THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #680 - December 6, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Saturday, December 6 1997 Volume 01 : Number 680
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.
SCHOOL VACATIONS
If you will be away from your e-mail account during school break, you
might wish to unsubscribe until you return to prevent your inbox from
filling up.
If you use a vacation responder, please make sure it is set
to use the "From:" address in the message header rather than the
"Reply-to:" address. This will keep your vacation messages from appearing
in the Armchair.
TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
thanks everyone!!
Re: The end is near...
Random Ramblings of a Lunatic Mind
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #675
gotta love those "kids"
BFF at Gaston = 110 percent performance
Being young, having fun, and respecting others
an amusing read
Georgetown U Thanks You!!
Manchester gig, Monday
Georgetown Review
self-promotion
Stupid mail Server
Video Killed the Radio Star
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 10:07:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Ginger Nance <gnance@email.unc.edu>
Subject: thanks everyone!!
A few days ago I posted a plea for help with getting a bootleg
collection started, and I just want to thank all of you awesome Armchair
people for helping me out! Now I'm actually going to have some kind of a
collection! Y'all helped make my birthday a good one, so thanks!
If anyone made it to the Charlotte show tonight--I'm jealous! I hope it
was fun!
Ginger :)
Ooooo Ginger Nance
( ) ginger_nance@unc.edu "A bittersweet symphony--
) ( gnance@email.unc.edu that's life"
(o) http://www.unc.edu/~gnance --The Verve
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Dec 1997 10:11:15 -0500
From: James Campbell <campbell@virl.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: The end is near...
> Date: Thu, 04 Dec 1997 15:44:49 PST
> From: "Courtney Knopf" <vegasbaby@hotmail.com>
> Subject: The end is near...
>
> The end is near folks. Sonn we won't ba able to see Ben, Darren and
> Robert play their litle hearts out in small clubs. We won't get to
> stand at the foot of the stage and get them to play songs for us. I've
> seen the future and it's called overkill.
Near? The end is here I'm afraid. I once paid $6 to see them
in Salt Lake in front of a crowd of perhaps 60. We stood
two feet from Robert at nearly eye level.
Last night in D.C. we paid $18 a pop to sit in a balcony.
I'm not bitching about it 'cause it's great to see an enthusiastic
crowd of probably 800 people who all seemed to know the words.
But they're no longer the best kept secret on the scene by any
means. Kinda sad, but in a good way....
BTW, the show.....still kicked ass.....8^)
> So my advice...don't call KROQ and innundate them with requests for it.
Instead, call 'em up and innundate them with requests to
bring back The Poorman.
Cheers,
- -- James
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 08:00:36 -0800
From: "Kamp, Marcus S" <Marcus.Kamp@PSS.Boeing.com>
Subject: Random Ramblings of a Lunatic Mind
1) I was quoted on the Armchair! God, I'm cool!
2) I hope 1 day to see BFF @ the Kingdome (where the air is
recirculated & the sound is eternally ringing:-)), using binoculars,
unable to see or hear a Goddamn thing, only to leave feeling like their
live telecast from Mexico City was much better. (If you don't know I'm
joking, you're a total dumbass!)
3) This morning on my way into work, I glanced in 1 of the windows
(I wasn't stalking, officer, I swear!) & what to my wondering
(wandering, actually) eyes did appear @ some lady's desk but a
brightly-Crayola'd drawing, presumably done by a 5 year old (who just
came from a BFF show, no doubt, where she annoyed all the over-21ers),
that said "KATE" & had lots of flowers & birds!!! I sh*t you not on
this one! Oh, synchronicity, will you never cease?
4) On the whole age issue (this really is more like my 2 cents,
which brings my total cost on this debate to $2.02-I'll cut ya' a
check), I just wanted to say that my 1st show was KISS when I was 6
(Yes, this was the real, original KISS, before anybody had ever seen
them w/out makeup-we're talkin' the 1976 Destroyer Tour, baby!), w/my
mom covering her ears & me standing on the seat so I could see, & my
best show was U2/The Alarm when I was 13. Let's all give these
young'uns a break, as they may, nay will, remember these concerts for a
long, long time. Do you really want to be immortalized as "that grumpy
old f*ck who frowned @ us for having a good time @ the best show we've
ever seen"? Get over yourselves, lest ye quickly become the Uncle
Walter of lore, like me!
