Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #92 - June 2, 1996



                     Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #92
 
Topics for Today:
 
      Joining in on the Ben Folds Fanaticism
      Covers
      Covers like a blanket
      Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #91
      h-town bf5 fans
      Re: Columbia Show
      Another cover song!
      NeeD BFF Intvw questions..
      Re: Another vote for "Maynard"
      Just some stuff
      Okay.. I changed my mind for you, Frank
      Covering Up Ben Folds Five
      Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #91
      I found an error on Tour Dates
 
==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 00:59:47 -0500
 From: Derek Miner <dcm80229@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu>
 Subject: Joining in on the Ben Folds Fanaticism

 Hello, everyone!

 Just joined up on this list, and thought I'd throw my introductory two
 cents worth in...

 Name is Derek Miner, junior at the University of Central Florida in
 Orlando. Studying Radio/Television to hopefully work in film/video
 production.

 I was turned on to Ben Folds Five by a friend who is in a band called
 Ghostbeat in the Central Florida area. (They do a bit on keyboards, and I'd
 like to convince them to do a BFF cover.) This guy, Bryan, listens to a
 great deal of music and is very knowledgable. He subscribes to CMJ New
 Music Monthly to get the scoop on up and coming stuff he might like. He
 knows exactly what kind of stuff to recommend to me, so he told me to pick
 up the BFF pronto. I found a copy in the local CD shop in the used bin.
 After a while, I had it on in the car and I sing along constantly now.

 "Jackson Cannery," "Best Imitation Of Myself," "Uncle Walter" and
 "Underground" would be my top picks, I needed to pick some. Heck, they're
 all great!

 I didn't really care for the video they did for "Underground." I thought
 the whole western theme was such a contrast to the song, but I found the
 hoe-down at the end surprisingly fitting to the chorus. The "Uncle Walter"
 video was much better.

 Can't wait to hear what the guys do next! I've seen there're a couple
 unreleased tracks and a couple rarities floating around. Perhaps in a
 couple years there'll be a compilation of these and future oddities.

 Some perspective on my other music interests:
 Faves of all time: Beatles, Beach Boys, XTC, They Might Be Giants
 Current interesting discs: Sugarplastic "Bang, The Earth Is Round"; Self
 "Subliminal Plastic Motives"; The Cardigans "Life".

 The BFF is coming to town here in Orlando Monday June 3rd. Not to offend
 anyone, but I'm glad I won't have to go to Lollapalooza to see them. Call
 me cynical, but I don't think the average Lollapalooza audience will really
 warm up to the Ben Folds Five. I could be wrong, though. I'm looking
 forward to the show; It's destined to be one of the rockin'-est shows I've
 seen. My pal Bryan said they were excellent on one of those nighttime talk
 shows (can't remember if it was Letterman, Leno or Conan).


 = Derek Miner =
   dcm80229@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
     http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~dcm80229/

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 01:45:39 -0400 (EDT)
 From: ian s fay <ifay@lynx.dac.neu.edu>
 Subject: Covers

 THe best covers I've seen BFF do live were:

 Rage Against The Machine (don't remember the name, they did it as Tori
 Amos did Smells Like Teen Spirit, it was damn funny)

 And the sone they did as part of their encore here:

 Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix       It takes real balls to play
 Hendri WITHOUT A LEAD GUITAR, but they did it, with Robert? (the
 bassist, I'm sorry if I got it wrong) doing lead vocals and Ben
 hunkering down for some smokin' licks and backup vocals.


 As to ones I'd like to see them do, I could see them doing some Cream
 (Strange Brew, maybe?)

 More ideas after I sleep on it..
 --
  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 %                Ian Fay                % "Sometimes I feel like my body    %
 %    Northeastern University, Boston    %  is just a station wagon I drive  %
 %      aka. Alan Sherman, Toreador      %  my brain around in."             %
 % http://lynx.neu.edu/home/httpd/i/ifay %  -Douglas Coupland, 'Microserfs'  %
  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
       <<>

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 08:54:59 -0400
 From: SaintBet@aol.com
 Subject: Covers like a blanket

 First, I'd like to salute Power Vegan because he had some excellent ideas for
 covers, ones I never would have thought of, Blondie, The Kinks, but the
 coolest, "Hello Its Me" by Todd Rungren.  Its such a good suggestion that I
 can hear it!

