THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #1509 - May 6, 1999
Magical Armchair Digest Thursday, May 6 1999 Volume 01 : Number 1509
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
I'm blown away
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1507
seattle show!!!!!
Five In Toronto
Hatemail?
Anybody record the Chicago show?
Dave and Ben
Charlie Brown indeed
Web Sites
secret track moves ben down under
John Cage-ish
Jon Davis rankin' on our boys
Fear of Pop
Re: one other thingee
Whoopsy.
Re: redneck ass, hidden song? and others . . .
tour openers
Not so long today (I hope)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 20:43:14 EDT
From: SkaGem610@aol.com
Subject: I'm blown away
I was so lucky to see Ben Folds Five at Park West in Chicago last night.
Seeing them perform live was awesome. They have so much talent and sounded
exactly like their cd's. Ben Folds Five has brought joy into my life through
their music. I can't even put into words how I feel about them. Their music
is so AWESOME. They were so great and I hope I will be able to see them
live again. I play piano and I hope one day that I will be 1/4 as good as
Ben Folds is on piano.
They have so much talent it blows me away.
- -Holly
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 20:51:33 -0600
From: cdelucia@mindspring.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1507
Edward wrote:
>Army - chug a chug a chug a chug. Great song but not surprised
>that it bombed as a single. Very few single buyers can cope with
>more than one change of tempo. And as I said in a previous post,
>makes me think of Clinton; "in this time of introspection . . .
>please spare me more rejection", "my redneck past is nipping at
>my heels" (is Arkansas a redneck state? . . .
>and, what is a chic-fil-a?)
Chic-fil-A is a huge chain in the southeast. I hesitate to call it
"fast food" because it's different from McD's and Burger King, et. al.
It serves all kinds of chicken...chicken nuggets, grilled chicken
sandwich, fried chicken sandwich, etc. It's really a southern
institution; there is no better breakfast than a chicken biscuit and a
large sweet tea from Chic-Fil-A! (And I say that as a man born and
raised in New Jersey but living in the south.)
Craig
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 18:26:30 PDT
From: "Chandra Hicks" <chanfifteen@hotmail.com>
Subject: seattle show!!!!!
I NEED A SEATTLE SHOW, OR EVEN ONE RELATIVELY CLOSE, OR MAYBE EVEN THEY
COULD COME TO MY HOUSE AND HANGOUT, I DON'T CARE, I JUST WANT TO AT LEAST BE
ABLE TO SEE THEM. AND IF ANY KIND OF BAND MANAGEMENT READS THIS, COULD IT
PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE BE IN JULY? please.
anyway, i thought this was really cute: the difference between ben folds and
me is that when ben folds sits
down to think about things, he creates great songs but when i sit down to
think about things i just think about ben's songs.
someone wrote it, and i think it's just darling
luvs
chaerna
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------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 21:31:46 -0400 (EDT)
From: charzi@canada.com
Subject: Five In Toronto
Hi, Fivers.
Before anything: all this talk about Ben's dimples and how hot he is really got going around the same time those photos on the official site showed Ben has taken to wearing black leather pants. Coincidence?
Another note about tomorrow in Toronto.
For those who can't make it to the appearance at Muchmusic on Thursday (which is the same day they're debuting the new Britney Spears video, so already the air will be electric), all the Boys will reportedly make the scene before the Guvernment show for Edge102's "Live In Toronto", which airs 6-8pm. For those who don't know, the scene in question is a trailer near the corner of Bay and Dundas where luminaries drop by and chat with the lovely and talented George Stomboulopoulos, with gawkers welcome. Not sure yet the exact time they'll be there within those two hours, so be ready for the mention or maybe call and bug someone. (I've asked George to post if he knew more, but he may not get my e-mail in time to let us know.) Everyone else should be able to listen in Real Audio, via www.edge102.com (there's e-mail contact there too).
As for me, in preparation for the show, last Saturday I took TUBORM for a nice long ride in my car to Casino Rama so I could learn and love and sing my lungs out. Yep, it takes at least one listen, but that's all it takes. It's less peppy and more prog, but damn if they don't pull it off! (I don't even like prog.) They encorporate dorky stuff with cool stuff, old tricks and new tricks in the history of music, MOR and underground, and soon you can't tell what was what...which may be some of the point. I'm not special in digging "Don't Change Your Plans" (most likely single to me, but I'm the one who campaigned for "Kate") and "Magic". "Mess" is a trip because I just finished work remastering a depressing early '60's western movie where it would fit right in, and "Your Redneck Past" kicks my ass because it's the Rentals meet Rundgren with a cocktail bridge. I also must offer the minority opinion that I *like* "Your Most Valuable Possession". Maybe if Ben's dad was being a!
