THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #646 - November 25, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Tuesday, November 25 1997 Volume 01 : Number 646
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
BFF's big break
setlists
Pix at shows
??
the second most amazing experience of my life
[none]
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #645
Sellouts?
various stuffs.
New fan
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #640
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #643
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #645
RE: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #636
JOYGASM!!!!!!!!!!
Post some sh*t that I got...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 21:18:57 EST
From: mystry1616@juno.com (C M)
Subject: BFF's big break
Wow!!!! This is sooooooo cool. I'm listening to the radio, and they're
playing a special program where they play a bunch of stuff they don't
normally play. Well, anyways, they always have to give a little
description of the song before they play it, and tonight, I hear....
"blah blah blah, up next we have a pretty cool band that has a good
chance of making it big, so watch out for them in the future. Taking
their inspiration from this band, I like to decribe it as very "Ben Folds
Five-esque", it's Lust with Backworlds..." I just thought that was
sooooo cool. BFF is actually being used to describe other bands instead
of always being the ones compared... and even cooler... They were the
inspiration!!
Oh, complete and utter happiness for the guys... I'll let ya'll go now.
Bye!!!
Christy
"Hand me my nose ring, show me the mosh pit.... "
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 21:00:50 -0500 (EST)
From: Curt587621@aol.com
Subject: setlists
can anyone tell me the setlist for philly...i went to the show and i forget
some of the order...or tell me a site that has updated setlists...thanks
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 21:06:02 -0500
From: Carrie Shanafelt
Subject: Pix at shows
>what is ben folds five's policy on picture taking at shows? or rather,
>will i be able to get away with taking one or two flash pictures at a
>show?
I, being the eternal retard, took a few flash pix at the show in Lawrence
last March (?) and got in a wee bitty trouble. (I'm not really mean, I'm
just an imbecile and forgot the flash was on.) At the time, I thought the
security people were pissed 'cause it annoys the band while they're
playing, which might be rather true, but found out later the guards
themselves tend to be pretty snotty about it, no matter what the band
thinks. So if you do try, I would suggest *between* songs, not in anyone's
face, and where a guard can't see you.
Carrie
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 10:04:55 -0800
From: gabsey@juno.com (Gabrielle Marie Foundoukis)
Subject: ??
I agree with Jordon about Brick being overplayed. I
have heard it 10,000,000,000,000 times on the radio. But that is the only
song i hear. Sometimes Undergroud, but that is it and that makes me sad
!! :'(!! lol
Oh well,
My $0.02
Gabs
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AtTeNtIoN aLl PeOpLeS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
DuDe MaN...
LiFe WoUlDn'T bE nOrMaL wItHoUt WeIrD, fUnKy, KiNkY aNd
AbNoRmAl PeOpLe!!!
-WaNdA LeE
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 21:37:23 -0600
From: Allison L Aley
Subject: the second most amazing experience of my life
last night i went to see the boys for the first time, in austin at la zona
rosa. it was wonderful. i am still in awe.
my friend ryan (who i convinced that he wanted to go and who ended up
loving the show just about as much as i did) and i arrived at LZR very
early and got a great spot in line, then decided that we needed to kill
time before the show, so we broke out the uno cards. then they made us move
so we put them away and waited like everyone else for what seemed like
forever. then we got inside, ran up to the middle part of stage left (which
for nontheatre people is the audiences right) and claimed our spot in the
front row. we purchased our shirts (i got the kiss my ass one for my
boyfriend and the little white girly one for myself) and then played uno
again. i killed ryan in every game, which to me seemed to be an omen of the
night to come.
finally old pike came out, which is a band from indiana. they were actually
really good, though they didnt have the stage presence thing going very
well. but the music was great. travis was good too, but they were just too
loud. stage presence was great, they were hilarious, and the music would
have been wonderful had i been able to hear it over the guitar. but i think
that micht have had something to do with where i was standing. but overall
they were good.
then, after waiting what seemed like a second forever of the night, the
boys finally came on and took their places. ben looked lovely in his
mustard shirt and brick corduroys, as did darren in his blue shirt and
jeans, and rob in a brownish teeshirt and brown corduroys. rob was right in
front of me, as i put it later in the night, "had rob been wearing a skirt
i would have been looking up it."
