THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #347 - June 11, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Wednesday, June 11 1997 Volume 01 : Number 347
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
To those who can't wait until June 13th...
Damsel in Distress
Toronto Show Bootlegs?
BFF on Conan--apologies
ugh
NEW YORK ARMCHAIRSTERS, I NEED YOUR HELP!!!
None
Top 10 albums, of 1997...to narrow it a bit.
New Ben Folds Bootleg Page is Up
another toronto review
Letterman Outro
Comparing to Others
The first of many retorts
Kate singles
The supposed scoop on the Ottawa show
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 01:02:15 -0400
From: Mandel Ilagan <ilagan@husc.harvard.edu>
Subject: To those who can't wait until June 13th...
Hello everybody,
I'm not sure if this was mentioned, BUT according to my local TV guide, the
Ben Folds Five appearance on "The Jenny McCarthy Show" is airing on
Wednesday, June 11th at 10:30 P.M. (Eastern time), NOT the 13th as
previously mentioned on 120 Minutes. I think it's also being re-run on
Sunday too. Also, I was looking at the listings for June 13th, and there
is no mentioned of "The Jenny McCarthy Show" being aired that day.
Hmmm...You'd think the folks at MTV would know when their shows actually
air. Anyhoo, on another topic, I'm off on summer break from college so I
have a lot of free time to make dubs for trades, so if anybody is
interested in trading tapes of Ben Folds Five or even Jellyfish, please
send me an E-mail and I'll get you a list of what I've got. Thanks!
Mandel Ilagan
ilagan@fas.harvard.edu
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~ilagan
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 23:06:09 -0400 (EDT)
From: Punkin12O@aol.com
Subject: Damsel in Distress
Hi all,
This is my first post for the armchair, but I have enjoyed reading everyone
else's posts. Here is my problem...
So I finally find out that BFF is definitely going to be at the Michigan
dates of the HORDE festival. So I call Pine Knob and they are unable to
confirm the date that I kept hearing on the grapevine. Exactly two days
after I called Pine Knob, tickets went on sale, but by the time I found out,
they were sold out. I am crushed. I have never seen BFF in concert and I
was really hoping to make this one.
So I was wondering if anyone has any extra tickets for the July 27 show in
Michigan. I would kill for a pair of lawn tickets. If anyone could help me
out or knows anyone who could, please e mail me. It would be greatly
appreciated, and I would be forever in you debt.
Thanks!
Linnea
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 15:43:55 -0400 (EDT)
From: Detsky <hdetsky@inforamp.net>
Subject: Toronto Show Bootlegs?
If anyone has or knows someone who has a copy of the recent Toronto show
(6/6/97)
please contact me because I'd like to trade for it.
Jay <hdetsky@inforamp.net>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 15:41:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: Detsky <hdetsky@inforamp.net>
Subject: BFF on Conan--apologies
BFF will be on Conan Tuesday, June 10th.
I previously wrote they would be on Wednesday, but when people wrote
back that they heard Tuesday, I rechecked this chart I saw and the other
people were right.
I apologize (the chart was confusing to read).
Jay
Hopefully they'll play something other than BOWCCL
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 23:05:14 -0500
From: excandescent@thenexus.com
Subject: ugh
i sent this before and got it returned to me, so im posting it
again. if it actually got through and y'all are getting this twice, i
apologize.
i DESPERATELY NEED information for the summerstage thingy..which
is on june 25th right? like, how long of a set will BFF play, and is it
sold out yet, directions, etc..basically all the info. if ANYONE can
help me out, PLEASE PLEASE e-mail me.
also, if anyone has been e-mailing me at absenter@thenexus.com,
its not gonna work anymore, so use this address. thanksabunch
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 14:40:58 -0500
From: excandescent@thenexus.com
Subject: NEW YORK ARMCHAIRSTERS, I NEED YOUR HELP!!!
sorry about the caps...but this is important..well..to me
anyway...
about summerstage..i found out it is june 25th (right?) and i was
just thinking, hey ya know, i live sorta close to NYC..and i wouldnt
mind to see BFF again and i've never even BEEN to NYC..so i am thinking
about traveling down there, but i want to know two things: 1. tickets,
are they still on sale or is it sold out? and 2. how long will BFF be
playing for? also, if anyone wants to mail me directions (coming from
the thruway) or anything, please feel free.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 20:59:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: McCarthy83@aol.com
Subject: None
I was just wondering if anyone could tell me what the song Brick is about. I
have listened to it so many times and read the lyrics so many times and I am
just not positive. If anyone knows, please reply. Thanks
- -Lauren
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 1997 16:35:56 EDT
From: john_oc@juno.com
Subject: Top 10 albums, of 1997...to narrow it a bit.
