THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #174 - January 26, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #174
REMINDERS:
* Change the subject of your reply to something pertaining to your
message (not "The Magical Armchair, Issue #nnn").
* Don't quote excessively, or quote the entire digest, when replying.
* Please keep non-Ben Folds Five content to a minimum.
Topics for Today:
BF5 gets "Best Roadshow" in Austin Chronicle
SUBMIT (Magical Armchair)
BFF number 3 in Oz for 1996
BF5 in JJJ's Hottest 100.
JJJ Poll
bootlegs
(Fwd) Jason Falkner seeking musicians for band (NP) (off topic)
Triple J Hottest 100
Get your dates sorted ....... please
MaGiCaL aRmChAiR eNtRy NuMbEr 2
ben folds five
Re: thank God for the few die-hard fans!
BFF Tour Dates
new tour dates
West Coast Tour Dates
==============================================================================
[Continuing where #173 left off...]
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 03:14:00 -0500 (EST)
From: PowerVegan@aol.com
Subject: BF5 gets "Best Roadshow" in Austin Chronicle
The Austin Chronicle (http://www.auschron.com) is a weekly semi-alternative
newspaper here in Austin TX. This week's issue is the "Best of 1996", and in
the music section, they had their ten music critics pick the Best Roadshow,
Best Local Show, etc. While I was disappointed that my band (King Cheese)
did not win any honors, one of the critics (Jason Cohen) picked Ben Folds
Five at the Electric Lounge as the Best Roadshow. This would have been
almost a year ago, Feb. 11. (I still have my ticket stub.)
On a more personal note, this was the first time I saw Ben Folds Five, and as
I posted here at the time almost a year ago, I was simply blown away. I used
to think I knew how to play piano until I saw Ben play. Suddenly, standing
there at the Electric Lounge, I had the chilling sensation that I had wasted
the last ten years of my life when I could have been either playing out or
learning to play better, or both. I decided that it was better late than
never. Ben inspired me. Now I'm playing more than I ever have in my life
and trying to improve, and it's paying off. After one of our recent shows,
the singer/keyboardist of a popular local band, who was voted 2nd Best
Keyboardist in the Chronicle music poll last year, asked me to give him
keyboard lessons. I can't say I owe it all to Ben, but he's certainly
motivated the hell out of me.
-- Michael Bluejay (Austin, TX)
=============================================================================
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 01:12:45 +0000 (GMT)
From: Stephen Levin <slevin@spuddy.mew.co.uk>
Subject: SUBMIT (Magical Armchair)
SUBMIT:
'Hi' and 'Happy New Year' to all fellow BFF fans,
This is my first e-mail to the digest, so I thought i'd make it an
interesting one. Here's an interview with Ben that I found in a
British music magazine called SELECT last month. They ran a special,
end-of-year feature where various musicians voiced their opinions on
certain events of 1996. Ben Folds was grilled about Bill Clinton's
election victory. The article went like this:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Witness: Ben Folds, college boy made good, and beneficiary of decisive
'96 breakthrough with rollicking hit 'Underground'
S: How's your year been?
B: It's been real good, even though we've lived an isolated existence
with all this touring. I've never worked so hard in my life. Playing
Reading was surprisingly good because I didn't expect anything to
come from it. The night before I stayed up drinking, so, along with
the jet lag, I'd been up for about 40 hours. I was really ragged-out.
But when we got on stage there were about 4,000 people on our side.
I had the best time ever.
S: Did you vote in the US election?
B: Yeah, but I didn't vote for either Clinton or Dole, I actually voted
for Leo Overtoom of the Brown Party, who's more independent and wants
to keep out of the Middle East, introduce the use of solar energy and
concentrate on environmental issues. The Republicans and Democrats
aren't different enough to give your vote to either one. It feels
like you're getting two choices of the same colour.
S: Why did Clinton win?
B: Basically, he was the lesser of two evils. Dole didn't explain
himself very well and it all started to sound like rhetoric after a
while. People haven't been truly excited about a president since
Reagan. I know that sounds funny, but there was some element of rock
stardom going on and he was a damn good communicator. But with Clinton
and Dole, one makes sure all the country's money goes to big business
and the other makes sure all the money goes to the government, so
there's ultimately no difference.
