THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #1002 - May 18, 1998



Magical Armchair Digest     Monday, May 18 1998     Volume 01 : Number 1002



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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    air
    concerts
    my dallas concert review
    I Wish It Was Last September
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1000
    It just won't die
    Fw: Australian Tour???? 
    Dallas Show by Mel
    "Twist" article
    Re: Bootlegs, Videos, anything you've got!
    WHFStival
    Underground
    long long posts
    The required age to be a fan of music.
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1001
    sessions at west 54th

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

Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 20:01:00 -0400
From: bf5 <bf5@SURRY.NET>
Subject: air

Here are the lyrics to the new bf5 song (for those of y'all that haven't
heard it yet or have heard it and can't understand it):

AIR (3:20)

Saw a silhouette across the flourescent/Floating overhead, undoing his
helmet/Through the merky beams and blue-green sea life/I saw him spinin
towards the moonlight

I pull him in, he wasn't breathin/His eyes were wide and I saw two of me
there/There's an ugly buzz that hovers just above the quiet/Found a way to
make it silent

I'm comin up for AIR (x2)
AIR (x2)

They hold my hand and ask me to pull through/A voice I know says dear, he
probably can't hear you

Comin up for AIR (x3)



This is a really great song both musically and lyrically.  I'm sure I pissed
some people off for posting this in the first place...but hey, at least this
is related to Ben Folds Five.  What's up with people posting shit
like...earn 50 zillion dollars in 10 minutes or somethin like that?

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

____________________________________
INTERVIEWER:  Instead they'll sticker it (Naked Baby Photos), "By the band
that      brought you 'Brick.'"
        BEN:  Yeah, the original version of "Brick", when it used to be
called      "Satan Is My Master."
____________________________________

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

Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 20:09:00 -0400
From: "Beckmann" <Beckmanns@erinet.com>
Subject: concerts

Hey I know this is my second post but I'm catching up on my e-mail.  Right
now I'm in the middle of reading about 8 armchairs, and I'm starting to
come to a depressing conclusion.  See I'm going to see the boys on Tuesday,
and I'm starting to feel guilty for going, and this is why.  A lot of the
reviews that I have been reading lately, have commented on how the boys
seemed tired, or not as into it as they've seen them before.  Also the
whole thing about the boys getting upset or annoyed by "who the fuck are
you" or all the "brickheads" (even though I am far from being one).  I feel
bad, like they really didn't know what they were getting into when they
became so big.  I've been a BFF fan for 2 years now, and well it depresses
me to think that they aren't enjoying their own concerts.  I don't want
them playing for me to seem like work to them, even though it is their job
I guess, but I want the boys to enjoy themselves and to think positively
about all the attention they're getting.  I feel like by going to see them
on Tuesday I'm more of nuisance to them or little brat who's taking up
their time instead of a friendly fan who just wants to enjoy some really
great music.  I don't know, I might be completely wrong about all this, and
I hope I am, really.   I'm sorry if I look like an idiot by even attempting
to post something like this, but does anyone else see this too?  Just
wondering, well I hope they're more enthusiastic on Tuesday, don't rip me
apart for this, I'm just observing...I think.  That's all. Bye.  ---Jill

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

Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 18:30:28 PDT 
From: "garrett john weindorf" <garrett32@hotmail.com>
Subject: my dallas concert review

