THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #785 - January 28, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Wednesday, January 28 1998 Volume 01 : Number 785
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
BFF VIrtual Tribute band
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #779
Spice girls and hanson
recordings?
uncle walter on 120
Brick
TORONTO TICKETS
singles
bad reviews
Everything's heavy
tapes....
here at subway we make our bread from scratch
loosely related stuff
I need to go to hammerstein!
Brick quality
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 10:25:47 -0500
From: Jennifer Spinner <JSPINNER@CAHNERS.COM>
Subject: BFF VIrtual Tribute band
I'm starting up a BFF virtual tribute band (virtual, because they are
so kickass that no group of mere mortals should even attempt to
duplicate their sound in real life). The goal is to get as many
members as possible, everyone playing a different instrument. Please
e-mail me with your axe of choice, your stage name, band name
suggestions and your motto in life, so I can tell if you're cool
enough to be in the band. Applications will be taken until Feb. 1.
Good luck, and God bless.
Jenni Spin
aka Mother Load
Accordion
"Pain don't hurt"--from the movie Roadhouse, as said by the immortal
Patrick Swaze
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 10:57:53 -0500
From: "Alessa Geboff" <aegeboff@eos.ncsu.edu>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #779
> Cool news-- Gladhands will be opening for Ben & the gang in San Francisco.
> I also heard a rumor that they were playing the same night in Portland,
> but it looks like Gladhands will be opening for hometown heros The Dandy
> Warhols and BFF will have to rock out by themselves.
damn!! i was going to write in about this, too. i interviewed the gladhands
on my show(smash hits, WKNC-88.1 in raleigh so tune in if you're in the area)on
saturday, and they talked about all of this. so you're right. anyone in san
fran really should try to see this show. the two of these bands together would
make for a really kick-ass concert. and for those of you who have heard the
gladhands stuff, is it just me or does "gore girls" sound like imperial drag's
zodiac sign?????? by the way, i love jellyfish, too, and imperial drag IS a
post jellyfish band, but it about broke my heart when ben said that he wasn't a
jellyfish fan :( oh well, gotta have our differences.
> and why is everyone complaining about the armchair? i =
> haven't been a member for long, so i don't know how it's changed. but =
> isn't it supposed to be something fun and informative for all ben folds =
> five lovers? or am i missing the point??? i don't understand why people =
> can't write what they want. if they go a little off topic, why get so =
> angry? luv, leslie
yes, fun and informative, so let's keep to the TRUTH, instead of spewing all
kinds of speculative stuff that will lead to crazy rumors and flat out lies.
that's all i was trying to say...i like to read about what local radio is
doing for the five, or HOW to get tickets for the shows, or reviews of their
shows--like what covers they did, or funny shit in between songs. this is the
helpful, informative stuff this list is supposed to be about. which is why i
don't mind reading about teachers and cops who've recognized the songs--i think
that's cool. keep it up!!
so to those of you who got mad at me for my last post--let me simply say
this...
if it weren't for all of you, BF5 wouldn't be where they are today, so thank
you
> Does the idea of making at least $2,000 per week beginning your 2nd week of
doing business excite
> you?
all i have to say is WHAT THE HELL????????
> 3. Is it just me or does anyone else find reading other people's
> long-winded posts about their BF5 dreams excruciatingly, mind-numbingly,
> BORING?
they can be fun, but summaries are nicer than word-for-word recollections
> says "Thank you. The Spice Girls will be back in March." Hmmm...let's look:
> - -The Spice Girls didn't appear until around March 1997.
> - -This announcement took place many months before their album was released.
> So am I misunderstanding him, or...DID THE SPICE GIRLS OPEN FOR BEN FOLDS
FIVE?
i should hope not. i think i remember him saying, "we're the spice girls, and
we'll be back..." so it was just ben being silly again, as if that's a rare
thing.
- --alessa
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 15:32:36 +0000 (GMT)
From: Richard Cheng <richard.cheng@st-edmund-hall.oxford.ac.uk>
Subject: Spice girls and hanson
> From: paul.leung@virgin.net (paul.leung@virgin.net)
> Yes, it's a little publicised fact that the Spice girls did actually
> open for a few of the UK tour shows in 1996. This was when they weren't
This man is just lying. Ben was just making an amusing joke for us
british people.
