THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #1145 - July 30, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Thursday, July 30 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1145
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
Sydney Show and SMH review
for crying out loud
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1142
daily post
Re: Ben in video??? no way...
a semisonic misheard lyric [funny]
Warning:jet lag and I have just read the last 50 armchairs ALL AT ONCE!!!
Ben Folds Self-titled album
"queer" video??what?
You're kidding right?
help a poor fellow fan!
And you think Rockford files is cool? I THINK NOT!!!
Rose
Total Request
holy crap
Rolling Stone
Lawrence, KS concert venues.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 17:56:02 PDT
From: "Cheryl ." <chezza@hotmail.com>
Subject: Sydney Show and SMH review
Saw the Sydney Monday show, it was great... terrible venue though. It
was in a theatre, so you can't exactly get into it when you're sitting
in velvet chairs. WE ran up to the front though, so that was fine... an
odd thing was the age of the crowd. I would estimate the average age at
about 15... big difference from the last time they were in Sydney and it
was over 18s.
If anyone taped the show, please email me, I am desperate for a copy...
and I agree with the girl about the silly little girls screaming "I love
you" during pauses in "boxing".. it was most annoying.
Anyway, found this review in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning:
Goodbye Piano Boy, hello Captain Rock
By BERNARD ZUEL
BEN FOLDS FIVE
Enmore Theatre, July 27
BEN FOLDS has no shoulders. His shirt hangs out of his jeans, his hair
is
brushed forward to cover a budding receding hairline, he plays the very
unsexy
piano. He would be plain in the normal world.
But he writes songs full of gall. The gall to swing from a song sitting
snugly on
Motown bass to another with big band swing; from a polka (yes, a polka)
to the
harmonies of Dion and the Belmonts; from a cheeky George Gershwin piano
line
to a proto-punk body slam. And all done on piano, bass and drums.
Like the best/worst of the American self-help gurus, Folds's trio say
you can be
whatever you want to be. Or at least they can. They used to be a quirky
band,
then moved to underground pop heroes, before finding themselves in the
middle
of 1998 as mainstream radio stars. They used to play Sydney University
and The
Metro; now they play in theatres. And it's all thanks to a song about
abortion
disguised as a sad love song.
A year ago, when Ben Folds Five first toured Australia, they flattered
to deceive.
They looked like a little club combo - all gormlessness and
inoffensiveness - but
they sang with startling sweetness and rattled rafters with both volume
and a
febrile intensity. Somehow they balanced the pop their minds wanted to
play with
the sweaty rock their bones ached for.
Now that balancing act is no more: Ben Folds Five are unmistakably a
rock band,
primed for the big gesture more than the subtle sign. And it's not hard
to see
why. For a start, they have been playing bigger and bigger rooms as the
year has
passed. But just as importantly, they've been playing some of these
songs for five
years, and it's clear that, well aware of the dangers of staleness, they
have opted
for preventive surgery on many of their songs. In most cases this means
fleshing
out the instrumental breaks, extending the introductions, and, most of
all, adding
more grunt, more feedback, more "rock".
For the bouncing bodies in the mosh pit this was an inspired change of
direction:
the humour of the songs just came at you faster, more directly, and
viscerally the
band connected. The odd thing is, Ben Folds and friends proved last year
that
there's no shame in being a pop band. So while this time around the rock
band
entertained busily, I couldn't help looking out for the pop band.
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 11:42:25 +1000
From: akir2@student.monash.edu.au
Subject: for crying out loud
to Don Curtis <dec3@netexpress.net>
All I was trying to say about the 2 girls following BFF round Aus on
tour is that they deserve some recognition for their effort. I didn't say it to say
they're bigger or better fans than any of us. I know practically
everyone on the list if they could afford it would follow them around
the world if they could. I don't want to start a big debate on
who's a real fan and all that crap all over again.
This list is getting ridiculous if you can't even compliment other
fans. I thought you only got bagged if you insulted other fans.
