THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #640 - November 22, 1997



Magical Armchair Digest  Saturday, November 22 1997  Volume 01 : Number 640



                          THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    i hate to do this.....
    Praying for a Carrboro bootleg & looking for Charlotte tix
    [none]
    Re: Just a little maturity? Please!
    boots/taping
    Gay? 
    Ben in highschool
    Doug's post
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #637
    Revalation
    Lucky schmucks...
    sigh...
    [none]
    Missing the War, Smoke

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

Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 21:25:02 -0500
From: aplauri@juno.com (Philip J. L.) 
Subject: i hate to do this.....

you know i am really not too big on the whole "flaming" thing but i
definetely feel the need to set that todd flanagan straight.  this guy
has no life!  why stoop to such a low level and make a fool of yourself
in two different messages! i guess getting back at your friend or
whatever is ok, but to do this only because you hate the band???  please.
 you really need to get a life when you crack jokes about something as
serious as someones sexuality.  nobody really cares if ben is gay or not,
he makes wonderful music, and gay or straight:  what have we got to hold
against him.  not only did it piss all of us fans off but imagine ben and
kate.  they have been married for a while now ( i dont exactly know how
long...... but reguardless) and then for someone to say something as low
as that????  wow!  beyond me.....  go figure! i hate to do this on the
armchair but i hope that most of you will agree with me on this one; it
is just not something to crack jokes about and have fun with (at least in
my eyes)!   i compliment pluvious for stating it the best......  i
tottaly agree with all that you wrote!

whatever, and ever, aaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnn!
philip

"well fuck you too!"  -ben folds
"who's got the looks, who's got the brains. . . who's got everything???" 
- -ben folds

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

Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 21:54:15 -0500
From: Sonny Pieper 
Subject: Praying for a Carrboro bootleg & looking for Charlotte tix

Hey all,

Was wondering if anyone managed to get a tape of the Carrboro show
(11/10/97)?  Haven't heard anything from anyone yet on the list.
Hopefully, someone was clever enough to record this wonderful show....
Please e-mail me if you have a copy!

Also, I'm still looking for an extra ticket for the Charlotte show on Dec.
5th at Queens College!  If you have an extra (or two), I would love to take
them off your hands.  I would be happy to throw in a bootleg tape (in
addition to cash) for the ticket(s).  E-mail me off the list if you have
any tickets to this show....   Thanks!

whatever and ever, AMEN!

Sonny

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

Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 21:22:54 -0600
From: "Harry Richards" 
Subject: [none]

Hey everybody .

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

Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 23:09:48 -0500
From: schander@juno.com (joe s schanderson) 
Subject: Re: Just a little maturity? Please!

I'm on some other lists and there are numerous people who have quit the
BF5 list and are constantly saying how thankful they are that the new
lists they are on aren't like the BF5 one. 

I don't want to leave this list. It can be very informative and fun to
hear about the shows and songs people have experienced but COME ON. It
doesn't have to ALL be about BF5 but would be so bad if it were all at
least humane.


And then Sandi, I'm sorry but:


>anyway, who gives a fuck if he's gay or not, i'd still fuck him.


Guess what? I want to know that just about as much as I want to hear
someone complain about  how they think people ask too many  repeat
questions. 


I thought Frank was pretty diplomatic when he included this line in the
sign up FAQ.


>Keep your posts clean. Write as though your mother (or  your daughter)
may be reading.


I mean I'm 26 but that doesn't mean I want to regress every time I get a
new armchair. And yes, I know Frank also warns against personal attacks.
I am not making a personal attack on Sandi or anyone else. I am making a
REQUEST. You have rights, but please remember that they end where mine
begin.

An unwilling participant in the battle of who could care less.

ta ta,
michigan joe

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

Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 23:54:36 -0500
From: Alex Castner 
Subject: boots/taping

Jess,

From "Bands that allow taping...(UPDATED:11/4/97)"
http://www.eklektix.com/dat-heads/recordable_bands.html#Msg0

Ben Folds Five  Afraid of being bootlegged, they no
        longer allow visible taping, nor BA.  They appreciate the 
        support of their tapers, but ask that you stealth-tape them.


