THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #916 - March 31, 1998



Magical Armchair Digest    Tuesday, March 31 1998    Volume 01 : Number 916



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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    brick
    Not my favorite but...
    Working through my own stuff
    Re: band name and weird noises
    hmm....
    KISS 108/ Boston show
    Re: tour subject
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #915
    BF5 in auburn
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #915
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #914
    Re: Band name??
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #914
    Hello!
    Tapes for trade and BFF videos
    Complete, updated tour date list
    right on, my brothas/sistas
    Smoke!
    bf5 name

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

Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 11:10:16 +1000
From: Anne Kirkwood <akir2@student.monash.edu.au>
Subject: brick

I was at work last night, and on the radio i heard Brick.  I was 
thrilled to hear it(cos i never listen to the radio, I never know if 
bff are played), but it saddened me cos it's such a personal song, it 
seems cheapened  listening to it on commercial radio.  It' s the sort 
of song you listen to in your car or in a private place, not at work 
coming over the radio.
Sorry, had to get that off my chest.
Cheers,
Anne
************************************************


I got the gestures sounds
got the timing down
it's uncanny yeah you'd think it was me.
- - Best imitation of myself   Ben Folds

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

Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 01:19:09
From: justinryan@usa.net
Subject: Not my favorite but...

Hey yearbook dude,


Perfect cheesily sarcastic bff five quote for yearbooks:

"I can't wait 'till the future gets here"

~Justin


PS All you choir singin' types should check out SMILE, Brian Wilson's unreleased follow-up to PET SOUNDS. It will blow your mind.

"now we're sharing the same dream" (for Emily)


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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 20:28:14 -0500
From: phaedonely@juno.com (J. M Donely) 
Subject: Working through my own stuff

Ben Folds Five deserves all the success they deserve, which is immense. 
Its a bit disheartening to place them in the box next to Celine Dion,
Tonic, and Matchbox generic.  So I hope they rock on, keep their cred, 
it would take a lot for them to really be sellouts.  Think about it.  Itd
have to be outrageously cheesy and bad and evil, which they are none of. 
Yet I hope they are wise enough to rock on with quality bands, such as
grandmaster of funk beck, or the catherine wheel, cos theyre english cute
and sexy.   I needed to say that, at the very least to myself.  I
listened to s/t and WAEA today, and they both were fresh and
invigorating.
They do kick ass.
I put One Angry Dwarf on a tennis pump up tape...YESSS!!!!
Im going to listen to it, driving in my friend's convertible to pratice.
~Elisabeth
"On the run from Johnny Law...ain't no trip to Cleveland"-Bottle Rocket

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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 20:34:10 -0500 (EST)
From: Kelly Mcghee <ocosmic@email.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: band name and weird noises

i heard that ben said they called themselves 'ben folds five' because it
sounded better than 'ben folds three'

also, in one of the songs, i believe it's on WAEA, there is a phone
ringing.  i can't think right now which one it is.  but for a long time, i
thought i was going crazy, hearing that phone ring, but it really is
there :)

- -kelly

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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 20:50:07 EST
From: Miss Da <MissDa@aol.com>
Subject: hmm....

>but what makes me angry is the 
>general population, appreciating bff for the WRONG REASONS

i didn't know you could appreciate something for the wrong reasons. 

seems to me the only possibly worrisome part about bff's popularity is people
DISliking them on account of brick... like "oh that awful brick band" when
they've never heard any of their other songs.  i just don't get what's so
wrong with people thinking "oh, that spiffy brick band!  i like them!"  i
mean, there was a time when each of us didn't know anything about bff, and
something happened to make us fans.  just think back to how YOU got into bff,
and consider if it's really SO different for anybody else.

amanda (boy, i feel like a guidance counselor or something)

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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 21:46:02 EST
From: LastPolka1 <LastPolka1@aol.com>
Subject: KISS 108/ Boston show

Hey all:

Does anyone have any information on the KISS 108 concert on May 30th??  Is it
multi-artist?  Where can I get tickets?  and so on.

