THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #1515 - May 8, 1999



Magical Armchair Digest     Saturday, May 8 1999     Volume 01 : Number 1515



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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    BFF on MUCH MUSIC!!!
    ungutor and away...
    I'd like to address...
    Fair is better
    Re: Mullet
    question about "jane"
    Urgent...
    Hockey Night In Canada 
    ben folds five show in Toronto
    Alas, the mullet finally has its day
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1514
    oh my gosh....
    st. louis show
    Hidden Track resolution
    T-shirts 
    Re: T-shirts
    redneck ballast
    No pieces of metal 
    TUBORM reviews

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

Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 17:03:31 PDT
From: "Heather Kniert" <hkniert@hotmail.com>
Subject: BFF on MUCH MUSIC!!!

Hey all you crazy fivers!  We managed to get the interview on Much Music...  
it was so funny.  Ben made up stories about fishing and talked to a 
taperecorder he had in his pocket.  It was really great, but unfortunately, 
my VERY antiquated VCR screwed up and ate the tape just before it started, 
and wouldn't record anymore!  AHHH!  SO, is there anyone out there that can 
mail me a tape of it?!  I'll send you the blank video and stuff, and pay 
postage, I'm just so pissed of at this stone-aged VCR.  Crap.  That's what 
it is; CRAP.  Please, email me privately if you can help me out!  I could 
even make tapes of The Beginnings for you!  Trade and stufff....

much love Heather Grace, Victoria BC Canada


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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 20:36:39 EDT
From: Qualitease@aol.com
Subject: ungutor and away...

Oh My God, like.... Magic on Dawson.   I was dying!!!!!!   I love Ben Folds 
Five!  esp. Ben and his dimples  ;-)

The unveiling on the new Ben Folds Five Trading Station on Friday, May 14th.  
Be there, the new and improved untimate (I mean ultimate) source.  
http://members.aol.com/Qualitease/bfftrade.html

thanks y'all
    ~Alan

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

Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 19:52:59 -0600
From: rock-star@mediaone.net
Subject: I'd like to address...

Hola, MAers,
    Haven't psoted in a lnog while, and thought it was time to do so. There are a few
matters I need to address, so let me kick it off...
 1. Someone asked what a mullet was. Well, a mullet is a haircut. It's also referred to
as a "short-long" or a "hockey haircut."  It's when a person grows their hair lnog in
back, but still trims the sides of their heads, and is very sexy...(ha!)

2. Hidden Track... On my TUBORM there is a hidden track, but you've gotta rewind it
backwards from the first track to find it. I'ts a mock interview with the famed
mountaineer, Reinhold Messner...

That is all for now,
Ian

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 20:42:05 EDT
From: Qualitease@aol.com
Subject: Fair is better

In a message dated 5/6/99, 8:11:00 PM, armchair@maillist.il.fontys.nl writes:
<<1. Is fair that big of a song for them to do it at every concert?  I notice 
they are doing it all over the place but I wasn't sure that that was as big a 
song for them as they though.>>

Fair happens to be my favorite song live.  The absent piano in the first 
verse, the time change, the chorus, the disco bridge....this song is killer.  
I was pissed that they didn't play it at the TLA second show.   I say they 
dump some crap like One Angry Dwarf first.
    ~Alan

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 18:37:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jenna Zito <jennaz123@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Mullet

 to whoever asked what a mullet is a really stupid
looking hair style popularized in the eighties.  You
know, the one with the bangs that go halfway to the
middle of a persons head and then the rest of the hair
is kind of long in the back. Hope that I could help.
Jenna 

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 22:00:27 -0400 (EDT)
From: Judi Smith <jsmith@bc.seflin.org>
Subject: question about "jane"

i was reading the "truth and rumors" section on the official site and 
noticed they didn't have anything about jane. does anything know any 
background or info about that song?

just for the records, "lullabye" is on the inside track for my favorite 
song on this cd, and maybe more. it's SO incredible.... it actually made 
me cry on the way to work the other day, not because it's sad, just because 
it is such a GREAT song.... i'm a bit weird about music :) but god, i 
wish i had words to describe it....

judi smith                               all i want is something fine
jsmith@bc.seflin.org                       it gets harder every time 
                                          she is sleeping far away
would you catch me if i was falling?     take a breath  take your time
  kiss me if i was leaving?                    spread your wings
hold me cause i'm lonely without you?    rise into the black ohio skies
                       -- round here             -- four days, cc 

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 21:48:45 EDT
From: Slk24kgj@aol.com
Subject: Urgent...

