THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #754 - January 14, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Wednesday, January 14 1998 Volume 01 : Number 754
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #749
Whatever & Ever Amen review in EW
SNL piano choice
tix on sale rumors
SNL (take a number !)
naked baby photos
mtv?
nbp
bens piano on snl
Is that a PHONE RINGING?
SNL and the Joan Osborne connection
Booty...er...Bootleg Call
Upright
Naked Baby track in Providence
Hammerstein Ballroom ticket info
Ohio!!!!
Chat
SNL and NBP
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 12:36:51 -0600 (CST)
From: Alex Miller <amiller@biz1.net>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #749
Couple comments:
> From: Michael Bluejay <bluejay@pobox.com>
>
> Karen Gannon wrote:
>
> >Most importantly, he had the guts to mention
> >that PIANO-BASED TRIOS ARE NOT NEW!!!
>
> Maybe not in jazz, but it's new for pop/rock. Billy Joel and Elton John
> had (have) guitarists. So did Queen. So did Todd Rundgren, Joe Jackson,
> and Squeeze. In the Doors, Ray Manzarek principally played an organ or a
> Rhodes, not an acoustic piano. What three-piece piano-based ROCK/POP
> bands have we had in the last 30 years?
Actually, Elton did do a 3-piece sometimes. Check out the 11-17-70 live
album - it's a 3-piece. (And it rocks. It was recently reissued on CD
after being out of print. Check it out if you like Elton's older stuff.)
And my comments on SNL: I agree that it was disappointing, but I'm kind
of happy in a way. They've gotten more exposure, but not that
overwhelming, soul-destroying sort of fame that has killed so many other
bands. I'm hoping they walk the fine edge of popularity where they are
allowed to do what they want musically.
And on the subject of taping again: I've seen a couple people mention
that we shouldn't discuss boots/tapes here. Is there some reason for
this? Seems like the perfect forum as long as it does not overwhelm the
list. What is the band's official stance on taping at shows?
Later all, (off to get NBP)
Alex
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 14:46:29 -0500
From: cambot@juno.com
Subject: Whatever & Ever Amen review in EW
They gave it an A & I quote:
"Guitarless, cool, & compositionally overqualified. Ben Folds Five have
everything you'd want out of a rock band right now except a wah-wah
pedal."
It was also #8 on their top 10 albums of the year.
Steve!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 14:57:42 EST
From: Brad654 <Brad654@aol.com>
Subject: SNL piano choice
In a message dated 98-01-12 20:19:55 EST, Michael Bluejay <bluejay@pobox.com>
writes:
> Have you listened closely to the CD version of Brick? I'd bet
> money that Ben used his old upright on it, rather than the Steinway or
> the Baldwin grands. The SNL piano sounded much more like the CD version
> than his Steinway or Baldwin would have.
Actually, I'm wondering if the upright Ben played on the show wasn't the
upright he plays on WAEA. I'm fairly certain I read somewhere that Ben said he
used the upright in his house on "Brick" because it "sounds sadder." Anyone
back me up on this?
Brad
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 15:07:26 -0500
From: Heather Hurwitz <hhurwitz@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu>
Subject: tix on sale rumors
Fivers,
We are all in confusion about when tix go on sale. We are the ones who are
supposed to know! How does this world work? - i definately don't know. I
tried ticket bastard and the sorta said try fri. Jan 16th to get tix for
NYC and Wash DC. I am not sure though. My advice, call the clubs
themselves. Hopefully you can actually talk to a person (most are machines
on mass info lines). THIS IS UNCONFIRMED INFO IN THIS EMAIL. It is a
guess though. Also, the 930 club in DC is not sold by ticketmaster. Gotta
go to the club to get tix or something. If anyone knows more, please email
the list and me personally.
Thanks.
Heather
EVERYDAY IS A NEW LIFE TO A WISE HUMAN
"If you're drivin into town with the dark cloud above you, dialin the
number who's bound to love you, if you're lyin on the beach with the
transister callin, kick off the sand cause honey the love's still flowin,
if he says forget it but your heart's still smokin, call me at the station,
the lines are open" -Joni Mitchell, the goddess!!!!
get your fill of peanutts on the www: http://www.cyberdrive.net/~percystar
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 12:30:55 PST
From: "kristina buccat" <loonadee@hotmail.com>
Subject: SNL (take a number !)
Definitely disappointed. I'm not surprised, 'tho. I think Ben Folds
was gonna chuck. You noticed that they ran a repeat pre-recorded bit
where the musical guest's second song usually goes ? That's too bad.
"Kate" or "One Angry Dwarf" would've been better, but if they weren't up
to it, we could probably forgive them, and it probably wasn't NBC's
fault.
...but what was up w/ the upright piano ? They used three baby
grands for the abysmal "Titanic" sketch.