For obvious reasons, Whatever... was left out.
in no order
The Orb - Orbscure Trax
Longpigs - The Sun is Often Out
Summercamp - Pure Juice
GusGus - Polydistortion
Beth Orton - Trailer Park
Nick Cave - The Boatman's Call
Son Volt - Straightaways
Ben Lee - Something To Remember Me By
Junkster - s/t
Guster - Goldfly
That is 10, and obvioulsy several were left out, most notably Sloan.
Also to answer a question...I believe and correct me if I am wrong, that
Ben swares in english on Japanese Song For the Dumped because in Japan it
is illegal to sware on CD's, so he had to do it in English rather than
Japanese.
"Through every breath that I breathe, and every place I go, there is a
hand that protects me." --Nick Cave
Thanks,
John Boyer
WOBN-FM 101.5 the ROCK
Asst. Music Director, Triple A Dir. and Research Dir.
Email: John_OC@juno.com Phone: (614) 823-2969
Westerville, Ohio(Just north of Columbus)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 1997 16:07:08 EDT
From: garit@juno.com (Larry Santiago)
Subject: New Ben Folds Bootleg Page is Up
Hi folks,
My new Ben Folds Five bootleg page is up and running. Go look at it:
http://members.aol.com/GaritRN
Thanks,
Larry
"Blood turns from blue into red 'Cause of oxygen that it's fed.
But I turn back to blue 'Cause I'm losin' you." - Steven Page
=) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =0 =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =)
=) =)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 17:25:08 -0400
From: Valerie Hochschild <unter@on-it.net>
Subject: another toronto review
Hi, Fivers.
I'm another one new to the list but not to the band. I met up with the
Armchair Master Frank on the mailing list for The Pursuit of Happiness,
where Amit (*you* have to get back in David's good graces again? Uh-oh, now
what?) and probably a couple more of you reside. It's no great surprise
there's such a cross-over; both bands have some remarkable songwriting, very
interesting two-part backup vocals, a glorious Todd influence and an
affection for Jellyfish. (btw, for those of you who, like Ben, didn't know
they were still together, refer to The Downward Node -
www2.excite.sfu.ca/jot/tpoh/). Moe Berg also happens to be a fan - didn't
see him at Lee's, tho', probably because he'd started work on a solo album
that day.
I first heard BFF a couple years ago on the CBC, when I caught the last
half of "Underground" and thought, "Wow! What the hell is that? It sounds
like....well, the next great rock musical!" (which eventually turned out to
be "Rent", but hey, that guy died, so now what? :-)) I finally bought the
1st album at a used place on a holiday in Halifax and listened to it the
whole train ride back to Toronto. SIGH. That's when I fell. I drove to
Buffalo to get the second one when the Canadian release date was put off a
week (heh- you guys didn't know that) and *finally* I got to see them for
the first time last Friday (btw, it took me until now to post this because I
visit an internet cafe every week to do my cyber biz cuz I don't have my own
computer).
Lee's was packed, and many luminaries attended ('scuse me while I alienate
the non-Canadians on some of these for a moment): Jay Ferguson of Sloan, at
least two Rheostatics, Kid in the Hall Bruce McDonald, CFNY/CBC goddess Kim
Hughes, and hollering for an encore at the back Laurie Brown: ex-New Music
host, CBC Journal sub-host and person whose gushy BFF review got
"Underground" on the CBC for me to hear that first time. I was in the
middle of the floor where I could just barely see the boys - I was near some
BFF vets, so if you're on, I'm the one who had the sky blue polyester
golfish shirt with the penguin (more on that later) and was fanning herself
madly with what turned out to be copies of the Whatever.. lyrics I made when
I lent the CD to a friend.
The show was absolutely stupifyingly GLOR-I-OUS. I can't get over how
all-get-out entertaining all three of these boys are. God, they can wail.