To me the above means that they do not allow taping... 
This means that if a security guard notices that you are taping the show
and he (the guard) decides to destroy your tape and take your batteries the
band will say nothing. 

I do not mean to scare away tapers. Many bands only allow stealthing
anyway. The chances of you getting caught by some guard are *VERY* slim. 

Jess do you tape?


Alex

>
>Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 13:59:56 -0500
>From: Jessica Brandt 
>Subject: boots/taping
>
>In response to Alex's post:
>::The band is officially against boots. This means that they will NOT allow
>you to patch into their soundboard or set up mic stands. You can always
>stealth (sneaking in your equipment) the show, but you do that is at your
>own risk.::
>
>i thought i read on Frank's page that the band does allow taping. Look at
>the FAQ and i'm pretty sure it says they do, in moderation (ie no patches)
>
>jess
>
>
>"All the boys are monsters;
>	All the girls are whores.
>But when you lose the one you love,
>	There's always plenty more."
>		-Squirrel Nut Zippers
>






____________________________________________________________________________
________
Alex Castner
285 Old Westport Rd
Cedar Dell Box 6040
N. Dartmouth, MA 02747 USA

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

Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 00:03:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Mansuetude@aol.com
Subject: Gay? 

To all the people saying that ben in gay, aew we all forgetting that Ben is
married?  Oh well, never mind...

Kris

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

Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 21:24:07 -0800
From: leslie 
Subject: Ben in highschool

If you all only knew him in highschool! You would know he was a stud! 
Everyday after getting off the bus, we would sit out under the big oak trees 
in the horseshoe at Camel High and flirt with him before our first classes. 
Every girl was so smitten with him! True, he had lots of male friends (how 
could anyone so talented not?) but when the hormones raged, it was always 
in the opposite direction.

leslie

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

Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 01:10:16 EST 
From: sandishortcake@juno.com
Subject: Doug's post

To everybody who I have yet to meet on this list...I am not THAT short,
no matter what Doug uses as the microphone "tree" height requirement...
  5'3" and still growing (no comments on that one Doug, I swear,
you can grow in your mid to late 20s...you really can)

Now for BF5 content:  Aren't they just the greatest thing since sliced
bread?

SSSSandi

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

Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 00:08:23 -0600 (CST)
From: c698773@showme.missouri.edu
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #637

To Ed Cowardin:
	"Blue Rondo A La Turk"....I am thoroughly impressed!  It does have
a slight resemblance to the begining of that song by the amazing Brubeck,
even though "Selfless" isn't a rondo.  Just that slight reference to
Brubeck made my day...Thanx!

Take Five.....  

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

Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 01:14:57 -0500 (EST)
From: Eric Patton 
Subject: Revalation

	I'm not even gonna touch the whole rumor biz. It's beneath my
notice. Anyway, I recently came to the realization that BFF has some of
the best break-up songs ever. Now, I know this ain't exactly news to
anyone, and fortunately the revalation came without any real cause, but
just stop and think about it. You've got "Philosophy," "Julianne," " Best
Imitation of Myself," " Last Polka," and "Boxing, on the first CD. Then
you've got "Fair,"  "Brick,"  "Song for the Dumped," "Smoke," (my personal
fav for getting over someone) "Missing the War," and "Evaporated." And
it's not like they're all the same kinds of songs either. They range from
the "I miss you so much it hurts" variety to the "I hate you for doing
this to me" type, with a couple "Bye and don't let the door hit you on the
ass on the way out" kind thrown in. Whatever mood you're in or want to be
in after the nasty occurence, just throw the Boys in and let Ben's voice
sweep over you in a cathartic wave of passion and emotions. (Wow, that was
uncharacteristically poetic. ;> ) Anyway, that's just my thoughts on the
matter. If anyone else wants to share opinions, stories, or that kind of
stuff with me, feel free to email me back. I love the attention. Laters!