Since Ben has been ditching my hometown (Providence, RI), I have to know about
this Boston date.  Please, ANY information would be appreciated!

Information can be emailed privately, thanks.

~Suzanne

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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 22:00:58 EST
From: TangoMaurn <TangoMaurn@aol.com>
Subject: Re: tour subject

  kiss 108, please tell me you're kidding?? my lil brother listens to that
station (when my mother outright refuses to have 94.5 (to the uninitiated, rap
and r&b and other such music that sucks) on the radio in her car). altho', in
retrospect, the first time i ever heard brick on the radio was probably on
that station (on the way home from a terribly traumatic trip to my
grandmother's), and i was so shocked and excited to hear them on the radio.
i'd only had WAEA for two weeks or so and i'd been listening to it nonstop
(devoted fan right from the start). anyway it was a strange experience. and
i'd always liked brick. o course, i laughed nervously when my mommy said "wow,
a band like that i could really like....."

fare thee well, love and mooooos, (a)manda

- -----"and the night was alive with a thousand voices, fighting to be
heard....."-----

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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 22:01:26 EST
From: JEKYL n U <JEKYLnU@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #915

  T  his whole subject of Ben Folds Five and selling-out has me upset.  I have
been a BFF fan for so long and I pride myself in being one of the "old" fans.
BUT--has anyone stopped and thought that BFF deserves recognition?  I know
that this commericialization of "Brick" is hard to deal with, but the guys
have worked so hard and they deserve to be heard (even if it is on that
disgusting Top 40 radio station in your town).  It makes me made that after
spending so much time trying to get my friends to listen to BFF they are now
all proud owners of WAEA.  It bugs me to death, but after a few days I found
them listening to "Song for the Dumped", "Kate," and "Selfless, Cold, and
Composed," and now they are asking to borrow my self titled and naked baby
photos.  So give BFF a break, they didn't sell out.  They're still doing what
they've always been doing and when the whole "Brick" issue passes over the
fade is gone...the old fans will still be there and the Trendy fans will
either recoginze the brillant music style of BFF or they too will fade like
the commericialization of "Brick."

"It's easy to be easy and free, when it doesn't mean anything."

Lora
P.S  It seems that a Virginia tour date has been left out--errr!  

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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 22:03:56 -0500
From: Nhu_Nguyen@post.wesleyan-college.edu (Nhu Nguyen)
Subject: BF5 in auburn

hey...is the auburn, al. show JUST for students?  i deleted all my previous
newsletters so i don't have the info to read...thanks!

debbie

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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 22:16:00 EST
From: BlueJellow <BlueJellow@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #915

In a message dated 98-03-29 20:17:55 EST, you write:

<< Well, about one month ago, i lent WAEA to a friend and she gave it back
 to me all scratched so last friday i went to the Virgin Megastore to buy
 a new one. I heard that they realeased a new version without the speech
 and stuffs but i had the luck i found the old version, just like the one
 i had before... What a luck! Well, now I have 2 WAEA albums : )
 And I noticed that before, they were classified under "Misc B." But now,
 they have their own label: "Ben Folds Five". I dont understand because
 they're still not known here.  >>

I suspect you are talking about the radio in France. Like two weeks ago, I
took a trip to Paris and the radio is FANTASTIC there! I mean, first I heard
"Short People" by Randy Newman (love that song)  then I hear "Dirt" by Death
in Vegas (love that one too) THEN I hear "Brick" by our boys.  Well, they are
on the radio in Paris.  Plus on Northwest Airlines "Brick" is on the
headphones right after that new song by Janet Jackson.  So every 20 minutes or
so, I'd check back to see if Brick was getting played. It was very strange to
hear them on the flight.  I too went to the Virgin Megastore in Paris. It is a
really neat place!!!!! I went straight to find the BFF cds, and it was hard
too!  It took me awhile to do so.  I found a Japanese import for 130F which is
something i SHOULD have gotten and I'm just kicking myself for not
getting!!!!!  I feel retarded now.  They had a BOWCCL single and it had Theme
from Dr. P(sp)yser and Champagne Supernova.  I hadn't hear either performance
yet, so I HAD to pick it up.  It was 99F!!!!!  That's a little over $16 for
you folks.  I know it was high priced, but I really wanted to hear it.  I was
BITTERLY disappointed.  What a terrible Oasis song done in an impromtu fashion
and it was like a joke. It wasn't funny. It was $16!  Plus TFDP was ALL
instrumental, and I didn't know that.  It just wasn't worth it. I was so
pissed off.  I could have gotten the import!!!! aRG!