setlist (as well as i can remember, because though i got a list they didnt
really follow all of it):
Theme from Dr Pyser
Battle of Who Could Care Less
Philosophy
Selfless, Cold, and Composed
Missing the War
Last Polka
Steven's Last Night in Town
Fair
Brick
Kate
Jackson Cannery
One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
a really long classic rock medley, including ben's own rendition of Sweet
Home Alabama, where he made up his own words about Texas and stuff, and
they were trying to take requests from the audience because they couldnt
think of anything else to play but that (obviously) didnt work well
Smoke
Julianne
Underground
Encore:
She Don't Use Jelly
Song for the Dumped
somewhere in there they had rob sing "oh sherrie" that cheesy 80s song, it
was beautiful, and during underground he did the disco diva thing, saying
that because darren isnt gay that he will have to fulfill his second
biggest dream and become a disco queen, it was so wonderful. during stevens
last night in town ben sang "he's fucked everyone here except tamara
easter" rather than the usual "charmed," which made me giggle.
everything about that show was so wonderful, i wish there were words to
describe to everyone how great it was, especially being my first bff show
and all.
after the show i fought the crowd in the front room to meet the guys, i
gave rob the stickers i got from my taco cabana kids meal and he kinda
looked at me like i was crazy but smiled and put them in his back pocket,
and i gave ben this beautiful lighter that i painted myself, it was my
favorite one (not that he needs a lighter but it was a sentimental thing i
guess and it really says a lot about me in a metaphorical sense) on one
side it has these cute little flowers and on the other side it says fuck
you. he really seemed to like it, and he was like "hmm ive never gotten a
lighter before!" so at least it was original. i felt really bad about not
having anything left for darren though, becuse that was all i had. but i
got him to sign the setlist that i took from robert, along with all the
other guys, and they signed my ticket stub so that i could give that to
chuck, my boyfriend.
so i guess in other words, last night was a very very wonderful experience
for me, one of the most amazing things in the world. my life is now
complete. now i just want to see them again.
ok i know this is a really long post so i will end this right now.
love
alli
"go ahead you can laugh all you want, ive got my philosophy..."
ben folds five
"But you see, I cannot wear shoes, because when I wear shoes it makes me
fall down."
- -Agador/Spartacus in The Birdcage, the bestest movie in the whole world!!!
"I made you short?" -Armand Goldman in the Birdcage, still the bestest
movie in the world
"It looks like young boys...playing leapfrog..." Mrs. Keeley in the
Birdcage
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 19:34:06 PST
From: "Flying Nun"
Subject: [none]
Hello all you touchy people out there, and all the not-so-touchy...
Annie (i think it was Annie), your post made my day.
but i digress...
Who brought it up? I can't remember. but it was about getting lessons
off Ben.
I'd want to learn Best Imitation. I dunno, there's something about that
chord progression that blows me away, never heard anything like it, does
anyone else think that? but just to go one step further, I'd want
Darren to teach me the drums for Dumped, and Robert the bass for Dumped
as well. anyway, you probably didn't need to know that, but hell,
there's plenty we don't need to know, and everyone's getting so upset
over anything being said. cheer up people, and FRANK MAYNARD I LOVE YOU
for giving us the armchair. Bless yer dear heart.
Que
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 14:52:09 +1100
From: Dmitri Colebatch
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #645
Hey armchairites,
Re selling gifts, I haven't been reading much lately, so excuse me if
someone has already said this, but... If the song is about going through
with an abortion, then perhaps the gifts are for the child, eg baby clothes
etc., and so after the abortion will not be needed. This is only a guess,
but thought I'd put my two bob in. At first I was with the didn't have
enough money reason, but having thought about it I thought this could be an
alternative.
dim.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 00:25:52 -0500
From: john_oc@juno.com
Subject: Sellouts?
The question was raised whether or not Ben Folds Five would get too big.
I think for an answer to that question, you have to ask the band.
I spent many a years of my jaded youth hoping bands wouldn't be big
because they were 'my band'. I realized one morning that that logic is
severely jaded. Why do we hate it when bands get big? Because people
you don't like, like the band. As annoying as this may get, you have to
remember who matters. It is the band that matters. The way I see it, as
long as the band is accomplishing their goals, having fun, and doing what
they want to do, there is no harm in whatever comes of it.
I hope that Ben, Robert and Darren continue to have fun and make music
that makes them happy in whatever they do. That is all that matters, and
should matter. So before you judge a sellout, first find out what the
band wants, then define 'sellout'. To me a 'sellout' means a band
compromised their goals for goals forced upon them by an outside source,
whether that be a record company, the public, or money.
