THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #838 - February 23, 1998



Magical Armchair Digest   Monday, February 23 1998   Volume 01 : Number 838



                          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
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.

TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    hammerstein sucked!!!!!!!
    BF5 website stuff
    120 minutes: my parents are cheap
    Re: what was WITH the Hammerstein?
    re: brick as an object
    BFF official homepage
    Hammerstein Show
    Philly Show
    Thanks to Doug
    trading 
    Hammerstein
    new to the list!!
    Philadelphia 2-21-98 Review and Setlist
    this isn't so much as an article but a ...

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

Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 20:56:49 EST
From: Phishrman1@aol.com
Subject: hammerstein sucked!!!!!!!

i was very disappointed with the hammerstein show...for many a
reason.....first.....there were like 5000+ of the most rude and annoying
people i have ever encountered.....most of them knew nothing of the great
songs like BOXING, and EDDIE WALKER.....also.....their sound was really
distorted due to the hugeness of the show, they had to amplify everything so
much that most of the time you only heard static.....and just the general
atmosphere this time was not at all similar to the warmth of you average BFF
show....its like were not a family anymore....nobody looks after one
another.....were all seperated, and i must say that it is a sad day in BFF
history, for now all of us fans are on our own....

~jared
http://members.aol.com/phishrman1/BenFolds5.html

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

Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 18:45:15 -0800 (PST)
From: ralph kyatsu <inane_insane@yahoo.com>
Subject: BF5 website stuff

CANADIANS BF5 FANS LISTEN UP!
I know I posted this already but I'm gonna do it again cause I don't
think I put the link right 

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/9956/bf5.html

Ok so anyone(yeah I know I'm begging) want to check it out...it's
still under contstruction but I want to 
add a part with info about canadian media they did(it was hard finding
info this time cept for Frank's page!) and stuff like how to get
NBP(it's an import btw hence it's so hard to find!.....
thanx!


_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

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

Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 21:34:07 -0500
From: jaedonely@juno.com
Subject: 120 minutes: my parents are cheap

I beseech my dear friends on the chair,
if ANYONE could make me a tape of 120 minutes Sunday night, I would
worship them forever!
And if you want to trade, I could do 2:1s and I also have a tape of Ben
on Loveline.  So if anyone could help me, I would adore you.  My parents
are too cheap to buy cable and my friends are schoolgirl technophobes who
cant program their vcrs and arent worthy of the two tvs with cable that
they have!
If someone could email me with help, it would be appreciated.
~Elisabeth
"He's got a nice body...he's wearing VELVET PANTS!!"-Propellerheads
"and I'll go chasin the nuns out in the yard"-Tori Amos

_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

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

Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 22:37:51 EST
From: NeshX@aol.com
Subject: Re: what was WITH the Hammerstein?

From: Rebecca.Cole@mail.trincoll.edu (Rebecca Cole)
> 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 was at the show and thought it was absolutely amazing.  Tons of energy.  I
*do* see your point about their being a lot of kids, but it wasn't *THAT* bad.
I think it might have been more fun had the crowd been more active, but *I*
just care about the band.  And I didn't see any point where the band was
laughing at the audience.. when did this happen?  

Later, 
Nesh

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

Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 22:46:41 EST 
From: catfoo@juno.com (Catherine Foo)
Subject: re: brick as an object

i completely agree. it's getting hard to enjoy that song for itself :(

yesterday, i heard brick on the radio while in class. it's played about
once every hour. this girl - with questionable music tastes - absolutely
LOVES brick. everytime she hears it, she says "this is my FAVORITE song."
and yesterday, when the song came on, she began singing it. about 5
people scream "i hate that song! turn it off!" this girl then starts
saying (in her very loud voice and she'll repeat it about four times)
"this song is about an abortion! isn't that so SAD?"

i nearly fell off my chair laughing.

i've played non-brick bff for them before. i don't think they recognized
it. :)

catherine

p.s.- a thank you to whoever mentioned liz phair and to ben and co. for
playing chopsticks: i borrowed whip-smart and guyville from a friend, and
i've been playing them nonstop. i love 'fuck and run'.