!
drunken ranting idiot or just saying hi, I'd be crying self-indulgence. But he says some nice things. Possibly another most valuable possession is a father who thinks of such things and lets his son know, despite how foolish he may think he sounds. And maybe it gives us a hint of why this album is the way it is - why the battle Ben may be waging with the potential of being the Next Great Pop Songwriter is a battle he seems to be winning. If he was losing, this CD would've been WAEA Part 2 or River of Dreams.
Til Cinco de Mayo..
Peace,
Valerie
P.S. Oh, and side-note to Ralph Kyatsu: have you been getting all these local reviews for the site? Are you going? E-mail me at my interlog.com address.
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Get your FREE personalized e-mail at http://www.canada.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 22:09:51 EDT
From: Kudzugrits@aol.com
Subject: Hatemail?
I just wanted to ask a question to all the people who post. Do we ALWAYS get
hate mail no matter what we post on the ARMCHAIR? It seems that way to me.
If I write something good, I get hate mail. If I write something bad, I get
hate mail. If I write something indifferent, I get hate mail. Talk amongst
yourselves and then let me know. ATLANTA IS GOING TO ROCK!!!
Ryan
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 22:15:13 EDT
From: KenElbow@aol.com
Subject: Anybody record the Chicago show?
Man, I loved the Chicago show! Although Ben did step on the keys of both of
his pianos, but he didn't pick up the stool. I was thrilled when they played
regrets for the first time live ever for the encore! I love that song. One
of my favorites off TUBORM. Did anyone happen to record the webcast? I
would really love to be able to point out the parts where I was yelling or
where you can see me. Anybody who has it PLEASE email me. Thanks
Ken
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 22:43:03 EDT
From: Eze114@aol.com
Subject: Dave and Ben
<< One more thing, how cool would a Ben Folds and Dave
Matthews duet be? They have voices that would go great together. >>
Hell ya!! My two favorite singers together?!!??!?! That would be incredible!
I have always wondered how amazing they would sound together. And imagine the
lyrics they could write......
About the musical---wasn't Ben in The Buddy Holly musical or something once?
Erin
"Saw you last night dance by the light of the moon
Stars in your eyes free from the life that you knew"
- -Darren Jessee
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 22:45:53 EDT
From: Meezer327@aol.com
Subject: Charlie Brown indeed
Hello again all,
I am fairly new to the armchair, I jusr recently got a
copmuter. My parents are taking baby steps towards the new millenium.
I just wanted to express my personal appreciation for the new album. I've
had it since I caught them at Irving Plaza on 4/27.....and it has not left my
cd player. Narcolepsy, was the most unreal thing to see live. I don't
anything I ever hear will quite compare to that. I just stood there with my
mouth gaping. I totally agree with whoever said that Ben should write a
musical. But let's be realistic, Paul Simon..."The Capeman", the general
public did not respond so well. Where on the other side of the coin, I could
definitely envision "A hard day's night" Bff Style. Oh yeah, and with the
whole Charlie Brown comparison....I've always describes Ben as being very
Charlie Brown. I always say to my not yet converted friends...."they rock,
but in a Charlie Brown kinda way" That may be due to the fact that Ben is
the living breathing version of Shroeder!!!!! Just look at him all hunched
over the piano....it's so prevalent. Well now that I've worn out your poor
eyes....I must be going, my mom is yelling at me to sign off
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 23:06:54 EDT
From: Eze114@aol.com
Subject: Web Sites
SOrry about my multiple posts but I deleted all my BFF sites from my favorite
places and wuld like to get em back so if you have a site or know a good one
e-mail me with the address. -Erin
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 23:15:56 -0400
From: "Jenny Harrison" <jh593@columbia.edu>
Subject: secret track moves ben down under
what is this about a secret track on tuborm -- i haven't heard it. where is
it?
as for the post about ben moving to australia-- apparently its just to have
the babies and then he and frally plan to move back to the states. she said
she wanted to be near her mom.
jenny
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 22:16:38 -0500 (CDT)
From: Meredith <santarel@students.uiuc.edu>
Subject: John Cage-ish
In response to colliere@techop.co.uk's note about the piano in Magic--I
know that in Mess Ben used an upright with "little pieces of metal between
the hammers and the strings". Is that the John Cage thing you're talking
about? It doesn't really sound like it's used in Magic, but maybe I'm
missing it. Anyway, that also reminded me of John Cage and the prepared
piano, but Cage had other random stuff stuck in the piano too. It makes
for a cool effect!