Good Luck Guys!!!
I hope know one takes this the wrong way.
Zaireeka!
John Boyer
WOBN-FM 101.5 the ROCK Columbus, Ohio
Asst. Music Director, Triple A Dir. and Research Dir.
Email: John_OC@juno.com Phone: (614) 823-2969
"Call it what you want, you'll never fool anyone with what you've got."
- --Luxury
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 00:55:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Tidal Wave
Subject: various stuffs.
uum....that whole "if ben gave you a private piano lesson" etc
thread is a damn good one. much better than the whole "BEN IS GAY!" thing
(ben-gay, ha-ha). of course that one was only a joke but
still...anyways...oh MY..there are SO many songs to choose from...just
ONE? damn ;) i would probably ask good ol ben to teach me "philosophy"
or maybe emaline or something...hell, i dunno ;)
i STILL haven't heard brick on the radio. i guess it's getting
out, because i learned the intro on piano ;) and i was in a play at my old
high school this weekend and there was pianos EVERYWHERE (including a huge
baldwin) and so i kept on playing it. since i got into bff i have been
DYING to learn piano (i only know bass) and so it irks the hell out of me
that that is the only thing i know how to play on piano...anyways...people
kept coming up to me, saying "that's ben folds five right?" well, i must
be really sheltered or somthing because i KNOW they're playing it on the
radio here (albany), but i have yet to hear it...hmm.
And now, some things to ponder:
"It's unpleasantly like being drunk."
"What's so unpleasant about being drunk?"
"You ask a glass of water."
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 02:11:00 -0500 (EST)
From: HiGeary@aol.com
Subject: New fan
Hi there, I just discovered Ben Folds Five when I saw them on Sessions as I
was channel surfing one night. Anyway I immediately loved this band and
joined this list for more information. I have two simple questions (sorry
for any long time listees this may annoy). First, where (on Long Island or
in NYC) can I get a hold of the first CD? I can't seem to find it anywhere
and want to get it ASAP. Second, how can I get a copy of a video of the
sessions perfomance? One last thing, is there any chance they will get back
to NYC soon? I'm very depressed that I found out about them 2 weeks after
their show here. Thanks!
Rachael
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 01:36:38 PST
From: "Courtney Knopf"
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #640
>
>Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 00:56:42 PST
>From: "Flying Nun"
>Subject: [none]
>
>WELCOME BACK PETRA
>
>Courtney, you are worthy of beatification.
Thanks:) The same goes for you after the whole Russell Crowe thing. All
hail goddess Que!
And that's all I've got to say about that.
~Courtney
The Sultraness of Swing (who's happy wither own schtick;)
______________________________________________________
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 02:08:47 PST
From: "Courtney Knopf"
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #643
>Subject: break-up bands
Since Brant decided to follow up on the good break up bands thread...
Frank Sinatra is the man. There's this famous quote of his: "A broken
heart takes time. I understand, however, that playing my albums can
help." What a badass he is. And to think thatwe share the same birthday.
(If you dig the chairman, you should check ou the book "The Way You Wear
Your Hat." - It's a cool book that's got stories, and other cool stuff
about him and the Rat Pack in it.)
>P.S. Michigan's going to the ROSE BOWL, BABY!!!!!
>JOYGASM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
Why the hell does USC's football team have to suck so bad under
pressure? so again, we are shut out of the rose bowl. too bad.
Oh hey since I know a lot of you like Counting Crows (not me, but
whatever) i went to see "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (which
kicked ass!) on friday night at Mann's chinese theatre and who did I see
there but Adam Duritz. It was kinday funny 'cause he hung out with his
entourage in front of th theatre for about 10 min. before the movie and
for a while afterwards. I think he wanted people to notice him or
something.
~Courtney
The Sultraness of Swing
P.S. Hey Brant, what's this I hear about ZBT's formal? Someting about a
cruise? Sounds interesting. Wanna set me up?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 00:47:59 +1300
From: "Krista Toupin O'Reilly"
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #645
matthew wrote:
> did you guys hear that robert is a transexual pothead with a weird fetish for
> penguins?
>
>
Penguins, huh... Well, that works out nicely... I have renewed hope that we'll be
getting a visit from bff here in New Zealand...we've got lots of penguins here...