 Now here's my suggestion:
               GIRLFRIEND -- Matthew Sweet
 Does anyone second the notion?

 "You'll pout in stereo 24 hours everyday of the year. . ."
 Bethany

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 12:49:58 -0400 (EDT)
 From: I Won't Tell <jomuelle@MailBox.Syr.Edu>
 Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #91


 	Ok so I've been on this list for a couple o' months now and
 havn't made one submition (guess I'm just a silent observer)...that is,
 until now.  I first heard Ben Folds Five back in late June '95 on a very
 late radio program called the Vinyl Frontier (it's on WBRU in Providence,
 RI).  On this show they test new songs to see if they can vie for
 airplay.  I was sitting down talking with my twin brother when
 Underground came on.  We both loved it....he called out the station to
 find out more about.  The DJ himself said he loved it but didn't think it
 would ever get any airplay.  Oh, well.  So i scoured the local college
 record stores with my bro and we were both so lucky to get copies of the
 album for $2.99!!!  It is one of the few albums that both of us have
 bought.  We went off to college in august; he to colorado, me to
 syracuse.  While we were gone Underground went on to hold the top
 position on WBRU for almost twenty weeks and became thier number three
 song of the year.  My brother and I spread the music to all our friends
 in college and of course they all loved it.  My brother actually met the
 guys at SXSW and told me that it was one of the best live shows ever (and
 he's seen many!).  I play them on
 	As far as to what else I listen to.....alot.  Man...or Astroman???
 Friends of Dean Martinez, Material Issue, Moist, Afghan Whigs, Stabbing
 Westward, Matthew Sweet, luna, Mercury Rev,  the Cardigans, Morphine,
 John Spencer Blues Explosion, Tori Amos, Kristen Hersh, and so much more.
         For covers I wouldn't mind hearing from BFF:  How about (I don't
 know the actual title but it's something like this)  Breakfast in Bed by
 Squeeze and Turning Japaneese by ???.  The Prince sugestion
 rocks --:)~ (punx rule).
         I hope I see these guys before I die.  They're playing
 lollapaloser here but tix are like $52!!!!  Whateva.  There's so much
 more I could say but I'll stop here.  Long live BF5!!!! (and Frank too!)

                                         over and out,
                                                 Joshua "Ito" Mueller

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 13:13:36 -0500
 From: amy b <kbrenham@dialin.econonet.com>
 Subject: h-town bf5 fans

 hey, i'm really starting to feel alone in Houston with this BF5 thing... I
 know there have to be a lot of fans here but so far I've seen one t-shirt
 and heard one of their songs on the radio one time.  it would be really
 cool to hear from houston fans and
  not feel so alone.... I get the feeling that there is like an entire
 community of us... we just aren't aware of each other...

 amy b
 kbrenham@econonet.com

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 14:16:42 -0400
 From: Sesax0@aol.com
 Subject: Re: Columbia Show

 I will be treking to Columbia for the show on friday.  For anyone who is
 going, I am curious to know how popular they are there.  I am driving from
 Athens, Ga so I would hate to drive three hours and find that the place sold
 out before I got there--but I also would rather not get there several hours
 early...although if that's what I gotta do by all means.

 Stacy

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 15:34:56 -0400
 From: Hotdoglove@aol.com
 Subject: Another cover song!

 I just wanted to suggest a song, even though this is going to sound rather
 stupid.  How about Ben and the gang doing a cover of Spiral Staircase singing
 "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday"?  The only reason I suggest this is
 because the first time I listened to "Where's Summer B?" I automatically
 thought of this song.  Anyway, I ramble.

 Sara

 *Too young to hold on, and too old to just break free and run*- Jeff Buckley

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 17:34:07 -0400
 From: JoE Silva <silva@mond1.ccrc.uga.edu>
 Subject: NeeD BFF Intvw questions..

 HeLLo -

    I'm working up some info for a BFF interview that about
 to do next week, and I'd like to solicit whatever questions
 anyone might have on the list for the band. Pls send along
 any inquires to:

 silva@mond1.ccrc.uga.edu

    ThanX in advance...PaX...JoE Silva

 ----------------
 JoE Silva
 Senior Contributor
 Consumable Online

 "BanG BanG" - MaXweLL

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 21:48:07 -0400
 From: Wri10@aol.com
 Subject: Re: Another vote for "Maynard"

 I LIKE IT TOO!!