Meredith (god, i've never posted this often before! i am easily
excitable these days)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 23:16:59 EDT
From: Julianne23@aol.com
Subject: Jon Davis rankin' on our boys
has anyone heard about what Jon Davis (singer from Korn) had to say about our
beloved? he said.....
"All we want to do is bring heavy into rock n' roll, because goddamned Ben
Folds Five sucks!"
i don't know where people get off saying such things about other musical
talents. does anyone else think this guy is stupid?
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 23:37:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: nate <rudeboy@mindless.com>
Subject: Fear of Pop
Hi all...
New to the armchair, but I'm picking it up quickly. I got to work crowd
control for PSU's Movin' on '99 concert that the Five played at, it was really
neat. Let me know if you want to hear about it. Anyways, I have a question
about this album called "Fear of Pop" that keeps floating around... I haven't
heard of it. Was it a pre-release or something like that? Maybe I'm just
missing something. Does anyone have a list of all the releases ever made by
the band. Just curious because I would like to collect alot of their stuff,
old and new (all of which I think is wonderful work).
Keep up the good work -
- --Nate
cse.psu.edu/~nate
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 23:50:48 -0400 (EDT)
From: nate <rudeboy@mindless.com>
Subject: Re: one other thingee
> B.t.w, Reinhold Messner wasn't ben, It was darren.
I thought so, and I was gonna say something before but you beat me to it. This
is explained in the interview in Spin (and countless other places). If you
didn't get to check out the Spin article, you should. It's neat, it explains
what direction the band is moving in.
- --Nate
ICQ: 37625974
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 23:58:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: nate <rudeboy@mindless.com>
Subject: Whoopsy.
I made my first post to the armchair in incredible fashion, asking about Fear
of Pop. Well I just found out what it is on Frank Maynard's page. So don't
worry about replying to that one.
BTW, here's the page:
http://oeonline.com/bff/
- --Nate
nate@cse.psu.edu
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 00:22:27 EDT
From: NedGump@aol.com
Subject: Re: redneck ass, hidden song? and others . . .
Yup. He is saying redneck ASS. what it sounds like is that there was an
overdub. Caleb, i've noticed, leaves these little subtle "mistakes" and it
seems that this is another one of those. and ya know what? i love it.
Hidden song? HIDDEN SONG? WHERE?!?!?!? i've listened to the cd so much
that i thought i'd have heard the hidden track. I know of the one on WAEA,
but thats it. Hmmmmmm
I got the Special CD/Vedio edition. I went to the Virgin Megastore, and had
to ask the manager for a copy, cause I couldnt find it myself. turnes out it
was put in the Music Video section, ugg. pains in my ass they are. made me
wait around for 10 min. looking for it.
I saw the Real Video Chicago show. The quality wasnt the best, but atleast i
got it the fastest possible (i have ethernet). And I too got knocked off
from the telecast. I just had to re-download the RM link at the rolling
stone site.
Speaking of being a BFF Concert virgin, am I allowed to count this one if I
only saw it on the net?
- -ned "don't call me forrest" gump
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 00:34:35 EDT
From: KamalaICB@aol.com
Subject: tour openers
>P.S. What are the names of the openers again? I've been looking everywhere
>and no one has posted it anywhere.... something about F&J or something like
>that? please email me privately at wkmak@ica.net
soon JUDE will be opening for the boys!!! yay
that be all
oh yeah, and thismorning i finished writing my last paper ever for college!!
fittingly it was about Ben Folds Five and the new album and just a general
background paper...yay
anyway
rock on
casey-girl
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 23:38:51 -0500
From: Sarah Troupis <s-troupis@nwu.edu>
Subject: Not so long today (I hope)
Hey to all my lovely BFF freaky fans out there. I swear this post won't be
as long as the last one (although some of the e-mails I have written to
people today made that last post look like a nothing little short story).
And it probably won't be as amusing. I'm sorry. I still love all of
y'all, but my fingers get tired after a hard day of sitting around classes
like 'The Theme of Faust Throughout the Ages.' Yeah, well, it was either
that or yet another philosophy class. Hey, I've (sort of) got my
philosophy, and it has a lot more to do with Ben Folds Five than Kant, I
can tell you that much. Kant can kiss my very northern midwestern ass.
Speaking of the subject of rear ends, let's start out with Redneck Past.