Sorry to ramble, but I needed some support.
Lucy

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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 22:18:33 EST
From: BlueJellow <BlueJellow@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #914

In a message dated 98-03-29 20:20:35 EST, you write:

<< Everyone who wore
 black T-shirts and tight jeans loved 'em.  Now that they have become popular,
 they have also started to suck!  Their old fans can't stand them anymore and
 (GASP) Lars is wearing dresses! >>

I agree, we will have problems if my Darren starts wearing cute jumpers.  That
will not be cool :)

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

Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 23:18:37 EST
From: SunfireQT <SunfireQT@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Band name??

Hey y'all:
   In response to those of you who don't know, and especially the person who
posted this question, I have the answer....
   BF5 is called Ben Fold's Five because, as Ben Folds said on numerous radio
and newspaper interviews, it sounds better than Ben Fold's Three.
   Simple and fun.  I like it.

Erica

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

Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 01:45:58 EST
From: Snowwite67 <Snowwite67@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #914

In a message dated 98-03-29 21:11:12 EST, you write:

<< i think the name has something to do with poker (as if i would know, but
 thats what i've heard).  >>
I don't know about that part, but Ben has said on many occasions that they
picked the name "Ben Folds Five" because it sounded cool and like they were
some kind of jazz compo or something. :)
- -Lauren
"love animals, don't eat them!" -another one of my bumper stickers :P

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

Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 07:21:31 EST
From: SimbaFIRE <SimbaFIRE@aol.com>
Subject: Hello!

Hello all,

Gosh, I cannot compete with your vast knowlege of BF5. I rushed out to buy
their CD [Whatever and Ever Amen] after they were interviewed on MTV Live--I
know, a little late, I wish I'd heard about them sooner. I haven't been able
to get ahold of their first album [sigh], but I have gotten Naked Baby Photos
which I love very much.
Favorite tracks include:
Eddie Walker-Reminds me of a zillion people I know, and some beautiful places
in Connecticut.
Underground-Ha! Reminds me of punk bands.
Tom and Mary-I know a bunch who hide family problems, and those who seek them
out.

Simba

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

Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 09:03:13 EST
From: BSCHACK <BSCHACK@aol.com>
Subject: Tapes for trade and BFF videos

In a message dated 98-03-29 19:21:34 EST, you write:

<< Are any BFF Videos officially for sale anywhere? >>

Yes, there will be a video out soon of the show at Georgetown University a
couple of months ago.  (I can't remember the exact name of that venue - Gaston
Hall or something)

Also, I have a couple of soundboards (excellent quality) as well as a copy of
Majosha's demo tape (Ben's previous band, with him on all instruments except
guitar - includes Emeline and Video) for trade.  I'm looking for soundboards
or other excellent quality recordings.  Respond to list or e-mail me.

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

Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 13:24:41 -0500 (EST)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Subject: Complete, updated tour date list

Here is the latest information directly from BFF management on tour 
dates, along with on-sale dates and ticket info where available. Visit 
http://oeonline.com/bff/tourdates.html for a version of this list with 
links and the most recent updates.