Thanks for reading, and see you at the Toronto show,
K.B.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 15:55:34 -0500
From: grippe@cowland.com
Subject: naked baby photos
i think that, even though this album came out today and i got it
at 1030am, that i was the LAST person on the planet to get it. i'd have
to sit and suffer and read armchair posts about how everybody else was
getting advance copies :> and when i read that some stores were selling
it early, i went out on the hunt...but albany sucks. NOBODY had it out
until today. then today i went to the music shack in troy and i guess i
got the last copy (they only ordered 5). jeez.
anyways, since its finally in my possession, i feel i should
comment on it. and my comment is: "the ultimate sacrifice" is my
favorite song. :) i really like "boxing" done live, "emaline" sounds
kew, "tom and mary" is kew too...umm..i dunno..its pretty kew. what
also kicks ass is the cornholio thing ben's doing on the back of the cd
:>
here i sit
brokenhearted
came to shit
but only............
FFFFARRRRRRRRTTTTTEEEDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!! hehehehehee
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 15:27:21 EST
From: DMB 44 <DMB44@aol.com>
Subject: mtv?
does anybody know if the ben folds five concert at the hammerstein ballroom in
nyc is being tapes for mtx live at the 10 spot...I heard it was...peace
matt....
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 15:59:53 EST
From: luckyday6@juno.com (Jason A Masi)
Subject: nbp
well I just bought the cd and I have pretty disappointed with it. You can
barely hear the words to the songs Song for the Dumped and especially
Julianne you can't hear anything. Well Dick Holster is a good 25 second
song and Satan is my master is pretty bad too!!! Well I hope that it gets
better as I listen to it.
Jason
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 15:57:15 EST
From: DMB 44 <DMB44@aol.com>
Subject: bens piano on snl
In a message dated 98-01-12 21:52:30 EST, you write:
<< Actually, now I'm thinking that
maybe that WAS his old upright, and they shipped it to NY for the show >>
I personally don't think that it was his, b/c I only think they take his on
tour, b/c they probably took a plane to ny and not the old u-haul...
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 16:08:59 -0500
From: "Ben Stewart" <benstewart@usa.net>
Subject: Is that a PHONE RINGING?
Hey everyone!
My name's Ben Stewart from Charlotte, NC. It's my first post to the list,
and maybe you've talked about this before, but I have had "Whatever and
Ever" for quite a while now, and while I had it REALLY loud on the way to
work the other day, I noticed something in track 9 (it's "Steven's Last
Night In Town" for those of you who are dedicated enough to memorize the
track list. hehe).
Anyway, at EXACTLY 2:54 into track 9, right during a pause in the song, I
HEAR A PHONE RINGING. It sounds like a cordless phone, maybe not, but none
the less, there is DEFINITELEY a phone ringing on that track at 2:54.
Don't believe me? Play the CD over and over and turn it up, you'll hear
it!!
I dunno know why it'd be on there unless of course it just happened to ring
while they were recording the album at the house in Chapel Hill.
Well, I just wanted to see if anyone else has noticed it.
Remember, Track 9 "Steven's Last Night"
2:54-phone ringing! hehe..cool
Anywayz, Later people!
Ben
benstewart@usa.net
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 16:00:07 EST
From: Lunasa1 <Lunasa1@aol.com>
Subject: SNL and the Joan Osborne connection
In a small article that, I believe, appeared in NY Mag a while back, it was
reported that SNL musical guest Joan Osborne was also screwed out of her
second song and didn't take it lying down -- so outraged was she that SNL's
music coordinator Marci Klein (Calvin's daughter) broke down and cried.
Perhaps BFF was told that 2 songs are no guarentee anymore to save Klein's
tearducts; I wonder if they'd dare say that to former musical guests like
Whitney Houston or Jane's Addiction.
I recall that Osborne apparently won an agreement to have her 2nd song (taped
during dress rehersal) placed in the repeat -- we can only pray that SNL will
do the same for BFF.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 16:14:09 -0500 (EST)
From: Craig Michael Haen <cmh219@is8.nyu.edu>
Subject: Booty...er...Bootleg Call
Hey Armchair Clan,
So nice to finally have NBP in my hot little hands and I'm so excited to
see that the boys will be back in NYC in Feb. I had the good fortune of
being at the LA2 show from which the live cuts of Julianne and SFTD are
taken. Glad to know Ben felt appreciated at that show. As for me, I had
welts from being slammed up against the stage for two hours. I guess
these are the prices I pay to be right in front of Ben at the piano.
I'm really itching to get a full recording of that show, as well as a good
recording of the most recent NYC gig at the Supper Club. If anyone has
either of these, please e-mail me *privately* at cmh219@is8.nyu.edu
stop the bus...