I have spotted a couple of copies of the Limited Edition set of spare reels 
plus the new CD in digipak at my local tower records.  If anybody wants one, 
please e-mail me as fast as you can and I will buy it for you.  Email me and 
we will talk out you paying me back and paying for shipping.
                                                      Doug

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 22:24:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: charzi@canada.com
Subject: Hockey Night In Canada 

Hi, Fivers.
  I can't win for losing lately. First I send all this MIME nonsense just to you people.  Then I start sending from this address, and I send all this time-sensitive information that gets to you a day late.  Let's see if I can post this one without fucking something up.
  Cinco de Mayo was a lovely thing, of course.  Hopefully others will be bubbling with setlists and met-the-guys stories.  This is all *I* got.  
  We were blessed to have Fleming and John for their last night on the tour (hopefully not the *whole* tour) and their first gig in Toronto - maybe even Canada.  Why has it taken this long?  Have they got a criminal record or something?  Anyway, it won't be their last gig here cuz the crowd lurved them.  They just sparkled all over the place, and I'm not even counting the pompoms and the "booger gun".  I can't wait for them to come back and maybe play Lee's or Ted's or the 'shoe. 
  Now for what stands out in my mind about the BFF set.  I noted that at previous shows here they seemed to rush the tempo thru the whole set, but this time they were *slower* then usual.  Maybe it's me.  It was a little disappointing that the horns weren't there, though John came out and did his thing for the bridge of "Don't Change Your Plans" and the boys "bah-da-bah"ed their way through the middle of "Army" and both were fabulous.  The lights were indeed spectacular, as befits the bombast of many of the new songs which are dominating the set at this point. "Narcolepsy" was particularly stunning in this regard (and singing along with that "dreaming in streams.." part felt like wailing Handel's Messiah December 23rd - joy joy joy!).  Those of you who aren't thrilled with TUBORM not being very rollicking will probably be staring at your feet through some of the set, but if you go with it, you'll be okay standing there in the spectacle.  
  Man, this was a lot more fun than I'm making it sound.  "Magic" was gorgeous, "Last Polka" kicked, that big-ass obscene rock jam at the end was huge and tied that whole bombast theme into a sloppy shiny bow.   I dug it when Ben lost his way early in the 3rd verse of "Kwame's Last Night..." and the others continued the backup parts full-on until Ben decided to start the verse again.  When Darren came out and did his "Philosophy" thing, everyone was cheering so much generally you couldn't hear anyone really saying "who the fuck are you?"  And of course, there was Robert's "Philosophy" part:  he took his good sweet time with his smoke (I wonder if Radiosonic caught my yelling "you SMOKE that thing, boy!"), ambled over to the good piano and plopped himself up there cross-legged like a drag queen (I wouldn't call it slithering, but who could be disappointed?).  Then the crowd sang "show me the mosh pit" for him - Toronto crowds seldom sing anything loudly, but they are always fir!
!
st to oblige such a classy lady.  ;-)
  "Oh man, here's where she's gonna get all googly over Robert."  No, no, I'll keep the estrogen down.  But DAMN. Now with the new haircut that beads sweat well and that shiny blue shirt?  It's getting almost unfair.  If with everything else he had a really fantastic ass, it wouldn't be street legal. God allows us these small mercies so we can go on with our lives.
  So all in all I wandered out warm and dazed and sore-footed.  I scritched an obscure note on a Hockey Night In Canada sticker, slapped it on the door of the bus, and sashayed to my cab.
  I haven't found a newspaper review of the proceedings yet, which sucks, but there's a decent Ben interview on Canoe (www.canoe.ca/JamMusic/may5_benfolds.html) that mentions a possible return to T.O. in the summer (yay!).  In my searching, I noticed the interesting though questionable TUBORM review on SonicNet that makes fat comparisons to early Genesis - actually that's the best part of the review.  Do with it what you will.
  That's enough.  Enjoy yourselves, England.  Maybe teach them to cover a Steps song or something(with the choreography!).
  And Frank?  Thanks for the word about Great Big Sea doing "Gretzky Rocks". Bet that ruled.

Peace,
Valerie

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

Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 02:46:03 GMT
From: "* bionic*" <steflimbliker@hotmail.com>
Subject: ben folds five show in Toronto

Hey all! My name is Stefanie and I am from Cambridge ONtario.  I am new to 
the list and I just went to see Ben Folds Five in Toronto last night.  It 
was undoubltedly an amazing show and I can't wait until they come 
back...unfortunately I didn't take any pictures.  I was just wondering if 
anyone would be willing to trade for something.  I don't know what other 
bands people like, but if I could work something out that would be great =) 
I know there is a bootleg list as well, and I do have bootlegs, but not of 
ben folds five...anyway, just thought I would say hi...sorry this is so 
long!! TTFN Stef =)


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

Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 22:57:41 -0400
From: "Kelly A. Harrigan" <keharrigan@vassar.edu>
Subject: Alas, the mullet finally has its day

Speaking of mullets...

I totally know what a mullet is and have known for several years now.  It
was always a joke between me and my friend Chrissie.  We lived in
Pittsburgh and there was definitely a surplus of mullets in that area...and
it gained speed when the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Jaromir Jagr, the
King of all Mullets...

So anyway we're on number 7 person who has walked into my room and has
listened briefly to "Don't Change Your Plans" and has asked me why I got a
Muppets album...

It still makes me cry sometimes though.  So simple beautiful and somehow
sad...

Have a good day all.
Luv, 
Kell
~

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams."