MSK
The face of a child can say it all,
especially the mouth part of the face.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Dec 1997 09:12:30 -0700 (MST)
From: SJ@ASU.EDU
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #675
I have a question for BFF fans. Does anyone know Ben's brother name? And
if so- what band is he in? I heard a rumor he has a band and want to see
if music REALLY runs in the family
ALTMAN OUT
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Dec 1997 09:16:40 -0700 (MST)
From: SJ@ASU.EDU
Subject: gotta love those "kids"
in response to bopping youngin's, they may be annoying, but who put up
with you when you no idea what was appropriate, plus youngin's can be
useful, especially at BFF concerts
ALTMAN OUT
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 08:22:11 -0800 (PST)
From: Chris Ruffner <micropop@yahoo.com>
Subject: BFF at Gaston = 110 percent performance
Well I'm sure there will be longer reviews and set lists for this
show. But I gotta say, this was probably the best BFF show I've seen.
(except for the first time of course, which is always the best) The
lads were pumped up for this gig. Especially Robert who actual broke
a string during Philosophy and was very energetic and animated all
night long. The were tight and very professional the entire night.
Awesome show.
And what didn't they play. It seems like they didn't miss much.
Except for "Satan is my Master" which would have been appropriate
given the venue.
This will be great show to be seen on the video that was being shot.
(Are they planning on releasing a live concert video?)
Yazbek lived up to my expectations as being a quirky XTC influenced
piano led trio. I was not let down by their set, and bought the CD
for further listening enjoyment.
more later
chris
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 10:27:09 -0600
From: "Chris M." <cmaka@io.com>
Subject: Being young, having fun, and respecting others
After reading a few posts by folks condemning minors at shows, defending
minors at shows, and being charitably told to lighten up (hey, I asked for
it :-), I thought I'd weigh in with a few more thoughts.
Like I said in my original message, I don't want to blame the younger crowd,
but I can certainly understand why dave-o and others were saying that they
would just as soon not see any minors at BFF shows. My experience at the
time was very similar to dave's, but my reasoning goes a little more like this:
I dislike people who don't know how to behave themselves at shows, or more
to the point, don't know how or are unwilling to treat those around them
with respect. At the show I went to, such people were more likely to be
under 21 (thus I can understand the old folks expressing negative feelings
towards the young folks). BUT I recognize that there are many -- I would
still assume the vast majority because I have faith in people -- folks under
21 who are model concert-going citizens. In fact, I've gotten several email
messages from the under 21 crowd who sympathized with my experience, which
was really nice, and even had similar tales to tell. So, like the Who, I
think the kids are alright. Certainly they have as much right as anyone to
enjoy BFF and go to their concerts or whatever -- hell, as others have
observed, it's nice to see them listening to music that doesn't suck for a
change. :-) And, to get back on point, it's interesting that the only
person who's expressed disagreement with my observations specifically has
been Steve, who is 40 -- but I know that there are both many more people of
all age groups who feel as he does, and I'm sure there are plenty of
above-21ers out there bouncing into folks and singing at the top of their lungs.
But having thought about this some more I've come to the conclusion that
those people are simply, inexcusably, 100% wrong. :-) I agree with Steve
that life is too short to get worked up about stupid stuff, but on the other
hand I also feel that life is too short to put up with rude people.
Essentially, Steve is saying I should just accept being physically prevented
from being able to hear and see BFF (which should be a capital offense right
there!)?? Does that make any sense? Of course not. It seems to me that you
are operating from the assumption that people at such shows will be too nice
to hassle you, or that they will be too afraid of the legal hassle to just
kick your asses. Unfortunately both assumptions are usually true.
Here's a hypothetical: suppose you went to a show and I, being 6'7", stood
directly in front of you so you couldn't see anything. For some reason,
every time you tried to move so you could see, I moved in front of you.
Let's say you start "pushin', shovin'," and I throw and elbow into your gut.
You move to the other side of the concert hall and I follow you and stand in
front of you again. Would you "lighten up" or would you be pissed off?
