THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #176 - January 30, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #176
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:
Bit of this, bit of that
Re: Ben Folds Five Music On The Web
new single
UK Tour
How can I get a ticket in Belgique ?
Re: Ben Folds Tour
Sorry
"Underground" at the ball
Try not to think about it, Adam Duritz
Some excellent guitar chords
space ghost
Transciption of Philosophy
Ben Folds on Spaceghost
I love it! Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #175
address
Midwest tour dates...
The Upcoming Tour
Ben Folds on the TV
A plea To Ben Folds Five
Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #175
==============================================================================
[Couple notes from the moderator first: Welcome to all the new
subscribers. We've had a flurry of adds in the last few days, probably
due to the volume of discussion on alt.music.alternative and
alt.music.chapel-hill as well as the info pointing to us on Sony's
website. Please remember to keep posts on-topic and change the subject
line when replying.
Speaking of websites, there are some discrepancies in things like
release dates and tour dates between various websites. The information on
http://oeonline.com/bff on release dates and the UK tour dates is from
the band's management. Sony's information differs in some areas. As far
as who's right, time will tell.
Again, due to the volume of posts, this issue is split. #177 will
follow this one.
Now, lean back in your Barcalounger, here come the posts: -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 14:48:11 -0000
From: Baldwin M <M.Baldwin@rhbnc.ac.uk>
Subject: Bit of this, bit of that
I wrote this article for my University newspaper(it gets published on
Monday) of the Astoria2 gig. I know its a bit late, but i thought
someone might be interested.
If anyone wants to chat about Ben Folds with me, my e mail address is
M.Baldwin@rhbnc.ac.uk
(Taken from The Orbital- Royal Holloway University Newspaper)
Ben Folds Five don`t play guitars. They bring them on to smash them
up. Rock n roll cliche? Nah mate, BFF are a breath of fresh air in a
music industry that is distinctly polluted. Ben Folds complete with
Spinal Tap style wig destroys them to the delight of the crowd, dances
on his baby piano and leads his band into Satan is my Master. It`s a
conduction that walks the fine line between Billy Joel and Green Day.
Welcome to 'punk rock for sissies'
With songs like Julienne about a girl who looks like Axl Rose and
Boxing written about an imginary conversation in the head of Muhammed
Ali it`s fir to say that BFF have a sense of humour. Tonight they are on
fabulous form. This is not just a live band, its a full cabaret musical
experience. They have the stories, the songs, a clown and intermixed
comedy. They are complete entertainment. "This is a song we first played
up North" quips Folds before a hilarious cover of 'Champagne Supernova'
Unsuprisingly, there is no 'Uptown girl', but they do tease into
their equivalent classic, a rollicking 'Underground'. These guys may
never have been "cool in school" but the college geeks have made good
and are a revelation. Catch them at the Astoria in late February.
Matthew Baldwin
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 97 9:34:35 -0000
From: Simon Burrows INF-KB <sburrows@madge.com>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Music On The Web
eric weiss wrote:
yeah, what's the spiel on the bf5 sheet music? I'd absolutely love to
find a copy. Please someone help us pathetic ivory tinklin' fools out.
I'm one of those that can't play by ear, but can certainly READ. Thank
you and have a great day!
As a (crap) guitarist, I'm more used to playing Billy Bragg. But I did
find some Ben Folds Five chord progressions on the web. The featured
songs (Alice Childress, Best Imitation, Jackson, Julianne, Where's Summer
B) have been transcribed for guitar, but you could use the chords as a
starting point.
The URL is http://www.lsds.com/lsds/guitar/b/ben_folds_five/
Its a cracking music resource, with songs from pratically everygroup you
can think of.
Now that Ben Folds is so cool (and deservedly so), does this mean I'm
allowed to dig out my old Billy Joel albums? Have BFF covered any of Mr
Joel's songs? I wonder what BJ makes of Ben Folds success? I'd be quite
interested in a definitive list of tracks covered by the band, and what
an LP that would make.
Laters. Stay fresh.
Ced Burrows
sburrows@madge.com
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 10:45:10 +0000
From: Nev Jopson <nev@foresight.co.uk>
Subject: new single
I heard "The Battle Of Who Could Care Less" on Virgin FM in London last
night... it was great to finally hear something new.
I don't reckon it will get much daytime airplay in the format I heard tho',
due to the lyric about "scoring some weed"... I guess the conservative BBC
& independent "pop" stations would have a big problem with this prior to
evening schedules (look out for the "radio edit" version).
Nev
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 11:05:24 +0000
From: Chelfyn Baxter <Chelfyn@b422.demon.co.uk>
Subject: UK Tour
BFF are playing Bristol on the 22nd March. Good news, as I live in
Bristol, but I'm afraid that most (read all) of my friends in Bristol
are ignorant of BFF's level of musical genius, so I'm stuck for company
for the gig. Any mailing list members from the South West want to sink a
few beers & come and see Ben ? Mail me if you do.
BCingU,
Chelfyn
------------------------------------
"I like beer, and I like cheese...."