 Just incidentally, the "devil horns" thing did amuse Ben -- we were
 propped high on the bar at the January show in Cincinnati when he flashed
 them, so we flashed them back.  That went on the remainder of, I believe,
 "Sports and Wine", after which we got an "okay, I can't play the piano
 doing this anymore" kind of laugh.  But it wouldn't work either -- it's
 too much fun, everybody in the place was moshing by the time the song was
 over.

 I like "Maynard".  Nobody could possibly mistake it for a reference to a
 song, and if we're trying to single ourselves out (to each other) it needs
 to be a little more "inside" than that or everybody in the place will be
 hollering it out within seconds.  What could possibly be more inside to
 this newsletter than its Email address?

 (possibly we could just stick an address label on ourselves that says
 "Maynard"?  I don't know... or something like that.  Any suggestions?)

 Hey -- right on, PowerVegan -- "Hello It's Me" -- reputedly, Ben knows
 that one, he jammed with (too sorry, I forget who it was and don't have
 time to go back through the old posts just this moment) one of the list
 members on that one after the show was over in one of the clubs he played.
 I'd also like to hear "Auf Wiedersehen" by Cheap Trick, or perhaps "Top Of
 The World".  Though musically they're a guitar band, lyrically they run
 sort of a parallel stream to BFF... really.  Trust me.

 Hey, who am I?

 I'm somebody Ben Folds Five got a royalty from when I bought the album, by
 golly.  BTW, has anybody else noticed things are starting to "flame" a
 little around here?  Do we really have to use a putdown when we disagree?
 I noticed a few letters in #88 and #89 that had a little bit of a cruel
 tone, that's all I'm sayin'.  I've heard some things, you know...

 Peace -- learn it, live it, know it, that's all I'm sayin'.

 Melinda

 "If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a green dress
      (but not a real green dress -- that'd be cruel)"
                         --Barenaked Ladies "If I Had $1000000"


 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 00:23:15 -0400
 From: IamFult@aol.com
 Subject: Just some stuff

 To all my fellow 5ers,

     Been a while since I last posted so I thought I'd include myuself in
 some conversation.  To repeat what someone said, sorry Frank, but I love
 the "Marco Polo" idea with "Maaaaay-nard"  "Fraaaank".  sorry, dude,
 you've become a cult fave! Also, it's been said many a time that Ben
 samples some Tchakovsky (wish i could spell) on "philosphy".  What does he
 sample and where on the song is it? I'd like to compare it to my new
 Tchakovski disc.  'til we meet again.

 Fult.
 P.S., anyone currently attending or enrolling in U of Maryland next year, let
 me know.

 P.P.S., Have we cracked 500 members yet?  I think we should have a party to
 celebrate when we do.  I'll bring the napkins..

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 11:31:54 -0500
 From: "J.J. Engel" <JJEngel@mail.utexas.edu>
 Subject: Okay.. I changed my mind for you, Frank


 > 1) I think "Satan" would be a fine thing to shout.
 >

 I think Satan would work very well.  I love  my bootleg because it has them
 doind "Satan is My Master" on it.  It's highly entertaining.


 -Nikki

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 14:13:40 -0500
 From: geomac <gmcnulty@students.wisc.edu>
 Subject: Covering Up Ben Folds Five

 Hey there, I haven't posted in quite awhile, so I thought I'd put in my two
 cents.  I have a great idea for a song for Ben and the gang to cover.  Can
 you imagine them doing a guitarless version of "God Made Rock and Roll For
 You"?  Boy, that would rock, let me be telling you.  I'm not sure who does
 the original version, but Kiss covered it on the "Bill & Ted's Bogus
 Journey" soundtrack.  If anyone knows who did the original version, please
 post it or email me or something to that effect.

 DJ geomac...

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Geoffrey McNulty             |
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                              |      and lonliness is cleanliness,
 UW Madison Student Radio     |      and cleanliness is godliness,
 gmcnulty@students.wisc.edu   |      and god is empty just like me..."
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 Madison Student Radio -- "It's coming...are you?"