S: Are you very politically aware?
B: Less and less. I think most people are getting disillusioned with the
whole process. Even when Clinton got in the first time and the economy
got better it was due to policies set in motion way before he arrived.
Now the economy is fine, so people want to keep it that way. Things
like that make you shrug your shoulders and ask, 'Why bother?'.
S: Did 'Rock The Vote' have much effect?
B: I don't think so. Not voting is just as much as a statement as voting
and this disenfranchised part of the public aren't apathetic, they're
waiting to hear something that relates to them. The politicians
shouldn't dismiss it as slacker youth not caring about politics.
S: What's Clinton's media image?
B: It's kinda gross. It's a shopping-mall version of politics. The
adverts with him in soft focus, looking really angelic, and all the
talk shows he does appeal to the lowest common denominator.
S: How much does a politician's personality come into it?
B: Almost all the way. What sways people to vote is the same thing that
sways them to buy Coca-Cola: advertising. As long as people think
they only have two choices and those choices are basically the same
thing, then there'll be no change.
S: But are you glad Clinton got back in?
B: Yes - I don't think Dole knew what he was doing. There's a confidence
about Clinton that appeals to the US.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
If anyone on the mailing list would like to use this interview on their
web pages, they are quite welcome to, a little credit for typing it
would be nice.
Thanks,
Stephen.
=============================================================================
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 18:38:13 +1100
From: Rebecca Gorrell & Lance O'Brien <lotto@netspace.net.au>
Subject: BFF number 3 in Oz for 1996
Sorry everyone but you will probably be bombarded by Aussies who have spent
12/1/97 listening to the nation-wide poll for the top 100 songs for 1996
conducted by radio station Triple JJJ. BFF fans all voted their butts off
and Underground was voted 3rd most popular song for 1996!!
Congrats to Ben, Robert and Darren and if you do read this mailing list,
you had better get yourselves over to Australia for a tour before there are
riots in the streets!!! Lets hope that Uncle Walter is up there for 1997!
By the way, the most popular song was "Buy Me A Pony" by aussie group
Spiderbait. This is a great little song that is called "that rock anthem"
by many DJ's and is well worth having a listen to if you haven't heard of
it.
Congrats again and most impressive considering over 300,000 people voted!!
Rebecca & Lance (Melbourne, Aus.)
=============================================================================
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 22:07:36 +1100 (EST)
From: Derek Scott <scoco@netspace.net.au>
Subject: BF5 in JJJ's Hottest 100.
Hey Everybody!
Well, I said I'd keep you poseted and now I am. In a Natiowide music
poll conducted by Triple J, which recievd over 300 000 votes making it the
worlds largest music poll, Ben Folds Five came in at Number 3 with
Underground!! An amaxing result. I soent all day listening for them to come
on, coz I knew they'd make it. But when it got up to number 13 I thought I
must have missed them coz I'd missed the beginning (100, 99 and 98) and I
almost gave up. Then I had to go to work so I took my walkman and on the way
there BF5 finally came on. I could hardly contain myself!! It took
everything to stop me from running and skipping across the railway bridge at
Thornleigh. Then I had to turn it off, so I missed 1 and 2 but that didn't
matter. They were Tool with Stinkfist and Spiderbait with Buy Me A Pony. BF5
pipped the likes of the Butthole Surfers with Pepper and Weezer with El
Schorcho. It was so exciting. Anyway, that's about all.
Claire :)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
! Claire !
! "i want to live and breathe. i want to be part of the human race." !
! -radiohead !
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
=============================================================================
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 22:35:41 +1100
From: "Dr. Geoffrey Madden" <masonicwombat@onaustralia.com.au>
Subject: JJJ Poll
Ben Fold's Five has scored an unexpectedly high ranking in JJJ's poll of
its listeners for the best song of 1996 which was announced today. Enough
of the over 300,000 people who voted picked BFF's "Underground" to allow it
to finish 3rd. (I think Spiderbait and Tool beat them.) All in all an
astonishing outpouring of taste from the Australian listening public.
Cheers
Geoff.
=============================================================================
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 16:46:03, -0500
From: MR MARC FACTOR <RFAA93A@prodigy.com>
Subject: bootlegs
DOES ANYONE HAVE BOOTLEGS TO TRADE FOR???????