And hanson are actually boys, amazingly enough.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 16:45:00 +0000 (GMT)
From: ER Burningham <u7g83@ugg.keele.ac.uk>
Subject: recordings?
since everyone else has asked - does anyone have any recordings of the
manchester show in december (uk)? i know it's along shot as it was quite a
small venue but stil...
oi, to whoever called us brits. "islanders" - nooooo! we're not aliens, you
know, and obviously some of us have very good taste,no?
has brick been released as a single in the uk, if it has i seem to have
missed it.... so what IS the next single or even album going to be?? sorry,
patience is not my strong point..
love to y'all...
mad em
"you gonna let me in D?" ben folds
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 12:14:52 -0500
From: ljd128@psu.edu (firstname lastname)
Subject: uncle walter on 120
wow, did anyone else catch "uncle walter" on 120 minutes last night? they
didn't play it until like 230 because of mtv's superbowl coveraghe
(whatever) but it was kinda worth staying upo for. i've never seen it
before... what a cool video. it totally catches the idea of the song. by
my unofficial count, this makes the third time in six weeks that the five
have been played on 120... in addition to regular rotation for "brick"...
hmm....
len damico jumpingcow@psu.edu
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 10:39:20 -0700 (MST)
From: A Pei <apei@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca>
Subject: Brick
Hello Armchair peeps!
Allow me to introduce myself. I'm a newbie in Canada - just got into them
following their performance on LEtterman. Yea - so that makes me
one of those "radio fans" except that BF5 isn't played on the radio
here, in fact few people have ever even heard of them. I've been lurking
around here for a bit and have been reading all this stuff on Brick
and thought I"d add my few cents to the discussion.
I didn't quote the message but someone was wondering as to why
Brick is their "Big Hit" even though several other singles have been
released. And they also made the comment that peple may be "shocked
and disappointed" if they buy the CD based on Brick.
So - my comment is this. For whatever reasons, bands seem to have a better
or easier time "breaking" in to the charts or whatever, when they start
with a slow song. That's somgthing I've always noticed. Take
the likes of Extreme for one. More people can relate to a love son, or
rather a ballad. That, or it has to be a really catchy danceable tune.
That's just what Ive always noticed at least up here.
And I disagree with the last comment about being disappointed with
the CD. I think Brick is a great song and I bought the CD because of
it. I had heard lots about BF5 on the DMB list so when I heard they
werw going to be on LEtterman, I paid attention. IT took me a month
to get the CD since only 3 cd places in town had even heard of BF5 and
none of them had the CD in stock! But I fell in love with the CD immediately.
I think it has to do with why you like Brick. I like the heavy piano
emphasis. I like the vocals. So the rest of the CD was an extremely
pleasant surprise.
FINALLY - because I'm long winded and I apologize - I just had a thought
about the lyurics. I had been wondering about the term "brick"
too. The first image that comes to mind is that she is weighing him
down. He's going down with her. My other thought is this - could
it mean that she is a brick in the sense that she is holding together?
Like, "she's solid as a rock" type of idea. And he feels like he
is sinking - as in he looks at her and she seems to be holding it
together and he looks into himself and feels like he's drowning?
I do'nt think it is the baby though. I would say "she" is the
girlfriend. It just seems weird to me that he would be saying that
she is dragging him down. The rest of the song doesn't seem to be
resentful towards her. But that is just me. Wondering what
other people thought.
Thanks for reading!
Alby
- --
\\|//
(o o)
~~~~~~~~~~~~oOOo~(_)~oOOo~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alby Pei | "Desire's inside of me but it's hard
apei@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca | to believe in what you cannot see"
http://www.ualberta.ca/~apei | - dc Talk
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 13:04:56 -0400
From: "Cheryl" <010203@hillstrath.on.ca>
Subject: TORONTO TICKETS
Hello, my friend and I relly, really want to go to the BFF show in
Toronto, feb 18, but we don't have tickets ( kind of a key thing) so
if anyone has an extra tickets we would really appriciate it.
please reply privately!!!
bye,bye!!!!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 15:30:56 EST
From: luckyday6@juno.com (Jason A Masi)
Subject: singles
I am writing to figure out when the next bff single is coming out I heard
rumors that is the song for the dumped and what is their latest single
and how come I can't find the brick single anywhere and whats on the
brick single. well please fill me in. Have anymore concert tour dates
been made?
- -Fiver
- -"Your uncle walter is going on and on" Ben Folds
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 15:58:19 +0000
From: Hilarie Surrena <walflowr@Op.Net>
Subject: bad reviews
Hi everyone,
I've been thinking about all the bad reviews that were in various
magazines concerning NBP. Anyway, as people who know BFF's music and
has seen them live, we love the Cd because we appreciate the comments
between songs and the meaning of other songs that the public in majority
wouldn't understand. I just think that many who reviewed this for
certain publications viewed the band as "new" and why would they have a
Cd like this out. So, I guess those who are fans of BFF, know that they
love to poke fun of certain things and incorporate that stuff into their
songs. I haven't heard of too many people who already were fans who
disliked NBP, so that's a good sign!
Hil
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 16:00:41 EST
From: SarahBF5@aol.com
Subject: Everything's heavy
Hey all. BTW, my subjects for articles usually never have anything to do with
the article's content, so i don't think u'll have much luck trying to make a
connnection. ( i don't know why u would in the first place...but whatever!)
