.  I am suffering from
BF5 withdrawl. Thanks.  Peace.

Heather 

EVERYDAY IS A NEW LIFE TO A WISE HUMAN

"If you're drivin into town with the dark cloud above you, dialin the
number who's bound to love you, if you're lyin on the beach with the
transister callin,  kick off the sand cause honey the love's still flowin,
if he says forget it but your heart's still smokin, call me at the station,
the lines are open" -Joni Mitchell, the goddess!!!!    

get your fill of peanutts on the www:  http://www.cyberdrive.net/~percystar

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

Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 22:55:57 -0800
From: Jon Wiener 
Subject: Looking forward to NAKED BABY PICTURES!! YEAH!

Hey guys,

Let me just say I'm a new subscriber to the Armchair. I had always hoped
that us BF5 fans could group together and discuss the band, and now I've
found it.

A couple weeks ago I would have sworn that the only thing I'd ever
listen to is Metallica and other assorted metal music. I was never a
part of the alternative scene. Then a friend showed me a little band
called Ben Folds Five. Wow. I burned all my Quiet Riot vinyls right
away. Toto too. I cannot believe I was so ignorant to not have heard of
Ben Folds and his remarkable trio of musicians.

So I picked up Whatever and Ever Amen. Triple WOW! "Brick" blew me away.
It's so gloomy and eerily depressing, yet I'm drawn to the piano work at
the beginning like a moth to flame. "Off the coast, heading nowhere"?
YOU TELL IT BEN!

People say that "Brick" and "Smoke" and "Cigarette" are depressing. NOT
ME. After listening to Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne who glorify
everything wrong in today's society, it's REFRESHING to see a band like
BF5 come into its own.

I cannot wait until Nov. 30th when I get to see my now favorite band. I
am also EAGERLY anticipating the new album. All the B-Sides I would have
missed. YES! I'm going out tomorrow and picking up their self-titled
album. I've heard that "Boxing" and "Underground" are awesome.

Just before I sign off, I'm wondering if anyone caught the live concert
of theirs with Beck and if they got it on tape? I'd kill to check that
out!

Peace everyone! Bang that piano!

Jon Wiener
jwiener@bigfoot.com
University of South Carolina: So close to NC, yet so far...

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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #607
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