THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #638 - November 21, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Friday, November 21 1997 Volume 01 : Number 638
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
I'm back (yay) and the [V] LIVID special
WHFS in DC/Balt/Annapolis
Ben and Jerry
electric factory show on 11-9-97
Clean-Up
the day after...
"Brick" in Los Angeles.. other stuff?
Non-BFF Attitude
Rhapsody
the Lawrence show, Guitar Player mag, Powers of Ten
Missing the War/Parents Who Dig Mix/Light/Zzz Rock
Parents/Light Rock Stations
boots/taping
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 19:28:25 CST
From: "Petra Starke"
Subject: I'm back (yay) and the [V] LIVID special
Hello! Once again fantasmic to be a part of the Armchair again - what
did I miss? :) Just kidding. Thanks Sarah for keeping me posted with the
"best of"s.
Anyway, to get to the point, i recently wrote to Channel V (the MTV
knock off in Australia) about why they did not include BF5 in their tv
special (aired about 2-3 weeks ago), especially seeing as they were on
the promo! I'm sure we were all expecting to see some shots of their set
or an interview with them or something. But all us diehard BF5 fans got
was a faint hint of their no doubt awesome set going on in the
background of the interviews with other bands. After
breaking my neck trying to get someone to tape the special for me I was
near suicidal when the little black rectangle I put into my VCR
yielded nothing in the way of Ben, Robert or Darren. (ESPECIALLY Darren)
:(
So anyway, here's what [V] said:
"Petra
Sorry that you were so disappointed over the Ben Folds Five. We
had every intention of interviewing them, which is why they were
in the promos. But they cancelled our interview with them when
they were in Sydney. Then when we got to Livid, some bands were
playing at the same time as each other, and we could only
interview a certain number of acts - it was inevitable that some
of the acts would miss out. Since Ben Folds and his pals had
been less than co-operative, we decided to give the time to a
band who were keen to appear on [V].
It's a shame, but we can only ever cover a fraction of a
festival like Livid, which has so many acts performing over so
many stages, over a whole day ...
Regards
Susan
Web Site Editor
Channel [V] Australia"
So there you have it. Does anyone know more about why the boys dropped
out? Stung by the aussie tv tail of Midday and Geoff Harvey, perhaps?
And also - what's this about Ben and Kate breaking up? I read someone's
post not too long ago about Ben being on a radio show with some girl
(they seemed to go a long way back - does anyone remember this post?)
and mentioning that he and Kate had separated?
I don't want to be a rumour monger, I know nothing about this! Does
anyone else??
Cheers (and it's good to be back)
Petra
______________________________________________________
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 05:23:39 -0500 (EST)
From: Marc Barinbaum
Subject: WHFS in DC/Balt/Annapolis
I finally heard a BFF song on WHFS. They actually
played Brick at 10:10am on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Could this be a trend?
Marc
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 09:04:20 -0500
From: stuart@optics.rochester.edu (Howie Stuart)
Subject: Ben and Jerry
I was in the supermarket the other day standing in front of the
ice cream freezer trying to choose a pint of Ben and Jerry's,
when this little ditty came to me:
(sung to the chorus of "Song for the Dumped")
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
You Bitch
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
And don't forget
My New York Super Fudge Chunk, yeah
It's silly, but it works pretty well, doesn't it?
I guess you had to be there.
Howie
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 11:18:20 -0500
From: joel
Subject: electric factory show on 11-9-97
here's the real setlist for anyone who cares...i got a tape of it
yesterday, so this is about as good as it gets. i'll insert small comments
about the silly songs for those who weren't there.