------------------------------------
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Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 22:54:00 +0900
From: Azusa Motohashi <EZC00110@niftyserve.or.jp>
Subject: How can I get a ticket in Belgique ?
Hi everyone,
In last Magical Armchair,there were tourdates in Europe.
I want a ticket and information for Ben Folds Five show in
Brussells, Belgique on Mar.20th. Searching my memory,though,
nobody who lives in Belgique is in this mailing list ,
If someone knows how to get a ticket ,please e-mail me.
I have a friend who studies in Belgique and I intend to go
there to meet her.And now I know the Ben Folds Five tour dates,
and add the show on my travel.She isn't familiar with the system
about music ticket agency,so I depend on you.
Azusa Motohashi
EZC00110@niftyserve.or.jp
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 14:28:56 GMT
From: Chris Butterworth <cb128@york.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Tour
Can anyone confirm the date for Ben Folds Tour in Sheffield? The date in
question is a Sunday??? This seems quite strange as generally live bands
play at the Leadmill on Saturday or Monday. Besides that has anyone else
spotted the similarity between Robsert Sledge and Jesse out of Home and
Away?
A sad Australian soap addict, aswell as Ben Folds
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 16:03:26 GMT
From: Andy Hewitt <mbcx6adh@mh2.mcc.ac.uk>
Subject: Sorry
Apologies for filling up the Armchairs with questions last time . It
looked worse than it was as I did send the answers to my own
questions after and not before the questions .
If you follow that then you're a better man/woman/neuter than me .
Oh , and the person who sent in a posting saying that they had the
lyrics to most of the new album . Do you have the lyrics to the
single "Battle of who could care less" as I'd really like those .
That's all .
Yours tired from the horrendous exams
Andy Hewitt
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 12:14:41 -0400
From: Daniel MacEachern <dmaceach@is2.dal.ca>
Subject: "Underground" at the ball
Last Saturday (Jan. 25) I attended the annual formal held by the Young
Alexandra Society at my university here in Halifax. Music was supplied by a
large swing band, with recorded popular music whenever the band took a
break. At one point, Underground was played, and it was the first time I'd
heard BFF coming from somewhere other than my own stereo, it was such a
treat! In fact, since it was out of context like that, it took me a few
seconds to recognize the song, kind of "hey, I know this song, what is
it?...It's BEN FOLDS!" Later on, one of my roommates told me he heard the
song come on and said to the girl he was talking to, "somewhere on the
dance floor, Danny's going nuts."
Daniel
Halifax
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 11:41:43 -0500 (EST)
From: Rahoolio@aol.com
Subject: Try not to think about it, Adam Duritz
Interesting point a lot of subscribers have brought up, that of Counting
Crows' "A Long December" (what a great record!) sounding a little BF5-ish.
It certainly sounds like the work of a man who enjoys "Alice Childress,"
come to think of it. The FIRST song it reminded me of, though, was the
Stones' "Winter," from "Goats Head Soup". Both songs have a melancholy
winter-in-California theme.
So the promo copies of "Whatever and Ever" are out, are they? Being a
record store employee, I feel somehow cheated. I'll have to call up our Sony
rep today, 'cause I don't wanna wait for March 18!
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 16:57:23 +0000
From: Steve <s.d.poyer@durham.ac.uk>
Subject: Some excellent guitar chords
Hello and 'hope you had a great Burns night' to all Scottish BBF fans...
I've been searching all over for some half decent scores to the songs
off the first album...and was giving up hope until i found this address:
http://www.lsds.com/lsds/guitar/b/ben_folds_five/
Okay, i know it only gives the guitar chords (i play piano myself); but
if you sit down with the album its easy to work out the bass parts, the
timing of the chords, and the solos.
Over Christmas i gave a friend of mine the BBF album...and it took her
just one afternoon to work out Underground (all the way through, almost
perfect), so i know it can be done. So she does happen to hold a grade 8
distinction in piano...but i'm sure thats got nothing to do with it
(maybe that's wishful thinking).
Anyway, if anyone has any scores or info as to how i can get them, then
mail me.
Cheers,
Steve.
(No fancy quotes from me i'm afraid).
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 97 13:39:57 -0500
From: benjamin c salmon <bcsalm00@mik.uky.edu>
Subject: space ghost
has anyone (or everyone) on this list seen Ben Folds on Space Ghost Coast
To Coast? He's on for about 2 seconds when Zorak is hosting. He says,
"You're Zorak." and Zorak blasts him. its pretty funny. if this has been
covered a million times, i'm sorry, i just subscribed. it was pretty
cool.
ben
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 97 13:53:05 -0500
From: Michael Rolli <rollim01@mchip00.med.nyu.edu>
Subject: Transciption of Philosophy
A while back someone mentioned that a magazine had printed a note-by-note
transcription of Philosophy. Does anyone know the name of the magazine?
What about the issue number? Thanks.
--M
rollim01@popmail.med.nyu.edu
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 14:59:36 -0500 (EST)
From: J6780@aol.com
Subject: Ben Folds on Spaceghost
I think it was on Saturday night, I was on the phone with the television on
mute. When I looked up, the credits for "Spacegost: Coast to Coast" were
rolling. Under "Special Guests", it read " Ben Folds" about the 7th person
down.. Anyone else see this or kno what it's about?
