THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #220 - April 7, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #220
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Topics for Today:
Going to the Denver BFF show?
Ben Folds Five radio apperance
Oh, who ever knows these things?
How was the Seattle Show?
BFF - Dwarf Lyrics
BFF CD-Singles - HELP!!!
BFF Converts Berkley Counting Crows Fans!
Brick Dissection 101
a real fan?
the hidden track and the Brick debate
The Last Polka
Philadelphia club?
Smoke
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Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 21:04:52 -0700 (MST)
From: "Eric T. Beteille" <eric@hemi.com>
Subject: Going to the Denver BFF show?
If so, drop me a line at eric@hemi.com. I bought my tickets a
few weeks ago. They were $10 each, which is twice what the Boulder
BFF show cast last year. (And still half of pretty much any other
show in state, who's complaining?) The nice thing about last year's
Boulder show was the "standing room only" concept. It meant I wasn't
tied to a "seat" and could dash up to the front of the stage after
the horrid opening band vacated. Hopefully the Bluebird in Denver is
set up the same, or I shall be elbowing teenyboppers.
I love the new album. I listened to nothing but the new album for an
entire week after I bought it. But like most everyone, I listened to
all the fast songs first. I had a feeling the new slow songs would
grow on me, and they have. I just made a mix tape of BFF for a very
hip friend, alernating between both albums, and almost wishing for a
few more slow ones on the debut, just so it would mix better.
I think Ben and the boys matured a lot on their whirlwind worldwide
tour for the first album. It shows. The songs are more "adult" and
polished, for what that's worth. OK, except for "Song for the Dumped."
And "Kate." I guess that makes BFF even more like the Beatles. The
Beatles mixed goofy pop classics with thoughtful moody tunes. "Kate"
is to "Help" as "Evaporated" is to "A Day in the Life." Although not
quite as pretentiously self-absorbed, thankfully.
By the way, the very hip friend I mentioned.... her first reaction to
BFF, upon hearing "Underground," was, "Rocky Horror Picture Show."
She may have something. Then again, the first time she heard BFF's
version of "Champagne Supernova" was the very first time she'd heard
"Champagne Supernova." :)
See some of you Thursday in Denver,
Eric
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Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 23:22:57 -0500 (EST)
From: KRI1701@aol.com
Subject: Ben Folds Five radio apperance
To New York Armchair addicts:
BFF are scheduled to appear on April 27, 1997 on Vin Scelsa's Idiot's
Delight. It was on this show last May that I first discovered BFF (and the
band played an early version of Steven's Last Night). Vin tends to do long
form interviews, lasting anywhere from an hour to three hours (usually an
hour/hour and a half). Idiot's Delight is on Sunday nights from 8PM until
2AM or so on 102.7 WNEW. The guests are usally start somewhere around 9:00.
Another great joy of Idiots Delight is that Vin usually requests a cover, to
explore the guests' roots.
Ken Ingram
If you must put me in a box, make sure its a big box, with lots of windows,
and a door to walk thru, and a nice high chiminey so we can burn, burn, burn
anything that we don't like, and watch the ashes fly off to heaven, maybe all
the way to India. I'd like that.
Dan Bern "Jerusalem" If you haven't heard it check it out
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 01:00:56 -0500 (EST)
From: Hotdoglove@aol.com
Subject: Oh, who ever knows these things?
Well, I've been hearing and reading a LOT about BFF lately, and it's really
gotten me thinking...will BFF ever REALLY break into the mainstream? I
simply can't decide. Every time I think about Ben and Robert and Darren
becoming a household name (well, my household doesn't count...) I stop and
think, what causes a band to become popular in the mainstream? I can't think
of a single band that I really feel any kind of deep connection to thier
music who are in the mainstream. Now, I know lots of die-hard Dave Matthews
Band fans who do feel that way even though DMB has gone fairly commercial.
How many of us would REALLY stop listening to BFF if they did go mainstream?
My conclusion was thus: as I sat in my car listening to "Evaporated" for
the maybe 16th or 17th time, I decided that the fact that BFF makes music
that's inaccessible to the very marginally intelligent simply because of its
musical and lyrical complexity is EXACTLY what is keeping them from "the big
time", and that the day BFF stops making music like that is the ONLY day I'll
stop listening to them. Now, seeing as I've been awake for over 16 hours, I
don't know if anything I just said made sense or if I had over the legal
limit of tense shifts, but it's just my...uh...(see, I don't want to say .02
cents because it's SO cliche ;-) silly little opinion.
Well, I purchased my tickets for the ONLY BFF show that's ANYWHERE near me,
Music Midtown on May 3 and am twittering in my shoes waiting until the day.
(oh, and Barenaked Ladies are going to be there, and Squirrel Nut
Zippers!!!! ARGH!)
Okay, that's quite enough rhapsodizing for tonight,soooo
Toodle-oo!
Sara
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 22:23:24 +0000
From: Susan Park <susan@jetcity.com>
Subject: How was the Seattle Show?
How was the Seattle show with Counting Crows? Anyone make it out?....