=============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 11:26:10 +0000
From: Damian Child <dchild@lochard.com.au>
Subject: (Fwd) Jason Falkner seeking musicians for band (NP) (off topic)
this was posted to the poprocks list and they request it be forwarded
to the Ben Folds Five list.
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Reply-to: poprocks@citadel.slumberland.com
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 17:39:40 -0800 (PST)
From: dumyhead@millennianet.com (Adam Gimbel)
To: Multiple recipients of <poprocks@citadel.slumberland.com>
Subject: Jason Falkner seeking musicians for band (NP)
I made sure that it was ok with Jason to mention this on the list but I
know that I'd find a receptive audience and well connected people on these
lists. If someone could please post it in the Jellyfish AOL folder and on
the Ben Folds list, I'd appreciate it. Jason will be touring soon and none
of the musicians he had before are available now. He is looking for a
guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer. If you're seriously interested (don't
embarass me by having the same amount of talent as me: not much) contact
his management company, Zero, whose information is listed on my Jason page
(blackmail!). http://millennianet.com/dumyhead/jason.html
=============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 97 03:15 EST
From: tgrave@trump.net.au
Subject: Triple J Hottest 100
I want to be the first Australian fan to congratulate the BFF on their
success in the Australian, Hottest 100 contest on Triple J, the leading
"alternative" station in the land of Oz. 'Underground' was ranked third, an
incredible effort by all measures and one I was extremely proud of since I
voted for 'Underground' as my favourite song of the year. Over 300,000
people voted in the Hottest 100 so I think BFF deserve a round of applause
for their excellent performance in what is claimed as the world's biggest
vote in competition. 1996 certainly was the year for the BFF for me, as was
evidenced by many other Australians. Best wishes for continued success to
the BFF in '97. Underground was the favourite song for many Australians and
I hope that the BFF produce an abulm of equal quality to their first in '97.
With the best of wishes and congratulations,
Tim G
tgrave@trump.net.au
=============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 12:15:27 GMT
From: Andy Hewitt <mbcx6adh@mh2.mcc.ac.uk>
Subject: Get your dates sorted ....... please
I am very happy about BFF touring the UK again in Feb/March , but am
just wondering when exactly the tour will be . The original date I
had was Feb 28th , but now it has been put back to the 3rd of March
it would appear . This is for the Manchester University show . Since
I'm trying to organise for a whole load of my friends to come to see
them here any help in this direction would be greatly appreciated .
Also , is there any news of a release date for the album in the UK as
I'll be front of the queue looking to buy it . I hope and pray that
it comes out before the tour .
Yours wearily having just read the huge pile of Magical Armchairs
sent over the holiday period
Andy Hewitt
**********************************
* *
* "I can't think of any decent *
* quotes to put after my name" *
* *
**********************************
=============================================================================
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 15:50:33 GMT
From: Andy Hewitt <mbcx6adh@mh2.mcc.ac.uk>
Subject: MaGiCaL aRmChAiR eNtRy NuMbEr 2
Now I'm confused .
I just took a look at the Ben Folds Five pages on the internet and it
would appear that nobody can agree on release dates and other such
things .
The Frank Maynard page (which I am inclined to believe as it is the
least vague) says that the album is out in the UK on March 3rd and in
Europe on Feb 11th .
The Sony page says all non-U.S. places have a release date of
February 11th .
Obviously I would prefer the album to be released soon , but would
like to know either way . Any takers ?
Also the first single is said to be "Battle of who could care less"
which is good because that really stood out for me at the live show
but I'm sure I heard somewhere else (maybe here) that the first
single was to be the equally brilliant "Song for the dumped" . Is
this different for other countries ?
Sorry to be all questions at the moment . Maybe I'll think of
something interesting to say next post .
Andy Hewitt
[The dates on my page are directly from Ben Folds Five's manager, Alan
Wolmark. -fjm]
=============================================================================
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 16:08:05, -0500
From: MS KIMBERLY HORN <QPQJ32A@prodigy.com>
Subject: ben folds five
do you know about them coming back to honolulu to play a show that
may be for all kids...not just to those that are over 21?.............
seferina lozano
=============================================================================
Date: 15 Jan 97 23:53:26 EST
From: JOE SHANAFELT <102767.1635@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Re: thank God for the few die-hard fans!