yes yes yes...last night I saw 'em for the first time.  The show was 
even cooler than I had expected too! the best part went down before the 
show started though... my friends and I drove from school (shawnee, Ok) 
which took about 4.5-5 hours or so... we got to the bronco bowl and 
there was nobody there (this is around 3:30 or 4---doors werent until 
7). outta the corner of my eye I see a guy who looks just like ben, but 
i figured it was too early for him to be there. so we parked and walked 
around a bit by the back doors where the crew was unloading stuff.  So 
we go inside the bronco bowl--the bowling alley/arcarde part---and see 
about picking up our tickets... Then a roadie or somebody walks out the 
arena doors and right by us.  It was then that i got the crazy idea to 
snoop around in the arena.  Theres people all over the stage setting 
stuff up, but they dont seem to mind us there, so I walked back around 
to the door where the crew had been bringing stuff in...nobodys back 
there but me---suddenly a door opens, and who should walk out but ben 
folds! Needless to say i about shit myself.  He signed my little "naked 
baby photos" poster that i yanked off the door. I told him i felt stupid 
asking him for an autograph, but he just smiled and told me that it was 
cool--he feels stupid when he gets autographs too. after a handshake he 
was off to the dressing room... So i go back to my seat and watch darren 
do a soundcheck on his drums... after hes done i get his autograph! then 
a security guard captured us and we were forced to flee the arena. 

the show was great.  ben was goin nuts with the false teeth and glasses 
bit.  sound was nice...everything was cool. no raindrops or air, 
though... =(

after the concert we went out back and eventually the 3 of em came out 
there and signed stuff for about AN HOUR! i was pleased. darren was 
leaning up against my jeep signing stuff too. it made for a neat 
picture. i got my picture taken with each of them.

so anyway...that was my "little" post concert post...

sorry for the length...

its time for me to fly...

garrett

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

Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 22:17:45 -0400
From: Richard Challen <rchallen@clemson.campus.mci.net>
Subject: I Wish It Was Last September

Hello all,
  After browsing through all the posts of "the new concerts are strange"
and "the crowds are getting younger" I can't help but feel a little sad
& nostalgic & maybe even old. Through several bits of bad circumstance,
I haven't seen the Five since the release of WAEA. Yup, at my last
concert everyone was 21, OAD and Steven's were brand-new unknown songs,
Video Killed The Radio Star was a cover highlight, and "Brick" wasn't
even a figment in Mr. Fold's eye.
  And now it looks like FINALLY, after 2 years, I'll be able to see the
boys again. Atlanta in June. I just hope I don't get that whole
anticlimatic/letdown/"man their shows used to be cooler" vibe going
afterwards, though. But you know what? It's not the younger kids' fault.
BF5 was "my band" for a little while, and now they're not... Perhaps,
far down the road, when MTV refuses to play their latest video, they'll
go back to being my band again. But for now, I gotta share. It's not so
bad, really, I guess...
  Not playing "Brick" is better than I could even hope, though.

- --rICH

p.s. "Air" is one of the only decent things on the Godzilla OST. 3:19 of
slightly mellow, slightly sad reminiscing. The lyrics MAY be about
Godzilla but I sure hope not.



Visit The RICH Homepage and check out the brand-new CD, 
LIFE/DEATH... 15 songs of romance and retribution... 
Available independently from Desperate Man Records.
         http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/9035

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

Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 22:42:37 EDT
From: JGreenb106 <JGreenb106@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1000

In a message dated 98-05-16 21:10:00 EDT, you write:

<< A bunch of 12-17 year olds who
 had to sing louder than Ben on every song..even the ones they didn't
 know the words to.  I would shell out an extra $50 bucks to see them at
 an 18 & up venue.  Oh well,  such is life.
  >>
I understand when some people like this can get annoying...but age doesn't
always mean that people are like this!  I myself am 14, and I went to the last
Philly show with 3 15-year olds and an 18-year old.  We didn't push, or leave
after "Brick", or ANY OF THAT.  If these people want to do that, it's a shame.
But it's not always only the teenagers.

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

Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 23:23:15 EDT
From: Gunther256 <Gunther256@aol.com>
Subject: It just won't die

I realize that this may be construed as a waste of time on an already tired
subject, but in my typical style I've decided to go ahead with it anyway and
do my best to stop MORE posts like this.