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 06 Apr 1997 03:02:00 -0500
From: "Alexander T. LeDonne" <aledonne@iquest.net>
Subject: BFF - Dwarf Lyrics
In ARMCHAIR #216, Kristin Muchesko wrote:
> 4. On the liner notes, it gives the lyrics to "Dwarf"
> as being, "mom said someday I would have," but it
> doesn't SOUND like that is what he is saying. It
> sounds like more words than that. Am I crazy... Help.
No Kristin, you're not crazy. Try this on for size:
"My mom said by Christmas I would have"
For those that count these things, that's nine syllables
instead of seven, so it darn well ought to sound like more
words. Now, as for why it happened... :)
-Alex
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexander T. LeDonne
aledonne@iquest.net Home page: http://www.iquest.net/~aledonne
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 04:52:04 -0400
From: Steffen Donath <SDonath@compuserve.com>
Subject: BFF CD-Singles - HELP!!!
Hi there!
I was just wondering if anybody on the Magical Armchair would be able to
help me getting the BFF CD-single: Underground (edit) / Satan is my master
(live) / Video (live) (CDCAR008). I have tried everything but wasnt lucky.
Maybe somebody has a spare copy or can get a copy in their local record
store?
I would also be interested in getting copies of the following BFF shows:
Rockafellas, Columbia, SC, 15/11/95
Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 21/03/96
Anything from their current tour
So anybody that can help, please contact me. I have got some BFF stuff to
trade.
STEFFEN
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 00:51:09 -0800
From: Nathan Gunn <qreeus@uclink4.berkeley.edu>
Subject: BFF Converts Berkley Counting Crows Fans!
Well, I went to go see bFF open for The Counting Crows last night in
Berkeley...BFF is the most amazing opening act I've ever seen! I mean, I
knew when I went that the protocol for opening acts is to get out there,
play their s***, and give way to the headliners but BFF seriously rocked
(which was good for me since they were the only reason i was there and I
didn't bother to stay for CC).
they opened with Missing the War...I think it got the whole crowd ready for
a real nice, slow piano set. alot of people didn't really see why i'd come
to the show just to see them if THAT was how they were gonna play. Then
they played some other stuff, all of it real up beat and people started
getting more into it. But the killer was Song for the Dumped. Ben just
PERFORMS so well and talking to some people who were there, they were very
impressed with the fact that he didn't take it too seriously. Everyone
started singing along on the last chorus of that song. he started it out
by almost speaking it to the audience, his legs crossed, elbow resting on
the piano and holding up his head as one hand played the opening bit. But
when he got to the 'wEll f*** you TOO!" line, everybody in the audience
started cracking up and really got into it. They realized he wasn't
serious at all. you can always gauge crowd response of an opening band to
how many heads were boppin' along to the music and during and after that
song, EVERYONE was boppin'. He played some more stuff including BowCCL
(incidentally everyone sang along for that one too which was kinda neat).
As a side note, i heard that song today on the radio and besides giving BFF
a very favorable review, the DJ called it A Bottle of Who Could care
Less...which is an interesting take on the title. Brick went over well as a
dreamy ballad kinda song (even though it's anything but). When they did
Underground, Darren got up from his drum kit and before he did the opening
lines, did an accustic Bono-esque chorus of Sunday, bloody Sunday. Let's
see, during Steven's Last Night, Ben got out from his piano to play this
odd Klezmer-type keyboard attached to a flute-mouthpiece, it was very odd.
He also started dancing disco on top of the piano. And of course, in
typical BFF fashion, during their last song (1 Angry Dwarf), Ben hurled his
piano-stool at the piano exciting everyone in the audience. The crowd
seemed to love 'em enough that they wouldn't have minded if Ben had played
another song. I know that's heard through the ears of a jaded fan, but I
seriously thing they totally dug 'em. Even today I ran into someone who
was at the show last night and had never heard of BFF who couldn't stop
raving about them. My only wish is that they had replaced one of their
slow songs with Kate...that was the only song I really wanted to hear that
they didn't play. I'm starting to agree that Ben's voice is a little too
reedy to perform ballads well. The only other notable highlight is that
Robert played a beautiful upright bass on Brick I beleive. All in all, the
show was well worth the investment, even if it was only 40 minutes of
music...I sure hope they come back soon!
Swingfully,
Nathan
PS...sorry this message is so long...guess not everyone wants to read pages
of concert reviews.
"In a world of black and white, murder adds a little color."
--Barry Adamson
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 10:30:15 -0400 (EDT)
From: Yoda90210@aol.com
Subject: Brick Dissection 101
In a message dated 97-04-05 14:18:38 EST, Larry writes:
<< About the "Brick"-abortion link:
How do you interpret that "as weeks went by", the girlfriend is
"not fine" to the point that both parties confess the truth? >>
I was thinking about this, too. This song completely reminds me of the end
of Benny and Joon when the two are running away (both ill--"she's a brick and
i'm drowning slowly...etc.") but she goes into a serious state and they have
to go home...and...i don't know. Whenever i hear the song, i relate it to
that movie, and i don't know why.