Unless you're Jesus Christ or the Buddha you'd be pissed off.
Well that hypothetical is not too different from what the experience was
like for me and my girlfriend. We could barely hear at all over the singing
and yacking people around us, and for my girlfriend, who is not very big,
getting slammed into by someone twice her size is not too different from the
discomfort of being hit, and needless to say made it very difficult to
actually watch the show.
Now what kind of person actually wants one of their fellow fans to have an
experience like that? I would hope none. You can have plenty of fun,
bounce up and down all ya want, and enjoy the show without ruining it for
others. That's not too much to ask at all.
Sorry about another long post. I really will try not to do it again. :-)
- --Chris M.
Austin, TX
PS. You know what the most annoying thing is about people singing at the
top of their lungs along with the band? When Ben, as he is wont to do,
alters a song a little, putting in a slight pause for effect where there
isn't one on the album, and several hundred off-key people belt out into the
silence, "AND COMPOOOOOOOOSED!" Really kills whatever dramatic impact Ben
was going for.
------------------------------
Date: 05 Dec 97 13:41:52 +0000
From: lou papineau <lpapineau@phx.com>
Subject: an amusing read
i had time to kill while eating a tuna fish sandwich and found a pretty
engaging interview at the following site (the Sheffield Electronic
Press, a music mag):
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~shep/music/interviews/bf5/index.html
it's from 11/96. ben talks about a lot of songs from the 1st album,
reveals (tongue-in-cheekily?) that "WEAEA" was almost called "The Little
Girl With Teeth" or "Cigarette," and makes plans to replace darren with
a drum machine
lou
"guess i'll have to break the news / that i got no mind to lose" --joey
ramone
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 14:21:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Virginia Song <songv@gusun.georgetown.edu>
Subject: Georgetown U Thanks You!!
Hey guys!
I just wanted to thank everyone who attended the Georgetown show last
night. You guys were great and you helped make it the best show at
Georgetown in a long, long time!! The show sold out at the door and Ben
Folds put on one hell of a show. Ben and the boys took the stage at 10:15
and proceeded to play a 1 hour 45 minute set including the Flaming Lips'
"She Don't Use Jelly" where Rob shined on lead voacls. During 'Steven's
Last Night in town," Ben jumped on to our grand piano and tossed his
stool, smashing his keyboard, all the while struttin' away a-la Saturday
night Fever. Doug derryberry and John Alagia (Dave Matthews' producers)
were recording the show, which was also being viedoetaped, for possible
use in a music video. The guys were hamming it up for the cameras and for
the audinece. Ben and the rest of his band, his manager, and his crew
were THE nicest guys
you could ever work with. If you guys want a copy of the review and
interview in our school paper (w/ a picture of the band and another of
Ben) or if you just want
to know more about the show, please contact me at
songv@gusun.georgetown.edu. Thanks again and I hope you enjoyed the show
as much as we enjoyed putting it on!
- -Ginny Song
Georgetown Program Board
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 18:50:00 +0000
From: Andy Hodson <andrew@dushanbe.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Manchester gig, Monday
Hi,
Could anyone tell me where the Students Union is in Manchester, as I am
going to the BFF gig there on Monday and its a mystery to me.
Ta,
- --
Andy
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Dec 1997 14:37:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: Kim Habovick <KAHST27@vms.cis.pitt.edu>
Subject: Georgetown Review
Hey Folks!! Well for our sixth time seeing BFF it was still as exciting as
ever. I got there later than I had planned and there were quite a few people a
head of us but the show was in a small theater with seats and all the people
went in and sat down. Being the fam that I am I walked righ to the stage and
stood there with about ten of my friends. Who sits down at a BFF show
anyway????? Well, the opening act was okay but they've had better. When Ben
and the guys finally came on they were ready to rock. I have a set list. They
changed a few things and also added a few but from what I can remember this is
how it went.
Missing
Battle
Philosophy
Selfless
Pyser
(Julianne was in here somewhere)
Polka
Steven
Fair
Brick
Kate
At this point they decided to take some requests and moved Best up next but the
next song was a real shocker. This is the first time I have witnessed them
singing it this year and that was Alice. It rocked too!!!! They threw Jelly
in next after some coaxing from me and my friend Becky and then returned to the
set list.