It's basically on the BRICKHEADS vs. OLD FANS debate.  While I myself am fully
capable of picking up on new bands (I got into BFF about a month before Brick
hit the radios thanks to a pair of friends), there are LOTS of people who live
in isolated areas and can't find any non-uberpop stations (i.e., the type of
station that plays ONLY the trendy overplayed music every other uberpop
station does (not that everything they play is bad -- I really liked SEX AND
CANDY before I heard it for my record 5.6 billion times.)).

Anyway, these people only hear the really popular ones, which in BFF's case
happened to be Brick.  The teenyboppers who latched on for the smash hit will
disappear when the famed die-down occurs (it happens to EVERY popular song),
and the fans who liked Brick but really would like all their songs and never
knew about them will remain in their dust.  Hell, I still like Pearl Jam.

Just for the record, I consider myself an "old fan," so if anything I'm biased
the OTHER way.

Thx
- - Rob
                                              Inigima's Place
                http://members.aol.com/gunther256/index.html
                                               GET SOME.

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

Date: Sun, 10 May 98 19:21:52 PDT
From: "Scott Hookway" <shookway@powerup.com.au>
Subject: Fw: Australian Tour???? 

I emailed the web page about the Aussie tour and this is the reply I got.

Scott Hookway
shookway@powerup.com.au
**********************************************
Top 5 CD's when I last changed my sig
1.Push It - Garbage
2.Homogenic - Bjork
3.It's For Your Own Good - Living End
4.Saturday Teenage Kick- Junkie XL
5.Fresh Meat - Arkarna
***********************************************

- ----------
> Date: Saturday, May 09, 1998 15:20:44 
> From: BFF BFF
> To: shookway@powerup.com.au
> Subject: Re: Australian Tour???? 
> 
> 
> Hey!
> August in Australia is a big maybe but it would prabaly be a festival. 
> Check the web for details www.bffweb.com
> Thanks
> 
> _____________________________________________________________________
> 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, 17 May 1998 03:19:26 -0500
From: Melissa Bosse <mabosse@tamu.edu>
Subject: Dallas Show by Mel

Well, I thought the Dallas show was fantastic. I had never seen the guys in
concert before and I thought they did and excellent job. I was a bit
disappointed in the sparse crowd and the feeling of being really old, even
though I'm not. I liked the fact that they didn't play brick, leaving more
time for better songs. I met a cool guy from Arkansas? Don't really know
where he is from and he never told me his name, but I love to talk to
people that are into the band. Deidre, sorry I never got back to you on a
meeting place I almost thought of just asking random people if they were
you. 1 out of about 500 isn't bad odds. Anyways, I had a blast. Wish you
all could have been there.

- -Melissa

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

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 07:47:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: Leigh <emaline5@yahoo.com>
Subject: "Twist" article

Hey armchairers!  Just got finished typing the new article from the
"Twist" magazine.  Check out it.  The article is in Current News, then
in articles, of course.  While you're there, check out the modern rock
chart for this week!

~Leigh


The Page That's Uncanny To See
http://www.angelfire.com/fl/BenFolds5/index.html





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

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 11:31:47 EDT
From: Sentabmx <Sentabmx@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Bootlegs, Videos, anything you've got!

Hey Everyone! I have absolutely no bootlegs or videos of the band and I'd
really like to get a collection going.  Obviously, I've got nothing to trade,
but I'll pay for them.  Please e-mail me if you have anything good.  
	
Also, I posted a few days ago requesting your interpretations of BF5 songs for
an Art Appreciation project about an inspirational band.  If any of you have
the time, could you send me some bio. info on the group as well, but only what
you know to be true.  I want to make this project REALLY good!!!  

Also, I'll be living in Boston starting in August and I was wondering when
they'd be in Massachusetts.  I hope it's late enough so that I can go to some
shows, so if anyone knows, please e-mail me.  

Thanks for your help!