Ben most certainly does say ass at one point, but I'm still going to
petition for it more often. And last night at the Park West, he only said
it once in the song, too. Oh yeah baby, I was at the Park West show and
Ben and company proved once again why I keep spending all my small amounts
of money on concert tickets and CDs.
You're only going to get the shortened version of things here. OK, so if
you're wondering if you saw me at the show, I was the one with the orange
'Wookie Porn' shirt with the super long hair that was probably bothering
everyone behind me. My roommate Eve was the multi-pierced one with the
purple shirt. Anyway, let's see what I can say about the show other than
it rocked...Eve and I were right up front, best spots in the house (in my
humble opinion), right between the pianos, two and a half feet from Ben.
And if any of you boys were the ones behind me who kept saying 'Oh, 98
Degrees is outside, you girls up front better go check that out,' you can
see the last sentence of the first paragraph, only replace Kant with your
own name.
Anyway, I loved Fleming & John - they were wonderful! And so super nice,
total sweeties. We were right in front of Sean the drummer, I loved the
Christmas lights. And I have to thank him for the water - it saved me a
couple bucks at the bar (not to mention it made me feel cool for having
gotten it). Plus, he had some sweet ink, so that was an extra added bonus
to the set. You guys should really check them out, they were so much fun.
Okay, seeing Ben anytime is great (even when you're stuck in lawn seats at
some nasty place like New World and the junk that is Q101 Jamboree doesn't
let the bands play full sets - my biggest gripe about festivals), but this
was the ultimate way to see the boys. The set list was, oh, a foot, maybe
a foot and a half from my face, Ben was two, three feet from me. I felt
like I was invading his personal space. I could see Robert and Darren
perfectly for everything, it was awesome. There was a photographer from
the Trib in my face for part of the show, but she left pretty quickly.
Everyone around us was great, the show was so much fun. And I got a
setlist afterwards, which rocked my world (they stopped following it after
Army, which was numero 8)
So afterwards, Eve and I head out, we go talk to Fleming & John, I have
them sign the birthday card I'm carrying around for my sister. She's 16,
so it's a pretty important one. Besides, she loves BFF more than almost
anyone I know, and since she lives three hours from Chicago and it was a
school night, Mom was not going to let her come down. Oh, and her name's
Charlotte, so I figure BFF are a somehow appropriate band to sign a card
for her - after all, North Carolina, Brick, TUBORM liner notes, etc.
Fleming & John were so nice and such a quality band, I want all of you to
check them out! (If you don't, I'm going to keep telling you to go get
their CD throughout this entire post)
After buying shirts, Eve and I headed outside to wait around for the band
to come out. I don't know how long it was before Ben was out there, but it
was not really that long. Anyway, they obviously don't remember me from
when I met them last year, but whatever, I don't really care. Most people
from high school don't remember me now (if they actually knew me then), and
I saw them 180 days a year for four years. I got them all to sign
Charlotte's birthday card (the highlight of their thoughts in it was Darren
writing, 'I got laid at 16' - hmm, I'm thinking Mom won't be too happy
about that). They all commented on the 'Wookie Porn' shirts, Ben
recognized me as the girl from the front row and asked if the camera lady
had gotten in my way - whatta man! He doesn't know how absolutely
flattering that was to have him remember me, even for a few minutes...after
a depressing weekend, it was just what I needed to cheer me up (I mean,
other than the concert itself). Darren signed the picture of our fish, who
is also named Darren (you know, I'm thinking there might be a connection
there...). So the perfect evening comes to an end as Eve and I walk
several miles to the el stop (because lucky us, the brown line had stopped
running so we have to drag ourselves up to Fullerton. And by the time we
got to Evanston, the purple line had stopped running and we had to wait
outside at the very scary Howard el stop (look, another Ben connection!)
for the bus back to school. I know you all wanted that little run down of
the joys of being a college student who has to use public transportation
because they can't afford vegetables in their diet, let alone a car. But
gosh darn it, I will find a way to afford BFF tickets, even if it involves
selling my eggs. Hey, you know, that might not be a bad way to get some
extra cash. I'll have to think about that one further).
Okay, since this post is giving the last one a run for its money, I'd
better go find something else to do. Oh, and to the person who posted the
Fair/Liz Phair thing, that was so great, loved it! Anyway, shout outs to
all my new friends from the concert (and I'm still not going to get you
Soul Coughing tickets, John). And special thanks to the boys for another
great concert. Now let me get to a late mac and cheese supper.
Yours truly, madly, deeply, (agh!! Something possessed me there for a
moment and I think I quoted Savage Garden! What is this world coming to?)
Sarah
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1509
***************************************
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