Does anyone know anything about the *true* basis of the song?
Also, i suggest shout outs at the Ben Folds Five shows to possibly meet up
with eachother since it seems each one is going to have quite a few people
from this list attending.
lv,
susie.
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 12:02:13 -0400
From: Daniel MacEachern <dmaceach@is2.dal.ca>
Subject: a real fan?
> Subject: Success can be bad for fans...
> #2 ~ hard to call yourself a real fan, because you're grouped with so many
> others.
So what?
Not sure exactly what your Buddhism reference was supposed to mean either,
but I doubt that the middle way has much to do with being halfway between
obscurity and superstardom. But perhaps you might consider Buddhism as a
way to find inner harmony and to worry less about what other people think
of music and whether or not they'll realize that you're a real fan. I was
one of the first people on this mailing list. Does that make me any more
of a fan than the rest of the thousand-plus who are now on here? Of course
not. And nobody's opinion expressed in these digests has changed what I
think of the music. Some of it provokes thought and discussion - like this
recent bit about whether or not it's okay to sing along to lyrics and annoy
people. I never considered that it might be annoying, I'm one of those
frat dinks who likes to sing along. I have a good voice though, I think.
I would argue that it would depend on the band. 54*40 is a band that I
think are meant to sing along with, there's something about screaming "I
love you all" with a bunch of other fans. Other shows, like BFF, this
might not be as appropriate.
Your point about it being harder to get tickets for shows when bands become
big is valid, of course. Having never seen BFF live, that could be a
problem for me. They've been in so many magazines lately, they do seem
poised to break big. But the very fact that they're not very big has made
it IMPOSSIBLE for me to see them, since there's no point in the band coming
up here to play a show for, well, me, and that other guy here who bought
the album (if there is anyone else on the list from Halifax, please speak
up!) Maybe, just maybe, if they do become huge, then perhaps they'll be
able to attract enough fans in smaller markets to make a tour stop
economically feasible in places like, say, Halifax. Then people would get
a chance to see them, albeit in a less intimate setting than a club, when
they might not have had the opportunity to see them at all.
Finally, most artists' music evolves over a period of time anyway, no
matter their record sales. Some bands might prefer to play clubs all their
lives. Fine. But some may get frustrated after years of toiling in
relatively unappreciated obscurity - you think that wouldn't affect their
music? Of course it would. Some might wind up saying "f*** this" and call
it quits.
Whatever happens from here on in, we have two fine albums by this band, and
no amount of record-label clout or flavor-of-the-month status will change
that. It will be interesting to see how the band is affected by wider
exposure. But there's no point worrying about that over which you have no
control.
Daniel
Halifax
PS: to the person who thinks the climax of "The Last Polka" is the best
thing on the album: YESYESYES! I love that part. I would shout out that
part.
bonus geek points: I used the phrase "geek chic" in a review of the new
album for my school paper.
okay. I'll shut up now.
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 17:41:15 +0000
From: Marsh <winkie@easynet.co.uk>
Subject: the hidden track and the Brick debate
Brad very kindly consulted Caleb Southern for us:
> > > p.s. who's voice is that on the 'hidden track'
> >
> > That is Leo, one of their live sound men, at a show in London (I think)
last
> > fall. If you ever see the EPK promo video, that is the same show.
yep, it was at Dingwall's, Camden on November 18th.
anyone been lucky enough to see the video??
a quick word about Brick:
I don't think there's any doubt that the scenario for this song is
"guy takes girlfriend to have an abortion" but that doesn't mean the
song is *about* abortion. The song is about what happens to the
relationship.
chris
___
"There are no rules here, only piles of mistakes
That we swear we'll learn from, then we just go ahead and make"
Dog's Eye View "What I Know Now"
winkie@easynet.co.uk
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 17:04:41 +0100
From: Tom Whitaker <tom@tw.prestel.co.uk>
Subject: The Last Polka
From ARMCHAIR 218
>p.s. does anyone else think that the most powerful part of the first cd is
>during "the last polka" when ben belts out "but baby i was doing fine how
>do you think that i survived the other 25 before you?" oh well. this
post
>is too long.
YES YES YES! But you forgot the bit just after ("sha la la...end is growing
near...great instumental bit). Even so, my stereo rarely goes louder than
for that bit, and at a concert it is just AMAZING!
That is all.
TOM WHITAKER.
Hollywood Cental -
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/3139.
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 06 Apr 1997 14:13:17 -0400
From: jeff <yesjeff@blackboard.com>
Subject: Philadelphia club?
What club in Philadelphia are BBF playing at on April 30?
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 15:15:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: HanCran@aol.com
Subject: Smoke
Hello-
The new album is as brilliant as the first and I'm very much looking
forward to the Irving Plaza show. Besides all the obvious great stuff to be
found ("Kate" is one of the all time best pop songs ever) I was wondering if
anyone else is as impressed by the song "Smoke" as I am? I think the imagery
is terrific and it's just a really powerful song.
BFF rules-
Ian from Hannah Cranna
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