THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #750 - January 13, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Tuesday, January 13 1998 Volume 01 : Number 750
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
PLEASE GIVE ME INFO>>>
SNL--rehearsal
Boston Phoenix review clarification
BF5 and SNL
AREN'T I LUCKY
The Upright Piano, and only one song, on SNL
Naked, cold and content!
HELP TORONTO
SNL
video killed the radio star
Entertainment Weekly Review
opening bands, etc....
Alternative Press and SNL
Clutch Cargo's ticket information
Norfolk, VA venue
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #745
Ben Folds Five, NBP and SNL
newbies
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 12:33:58 EST
From: DMB 44 <DMB44@aol.com>
Subject: PLEASE GIVE ME INFO>>>
Could somebody please tell me when tixx go onsale for the show at Hammerstein
Ballroom in nyc on Feb 20th...e-mail me directly..respond on the
list...whatever, but I need info..thanx...
- -matt
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 98 13:00:49 EST
From: "Jennifer Stombaugh" <jstombaugh@mail.upj.pitt.edu>
Subject: SNL--rehearsal
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to let everyone know that BFF actually did play two songs for the
dress rehearsal of SNL. I was trying to get tickets for the real show, but to
my dismay, only got into the rehearsal. Anyway I'm really glad now because I
got to hear Dwarf and Brick. I guess the people at SNL decided to cut their
song rather than get rid of some of the lame skits. I was pretty disappointed
when I watched my tape of SNL and realized they only played Brick.
Jennifer I
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 98 13:01:12 EST
From: "Emily Durand" <edurand@nunet.neu.edu>
Subject: Boston Phoenix review clarification
Perhaps Josh is right, that I misrepresented the tone of the still-crappy
review of NBP in the Boston Phoenix. THe reviewer dude did note that Ben "is
good at what he does." What I resent about this particular mode of review is
not only its patronizing way of connoting that the reviewer exists on some
kind of higher aesthetic plane than a) the band and b) we poor philistines
who need to read record reviews to help make our musical purchases, but also
its humorless and unwinnable approach to evaluating popular music, e.g. the
guy makes much of the fact that BF5 is not breaking new ground, as if the
point of music is to continually reinvent the wheel rather than take existing
forms to a new level, which is what I think Ben does best. That said, what I
really want to know is, if this reviewer thinks NBP fails to thrill, will he
give me his review copy for free?
Em
"You make me make a phony phone call
to Edward Rooney?!" --- C. Frye
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 12:42:51 -0600
From: "Johnson, Sarah Ann" <sarah.a.johnson@vanderbilt.edu>
Subject: BF5 and SNL
- --- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 08:53:26 +0000
From: "Johnson, Sarah Ann" <sarah.a.johnson@vanderbilt.edu>
Subject: BF5 and SNL
Sender: johnsosa@vanderbilt.edu
To: armchair@maillist
Reply-To: sarah.a.johnson@vanderbilt.edu
Message-ID: <SIMEON.9801120826.A@muahost.vanderbilt.edu>
Well, time for another rookie post. I was extremely disappointed with
the SNL performance. (and let me tell you, I had a bad Saturday night
to begin with) That was not cool that they only played one song. Last
time I watched SNL, I sat through TWO songs by a band I have no desire
to hear again. And was anybody else pissed when Sammy L. said "the Ben
Folds Five"? Not even a capital T "The". Oh well. I still love BF5.
Just to tell you guys what a battle I am having here in Nashvegas. I
went by Blockbuster last night and the clerk didn't even know NBP was
coming out this week. When will people learn?
Have a great day!
Sarah J.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson, Sarah Ann
Vanderbilt University
Email: sarah.a.johnson@Vanderbilt.Edu
"The cruelest lies are often told..."
- --- End Forwarded Message ---
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson, Sarah Ann
Vanderbilt University
Email: sarah.a.johnson@Vanderbilt.Edu
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 05:40:48 +1100
From: michael <michaelb@coolgold.com.au>
Subject: AREN'T I LUCKY
I have never even heard BFF's 2nd album(cause I cant afford to buy it)
And I've never heard Brick so I'm not sick to death of hearing it .
I've heard OADATSF and BOWCCL and they are great .
Love to get some boots Please mail me
Looks like I have 2 albums to enjoy.
Ahhh the joys of being underfinanced!!!
michaelb@coolgold.com.au
http://www.coolgold.com.au/~michaelb/index.html
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 14:21:25 -0500 (EST)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Subject: The Upright Piano, and only one song, on SNL
A few listmembers have wondered about why Ben used an upright instead of a
grand piano and sat with his back to Darren and Robert. The piano on SNL
is the actual piano from Ben's house on which the song "Brick" was
recorded. It is a turn-of-the-century upright. The positioning of the
band was Ben's choice so that they could get the best camera angles for
television.
Also, there is a lot of disappointment about having only been allowed to
do one song. BFF rehearsed for two songs (the other was "Dwarf") but SNL
tells you from the start that it is unlikely to get two anymore. Despite
that, they almost did get two but the show literally ran out of time and had
to blow off the second song and a scheduled sketch.