ERIC

P.S. You know what? JOYGASM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
It's good to have a shtick. 
_______________________________________________________________________________
	"We have art so that we do not die from truth."
						-Fredrick Nietzsche
_______________________________________________________________________________

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

Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 01:54:08 -0500
From: Carrie Shanafelt 
Subject: Lucky schmucks...

Hello!  I just wanted you all to know how jealous I am of the Lawrence
crowd... I saw them here in Cleveland, and it was great, fantabulous... but
how I miss Lawrence shows!  I think the guys really like it there -- there
is a massively cult-frenzy fan base there that I know they appreciate.  I
think if they sense a crowd is really knowledgeable and cool, they do more
of the improv stuff than at other venues... From the 3 shows I've seen in
different places, that seems to be the case... I'm crazy (but I get the job
done!)

Carrie


"If you really want to hurt your parents, and you don't have the nerve
enough to be a homosexual, the least you can do is go into the arts."  Kurt
Vonnegut, Sr.

"I wish I'd written Our Town.  I wish I'd invented Rollerblades."  Kurt
Vonnegut, Jr.

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

Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 23:39:01 -0800
From: Janet 
Subject: sigh...

Hey my friends,
Let's please put a stop to this gay/crack nonsense.  
If you noticed a few posts after those, someone said that their
gay/crack friends were making fun of BFF and trying to spread rumors on
the armchair but they all weren't true. 
SO YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT THE GAYNESS AND THE CRACK.
Breathe now.

Take care. 
Janet.

P.S.  Erik, Kate's article was in Cake.
 
- -- 
Serenity Now!! --> http://members.tripod.com/~peachfish/sparkie.htm

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

Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 00:56:42 PST 
From: "Flying Nun" 
Subject: [none]

WELCOME BACK PETRA

Courtney, you are worthy of beatification.

Other than that, i have nothing to say.  except maybe that i'm glad i 
know the official BFF stance on taping, but i wish it occurred to me 
when i went to their sydney shows.  I know there's someone out there who 
taped the Sydney Uni and Metro gigs.  If you're out there and reading 
this, please please please email me.  

Que



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

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

Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 22:27:49 +1300
From: "Kevin Bennetts" 
Subject: Missing the War, Smoke

Hello People,

Gotta say that I've been really impressed by the interpretations that =
people have come up with
for songs,
I always took Missing the War literally, like there was a guy who =
actually did miss the war, I
remember reading about some war vets that thought that things made much =
more sense in
the war, you got orders and you didn't have to think about it, but now =
the guy in the song has
to make some decisions for himself, and he misses the security of the =
war (that sounds kind of=20
contradictory, but never mind). I guess all is fair in love (and war).
How about the way the song changes from 3rd person narration (he) to 1st =
person in the chorus
(I'm), what does that suggest?

My latest hobby (as I avoid studying for exams) is to work out some =
alternate interpretations for
songs, so how about his one for 'Smoke'
It's actually about a guy who has smoked a lot of pot, and then at night =
he writes his diary about=20
what has happened that day, but because he is so stoned, he gets really =
mixed up, and when he
 reads his diary later (when not stoned) he realsies that all the things =
he'd written in it, never=20
really happened. So he burns his diary because he's so embaressed about =
it.
So the smoke is there because he's burning his diary, but also because =
the fantasies in his diary are a by-product of the pot (like smoke is), =
so it's kind of metaphorical.
Ok, well, sorry for wasting your valuable time, perhaps next time I can =
work in some suggestion
that Ben is gay , just to spice it up a bit. (actually I won't cause I'm =
real sick of hearing about it).

    Brendon

"Try not to think about it Alice Childress, try not to think about it =
anymore"



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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #640
**************************************


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