~

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 23:02:15 EDT
From: Pyser02@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1514

In a message dated 5/6/99 10:56:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
owner-armchair@maillist.il.fontys.nl writes:

<< You guys probably know this, but there's a review and a really "cute" 
picture 
 of BFF in the  May 7, 1999 issue of Entertainment Weekly.  The mag sort of 
 slammed TUBORM, giving it a B-, and throwing around the word "prog rock" a 
 lot. Oh well.   >>

actually, a B minus from entertainment weekly is really good. they are snobs, 
and slam everybody.

aaron

i dont know about you, but id rather be billy idol.

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 00:24:14 -0400
From: joe s schanderson <schander@juno.com> 
Subject: oh my gosh....

re: ben and frally

>I know it's hard to picture someone you love so dearly with a 
>girlfriend and soon to be mother of his children, but be happy for him!


To all the friends I've made here over the last few years.......if i can
survive this....I can survive anything.

Oops...spoke too soon, now I've read this


>i have the biggest crush on rob, but i think that he would think i was
quite foolish
>if i told him i loved him and he'd probably be scared of me and then i'd
>never get in his pants... 


oh my gosh.......

well,

loving him dearly 

AND 

being happy for him : )


michigan joe



(for those that don't know me PLEASE know this post was in jest)

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

Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 22:38:56 CDT
From: "Emily Huschen" <tillie82@hotmail.com>
Subject: st. louis show

hey everyone....i'm the one that bugged everyone about the park west show, 
and it turns out i never went.  so, now i'm asking about the st. louis show 
in hopes that i'll be able to.  if you please, all of you nice people, email 
me anything and everything you know about this show.  it'll be GREATLY 
appreciated!!
thanks a bunch,
emily



"from the back of your big brown eyes
i knew you'd be gone as soon as you could.
and i hoped you would.
we could see that you weren't yourself,
and the lines on your face did tell,
it's just as well,
you'd never be yourself again"
"magic"-Darren Jessee



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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 23:41:10 EDT
From: JOECOOL215@aol.com
Subject: Hidden Track resolution

I believe that whoever posted about finding the hidden track everyone was 
talking about may have been reffering to "Your most Vauluable Posession."  
Afterall, everyone was talking about it a lot and it's not really a song SONG.

Have fun
Joe Cool

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 20:46:50 -0500
From: zapatilla@juno.com
Subject: T-shirts 

First...Is there a new T-Shirt design for the new CD/ tour?  

Second...I think that nation BFF t-shirt wearing day is a great idea. 
Since we did miss the fifth of the fifth, maybe we should do it on some
commerative holiday.  Maybe we could find out something historically
important that happened to the band in late spring/ early summer.  When
did the first CD come out?  When was their first show?  When are their
birthdays?  I'm sure we can find some good day to do this...

And I'm still hoping that someone can post an mp3 of one or two fluid
ounces songs.  If you do, please e-mail me.  I will worship you
forever...


Nacho Jesse


"Countin' the days down til we live in a video..."
zapatilla@juno.com

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 23:57:14 -0400 (EWT)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@oeonline.com>
Subject: Re: T-shirts

Jesse,
 
I have a t-shirt that's army green with the words "Ben Folds Five / Army" 
in white stencilled lettering on the front. I assume it's from the new
spring collection. Anyone know if they have been selling this item at any
of the shows? 

 -fjm
                     Danced by the light of the moon

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 23:51:24 -0400
From: joe s schanderson <schander@juno.com> 
Subject: redneck ballast

  Judi Smith <jsmith@bc.seflin.org> WRITES:
TO EDWARD:
 
1) how can you say "redneck past" is a weak or bad song?



The same way I say it. It's a weak song. I don't think it's bad but FAR
from PAR.

michigan joe

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

Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 00:25:56 EDT
From: Kudzugrits@aol.com
Subject: No pieces of metal 

Nope.  It's called a harpsichord.  You know, the instrument before they 
developed before the piano-forte.  No little pieces of metal between the 
strings and the hammer.  Sorry.

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

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 23:45:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Karen Tran <the_grrl@yahoo.com>
Subject: TUBORM reviews

Hey all
In this week's edition of the Drum Media (the one w/ spiderbait on the
cover), Peter Blythe did a review of TUBORM. The thing that annoyed me
about it was the fact that he kept on referring to 'Brick'. He referred to
it a total of 4 times I think. He actually stated, "...for those who enjoy
the "Brick" side of BF5, Reinhold Messner is an album that will bring
great pleasure..." I don't know if anyone else in Sydney read this
article, but I found it really disturbing to read.
Also, this week's edition of the Honi Soit (univ. of syd's paper) has a
review of the album too. 
Anyways, amongst the masses of everyone's 0.2c contributions, I will add a
brief contribution. In my honest opinion, I didn't like the album on the
first listen. But after a few listens, a few tracks have grown on me,
namely, Don't Change Your Plans and the Redneck past song. So I think this
one's more like an acquired taste, as opposed to love at first site.
(apologies for crappy cliches).
Later.

Karen
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End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1515
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