Craig
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 15:59:10 -0500
From: Derek Supranowicz <dpsupr@MAILA.WM.EDU>
Subject: Upright
For all those wondering. Ben used an upright to record a few of the
Ballads on WEAEA, he says this in interviews and in the "Potty Mouth"
Video available at the home page. Frankly I was glad to see him play Brick
on what he originally intended it to be played on.
Derek
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 98 16:27:54 EST
From: "Emily Durand" <edurand@nunet.neu.edu>
Subject: Naked Baby track in Providence
Just got back from Newbury Comics her ein Boston, copy of NBP firmly clutched
in my sweaty little hand. I am having an ultrashitty day of law school, it's
raining like cats and dogs and I didn't get a spot in the parking lot, but I
am WAY PSYCHED NOW because a) I finally get to exprienced the already
contoversial aforementioned disc and b) lo and behold the version of
"Ultimate Sacrifice" is from a show I attended! At Lupo's in Providence last
May! Too cool! When Ben took off his pants and danced on top of the piano!
OK, so, if I was reading this post and I was not me I would be thinking,
whoop-de-do, do you have Ben's beeper number or something or what? Sorry if
my little homily disappoints, but with whom else can I share this little lilt
of excitement? Right.
;b
Emily
"Eechudna."
"How rude!"
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 98 10:17:35 CST
From: amit_saha@VNET.IBM.COM
Subject: Hammerstein Ballroom ticket info
Tickets for the BFF show at the NYC Hammerstein Ballroom go on sale this
Friday at noon. Tickets are $18.50 each (plus the usual Ticketmonster s/c).
The Hammerstein has their own excellent web page which gives you a
panoramic view of the inside of the venue (I don't have the URL - just do
a web search on Hammerstein). The capacity of the ballroom is over 3,000
so this ain't no small, intimate gig.
I also checked with Protix in the DC area re: the 9:30 Club show. The
person I spoke to didn't seem too sure but he said that they'd probably
go on sale on Thursday...I'd be a bit wary of that bit of news.
Finally, I called Ticketscamster in Pennsylvania and they don't have a
sell-date for the Electric Factory show in Philly.
Amit.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 17:25:03 -0500
From: "Steve Mandel" <tribefan@nlcomm.com>
Subject: Ohio!!!!
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Hey y'all! I'm new to the list, but i think it's great. I just have one =
very serious and important question: WHEN IS BF5 COMING TO OHIO????????? =
i wanna see them soooooo bad! i live in NE Ohio, and as far as I know =
the closest they're getting to me is Detroit?!?! That's ridiculous!!! =
I'll go out of my mind! If you have any info. or whatever, email me!!! =
luv, leslie
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<HEAD>
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<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.71.1712.3"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Hey y'all! I'm new to the list, but =
i think it's=20
great. I just have one very serious and important question: WHEN =
IS BF5=20
COMING TO OHIO????????? i wanna see them soooooo bad! i live in NE Ohio, =
and as=20
far as I know the closest they're getting to me is Detroit?!?! That's=20
ridiculous!!! I'll go out of my mind! If you have any info. or whatever, =
email=20
me!!! luv, leslie</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
- ------=_NextPart_000_0053_01BD2048.2F2F3900--
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 17:33:06 -0500
From: "Steve Mandel" <tribefan@nlcomm.com>
Subject: Chat
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Hi! It's Leslie again! Did you all know that there's a Ben Folds Five =
chat room? Go to =
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/7544/bf5page.html and then =
go to Chat. I've been on a couple times and there aren't ale lot of =
people there usually. Maybe you don't know about it??? luv, leslie
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charset="iso-8859-1"
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<HTML>
<HEAD>
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</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Hi! It's Leslie again! Did you all know that there's =
a Ben=20
Folds Five chat room? Go to <A=20
href=3D"http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/7544/bf5page.html">htt=
p://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/7544/bf5page.html</A> =20
and then go to Chat. I've been on a couple times and there aren't ale =
lot of=20
people there usually. Maybe you don't know about it??? luv,=20
leslie</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 18:08:58 EST
From: Enloejr <Enloejr@aol.com>
Subject: SNL and NBP
Hello All,
2 things that really bites...
1.) I e-mailed SNL to complain about the broadcast, and only got back a really
cheap "form letter", stating how my comments are important to them, but due to
the high amount of e-mail they recieve, they can't answer each one personally.
I hope that after the show, when they were moving that stupid, crappy sounding
piano, someone dropped it on Lorne Michaels foot!
2.) My sister manages a record store for a major national chain, and they were
supposed to get in NBP today...they didn't. But here's the real kicker!!! NO
OTHER record store in my ENTIRE area (Southeastern New England) got it
either!!! There is not a copy to be found anywhere. This sucks!
What I thought was going to be a week filled with the sweet sounds of BFF, has
been nothing but a major disappointment.
Sincerely,
One Really Angry Dwarf,
Darrell
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #754
**************************************
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