-fjm
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 19:46:23
From: M******** <m****@g*********>
Subject: Naked, cold and content!
Hi fivalites,
I bought NBP today (monday!) at 3pm.... had to wait 3 1/2 HOURS to get home
and hear it, but the wait was made bearable by the 'amusing' reactions of
my friends to the CD cover - one mistook it for a HANSON CD because of
Rob's hair - !!!! - and another thought `D` looks like Griffin off Party of
Five.... whatever... (freaky `Five` connection there...)
Anyway - you'll probably all be listening to it by the time you read this,
so there is absolutely no point in me telling you what it's like, - i just
wanna say it clears up loads of questions I never knew i had, e.g. where 'i
wish it was last september' came from, How Emaline is REALLY spelt, and
thanks to the NME, that 'fannie packs' actually refers to what we Brits
call 'bum bags' (which is bad enough) and not sanitary protection, as i
first thought...
- -funky loud bass on Alice Childress,
- -funky pianer on Dick Holster (I mean, it's really crap on every other
track..:^))
- -Julianne kicks arse
- -ANOTHER reviewer (in the Sunday times!!) called WEAEA their 'debut'...
grrrrrrrrrr...
> I think it's because this album is, and I
>quote Darren here, "strictly for the fans".
Yeah, i agree, kind of, but this Sunday Times reviewer said that anyone
might describe themselves as a committed BFF fan was a frightening
thought... (w -ker..)
enjoy!
@nn@
:::: 'The Spice girls will be back in March' ::::
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 12:49:50 PST
From: "wilson lo" <inane@hotmail.com>
Subject: HELP TORONTO
Ok so I finally find out where the venue for the toronto show is(the
Phoenix btw)....although it's not the greatest venue but hey at least
they were coming here!!!....so I phone the phoenix and what do I find
out!!!....IT"S A RESTRICTED SHOW!!!!!!!.....WHAT IS A 16 YEAR OLD
SUPPOSE TO DO!!!!!!!!!!......HELP!!!...after the intial letdown of "why
can't they have it somewhere else" I have turned to the good old
armchair in search of help to get into this show.....All I want to do is
see the show!!!!.....I won't go near the bar!!!!!!!....HELP anyone out
there that's going to the toronto show can think of a way to get me
in!!!!....BEN FOLDS FIVE if your reading this(probably not) what do I
have to do to get in ??????......I'll bring food!!!!......Ok after all
that screaming everyone is probably mad at me!...oh well as long as I
get to see the show!!!!...thanx for letting me vent!...please email me
at inane@hotmail.com
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:03:30 -0500
From: beckyc@bit-net.com (Becky Correa)
Subject: SNL
I know there ewre 5000 complaints about SNL but I noticed I was not
the only one who stayed up late after being sick all day just to watch them-
I fell asleep halfway through, didjn't miss anything i guess! Just Ben's
little dance at the end- anyway I thik it's a serious illness- all his
completely devoted fans (such as me) were ccmpletley sick that day!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:08:40 EST
From: Jessica237 <Jessica237@aol.com>
Subject: video killed the radio star
ohmigod--i am listening to 106.3..modern rock at the jersey shore right now
and the pusa's version of vktrs is on!! woohoo!! it is not really like bff's
and some of the words are different. does anyone know where i can pick this
up?? i live for this song--no matter WHO covers it. they sound like they are
trying to be more true to the original version with the muffled
vocals...lol--jess
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:13:08 EST
From: TalulaLady <TalulaLady@aol.com>
Subject: Entertainment Weekly Review
Ugh. I wasn't happy to read the review for the Naked Baby Photos CD. Here's
what it said:
"How could a band with just two albums and little commercial success possibly
merit a rarities/outtakes album? It doesn't, so instead of unreleased gems
we get underdevelped early song, inferior tracks (wisely) omitted from its
first album, and misguided rap and heavy metal parodies that are more
embarrassing than amusing. But the biggest mistake is the inclusion of live
versions of several of its best songs, which, though mediocre, still make the
rest of this trivia sound insignificant by comparison." (Jan 16 issue)
I say we all go to the Entertainment Weekly headquarters and beat them up.
haha.
-K A T I E-
- -------------------------------
"I got my philosophy,
And I trust it like the ground,
That's why my philosophy,
Keeps me walking when I'm falling down. " -Ben Folds Five
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:04:14 EST
From: LawneGirl <LawneGirl@aol.com>
Subject: opening bands, etc....
HEY-I was wonderin' if anyone could help me figure some stuff out. Has anyone
known BFF to actually start playing within like 2 hours of the time printed on
the ticket? Are there always openers? The show I'm worried about in
particular is the Feb 8th show in L.A. because I'm in a play at 7pm and the
show's supposed to be at 8pm.
If anyone knows anything (well, pertinent) then either post it if necessary
or e-mail me. thanks in advance, y'all.
