THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #837 - February 22, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Sunday, February 22 1998 Volume 01 : Number 837
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
The incredible, fabulous, stupendous Hammerstein show
brick as an object
Sessions at West 54th
what was WITH the Hammerstein?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 14:04:33 EST
From: Roxygrrrl1@aol.com
Subject: The incredible, fabulous, stupendous Hammerstein show
Hey 'Chairians ~
It's been a while since I've posted, but I just had to rave about the
Hammerstein show last night. First of all, my friends and I had great seats
(2nd mezzonine, center stage) and the view we had was terrific. They opened up
with Dr. Pyser (and threw in a little Pulp Fiction groove). The boys were full
of energy, and their playing was fantastic. As for the setlist, I didn't write
it down, but they did Philosophy, BoWCCL, Eddie Walker, Jackson Cannery, OAD,
Brick, Song for the Dumped, SLNIT, Selfless, and a few other songs. They ended
with Underground, which included Robert's Disco Diva act. And the encores?
Boxing and...UNCLE WALTER!!! I was practically jumping out of my chair! After
Uncle Walter, they did a heavy metal/Snoop Doggy Dogg medley, in which Ben
took off his shirt to show off his sexy motherfucker body =) and encouraged
the audience to do the same. Surprisingly enough, there were shirts flying on
stage with increasing speed. It was hilarious! Overall, it was a great show,
and I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Peace!
Fara
Roxygrrrl1
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 11:16:56 PST
From: "valerie hochschild" <charzi@hotmail.com>
Subject: brick as an object
Hi Fivers.
Yeah, me again. But something odd (that will be getting less odd
every day) just came up I thought I'd offer. And it will include little
to no discussion of Robert's particluar charms. But keep reading
anyway...
I came up to Peterborough today (that town I went to see Moe Berg) to
go a TaiChi practice and found I'd come way too early. So I stewed over
what to do, and finally decided to get some breakfast at Golden Griddle
(non-Canadians: that's ubiquitous pancake house). Oh, I also happen to
be wearing the Bf5 long-sleeved shirt I got at the show a couple days
ago (was hoping to find older stuff, but settled for this). So I get a
big fat Saturday Toronto Star and settle down to the death buffet and
sorely-required coffee, half-listening to the Billy Joel and Kenny
Loggins toodling on the muzakish system. Then...on comes Brick. It was
all I could do to keep coffee from spurting out of my nose (I'm sure Ben
will be pleased to know his work can still have that effect :-); but no,
it was a context thing). Of all times and of all situations and of all
things to wear. So I kept a dorky smile on my face, continued grazing
and eventually giggled manically on my way to the car.
This tale (which some have already related in other forms) will
become more and more common, I'm afraid. Anyone wishing to check the
Radio and Records website at www.rronline.com (didn't mention last time:
R&R is pretty much The bible for most radio stations in north america)
will find while Brick may have peaked on the Alt. and AAA charts, it's
about 27 and bulleting on the Pop/CHR charts and 15 or so on Hot AC.
(I'm doing this from memory - those numbers may not be exact.) It's not
on the Adult Contemporary top 30 yet (everything on that muzak would've
come from that format), but I can't help thinking that it will be soon -
especially after Leno.
Again, what do those numbers mean to you, the Emalines and Walters and
whatever the hell else you're calling yourselves (I missed the
designation rules - I may be a Walter) who were not introduced to these
boys by Brick? It means Brick does not belong to us anymore. It
belongs to The Public who couldn't give a rat's ass. I play that song
now, and I'm thrilled that I get to, but it's not the same anymore as
when I first heard it. I'll avoid it now listening to the CD. If
you're sort of feeling that way now, you'll be more alienated from it in
the next couple months (once something makes it to the pop and AC
charts, it's there for-Ever). It's been sacrifced to the ages now - and
we'll get used to it. We can all remember when. Wistful sigh.
Yes, it's a little early to get totally jaded, I suppose. Justa
little warning.
Peace,
Valerie
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 13:56:51 -0800
From: "Jennifer Auletto" <jenito@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Sessions at West 54th
You guys probably already know this, but I was looking at the "Sessions at
West 54th" website, and this is what I found ...
May 9
Beck and Ben Folds Five
Mixing samples, guitar power cords, and a unique, Beck plays songs that
blend delta Blues and folk influences with a hip-hop beat and a
stream-of-consciousness lyrical flow. Ben Folds Five, the rising trio from
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, perform their guitarless brand of piano-driven
pop.
I don't know if it's a repeat or what, but it's worth watching either way!!
:)
Jennifer Auletto
jenito@ix.netcom.com
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 17:15:15 -0500
From: Rebecca.Cole@mail.trincoll.edu (Rebecca Cole)
Subject: what was WITH the Hammerstein?
So the long-awaited Hammerstein show was a wonderful, wonderful thing. My
third show, and the boys sounded fantastic and were as funny and cute and
generally cool as always. I loved the Hank Williams cover, and I was really
psyched that they played "Boxing," because I hadn't heard it live before. I
loved the 70s-funk "wickey-wickey" intro to SFTD, and I also dug Darren's
"OK America show us your...Underalls" shirt and the whole rock & roll
finale. They are absolutely the coolest, ever. End of discussion.
But what the hell was wrong with the crowd? Normally we complain about
being jostled and shoved during concerts, but nobody MOVED during this
show. It was surreal. It was also surreal that the whole hall was filled
with 15-year-olds. And some 13-year-olds who talked all the way through
"Boxing" and "Missing the War." GRRRRRRR. What a lame crowd. Anyone else
pick up on the fact that the band was laughing at the audience from time to
time? I couldn't figure out why there were no cigarette lighters during
"Brick" until I realized that everyone present was too young to smoke. I
don't mind young kids at shows, it was just weird that there were so many.
All very well behaved, if a little boring for just standing there, but I
guess I'd be more pissed off if I'd cracked a rib.
Oh, and people who heckle opening bands SUCK. Be polite, at least, kids.
Anyway, great show. Long live Ben Folds Five.
- -Rebecca
PS- Anyone with a bootleg, please e-mail me...I'd sell my soul to have the
finale on tape.
***
rcole@mail.trincoll.edu
"I can't rock into no broke-ass microphone!!!"
-Ben Folds
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #837
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