_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 04:32:18 GMT
From: Jordan Erenrich <erenrich@mail.geocities.com>
Subject: BFF official homepage

I was reading the BFF page at www.epiccenter.com and under news it says the
following:

    The hip BRICK set will be checking out BEN FOLDS FIVE 
    on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno!!!!!!  Check local 
    listings for details.

I wonder what is meant by the "hip BRICK set." Do I detect a hint of
sarcasm on the official web site?

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan Erenrich                                   erenrich@geocities.com

My psychiatrist told me I'm going crazy. I told him "If you don't mind 
I'd like a second opinion". He said "Alright... you're ugly too!"

- -- Rodney Dangerfield

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 00:51:42 -0500 (EST)
From: Katy Demcak <KDEMCAK@WELLESLEY.EDU>
Subject: Hammerstein Show

My friend and I drove down from Boston for the NYC show at the Hammerstein 
last night, and the long drive was well worth it--

***because I got Darren's drum head!***

They threw it into the crowd after the band had left and my 
friend managed to catch it for me.  We waited around in the back of the 
building for the boys, but the label took Ben out front to go to a party at 
the Belmont Lounge.  I guess I missed Darren, but I got Robert to sign the drum.
It's my mission to get Darren's and Ben to autograph it now.

We managed to find the Belmont Lounge (a pretty big feat for two native 
Chicagoans who go to school in Boston and know nothing about New York) but 
since we couldn't get in, we left rather than wait around for Ben to come 
out--long drive back and all.

Funny Benspeak: "I can't work on no broke-ass microphone" after he tries to 
talk into a broken one during the encore.
Funny Robertspeak: "I don't think it's legal for me to touch this" (after 
some chick threw her training bra on stage.  He ended up hanging it off the 
speaker.)

I had a fanny-pack full of candy and stuff for the band which I threw 
onstage right when Ben came up to do Steven's Last Night, but Ben missed it 
completely and Robert only said, "Hey, look out there."  A crew member came 
and picked it up--hope they gave it to them.  

Anyway, the crowd was amazingly young.  Everyone around me was about 
fifteen and no one really knew the songs or danced or anything.  I was the 
only one who did the little "W" during BOWWCL.  It was a pretty sucky crowd
, but I was glad to hear Uncle Walter and Eddie Walker.

Fun show, anyway!

Katy

__________________
Katy Demcak
kdemcak@wellesley.edu	http://wilbur.wellesley.edu/a-m/kdemcak/kdemcak.html
"I can't work on no broke-ass microphone" -- Ben Folds, NYC 2/20/98

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 00:53:59 -0500
From: "Dan Callahan" <dc089410@mailhost.sju.edu>
Subject: Philly Show

Just went to my first ever BFF show, and it was definitely an experience
I will never forget.  The boys were just awesome.  That's just about all
there is to it.  I'll let somebody who's better with particulars fill
you all in on the full details.  the only other thing left to say is my
reaction to the opening of Philosophy (which was the second song after
Pyser): chills.
- -Dan

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 01:00:50 -0500 (EST)
From: Katy Demcak <KDEMCAK@WELLESLEY.EDU>
Subject: Thanks to Doug

Hey, Doug (the tour manager) --

I know you read this, so I just wanted to say thanks so much for being so 
nice after the NYC show last night.  

I was the chick with the drum head to whom you gave directions to the 
Belmont.  You really didn't have to be so nice to us, but it really made 
our night that you were.  It's great to know that everyone involved in BFF 
is friendly and welcoming to the fans.

You made our night!