Yep. Good news indeed.
:)
krista
- --
When we stop growing, we start dying.
-William S. Burroughs
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 7:53:28 -0500
From: HROGERS@newbedford.k12.ma.us
Subject: RE: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #636
please unsubscribe me from mailings
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 09:02:30 -0500 (EST)
From: Eric Patton
Subject: JOYGASM!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, BrerL@aol.com (sorry, I didn't catch your real name) has
made a motion for me to stop with the joygasm stuff already. Truth is, I'm
getting a bit tired of it myself. So, I hearby relinquish all rights to
the joke. If someone else wants to pick it up, fine, but you've gotten the
last joygasm out of me. "I just gave you sweet lovin' five minutes ago!
You tryin' to kill me?!" -Chef, from South Park
ERIC
_______________________________________________________________________________
"Advice of the day: Never play cards with a witch!"
-EBP
_______________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 09:05:17 -0500
From: Anne Lyons
Subject: Post some sh*t that I got...
***WARNING: LONG POST TO FOLLOW!!!***
(Hey, what can I say... I'm particularly verbose today!)
Hello the 'Chair!
Someone wrote a short while ago:
>Do somebody have something for the new album??? Will there be naked
>baby photos on it??? That would be cool... NOT!!!
Actually -- those of you who have been on the 'Chair for a while may or may
not remember this (as I may be hallucinating) -- wasn't there a call for
pictures that fans took at shows at the end of spring/beginning of the
summer? And wasn't the deal that if your pictures were used, you would get
credit on the next album? Well... call me Kooky, but I would think that
this would mean that these pictures that die-hard fans sent in may be part
of the cover art for the album (I think it would make sense... since those
*are* the naked baby pictures of BFF, so to speak... you know, pics from
the infancy of the group and all). Of course, I may have dreamed all of
this... in which case -- Never mind!
***
GrnEgNham@aol.com wrote:
>Wouldn't it be great if we could get a Ben Folds Five video "popped"?
I agree! I think it *would* be fun & interesting... especially since Pop-up
videos are the best thing to hit music videos since MTV (and yes... I
watched MTV at it's very inception... yep, I *am* ancient as a matter of
fact.)
***
And, Marcus.Kamp@PSS.Boeing.com wrote:
>1st of all, Erik Lyons-Howard Hesseman? What in Sam Hell are you
>talkin' about, man? What does boxing (the sport or the song) have to do
>w/Johnny Fever? I think the Muhammed Ali/Howard Cosell explanation is a
>wee bit more connected.
Ummmmmmmm... actually, it's a little known fact that Howard Hesseman was a
boxer before he became an actor... he boxed under the alias "Dr. Johnny
Fever" (the name that the WKRP writers later used...). Howard boxed Ali
when he was still known as Cassius Clay... in fact, Ali has said in
interviews that Hesseman was his greatest opponent, "even though he was a
skinny little guy with no boxing talent whatsoever" (that's a direct
quote). Ben (and Erik L. and myself) knew of this apparent mismatch...
hence the song. But there is a faction out there (much like the Abortion
vs. AIDS controversy over Brick) that asserts that Boxing is actually about
Howard the Duck and his trials and tribulations on earth.
And all I can say is -- if you don't get it now... you never will.
***
Jessica237@aol.com wrote:
>hey guys! i am in DIRE NEED of some totally serious help. i know i already
>asked you guys for help with this, but now i have specific instructions for
>it. my senior quote is due in for the yearbook super soon. it can only be 25
>words...and i am definitely, no matter what, going to use a ben folds five
>quote. my huge problem being, WHAT QUOTE SHOULD I USE??
Now, those of us who were on the 'Chair in September or so may remember
Jessica237's original post, and I distinctly remember some kind soul who
posted back a very nice note that basically said "Ummmmmm... how can WE
choose YOUR senior quote?" And I agree with those sentiments.
I also respectfully submit the two previous posts to the "You're makin' me
feel old" thread that we have going on here on the 'Chair.
***
Finally, Paul.Leung@virgin.net wrote (regarding my "Fiveworld" post):
>- -Annie-what colour spandex shorts?
Actually, I heard that the boys got into a bit of a tiff on the subject, as
Darren voted for hot pink, Ben was partial to turquoise, and Robert said he
looked bilious in everything but neon green. I think they finally ended up
going with basic black.
TTFN! Take care all!
- -Anne
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #646
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