Jackson
Dwarf
Smoke
Underground
And their encore consisted of Boxing which was another nice surprise and ended
with Dumped.
All in all the show was great as always but they didn't do as much improv as I
like to hear but they did do a few extra songs so who am I to complain.
After the show we of course stayed to talk to them as usual and finally after
waiting for so long I got my picture taken with Darren. I thought I was going
to faint. He's just so adorable. We did talk to Ben and Robert too. Robert
was being quite a character. And Ben gave us the inside on SNL--------
January 10 they will be the musical guest under the host of Samuel Jackson.
Everybody set your tapes. Also we asked them about Feb. and the only specific
s they gave us were that they would definately be to Phili (on the east coast
near us. I didn't ask about anywhere else)
Oh yeah and they filmed the whole show and said who knows what they'll use it
for. I could be in a video some day. The only sortof bad thing during boxing
was that Robert was fooling around with the camera (REALLY fooling around) and
all the attention was on him instead of Ben and I felt bad but it was really
funny!
ANyway sorry about the long post. Let me know how you felt about the show if
you were there!!!!
Kim
After drawing a picture for my friend Becky of him and his girlfriend(stick
figures of course) Robert said
"My girlfriend, yeah, she's fuckin mean"
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 1997 16:09:45 -0600
From: "Erik C. Lyons" <EPA8820@epa.state.il.us>
Subject: self-promotion
I hate to do this, but it turned out to be kinda funny-goofy and I thought
most of you would get a kick out of it, SOOOOOOOOO. . . .
. . .goto to my main menu page. I put up a new graphic with the guys and a
VERY VERY famous ACTOR. hee hee. . .I giggle every time I look at it.
http://members.tripod.com/~elyons/ben_menu.htm
You really don't have to visit, but hey, you'll get at least a small grin out of it!
- -Erik
Last week it was funny, now the joke's wearing thin
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Dec 1997 14:14:58 -0600
From: "Erik C. Lyons" <EPA8820@epa.state.il.us>
Subject: Stupid mail Server
Sorry, but the previous message in the Armchair was supposed to be in
yesterday's edition, but our server sucks and breaks down
every-now-and-then.
On BF5 content:
Wouldn't it be cool if we could do to sit-coms what they did for football and
forest gump?? Remember when ESPN had the greatest teams of all time
play each other in a playoff-style format?? And they would doctor the film to
make it look like two teams from different era were playing?
Well. . .just think of the possibilities of Ben, Darren and Rob walking into an
episode of the Rockford Files. . .They could guest star as the drug runners
who take cookie hostage. HA. And just think if Marcia came home one day
and said she was the president of the Ben Folds Five fan club and she was
going to have them play at her high school. BTW, that is the Brady Bunch I
am referring to. AND, not to mention, the clothes the guys wear would fit
right into the show. Big collars and ALL!
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. . . .
- -E.
September 75 and I was 47 inches high
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Dec 1997 13:55:43
From: Greg Whitehead <gumby@icentral.com>
Subject: Video Killed the Radio Star
I've heard a lot of people mention BFF covering this song
and how great it was. A fair amount of people were disappointed
that it wouldn't be included on their upcoming B-sides album.
I've done a fairly lengthy search but cannot find any on-line
audio samples of this song. Does anyone out there have "Video
Killed..." available to listen to on-line?
gumby
===========================================================
Greg "gumby" Whitehead http://icentral.com/gumby/gumby.html
*More finicky than Morris the cat, but also more adorable.*
===========================================================
Featured album of the week:
Pizzicato Five: Made in USA (1994)
**** /6 stars
A Japanese trio (now duet) that apparently has put out dozens
and dozens of albums in Japan. This is their first US release
consisting of a sort of greatest hits compilation as well as
tunes more suited for a US audience. It's kind of a crazy
mix of disco, Sergio Mendes, and other mod/lounge stuff. I
bought this after seeing a clip from their "Twiggy Twiggy" video
on Beavis & Butthead.
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #680
**************************************
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/