Katy Demcak

__________________
Katy Demcak
kdemcak@wellesley.edu	http://wilbur.wellesley.edu/a-m/kdemcak/kdemcak.html
"I can't work on no broke-ass microphone" -- Ben Folds, NYC 2/20/98

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 17:56:58 +1100
From: Belinda <shadow@ballarat.hotkey.net.au>
Subject: trading 

Update on trading. So I found out I can get 2 maybe 3 extra copies of Jay
Leno for people in Australia who are having a hard time finding out how to
get it. It will be on Friday night, so try to get to me by then. Use this
email address which is my sisters if you want to contact me quickly. 
I'm also able to get the [v] interview I was talking about on a tape too so
if anyone would like a copy of that to add to their bootleg list I'll be
happy to trade. It seriously is a great interview. Even if you wouldn't be
able to see him. I've had a few offers for the video and am deciding soon.
I'll trade only for another video of some sort or a few tapes of live shows
or i/v's or something. Soon I'm also getting the Recovery i/v and live
performances, Midday and the Arias on tape aswell. 
Something that is getting to me...how can Brick be the 4th most requested
song on [v] and in two weeks it's been played once and it was my request.
Maybe someone who works there just really likes it and rigged it. Is it
getting much airplay anywhere here, apart from JJJ???
Annoyingly I won't be able to check my email much this week so I suggest you
use shadow@ballarat.hotkey.net.au but please put Ben Folds Five in the
subject. Only for this week.

*anti-gavin*    benfolds311@hotmail.com

Coming soon - new webpage:
'For those of ya'll who like to call hotshots of crap bands gay'
Keep an eye out for that one. :)

"That's so sweet" Nick Hexum of 311
belinda maat

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 01:59:44 EST
From: SUCCUBUS80@aol.com
Subject: Hammerstein

Well, I must say that Ben Folds put on a great show at the Hammerstein Friday
night. This was my 4th time seeing them. But, there was only thing that
bothered me was the crowd. I had nothing but dead beats all around me....It
was driving me crazy!!! I was going nuts. No one knew any words to the old Ben
Folds....no one was dancing. There was one girl next to me that didnt even
budge or smile! I remember Irving and Supper Club when I saw them, it was like
a family...As they played Missing the War I actually got alittle upset for a
moment. Here I am listening to Ben Folds for years and the  bigger they get,
the farther away I get in the crowd. I remember Irving show last
April....there was like no one there. I looked behind me lastnight, I couldn't
believe what I was seeing. Rows and rows all here for Ben. I knew it wouldnt
take long for them to explode.
But I have to say, they put on one hell of a show...They were great. I was so
mad, I used my last pic up right before Ben took off his shirt. I was all
ready to take mine off...than I noticed I was the only girl with this idea! I
was surprised to see Darren so quiet, and Rob was hyper! It was great! And
Uncle Walter and Eddie Walker was the most exciting part of the night!! My
friend caught Darrens stick, which made me mad...I had it!!!He grabbed it from
me!!!
Oh well, until next time..i love you all..
Ash

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 02:12:36 -0500
From: Bruce Taylor <kilmernock@compuserve.com>
Subject: new to the list!!

hey -

i just joined the armchair mailing list today, got my first edition (835),
and then my second (836) and thought i'd contribute just a little.

i have to admit that i wasn't a ben folds five fan from their start, i'd
heard of them before Battle Of Who Could Care Less came out on the radio,
then I heard the song and went crazy for it and was going to buy the CD
when my friends, sister's friend bought it and I made a copy, and when my
birthday came along after I asked for their first CD and got Whatever..
which was cool anyway, and then bought the first, and not much longer Brick
was released and then I was getting really big into them, and as I thought
I had all the albums, Naked Baby Photos came out, and I got it and I just
can't get enough.

okay, so there's my history, I shouldn't make this much longer or you just
won't read it, but I was to say I was told by a friend that I had weird
taste in music because I like Ben Folds Five and others, then Brick comes
out and he starts to like Ben Folds, and then my other friend got
interested and now that Brick is being killed by the radio stations, he
decided to borrow the CDs, and well four of my friends have borrowed my
tiny collection in the last week and a half.