- -missing the war
- -bowccl
- -philosophy
- -mother & child reunion (a paul simon cover)
- -selfless, cold & composed
- -dr pyser -> misirlou (opening song in pulp fiction to those who are
unfamiliar with the song title) -> dr pyser
- -the last polka
- -steven's last night in town
- -fair
- -brick
- -kate
- -jackson cannery
- -kick ass (this one has a long story behind it... some guy at the bar
yelled out "kickass" in a cartman voice [south park]. ben and robert
quieted everyone down and asked him to do it again, then made a song with
"kick ass" as the only lyrics)
- -one angry dwarf
- -best imitation of myself
- -brother robert (robert sang in a gospel voice and was actually VERY good
at it, he sang, got everyone to wave their hands in the air, etc. very cool)
- -smoke
- -julianne
- -underground (with a "brother robert" like part of "now it's been 10 years")
- --encores--
- -she don't use jelly
- -song for the dumped
- --sidenote : sanford and sons is in the second half of the set somewhere, i
didn't write it down, so i forget, but ben played it on his melodica.
hope this helped, hillary, this is for you =)
joel.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 10:05:31 -0600
From: "Erik C. Lyons"
Subject: Clean-Up
Just to clarify an issue floating around the Armchair.
I am sure Frank will back me up on this one: Just because you are not
subscribed to the Armchair does not mean you cannot post to it. In other
words, you have the address, you can write whatever you want. Don't
believe everything you read.
On that note, it is TOTALLY inappropriate to discuss anyone's sexual
preference (especially Ben, Darren or Robert's) in this forum. It is very
important to respect an individual's privacy. So, unless Ben, Robert or
Darren post to this list and want to discuss anything private in their lives
(e.g. sexual preference, marital status), let's keep it clean and BF5 music
related.
And, BTW, the Howard referred to in 'Boxing' is none other than Howard
Hessmann (Dr. Johnny Fever of WKRP fame). Who feels old NOW?!?!
(ASA? you know who you are. . .)
- -Erik
you'll be sorry one day, yes you will, yes you will. . .
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 11:02:19 -0600 (CST)
From: c715454@showme.missouri.edu
Subject: the day after...
hi. this is going to be the craziest letter that anyone ever did see. i
can almost promise you that (well, except for maybe the crack smoking
post). anyway, got back last night at 3 from the lawrence concert. (yes,
emily, i'm alive). and let me tell you...this was the best concert ever.
from what i've heard from everyone else's experiences, i think that i
would be right to say that this was their best concert anywhere, at
anytime. let me see...i'm just gonna talk about their improv work. their
first improv came when ben asked robert if he had anything to say right
then and robert went into a story about how he had heard that lawrence and
chapel hill were sister cities because of a mutual basketball something.
then he said that danny manning lived four blocks away from him when he
was growing up. so ben starts singing a song about danny manning and how
he used to be my neighbor and he would borrow sugar and milk. it was
funny. and i think the next improv would have to have been when robert was
talking about how he loves kansas so much because that's where the song
"carry on my wayward son" was written, so of course they sang it...then
they sang a song about "raisin' the motherf**kin' roof" which was awesome.
all in all, a very spontaneous show. they even sang emaline when someone
asked for it. and i got pictures! and can i just say that i met this guy
from the armchair...his name is justin....and he is just the best person
in the world (did i also mention that he taped the show?) i love you
justin! that's all. by the way, my friend that went with me skipped out on
a math test to go to the show, so she told her teacher that her grandma
died. now the teacher wants an obituary with her grandmother's name in it
by monday...anyone got any brilliant ideas? sorry for the long post...i
could've made it even longer, but that would just be boring for you guys.
- -bess
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 10:24:01 -0500 (EST)
From: GenLand18@aol.com
Subject: "Brick" in Los Angeles.. other stuff?
I guess "Third times a charm," I suppose. Los Angeles radio (AKA "KROQ") has
really taken to BFF's "Brick." It's getting heavy airplay... I haven't
checked their little countdown of the day at 9 p.m., so I'm not sure how
popular it really is. I've heard MTV's been playing the heck out of that
video. Even someone I know finally got around to purchasing Whatever and
Ever, Amen. Woo!
Oh yeah.. and for those L.A. people... the El Rey show on Sunday, Nov. 30th
is now officially sold out. I don't think the Club Caprice one down in
Redondo Beach will sell out quite as fast, as it's primarily 18 and over...
but who knows...