I could never hope to have that much breath control ever. The energy was
tremendous, although they fired through about the first half of the show
without much stopping. Detsky was hoping someone else would have a set
list, but I'm sorry that ain't me. I'm terrible keeping track and snatching
them after. From Amie's review, it seems the set was close to the Minny show:
>Missing the war,Kate, Battle of who ....,last polka,
>selfless cold and composed, brick,steven,smoke,pretty people,philosophy
>the theme from Dr Pyser, Emaline, Fair, Uncle Walter, Dwarf, underground
except there wasn't any Uncle Walter I can recall. As well, I can't
identify the non-album songs: there was an instrumental and one with words,
so sort that out amongst yourselves. The sound was great, I think, and they
seemed to rush through a lot, but that was all right. Ben up front with the
hooter thing on "Steven" seemed a little messy (Darren and Rob sang the
chorus while Ben tried to make like the Klezmatics); he did better on
"Smoke", where he seemed to be singing, plucking piano strings and hootering
all at once. Whew. Yes, the Skynyrd was in there, which was very cute,
that hilarious Iron Maiden Arena thing (I don't know how Ben could go on
singing after that - yowch!) and that Snoop business was pretty swell. I
was slightly bummed when out of my haze of wonder I realised they didn't do
"Alice Childress", but the rest of my favest faves were there:
"Missing..".(odd, I thought, to start a show like that - especially when he
stopped after the first three chords because there was a big low buzzing in
the speakers - but it turned out fine), "Selfless.." and "Best Imitation..".
Which reminds me....
> The encore was Best Imitation of Myself followed by Song for the
>Dumped. Halfway through Song for the Dumped they stopped and Rob started
>singing this old 80's song, Sheri or something (I've heard the song before
>but I don't know it's real name).
Well, Robby-Rob started with "Don't Cry Out Loud" (from that classic
film Ice Castles), then went to "All By Myself" and finished off with "this
old '80's song" - Steve Perry's "Oh Sherrie"! (you shoulda been GO-ONE!
Knooow-in how I made ya feel You'd be better off a-LO-ONE!...) That was my
absolute number one highlight of the night! Another great moment was when
Ben was atop the piano and there were a couple people on the stairs to a
sound room, a couple feet above his right shoulder. I think one of them was
the lead singer in September 69, but I couldn't see her completely. He
tossed the mike up to her, she said "yeah", tossed it down before Ben was
ready and it landed with a mightly thump on the floor. Gorgeous. There were
also a few small snarky references to Steve Mahlkmus (sic) of Pavement you'd
understand better then me, but were still amusing.
Later, I hung around to say hi, something I'm usually shy about, but
Frank encouraged me to do so cuz they're such lovely people. And they are,
of course. (yes, Frank, I mentioned you to all of them; they didn't freak
out, but were very pleased and say you're a great guy.) Rob came up to me
first, though, saying how much he loved my shirt and wanted it because he
collects such things. Sorry, dear. (dag, maybe I coulda traded for a tour
shirt. Oh, well...) When I came up to Ben, he was signing and looking
through the article in Q magazine some folks had brought him - he then
proceeded to doodle new facial hair and costumes for Bono and The Edge on
the cover. We then chatted more than I'd anticipated about not much in
particular and eventually dirfted apart. I hope he was able to help out
that Jason guy from the University of Buffalo radio station who was trying
to get an interview that had been earlier snafu'd, cuz he was a good guy for
talking radio with me - I'm also a radio person - and telling me he did know
that the Pursuits hadn't broken up. Anyway, all three guys were nothing but
charming, and might I add most of the promo photography of them is awful.
(ouch - another one of those wrist-spraining backhanded compliments.)
I'm sorry this was so long, gang, but I had that introductory crap to
do. Any following posts will be substantiallly shorter (Frank and Amit are
laughing at that now - hey! I mean it!). And at least I'm not throwing in
a Top 10 :-) In fact, so active are you people I'll probably have to
unsubscribe because I get my e-mail on my lil' disk and I can't fit a week's
worth of you on there! But I will keep track on the archive link (which is
a brilliant idea, Frank. Thanks so much for that!), and will keep an eye on
y'all cracking on me for how long this was and more of your usual fabulousness.