Anne 'the shallow fan'
*************************************************
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 Five
*************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 21:48:25 EDT
From: BlueJellow@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1142
<<
No that was the guy from Fastball. Ben wouldn't be in a "queer" video.
Jess >> I can't wait for all the teenies to get upset about it.
Omigod Jessica!!!! You are So funny. Thank you. I almost cried I was laughing
so hard. :O)
Any of you aussies that would be lovely enough to let me pay for bootlegs, the
t.v. show thing with the boys in drag, I would GLADLY do it!!!!!!!! PLEASE
HELP A POOR American who has never seen Darren in a blonde wig! :)
Oh yes. I STILL need Black and White PHOTOS
This is what I do:
1. I take an 8''X10" or something similar. Not a 3"X5" like that. And it's
gotta be glossy. I spray it with this paint stuff, and then I paint it with
this translucent paint.
2. Spray again
3. Admire.
It looks REALLY cool! If you have any great photos of the boys, please let me
have copies. This makes them look SUPER cool and I will give you copies!!!!!!
Thanks
LLLLUCCCCCCCCYYYYYYYYY
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 21:51:23 -0400
From: bf5 <bf5@SURRY.NET>
Subject: daily post
<<For those of you who might not be aware, there is a different version of SFTD
on the Mr. Wrong soundtrack. It's a bit more polished than the Whatever
version. They do a cascading harmony thing in the middle that I think they
should have left in for the other version. Just thought I'd let you know.>>
I love this version!! It's HILarious. With the handclaps & harmonies, I
think it's cute. The WAEA version is more...umm...unpolished.
missing the war,
\ \/ /
~\/\/hitney =o)
*i wanna be kate*
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 22:07:41 EDT
From: Tiramat@aol.com
Subject: Re: Ben in video??? no way...
>>No that was the guy from Fastball. Ben wouldn't be in a "queer" video.
>>
>>Jess
damn you to hell. SNZ are not that bad.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 22:26:02 EDT
From: jaedonely@juno.com
Subject: a semisonic misheard lyric [funny]
whenever I misinterpret lyrics, its always in an oddly sexual manner =)
for example, FNT off of semisonics 1st album "yeah youre priceless, and
youre special, even when you are not NUDE-UDE! (in actuality, its new=))
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 22:26:02 EDT
From: jaedonely@juno.com
Subject: Warning:jet lag and I have just read the last 50 armchairs ALL AT ONCE!!!
- -I saw a video on MTV Europe. It was this skeevy rap version of Kung Fu
Fighting and the rapper was this goofy white homeboy with an odd tattoo
over his eye. The band name? Bus Stop.
- -MTV Europe kicks MTV USA's ass so bad. It shows videos!!! All day!!! I
was shocked. I have seen so many good videos, too, like "Flavor" from
the Jon Spencer Bles Explosion and stuff by the Jungle Brothers and Belle
and Sebastian and an inordinate amount of girl/boy band shite, too (thank
you, spice girls!) And all the VJs are so cute and have lovely
accents!!! Go MTV Europe Go!
- -Fanclub...cool idea, I give you props, Eric. Id love to help if needed-
- -My step nieces in Sweden, who are 10 and 8 and speak a wee bit of
English and are totally adorable, we had a very fun time on a long car
ride during my vacation. I put in my BFF bootleg and we played air piano
and air drums and it was great! (Music...the universal language of fun!)
- -Hello Nasty kicks ass. I have also gotten my nieces into the Beasties
(beats Aqua...yay..away from that brand of music, which is more popular
in Europe)
- -Is the Beasties at the Worcester Centrum sold out? Oh, theres a tear in
my beer. Specially since Ive been waiting to see them for four years!!!!
- -I read The Beach today on the plane. I really liked that book. Ewan
McGregor as Mr. Duck in the film?