So... I'm already not too impressed with Travis (after seeing a rather sleepy
music video by them on Are-Oh-Vee a week or so ago). How's Old Pike as a
opening band, though?
Latest Music Acquisitions:
Save Ferris -- Come on Eileen (single)
Various Artists -- Lounge-A-Palooza Compilation
Seeing Ben Folds Five on Nov. 30th (El Rey, baby! Ha, ha!)
Asian Dork Princess,
**Leslie** (the Librarian)
{E-mail me for a copy of the Nerf Herder FAQ (last updated 11/15), soon to be
on the Official NH site at http:/
/coincide.com/nerfherder sometime this century}
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 07:36:13 -0800
From: "Kamp, Marcus S"
Subject: Non-BFF Attitude
>> i am very tired of seeing the same old shit on the armchairs. i've
been on it since march, and since then, about 50 people have asked about
the gershwin part in philosophy. it keeps getting asked, too, but
people, just get a fucking clue! read the damn things!! it's not that
difficult, and most of the time, they're not loaded down with repetitive
questions from dumbasses. as i said, please read them, you'll learn
more!
>>sorry for my rant, but it had to be said.
No, it really didn't. Most of these repeat questions come from
newbies-whom we should welcome w/open arms. Don't piss off new Ben
fans, or anyone else, by trying to limit what they can ask. Instead,
take a downer, and click on the little "page down" arrow @ the side of
your email window to skip over posts you don't find worthy. Please
relax, you'll breathe more!
I'm sorry for your rant, too. Listen to either BFF disc for mental
health before you go off on another one!
MSK
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 07:30:10 -0800
From: "Kamp, Marcus S"
Subject: Rhapsody
>>. "Rhapsody In Blue" is classical. Tin Pan Alley songs have words and
were meant to be sung in little speakeasies during the prohibition. They
were generally not from Broadway shows, "Rhapsody" was written for
concert performance by a classically-trained musician.
Actually, "Rhapsody in Blue" was 1st commissioned from Gershwin by the
Paul Whiteman Orchestra-a '20s combination of a swing band + an
orchestra. Whiteman wanted an "American Symphony". Gershwin put it off
literally until the last minute + was still writing/arranging many of
the parts @ the final dress rehearsal. Rhapsody is basically a blues
tune (thus the title). It was hardly composed in the classical
tradition, although most classical aficionados overlook that. Gershwin
did consider himself a classical composer but as with other great
American composers during the Jazz age, like Scott Joplin, their
international contemporaries did not agree. History has borne them out
(as it will for Ben:-)).
MSK
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 11:55:07 -0600 (CST)
From: SCHUTTE
Subject: the Lawrence show, Guitar Player mag, Powers of Ten
Hey everyone!
Oh my God. That's all I can say! Last night's Lawrence concert was the
best that I have ever been to. It was wonderful. I could go on and on
about how great it was, but I won't because this would be a longass post
if I did.
The day started with me getting there at 3pm. I went with 2 other
friends, and we got there first. I am really glad we got there so early
because we got to see Ben. He was walking around, and we saw him and
said, "Hi". We also had our pictures taken with him. We talked to him
for a couple of minutes, and he asked us where he could get "Guitar
Player" magazine. I wonder if he's read the posts on here and knows about
his picture (speaking of the gay thing in the magazine...chill out
everyone...he's not gay...he's married, for God's sake. I have enough
respect for him that I think he would keep his marriage vows!). Anyway,
it was cool to talk to him.
A little bit later, the whole band came out and were leaving to go to a
radio station, and they said, "Hi". Then, a little bit later, Robert came
out and went to Bagel and Bagel next store to get coffee. There, I
approached him, and asked him about Brick. It turns out I was right! The
POWERS OF TEN video was inspiration for the background pictures! Whoohoo!
Then, the show. After waiting outside for 4 hours, I was the first to get
in. I got prime spot by the stage. Old Pike was okay, but Travis rocked.
To all of you who say they suck...you're crazy! They rocked the house!