Now I'm off to the List Slaves to say how great this was and other stuff,
so I'll see some of y'all on that side. The rest of you, take good care.
To the boys (Ben, Rob and Darren) take very good care, come back soon,
thanks for suffering me gadly and enjoy your wonderful world.
Peace,
Valerie
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 00:05:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: Megrooonie@aol.com
Subject: Letterman Outro
I was just watching Letterman to see my other obsession, DMB, and Paul et al
played an outro of our boys!! It was Battle of course, but I just thought I'd
share.
Megs :~)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 15:57:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: Alanica@aol.com
Subject: Comparing to Others
Hello to All
For all the people out there andf or the controversy of how to descibe BFF, I
decided to post what Rolling Stone and CMJ had to say about them , I agree
with George about how you can't really compare them with others b/c they have
their own style, but also everything has been done. I think it just comes
down to what it's mixed with and what's added or subtracted to create
oriniality. CMJ says, " BEN FOLD'S FIVE refers to its sound as "Punk rock for
sissies." Rollong Stone described them as
"Squeeze meets Queen." Both of these issues are from about 2 years ago, and
they have both since then had more to say. I don't nessicarry agree with
trying to find someone to compare them to because I think the best way is to
just hand someone the album. ( By the way whoever said this first- BRavo, and
about the Peanut's guy too : ) ) I think, however, there is no way to stop
it b/c it's just a way to let the uninformed have an idea of what they are
like.
Take Care,
Becca
" OH! but I send my best, cause God knows you've seen my worst
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 07:51:38 -0400
From: "Faix, Andrew" <AFaix@harris.com>
Subject: The first of many retorts
Hello all,
I'm writing, as I'm sure many other's of you will be, to respond to
Brian Snead's comments in Armchair #344.
First of all, if you auto-delete all of your armchair mail, how do you
know the latest fad is posting your top ten fave's? (I've resisted
posting mine thus far).
Second, who cares whether or not you enjoy reading the posts. Isn't
that what mailing lists are for anyway? If you don't read the things
while continually receiving them three times a day, it's a testament to
your lack of mental capabilities.
Third, and I may be going out on a limb for this one, I really don't
think the Ben Folds Five give a rat's ass whether or not you belong to a
mailing list.
As far as you showing up to my house for "beatings", be my guest. My
home e-mail address is dfnajf85@worldnet.att.net.
Anyway do us all a favor and eliminate yourself from the list.
Unsubscribe and keep your sophomoric posts to yourself. Save that kinda
shit for when you call into the Stern show. I'm sure the insults would
be better received there.
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.
- -Andrew (afaix@harris.com)
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 08:35:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: Alexander Jay Timin <ajtimin@freenet.tlh.fl.us>
Subject: Kate singles
I'd like to get both the KATE cd singles. If anyone in the UK (that's
where they were released, right?) can help, please email me privately
Thanks,
Alex
ajtimin@freenet.tlh.fl.us
I have stuff to trade by the following:
Live
The Posies
The Grays
Jason Falkner
Jellyfish
Big Star
The Caulfields
Counting Crows
Our Lady Peace
Dave Matthews Band
Tori Amos
Ben Folds 5
Smashing Pumpkins
more on the way! email me for trading!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 09:37:55 -0400
From: Philip Conliffe <pconliffe@opinionsearch.com>
Subject: The supposed scoop on the Ottawa show
Granted I didn't drive two hours like that guy from Kingston, but I also was
sorely disappointed to find a cheesy hand-written "Show Cancelled" sign with
no explanation on the door at Barrymore's in Ottawa on Sunday (June 8). I
dropped by the club Monday to get a refund on my tickets and was told that
when the guys arrived in Ottawa from Montreal two of them were sick as dogs.
Apparently they suspect food poisoning. I'm still kind of suspicious. Can
anyone else confirm this is what actually happened?
It's particularly irritating for me because I had bought tickets for the
Toronto show before I knew they were coming here, then decided to see them
here when the Ottawa show was announced and gave my Toronto tickets away.
Now everybody says the Toronto show was great. I have to see this band!!!
Philip Conliffe
Consultant
Opinion Search Incorporated
Tel:(613)230-9109 Fax:(613)230-3793
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #347
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