And any tour dates coming to Connecticut, or even on the East Coast? We're
starving over here for some good ol piano, Ben!
Jess
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 15:19:14 -0500
From: Mike Piccuirro <mikeman@pegasus.rutgers.edu>
Subject: I love it! Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #175
I heard Who Could Care Less on 92.3 KROCK here in NY last night. It is
COOL! I was dancing in my car! This is the first time I've heard
anything new from BFF since I bought the first CD a year ago. It was
worth the wait.
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 15:45:53 -0500 (EST)
From: UFOPhiler@aol.com
Subject: address
A while ago, someone had said that they got posters of BFF by writing into
the record company. I wasn't sure if I should of written in the Caroline or
not cause aren't they on Sony 550 now? If anyone knows anything about this,
please email me. I also strongly suggest hearing if you have not already,
the Duncan Sheik album, I think it is really amazing.
kate
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 15:45:30 -0500 (EST)
From: Michele <mmenuck@umich.edu>
Subject: Midwest tour dates...
As a person stuck "somewhere in middle America," (well, Michigan isn't
exactly in the middle, but you know what I mean), I'd like to know when
BFF is coming around here. It's enough that they won't be supporting CC
in the MW- don't tell me they're only doing the West Coast...
Please post a list of tour dated other than those in Utah and the like...
Thanks.
Michele
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 13:11:15 -0800 (PST)
From: Michelle <mms@wolfenet.com>
Subject: The Upcoming Tour
4/1 Seattle Paramount Theater
So, the bad news is I'm gonna' have to go to a Counting Crows Concert.
(Sorry, all I'm not a fan)
But good news abounds:
Ben Folds Five Opens, so I can always skip out of the show early
It's on April Fool's Day, so hopefully that will lead to fun and hijinx
during the show
It's 2 days before my birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
If friends were unsure as to what to get me for my Birthday (Matt, pay
attention here :}) I think BFF tickets would be a lovely present,
ESPECIALLY if the friend were to somehow able to arrange for backstage
passes or a chance to meet the band.
Seeing Ben in a theater rather than a club I'm afraid it will lose
something, but at least I'll get to see him again! :)
65 days and counting....
Michelle
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Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 17:34:29 -0500 (EST)
From: Shannon McCarthy <semccart@Oakland.edu>
Subject: Ben Folds on the TV
Yes..ya now there's this new satellite channel from MTV called M2, who
incidently shows 24hours of music videos (hey didn't mtv used to do that?)
well anyways MTV shows an hour preview of M2 on MTV everyweekdat from
2pm-3pm adn last week, they played the "Uncle Walter" video!!!! I started
screaming! It was one teh cutest and best videos I have ever seen. So now
i've seen Undergournds and Unlce Walter's videos each once. I would
imagine they woudl repeat it sometime on MT,but i don't knwo abut he MTV
preivew of it.
Also, we've all taken notice to my posts and others abut the
Barenaked Ladies playing the BFF album at their concerts right? Well yet
another band has done the same, a CAnadian one also in fact. The most
amazing band i've ever heard called the Rheostatics played the BFF album
before their show last week. I was so excited, i couldnt' control my
singing. So after i'm wondering..hmm, i wonder who's the BFF fan, i've got
to find out. So there i was waiting to talkd and get stuff signed by one
of the Rheostatics' singers and i over heard him saying three
words w/in the same sentace.."March 18, Lollapalooza, and the
Klezmatics..."sooo i of coruse interrupted him and said "excuse me are you
talking about Ben Folds Five?" And he said "yes, we are, their great".
And
i said yeah they rock.adn let him finish their convo. so i talked to DAve
(the singer)after about BFf, i guess he saw them at Palooza this summer
fand really enjoyed it,and gave Ben some of the Rehsotatics cd'sss BEN?
YOU STILL HAVE THOSE?????? WEr not sure what he did w/ them? DAve also
said BFF started off w/ a song that went "Love is like a rock show.." soes
anyone know what song that is???
It's just great, so hear adn read and now that BFF is getting a
lot of recognition by other musicians all over the world.And it's also so
odd to be talking to one of your favorite bands ever about another fav
band you both like..that's happened a lot. I'm just so cool that way,
right Linda??? it is too
bad they don't get the recognitno they deserve,but often the best bands do
not.
take off,
shannon
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 17:38:47 -0500 (EST)
From: Shannon McCarthy <semccart@Oakland.edu>
Subject: A plea To Ben Folds Five
oh, and incase thier managment does read this or ben or whoever, if the
band ever does a headlining U.S. tour!!! BFF must return to play at the
7TH HOUSE in Pontiac, Michigan.......that is the best place in town! woo!
shannon
[I agree! -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 18:40:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Kristaffer@aol.com
Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #175
I was just wondering if BFF was planing on coming up here to Rochester, Ny in
say... the next 2 years?
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I tell you what - really shouldn't sit here and whine