They were so energetic and fun! The lead singer also had a sexy Scottish
accent. I can now be called a Travis fan.
Then, they came on. Oh my gosh, they were wonderful. They were sosososo
energetic. I was standing right in front of Ben. He was 2 ft. away from
me. They played a great set. There was a whole bunch of impromtu stuff,
like Robert said he used to live by Danny Manning who used to play bball
for KU (which is in Lawrence and which is where I go to school). So they
came up with a song about Danny being Robert's neighbor. They also did
"Carry on my wayward Star" (i think that's the name). Robert knew the
whole song and Ben added in at some parts. Then they sang a song about
bringing down the roof which then turned in to a kind of bluesy song about
Ben's lady...They also did a song about "Heart" whom Ben and Robert saw
when they were little.
The rest of the set in no particular order:
Battle, Philosophy, Underground, Uncle Walter, Emaline, Missing the War,
Smoke, Selfless, Jackson Cannery, Last Polka, Julianne, Dumped, Kate,
Steven, encore: Dumped, Jelly.
Afterwords, we stayed after, and Robert came out and signed autographs,
and I got a picture with him, too. We couldn't find Ben and Darren, so
that sucked. But I did get a drumstick, so that made up for it. They
also said the love Lawrence, so they'll be shopping here today...maybe
I'll see them....who knows.
Well, sorry about the extremely long post...last night was just so
wonderful, and I just had to share my thoughts. By the way, it was nice
to meet you Bess, Justin, and Jeff.
Thanks again,
emily
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 13:12:01 -0500 (EST)
From: Patrick J McDonough
Subject: Missing the War/Parents Who Dig Mix/Light/Zzz Rock
jess wrote:
- ---------------------------------
"Missing the war" i think is from the guy's point of view. he is "missing
the war" of the dating/singles scene. Here he has a house and a wife/live
in gf but he just wants to party and go out and be single. Once again,
people who would be happier apart.
- ---------------------------------
Funny you say this, and maybe I'm just projecting my own life onto the
lyrics, but I thought it was the other way around. The guy was in a
relationship that wasn't working, it was always an uphill battle to just
go through it day to day, but he loves her and the times when he had
worked to make it right were rewarding, even if it was ugly more than
pretty. He misses the fight for the great moments among the not-so-great,
and the catharsis he achieved when it worked.
The couple still see each other, maybe because they don't have
much else at the time, and he goes home "pissed and beaten" because he
continues to try to get back some of those moments, and he never gets them
(is thus beaten) because she's no longer playing the game by pulling her
weight in the relationship. Having opened his heart a bit in these
attempts, he is pissed for allowing himself to be vulnerable with her.
I can also see Jess's point of view, though the missing the WAR to
me, seems like something more than dating, which seems more gamish,
personally.
My $.02,
Patrick
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 13:15:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Patrick J McDonough
Subject: Parents/Light Rock Stations
Whoops, I forgot to address that point in my last post.
Bad Armchairite!
As for your parents suddenly digging Brick because its on the
radio, if they want a tape, give it to them, but make sure you include
some brash stuff as well (Julianne, Jackson Cannery, maybe even SFTD) to
make sure they understand what Ben Folds Five is about.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
\\ Patrick J. McDonough Email: mcdonpj@wfu.edu \\
\\ WFU Admissions Counselor Phone: (910)758-4929 \\
\\Wake Forest University '97 \\
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 13:59:56 -0500
From: Jessica Brandt
Subject: boots/taping
In response to Alex's post:
::The band is officially against boots. This means that they will NOT allow
you to patch into their soundboard or set up mic stands. You can always
stealth (sneaking in your equipment) the show, but you do that is at your
own risk.::
i thought i read on Frank's page that the band does allow taping. Look at
the FAQ and i'm pretty sure it says they do, in moderation (ie no patches)
jess
"All the boys are monsters;
All the girls are whores.
But when you lose the one you love,
There's always plenty more."
-Squirrel Nut Zippers
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #638
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