- -Erin

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

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 12:09:43 -0400
From: Adam Tyner <ctyner@clemson.edu>
Subject: WHFStival

I heard Steve Page from Barenaked Ladies sang part of "Brick" at the
HFStival...  Just thought I'd pass that along.  :)

- -Adam
/----=========================================================----\
             http://www.awod.com/gallery/rwav/ctyner/
The home of He-Man, "Weird Al", Yoo-hoo, Killer Tomatoes, and more!
   Demented music list admin           O-         MiSTie #67,326

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

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 10:07:54 PDT 
From: "Sarah Martin" <dorian14@hotmail.com>
Subject: Underground

At the L.A show, they didn't do the opening stuff to Underground. This 
saddened me, because I do so enjoy seeing Darren in the front of the 
stage.
- --Also, they did play Brick, through which I had to endure this 
obnoxious liittle girl behind me screaming the words.
- --They did an impromptu song called "dig Robert's shirt"... which is not 
as good as the last show (at the palace) when they had a song called 
"this is how I please the ladies"...

I agree that the show wasn't as exciting or energetic as previous shows.  
They were in Vegas the night before and I overheard Darren telling his 
manager that he drank and gambled too much in Vegas. I'm sure that could 
acount for the lack of goofing around and witty banter.  I really wanted 
Ben to take his pants off again... ( those who were at The Palace in 
Feb. can remember that distinctly, I'm sure)  I just think that with 
this radio play and such, too much is being crammed in  too little time.  
It's like they have a show a night... which doesn't make for the best 
concert.  Whatever...

- --Sarah

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

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 13:20:48 EDT
From: Vwbugn5890 <Vwbugn5890@aol.com>
Subject: long long posts

a lot of you people who say don't take up all this room with what people are
wearing and what not take up a hell of a lot of space just quoting what
someone else said...we all read the post, couldn't you just quote the part
you're writing about? not the entire thing? 
shan

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

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 13:31:43 -0400
From: Sean Kiely <seank@CYBERNEX.NET>
Subject: The required age to be a fan of music.

I was just wondering if anyone knew what the required age to be a fan of
music is. I mean, it seems to me that certain people believe that you
can't possibly become a  "true" fan until you're 18, or 21. I myself am
15, so I wanted to know how long it will be before I can be considered
old enough to like this band. I've been to two shows, have the albums,
like many songs better than brick, have liked the band for over a year,
and turned other people on to their music. Yet I somehow feel like I'm
being thrown into a category by people who don't even know me. It is
everyone's right to be fed up with people who only like the band for
Brick, but don't lay your blame on people just because they're younger
than you. My own experience is that great music such as this can
transcend age barriers. Hell, I was turned on to BFF by my 44 year old
father. Please, think before you decide to classify or categorize me or
anyone else. It's insulting.

Sean

P.S. (Air is still at http://www2.cybernex.net/~jekiely/)

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

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 16:19:55 EDT
From: Rysabuvit <Rysabuvit@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1001

hmm...the other day, i was listening to the radio and brick came on (shock me
shock me shock me...) but irrelevant to the overplayedness of the song,
afterwards, the d.j. said "and that was the soon to be a one-hit-wonder, ben
folds five with brick...before that, another one-hit-wonder, marcy's
playground with sex and candy."  at first i was a little bit angry, ya know?
i was like damnit, they've been around for a long time so i was kind of pissed
off stewing in my emotions driving along the road, frightening many
pedestrians... when the next song ended and the d.j. said "and that was the
backdoor boys..." (how funny is that) it just goes to show ya that all's
fair...all's fair in love.  and so completes my pointless anecdote.

                                                                           han
nah Rysabuvit@aol.com

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

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 14:08:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jess <julianne_5@yahoo.com>
Subject: sessions at west 54th

I can't believe I missed sessions at west 54th.  I am desperate for a
copy of it!  I am  willing to trade.  

Jess

The Page That's Uncanny To See
http://www.angelfire.com/fl/BenFolds5/index.html




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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1002
***************************************


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