- -Lynzee
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:58:30 EST
From: Roxygrrrl1 <Roxygrrrl1@aol.com>
Subject: Alternative Press and SNL
Hey all ~
How's everyone doing? I know, we're all pissed about the SNL thing. They're
really obnoxious for only letting BF5 do one song. I'm sure even the crappiest
bands got 2 songs. The skits were horrible, and now I have them all on tape -
I was watching ''Just One Of the Guys'' on Comedy Central - an 80's classic,
I'm sure. Also, I just picked up the February issue of Alternative Press, and
there's a small, yet informative article about Ben & the boys. Here it is:
Ben-Bare-Assed
Piano-powered geeks Ben Folds Five have a collection titled Naked Baby Photos
released by Caroline this month. The album sports a selection of various live
recordings (including a cover of Built To Spill's ''Twin Falls''), non-LP b-
sides, alternate versions and a whole lot of goofin' around. ''We had a pretty
good selection of stuff to choose from,'' says Folds. ''When you release
singles in different countries, each territory demands an exclusive b-side.
England wants four, Japan wants two, and Australia wants four. It's almost as
if you have to record a whole other album just to put out a single.'' In
February, Folds, bassist Robert Sledge and drummer Darren Jessee will do a
final 12-city tour of the U.S. and England in support of their 550 Music
release Whatever and Ever Amen before commencing work on their third album.
550 will also be releasing a Folds solo album under the fake band name Fear of
Pop that Folds describes as ''a Dolemite soundtrack over some kind of club
music. On one song, me and a bunch of guys drove around a parking lot,
screaming and shooting, and we taped it. It could be on a cop TV show.''
Now that I wasted half of my life typing that out, I'll see some of you at the
Hammerstein Ballroom on February 20th. Does anyone know when tickets go on
sale?
~ Fara
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 17:11:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Subject: Clutch Cargo's ticket information
Tickets for the Feb. 16 gig at Clutch Cargo's in Pontiac, Mich., go on
sale Jan. 16 through Ticketmaster. It's an all-ages show (doors at 7) and
advance tickets are $15. Day of show, $16.50.
-fjm
I wanna meet her so I can say...hey Kate
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 17:20:35 -0500 (EST)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Subject: Norfolk, VA venue
The venue listed for Norfolk on Feb. 23 is actually the Abyss in Virginia
Beach, VA. Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster.
-fjm
Down by Rosemary and Cameron she hands out the Bhagavad Gita
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 17:22:14 -0500
From: Mike Wilkinson <mwzoso@neo.lrun.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #745
>What a dissapointment...Ben Folds first ever nationally televised performance
>and Ben gets sick. He had to be, I mean his vocals were strained, and he even
>rested his head on the mic at one point. He looked ready to hurl at any
>moment. I suppose thats why they only did one song...
Ben Was SICK? where did you hear that from?
(As far as it being their first national performance, they were on
Letterman and Conan O'Brien before.)
I think Ben looked and sounded fine. And I remember seeing Ben resting his
head on the mike during the Brick performance on Mtv Live. So unless he
was feeling ill then as well (which I doubt, considering the pure energy
post song stool throwing when performing OAD) I don't think It was BFF's
choice to only perform one song. I think it was all NBC's fault!! (Does
anyone else remember the feeling of disappointment when seeing the final
credits end, realizing that there was no hope of BFF performing another
song? ...realizing you wasted a whole saturday night for one song and a
bunch of mediocre skits)
I hope all those unexposed to BFF who saw them on SNL doesn't think that
they're a wimpy band.
- ---"mwzoso"
"It's been cool to be cool for too long now and now
it's cool not to be cool."
- Ben Folds
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 17:53:16 -0500
From: "person" <captjanx@i-2000.com>
Subject: Ben Folds Five, NBP and SNL
I would have to agree that the main reason that Bff are getting bad reviews
with NBP is that it is an album that fills in the holes for fans who simply
want to have a complete picture of the bands work. I think that it's really
gutsy of them to release it at this time. Their just getting big, and it
would definately be more economically sensible for tem to let their second
album be the publicity. But now, when they're in the limelight, they are
releasing an album that gives back to the fans. It's really noble, and I
think that people on the armchair should view this as a direct statement of
appreciation to the fans.
P.S. I just sent a letter to snl@nbc.com, and I think that everyone should
too. Plus, they sent me an instant cushy response.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:58:22 -0600
From: "Bigger Thomas" <jibbers@ivi.net>
Subject: newbies
Hello everyone out there!!!!!!!!!!This is my first time writing to the
Armchair, but am a long time reader. First off, i would like to say that i
was pissed becuase our guys only got one song on SNL. i am REALLY
disappionted in SNL. next thing, i love Ben Folds Five, saw them twice and
am about to see them again. i met them for the first time at this year's
HORDE in chicago and i thought it was the best time of my life. i have
listened to them for about a year now and i think that they are by far the
most talented band i have ever encountered. last train of thought, i give
a shout out to all of those people who are trying to help newbies. i guess
you could call me a newbie, hell, i am a newbie. i only have one show of
bff and would like to expand, please help. also, other newbies out there,
if you want it, i will be gladly to help you out. just drop me an
email.....jibbers@ivi.net. thats it, keep rockin boys!
mark
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars."
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #750
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