(First time writer!)
Just wanted to reply to Alex: I don't believe bff will ever go really
mainstream, even with the major label. You have to admit their sound is so
different that the average alterna-junky who doesn't give a rat's behind
about musical quality and all of the other things that make them one of the
best bands ever will never like them. Reviewers like them because they are
trained to appreciate talent and intelligence. The reason bff has remained
so consistently great in so many fans' eyes (other than the fact that they're
the GREATEST) is, yeah, we pass it around to those who will love it as much
as we do, but not every pop-cult teen is in love with them. I like knowing
that the people who enjoy bff tend to be from a small group of fans who are
hugely in support of their music, that their shows aren't going to be full of
idiot pop fans. Isn't it great? : ) Love and happiness to all those who
turn bff on really loud when nobody else is home, shouting along with the
words and play air-piano like a fool. Carrie
=============================================================================
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 16:37:46 -0700 (MST)
From: James Robert Campbell <jrcampbe@atmos.met.utah.edu>
Subject: BFF Tour Dates
Tour Dates!!!
According to the Counting Crows Web Page, our boys will be supporting the
Crows on these particular dates..
3/31 Vancouver Orpheum
4/1 Seattle Paramount Theater
4/2 Portland Schnitzer Auditorium
4/4 Berkeley Greek Theatre
4/5 Santa Barbara County Bowl
4/7 Las Vegas Aladdin Theatre
4/9 Phoenix Union Hall
4/11 San Diego Remac
4/12 Irvine Irvine Meadows
All of these shows have not started selling tix as of yet. Check out.....
http://www.countingcrows.com/travels.html
....for updates.
However, it is utter disgust that I write this. The show right before
BFF hooks up with the Crows is depressingly...
3/29 Salt Lake City Kingsbury Hall
...which is located a mere 300 yards from where I'm sitting right now. 8^(
They had *better* come to Salt Lake!
Cheers,
--James
--------------------------------------------------------------------
James R. Campbell
Department Of Meteorology jrcampbe@mines.utah.edu
University of Utah jrcampbe@atmos.met.utah.edu
http://www.met.utah.edu/info/graduate/james.html
=============================================================================
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 09:25:50 -0800
From: Phuong Nguyen <nguy0454@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
Subject: new tour dates
Hi,
I just found out that Ben Folds Five will be touring in support of
Counting Crows from March 31 through April 12. Most of these dates are
on the West Coast. For a complete list, go to the official counting
crows page put up by their record company.
Just a personal side note here: Oh Crap this sucks! The crows come to
my town (minneapolis) 12 days too early! OH NO!!!!
Sorry you had to endure that.
Phuong
By the way, have you heard anything of their own headlining tour? in
the US, that is.
=============================================================================
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 97 08:49:54 UT
From: Bruce Herrier <BHerrier@msn.com>
Subject: West Coast Tour Dates
I stumbled upon this page while looking for something else, but it looks like
there have been some tour dates set for the boys on the west coast. I got
these from Musi-Cal (http:/concerts.calendar.com/concerts/search.shtml), but
I haven't had a chance to call my local venue (AZ) to confirm the date.
Anywho, here they are:
Monday, March 31: Vancouver, BC, Orpheum Theatre
Tuesday, April 1: Seattle, WA, Paramount Theatre
Wednesday, April 2: Portland, OR, Schnitzer Hall
Friday, April 4: Berkeley, CA, Greek Theatre
Saturday, April 5: Santa Barbara, CA, Arlington Theatre
Monday, April 7: Las Vegas, NV, Aladdin Theatre
Wednesday, April 9: Mesa, AZ, Mesa Ampitheatre
Hope this is still news.
Bruce Herrier
Phoenix, AZ
=============================================================================
[Today's posts continued in issue #175.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR - The Ben Folds Five Mailing List
Submit to: maynard@oeonline.com Admin. to: maynard@oeonline.com
WWW homepage: http://oeonline.com/bff
List archive: http://oeonline.com/bff/list/
September '75 I was forty-seven inches high