~Elisabeth
the best part of the flavor video was beck in a chefs hat, holding
plastic toys, accosting some man on the subway going, "cos I got the
Flavor!" "I got the Flavor!" I giggled so happily after I saw that.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 12:38:32 +1000
From: Mia <mia@protel.com.au>
Subject: Ben Folds Self-titled album
HEY all you fellow-BF5 Fans!!!
Well I just joined this mailing list a few days ago and it totally ROCKS!!
(and regret not finding it much earlier..doh!!)
Anyway getting to the point, about few months ago, I bought the WEAE and
NBP-which I must say are THE best albums Ive EVER bought in my entire
life...oops doing it agan sorry!!. Ok then a few weeks later I went to buy
their first album, which I noticed has gone up $11.00!!!!!!! from $19.95 to
$30.95..in the space of about 3 weeks......Holy sh!te!!(this was the case
at a few music shops)
Ok They are definitely worth it but unlike some people Im pretty low on
cash(well closer to broke)
and so I was wondering if anyone knew if it was just these places I went to
that went up or what??
So if anyone knows any places in SYDNEY (not through mail-order stuff or
anything) where it's only $19.95 PLEASE mail me, I will be forever
grateful!!!!
and YES Id rather buy the real thing..!!!
Also to show how much of a devoted fan I am, I actually sat through the
WHOLE show of Hey hey just to see em', quite torturous but WELL worth it!!
Well
See ya's
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 19:50:37 PDT
From: "christy hawkins" <christylhawkins@hotmail.com>
Subject: "queer" video??what?
I am the only one who caught the thinly disguised homophobic slam at the
Squirrel Nut Zippers? First off Ben is in the video because they are all
Chapel Hill bands and they are FRIENDS!! Second, production was done by
friend of Ben and director BF5 video's, Norwood Cheek of Chapel Hill. He
is a long time staple in the scene around there and has been in many
awesome bands himself (anyone remember the Sex Police?). As far as I've
seen no one in either band is gay but WHO CARES if they are- don't be so
ignorant! If you don't like SNZ then fine but don't slam Ben for
choosing to be in his friends' videos and watch the homophobic insults!
CHRISTY:)
I click my heels- and I'm there...
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------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 23:06:43 EDT
From: JKFett@aol.com
Subject: You're kidding right?
In a message dated 7/28/98 8:36:22 PM EST, owner-
armchair@maillist.il.fontys.nl writes:
<< I did not know that there could be such a thing as "fiercesome piano
playing"
and that "Ben Folds Five" is a "person" with elbows and forearms which he
uses
to play the piano. >>
Yes he does play with his elbows and forearms sometimes...ever see the video
for SFTD? I rest my case.
<< I've never heard of a track called "Missing" and I wonder why I've never
heard
the line: "I saw a girl who looks like Axel Rose" which they report could
only
be taken from the track "Dwarf". >>
"Missing" is an abbreviation for "Missing the War," many people will
abbreviate song titles. Here's an example or three: "SFTD," "OAD," and
"Selfless." Also, if the author wasn't a diehard fan, which is very likely, he
might have mixed up that line from "Julianne." But oh well, that still isn't
what I would call "LOADED WITH ERRORS." When I wrote an article about Blues
Traveler for The Oakland Press...I didn't know a thing about them. I don't
like them, never had, never will...so I probably made some mistakes that
diehards would find.
~Everyday I wear the same thing...
Dan
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 23:42:52 -0400
From: jen chen <pickle@bellatlantic.net>
Subject: help a poor fellow fan!
ok, this is going to sound reeaaally pathetic and cheap, but hear me
out, ok?
i'm not a big fan of bootlegs, so i don't have any to trade. however,
people are ALWAYS asking me, "do you have any bootlegs to trade?" and i
end up not being able to trade for stuff i want because i don't have
anything. and i don't have the money to go out and buy singles and
imports. so my question is, can anybody find it in their heart to
possibly send me a bootleg out of goodwill? i assure you this ISN'T
some gimmick to get stuff!
i'm begging here, people!
jen chen
gosh, i feel so pathetic!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 20:50:46 -0700
From: "Julie 'anti-gavin'" <strasswoman@mailcity.com>
Subject: And you think Rockford files is cool? I THINK NOT!!!