Anyway, here are some comments o' mine:
1. Thanx to everyone who answered my "Bad Idea" Soundtrack question (yes, all
500 of u!)
2. If u listen closely, they do say "WE'RE the Spice girls, WE'LL be back in
march..."
3. "It seems like a lot of people on this list feel they
have to prove how big a fan they are...why don't we just share our love
for Ben's music and be kind to fellow fans...whether they came in to Ben
during Majosha or Brick...the point is ... we are all fans..that is why
we are on this list."
I Agree with Toad Princees 100%! I thought the purpose of this lsit, was to
chat about the greatest band ever, and just share info and somments..not to
try to prove anything or flame anyone. Call me crazy...
Well, thats all for now folks...ttyl, live well.
- -Sarah
"You were lonely, i was bored...i may be more then you can afford." -BNL
(anther great band!)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 16:05:24 -0500
From: a.person@juno.com (Sarah A. O'Connell)
Subject: tapes....
Hey folks, sorry to waste this space, but I was wondering if anyone out
there would be willing to trade some BF5 tapes for b&p or DMB.
Thanks a lot!
"..Could I have been anyone other than me..?
Sarah_the_Smurf (on IRC, ICQ)
Check out my tapelist: (newbies **always** welcome) (o:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/6353/list.html
ICQ:2628900 AOL:saosmurf
"One sweet world around this star is spinning..one sweet world and in her
breath I'm swimming..and here we will rest in peace." DMB "OSW"
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 16:28:44 EST
From: Rocketno8@aol.com
Subject: here at subway we make our bread from scratch
<HTML>i know people have posted here already about the japanese brick single,
but i just wanted to mention that i just got the australian single, which is
$10(less than half of the price of the japanese single) and has the same
tracks except no "fair(disco remix)." definitely worth it. i like having the
versions of "smoke" and "kate" with strings and "mitchell lane" is just an
amazing song, though i can understand it not being on an album. it has a kind
of different vibe. from what i can tell, robert is playing something with a
strange<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3> watery sound(probably an effects pedal)
that reminds me of the beginning of Sonic Youth's "The Diamond Sea." perhaps
the first bf5 song worthy of a remix(and i don't mean a "ska" or "disco"
remix).-dr.rocket<BR>
p.s.the whole brick thing never bothered me much before but now i probably
won't be able to go the philly show because it's sold out, and that really
pisses me off.<BR>
"did you know george washington has wooden teeth?"</HTML>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 16:55:05 -0500 (EST)
From: Glitter Girl <starfish@email.unc.edu>
Subject: loosely related stuff
Hey friends...
So here's a question, since I'm not that huge a Smashing Pumpkins fan
(believe me, this is somehow related to BFF, I promise). I was checking
out my Singles soundtrack (which is pretty damn good, in my humble
opinion) and it says that Smashing Pumpkins appear courtesy of Caroline
Records and Virgin America. Am I correct in assuming this is the same
Caroline Records, or not? Just curious...
Marcy Playground is performing at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC, on
Saturday, and my brother and friend are coming up this weekend for the
show. MP put on a terrific set when they opened for BFF in Charlotte
last month, so I'm eagerly anticipating this weekend. Also, I echo those
who have plugged Jump, Little Children. I saw them in September or
October, and that was one fun concert! Do check them out if you can.
Later skaters...
Lee
PS To the Toad the Wet Sprocket fan - I arranged "Come Down" for my a
cappella group here at UNC, and we learned it this weekend. Thought you
might get a kick out of that. I'm thinking of adding some BFF to our
repetoire - we so desperately need to get cool. : )
: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
"Say goodbye to a glitter girl..."
: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 16:57:57 -0500
From: jen chen <pickle@bellatlantic.net>
Subject: I need to go to hammerstein!
i really want to go to bff's show at hammerstein on feb. 20 (3 days
before my 17th b-day), but none...i mean it-zero...of my friends like
them (sad, isn't it?). i was wondering if there was anyone out there
who wouldn't mind me tagging along for a night...i promise you, i'm not
that overly annoying. well, let me know! really hope there are still
tickets left, too...
jen
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 17:01:18 EST
From: catfoo@juno.com (Catherine Foo)
Subject: Brick quality
Rebecca.Cole@mail.cc.trincoll.edu wrote:
> I like it, but I think people will be really shocked and perhaps
> disappointed if they buy WEAEA based on "Brick."
i have to admit that i'm one of the brick-converts.. i -did- buy amen for
'brick', as shameful as that was, and what came out of the cd player was
completely unexpected - and absolutely amazing. love at first sound.
otoh, i'll definitely agree that brick isn't as good as other tracks..
and people who keep telling me that they l-o-v-e brick are even starting
to get on my nerves ;) someone even suggested adopting brick as our
senior prom song - lovely idea, but... um, no.
catherine
when your dreams turn to dust.. vacuum. (not bff lyrics! ...yet?)
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------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #785
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