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 16:14:40 GMT
 From: Mark Piper <MFP540@novell3.bham.ac.uk>
 Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #91

 Stacy (Stacerina@aol.com) wrote:

 > We could even do it like that
 >  swimming pool game, Marco Polo.  You know, like
 > "Maynard"---"Fra-ank", over and over until we find
 > each other in the crowd.

 Yeah, a call and response thing would be great. Easy to find each
 other. And of course, it would confuse those people who aren't on
 the list which would be fun. Oneupmanship is a great sport. >8) How
 about "Satan!".... "Is My Master!"?

 D W Logan (bs5dwl@bath.ac.uk) wrote:

 > Also reported is that BFF will be returning to Britain at the end of June
 > to play a few more dates and that the album has jumped from 23 to 9 in the
 > British indie charts. Good News.

 Where was this? I didn't read this. Possibly let me know. I know
 they were in the "New" section, and also in the News. Anywhere else?
 BF5 can also be found in this weeks Melody Maker with what I can only
 assume to be a very flattering live report (only, like, three weeks
 after is happened......) from the Splash Club.

 > I'll add my tuppence worth (or should that be 2 cents worth) to the
 > favorite bands list.
 > How about: Blameless

 Yeah, Blameless! Check them out immediately! Kings of the anonymous
 record. You know, you hear a song, you say to your friends, "Who did
 this?", and no-one has any idea. Classic songs indeed!

 >            Ocean Colour Scene

 If anyone in the US has trouble getting hold of these, just put on
 some old Beatles records. It's exactly the same....

 >            Kula Shaker

 Yeah, I suppose. Although Bis are far more interesting... mind you,
 the B52's beat them to it by about, oh, 17 years..... >8)

 Greg (monkey@inf.net) wrote:

 > On the topic of songs they should cover...I don't know who
 > originally did it, but that song "Palisades Park" would be pretty cool
 > ("Down at Palisades Park..")

 Or how about "Itchycoo Park" by The Small Faces? That would be cool.
 Damn you M People, damn you!

 I stupidly wrote:

 > video. I'm not here for much longer, so if you are interested, get
 > in quick.

 Don't worry, I didn't mean for it to sound like I was about to die or
 anything! Please, don't send me cards of sympathy..... >8)

 Mark
 "Bare stares as they light up the screen, watching tear drops that
 shatter in slow motion, oh..."

 Rivers Of Suggestion - http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/5430

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sun, 02 Jun 1996 03:53:19 -0400 (EDT)
 From: Jason Martin <UN036034@wvnvaxa.wvnet.edu>
 Subject: I found an error on Tour Dates

 Frank,

 Just wanted to let you know I found an error on the Tour Dates list on
 your BFF page.  You have in the Lollapalooza list a show at Charleston,
 West Virginia, my hometown.  Charleston is the capital and located about
 3 hrs east of Cincinnati.  The concert actually takes place in
 Charles Town, a seperate city, at Charles Town Raceway, which is about
 45 min west of Washington DC in the Eastern Panhandle.  Hence I think this
 show is for the DC area crowd since it's so close.  By the way, just
 for your information, it takes me about 6 hours to get to Charles Town
 from Charleston.  But God do I wish they were coming here to my beloved
 city or to Pittsburgh (3.5 hr north) for that matter.  Ah well, just
 wanted to let ya know.

 Jason

 ==============================================================================

     [Jason: thanks. I'll make the change on the tourdates page.
      On the Satan vs. Frank controversy - it's possible that there may be
 other people in the audience named Frank, or Maynard, and people may just
 think you're making a reference to Dobie Gillis's sidekick. And by
 shouting "Satan... is my master" is more of a complete thought than just
 shouting out a name. In any case, if the yell gets too popular, list
 non-members will be shouting it out too, and it will have to be changed
 eventually.
      I was at the in-store appearance by Barenaked Ladies in
 Farmington Hills yesterday and one person spotted me in my BFF t-shirt,
 and said he had just picked up the album and couldn't stop playing it.
 And Tyler Stewart, the drummer for BNL, noticed my shirt and said he had
 looked for the CD in the store and couldn't find it. They had regards for
 BFF and said it was cool playing with them.  -fjm]
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