And really quick, I really wanted to catch BFF when they were in Toronto, I
missed them before that, and then when I heard they were coming back I was
going to go, but then I had to work.. so if anyone went to the show and
could send me a review and/or setlist of the show I'd be REALLY happy. 
thanks.

chris taylor
christaylor@iname.com

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 03:47:52 -0500
From: "Leigh R. Nelson" <thirteen@eden.rutgers.edu>
Subject: Philadelphia 2-21-98 Review and Setlist

Well well well...can we say ROCK?!  I hit the Electric Factory show tonight,
and since I posted a review of the NYC show Friday night, let's do a little
comparison.  I think I had a better time in Philly, mostly because there
were some cool fans around me (Hi Steve, Janine, her sister, and the other
two guys!).  It was great to sing out every song and have a couple other
people there to sing along with.  But the fans weren't the important part,
Ben Folds Five was.  The set was a bit different tonight: instead of "The
Bitch Song" it was "The Rachel Song" (no offense intended toward Rachel, you
lucky girl!); Ben added Cigarette (!) when Darren was fixing a broken snare
drum; They played Emaline (yes!); We all sang Happy Birthday to Ben's mom
Scotty (her b-day was on Friday); and Julianne got the nod tonight instead
of Jackson Cannery.  How 'bout this for the encore: instead of Boxing and
Uncle Walter, they did Alice Childress and She Don't Use Jelly. I was so
glad to hear Alice Childress, Ben said they played it for their friend Shawn
(thanks for asking, man!).  I think Alice and Walter would make the perfect
encore...maybe I'll get my wish in DC or VA.  Anyway, the sound was pretty
good tonight, considering the Elec. Factory usually sounds like crap.  I
hate to say it, but Brick sounded pretty good, and let me just say that
Robert makes the song when he comes in with that wicked bowing.
All things considered (I'm talking 'bout Emaline), the real treat of the
night was after the show, when I got BACKSTAGE.  Yeah, it was awesome.  I
had the guys autograph a poster I took off the wall near the bathroom, and I
talked to Ben and Robert for a little while.  Rob didn't have much to say,
although he gave a laugh when he saw my "Hello, my name is Sledge Wannabe"
name tag.  Darren was pretty quiet too, he was ready to get going I suppose,
because their tour schedule is pretty tough for these last few days.  I did
notice when I was talking to him how incredible his eyes are (I'm not gay,
but they were rad!) up close.  I talked to Ben for a few minutes though, so
I suggested they play Emaline with Robbie Fulks on guitar.  He said they may
just do it, and to expect Alice Childress with the guitarist from Robbie
Fulks sitting in with the lap guitar.  Also, he said they'd play Tom & Mary
at the DC show.  I asked how work for the new album was going, and Ben said
they had some songs worked out, but nothing strong enough to do live yet
(Darn!).  They're going into the studio when the tour is over.  Dr. Pyser
will definitely be on the new album, according to Ben.
Ok, I hope if you're still reading you enjoyed a real review with some info
amidst the other postings.  When I get back from Virginia I'll put up
reviews of the DC and VA shows, should be a trip!

** Leigh **

Setlist:
Pyser, Battle.., Philosophy, "The Rachel Song", Cigarette, Selfless..,
Missing the War, Last Polka, Emaline, Happy Birthday, Steven's.., Fair,
Brick, Kate, Song for the Dumped, Eddie Walker, Julianne, Smoke, One Angry
Dwarf // Alice Childress, She Don't Use Jelly
==============================================================
13 Leigh R. Nelson
thirteen@eden.rutgers.edu  aol: thirteen2k
http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~thirteen
"Like a number two pencil, I always got a point"
==============================================================

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 18:31:44 +1100
From: "Steenholdt" <steenh@atinet.com.au>
Subject: this isn't so much as an article but a ...

This isn't so much as an article but a call out to those Australians on the
list. Are there any Sydneysiders on this here fair list ?

Scott.

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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #838
**************************************


             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/