    April 26: Charlotte, NC - Center Cityfest On sale March 20 
    April 29: Durham, NC - Duke University (free show: Duke students 
              only!) 
    May 1: Knoxville, TN - World's Fair Park On sale April 4 
    May 2: Nashville, TN - Nashville River Stages On sale March 20 via 
           Ticketmaster 
    May 3: Memphis, TN - Beale St. Music Festival On sale April 3 
    May 4: Auburn, AL - Auburn University/Bibb-Graves Amphitheatre (free 
           show: Auburn students only!) 
    May 5: New Orleans, LA - House of Blues Now on sale - call House of 
           Blues 
    May 8: Las Vegas, NV - The Joint/Hard Rock Hotel On sale March 20 via 
           Ticketmaster 
    May 9: Hollywood, CA - The Palladium On sale March 28 via 
           Ticketmaster 
    May 10: San Jose, CA - SJSU Events Center Arena On sale March 29 - 
            tickets via BASS. 
    May 11: San Diego, CA - 4th & B On sale March 21 via Ticketmaster 
    May 14: Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall 
    May 15: Dallas, TX - Bronco Bowl Auditorium 
    May 16: tba 
    May 17: tba 
    May 19: Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's 
    May 21: tba 
    May 22: Ft. Wayne, IN - Allen County Memorial Coliseum - WEJE 
            Festival 
    May 23: Tinley Park, IL - World Music Theatre - Q101 Festival 
    May 24: Somerset, WI - Apple River Amphitheatre - 93X Edgefest 
            Tickets by calling 612-989-5151. (93X reports that tickets 
            will be available online from Ticketmaster but Ticketmaster 
            currently has no reference to Edgefest, so keep trying.) 
    May 26: Grand Rapids, MI - The Orbit Room 
    May 29: Philadelphia, PA - Y100 Festival 
    May 30: Boston, MA - Kiss 108 Festival 
    May 31: Raleigh, NC - G105 Festival, Walnut Creek 

Opening for Beck: 

    June 1: Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center 
    June 2: Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob 
    June 3: Toronto, Ont. - Molson Amphitheatre 

Opening for Beck and The Dave Matthews Band: 

    June 5: Boston, MA - Foxboro Stadium On sale March 28 via 
            Ticketmaster 

Opening for Beck: 

    June 6: Saratoga Springs, NY - SPAC 

Opening for Beck and The Dave Matthews Band: 

    June 7: East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium On sale April 4 

 -fjm
                Won us over with stories about Linda McCartney

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

Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 11:57:44 PST 
From: "Chandra Hicks" <chanfifteen@hotmail.com>
Subject: right on, my brothas/sistas

<<I know I can't speak for everyone on the Chair, but I for one don't 
give a fuck about who thinks what.  I love BF5. If people want to call 
them sellouts, those people can fuck themselves and quit listening to 
the boys. If people want to tell me I'm weak for digging a sellout band, 
well, they can fuck off, too.

I love my BF5. I will stick by them even if they make a polka record. 
Fuck everyone who has a problem with that (Brad)>>
I just want to say that Brad kicks ass for realizing that when you hate 
something because other people like it you are still a conformist 
becuase you let other people's decisions influence you, you are 
conforming to the group who tries so hard no to conform that they aren't 
even listening to themselves anymore.  so "for those a y'all that hate 
ben folds five, take that shit out with a piano solo man,"
chandra

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

Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 21:55:24 +0200
From: Guillaume <dakoolguy@hol.fr>
Subject: Smoke!

Hi all fivers !
Yeah, this time I was just wondering something, a couple of questions
that were in my head for a few months now...
In fact, these questions are about "Smoke":
    1- What's this sound at the very beggining of Smoke (is it Ben
scratching the strings of his piano?)
    2- What's the instrument just after this sound at the beggining of
Smoke. It sounds like an harmonica to me. Am I right? If yes, who plays
this instrument because it's not written under the lyrics as they
usually do when there's another instrument...

I'd be happy if anyone could answer any of these (or both) questions.
Byyyye and thanx in advance,
    Guillaume, the french BFF fan ; )

- --
     Ben Folds Five - Le French Site (français & english):
     http://www.mygale.org/10/drpyser

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

Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 15:44:07 -0500
From: bf5 <bf5@SURRY.NET>
Subject: bf5 name

This is to TangoMaurn about how bf5 got their name.  The whole thing about
them getting their name from the poker thing was a sarcastic joke that
Darren made up.

\ \/ /
~\/\/hitney  =o)

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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #916
**************************************


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