I got that [v] thing on tape, but my friends dad changed channel in the middle of it...hopefully (if my ex tape it for me) I should have Conan...
uhhhh if not I really really want it!
So if anyone wants to trade videos...i'm waiting...
- -Julie 'anti-gavin/RF' (I guess this means I'm 'anti-THE WAY OF
P.S Eric is a knob jockey
Now MailCity offers forwarding so you can check your MailCity messages and other e-mail all in one place. Go to http://www.mailcity.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 22:57:16 -0500 (CDT)
From: Susan Snyder <snydesm@mail.auburn.edu>
Subject: Rose
Rose,
please e-mail me! I've lost your e-mail address
Susan
I feel so retarded!
Also I have not gotten the BFF at house of blues yet.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 00:14:13 EDT
From: Soccer172@aol.com
Subject: Total Request
OK call me crazy (maybe it's because I just had oral surgery and I've been
drooling all over myself for the last 24 hours), but I really really want this
Total Request thing to work on MTV with SFTD. I guess my question is whether
or not everyone is still interested in doing this?????
I've been watching lately, for lack of anything better to watch at 2pm, and
it's for sure that the time to request is between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm (EST,
I'm assuming). You can either call 1-800-DIAL-MTV, e-mail total@mtvmail.com,
or visit the MTV web site. The show airs at 3pm (EST) and reruns later in the
evening at 9pm (EST).
I'm all for it. So whaddaya all think?? How about Monday? Please post or e-
mail me your opinions. Who knows? Maybe later we can take this a step
further and get the SNZ video with Ben on there too!!
Oh, yes. And I can't forget to give credit to Foldsledge@aol.com for the
original idea.
Denise
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 21:53:01 -0700
From: "Julie 'anti-gavin'" <strasswoman@mailcity.com>
Subject: holy crap
Don't ask me what song this is that is on at the moment...But someone else asked someone here (I'm at school) who said it was BFF...
jesus...I dunno what song it was but EGH!!!!
Now MailCity offers forwarding so you can check your MailCity messages and other e-mail all in one place. Go to http://www.mailcity.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 01:11:34 EDT
From: Emmaline20@aol.com
Subject: Rolling Stone
Read a brief article in the latest Rolling Stone (that would be the one with
the naked girl on the cover which sent my mother into a fit saying that I
should cancel my subscription to the "smut" magazine) saying that Yoko Ono was
putting together a tribute album for John Lennon and that a bunch of bands had
signed on to do a song...and rumor had it that BFF might be one of the bands.
That's all.
Sarah :)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 01:01:15 -0500
From: pink-freud@juno.com (Mark A Jurado)
Subject: Lawrence, KS concert venues.
>I'm ditching Rochester,NY to go to Lawrence,KS for school so i was
>wondering if anyone knew if the boys ever play shows in Lawrence? Take
care
Mike--
Both times I've seen bf5 live it's been in Lawrence, because even
though I'm from Kansas City, they never have played here. The first time,
last November was at the Grenada Theatre in Lawrence, the address is 1200
Massachusetts. It's a club where they usually only book underground bands
or the bands that have one hit song and vanish. The shows are usually
pretty cheap, my bf5 show cost me $11.50. It's 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
The second time I saw them, it was at the Sunflower Music Festival at
Clinton Lake State Park. That show was about $20. Another club, the
Bottleneck, has concerts about 2 days a week or so. Ben said afterwards
that the boys really like the Grenada, and would be making stops there in
the future. Lawrence is cool, you like it. By the way, my condolences on
becoming a Jayhawk.
Mark.
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------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1145
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