THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #828 - February 17, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Tuesday, February 17 1998 Volume 01 : Number 828
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
120 minutes, jay leno, darren after shows
for sale
RE>BFF Radio Appearance in Toronto
BFF @ the Riv, Chicago--2/15/97
sf house music
Toronto radio: correction
Newbie alert!
[v] interview
NYC show
I'm going to the Y-100 Sonic Session
chicago preshow music
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #825
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 06:43:26 -0600
From: Nikki <babylon666@earthlink.net>
Subject: 120 minutes, jay leno, darren after shows
For those of you asking the dates of the 5's appearances on these shows..
They'll be on 120 minutes on February 22nd and on Jay Leno on the 25th....
And for the person wondering why darren doesn't hang out... he usually comes out
after ben and robert are done being mobbed. I got to talk to him for about 45
minutes after the dallas show and he's a great guy. I've been going to see the
band since 1995 and have ALWAYS had a huge crush on darren, so therefore i NEVER
talked to him. I would always just hang out and talk to ben for a while after
each show. I mustered up my courage and decided i was gonna talk to darren at the
dallas show. Now there is absolutely NO doubt that darren rocks my world. It was
fun at the houston show because darren waved at me during a break in the songs and
we kept making faces at each other through the show. Darren's awesome! You just
have to wait a little longer for him to come out. :) And believe you me, it's
worth the wait. He's even more beautiful when he's only 2 feet away from you.
And touches you multiple times. :) *wistful sigh* Okay.. i'm done day dreaming
about my encounters with Darren...
Nikki
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 10:51:08 -0500
From: Jessica Brandt <jbrandt@kent.edu>
Subject: for sale
>hey i'm gonig to the show on monday i was just wondering what they were
>selling, well thanks just kinda wondering
>love you all personally,
>sarah
well they're selling crack backstage, and if you can find Caleb or kate or
even jay, you can prolly buy some pot.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
"I wish I was a messanger and all the news was good"-Pearl Jam
Visit Cousin Jess's World Wide Mess at
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Backstage/6814
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: 16 Feb 98 11:41:18 -0500
From: Chris Short <chris_short@fasken.com>
Subject: RE>BFF Radio Appearance in Toronto
>...Ben Folds Five will be Live In Toronto on 102.1 The Edge, before their
>Toronto concert at the Phoenix, on February 18, 1998 between 6:00 and >8:00 p.m. Eastern.
The program is actually on the Tuesday 17th, the day before the show.
The day OF the show (Wednesday 18), the guys will be on Much Music at 4:00pm, for all you Canadians/Much USA subscribers.
Keepin' it real...
Shorty.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 12:20:58 -0600
From: "Matthew J. Springer" <mjs087@nwu.edu>
Subject: BFF @ the Riv, Chicago--2/15/97
Hey all--
I'm a brand-spankin' new subscriber, been a fan since spring `97 (I
know, not as DIE-HARD as you old-timers, but not a so-called "Brick" fan
either, am I? :)) Anyway, I just got the confirmation message, and it
mentioned that folks post reviews of shows they've attended to the list, so
here's my review of last night's show at the Riv in Chicago, IL.
Festivities got underway at about 7:30 p.m. with Robbie Fulks, who
kicked a lot of ass. A great traditional country sound with integrity and
intensity. Good stuff. AT about 8:45 p.m., BFF took the stage and opened
with an instrumental (called "doctor" something? I have the name stored
somewhere in my brain, but it's escaping me now). I believe they followed
that with "Philosophy." Having recently come of age, this was my first
rock show at which I drank, so some of the details are hazy. Remind me
never to do that again. Anyway, some memorable moments:
- --"Philosophy": does this song ever get old? destined to become one of the
all-time greats, even if (heaven forbid) Ben and the boys fade into
obscurity forever.
- --"Hava Negeela": requested by some cute girl near the front of the stage.
Very cool cover. Of course, I requested the Elvis Costello B-side "Wave A
White Flag" all night, but since I'm an unattractive GUY, no one listened. :)
- --"Eddie Walker": that moment of harmonious tension, where the voices just
build and then the music explodes--gets me every time.
- --"Missing the War": possibly my favorite off the second album. I'm so
glad they're playing this tune!
- --"Kate," "Song for the Dumped," "The Last Polka": ROCKIN. Need I say more?
- --"Steven's Last Night in Town": Good choice for the next single, but I'm
never happy with the concert version. That little piano organ blowie thing
that Ben uses just doesn't emulate the clarinets and other instruments on
the album track. AND a minor lyric change, perhaps one that has been
used/noticed before: in the second verse, the first line was "He's fucked
everyone here/except Tamara Easter..."
- --three girls we met who apparently follow BFF around on tour. Fairly cool
people, though I must apologize on behalf of a friend of mine, who accepted
$20 from one of them to trade spots with her. Very unfair.
- --one of said girls (who was wearing plastic pants) hopping on my friend's
shoulders, cramming her ASS into my FACE at a very key moment in the show.
Hey, I'm as red-blooded as the next male, but I'm there to see music, not
ASS! :)
- --a very funny (and seemingly improvised) tune about the fact that this
show was being "cybercast" on the Internet. Hilarious.
- --The encore. Opened with a new tune (I believe) based on "Chopsticks,"
then launched into an AMAZING "Uncle Walter." The last five minutes of the
show was just bass and drums, as Ben stormed across the stage, engaging in
a call-and-response with the audience, ripping off his shirt, and
encouraging the audience to do the same (which I did, thank you very much).
To close the show, he climbs atop the speaker cabinet (about fifteen feet
off the stage) and WHIPS his piano stool at the keys. I know, I know; I've
seen Ben do this before, and I'm sure all of you have too, but it never
fails to elicit a KICK-ASS scream and yell from this tired warhorse.
That's all that pops to mind. I'm sure a few others will post their
reviews as well, so I'll bow out here. I apologize for not having a more
complete and detailed setlist, but it gets hard to keep track of such
things when you're leaping in the air and shaking your bootie. :) Catch
ya on the flip side.
Later,
Matt
P.S. Needless to say, if anyone has a tape of this show, I'd love a copy.
Hell, if anyone wants to show mercy on a long-time fan who has no tapes to
speak of (too busy collecting Elvis Costello boots) and trade for a few
blanks, I'd really appreciate it!
****************************************************************
"You cheer for him to find true love, even if you suspect that
no woman will ever be as important to him as his Elvis Costello
albums."--Pop music critic Jim DeRogatis on Matt Springer
Visit POP-CULTURE-CORN, your source for great writing on music,
movies, comics, the Internet, sports, and much more!
http://www.pccmag.com
Matthew Springer / mjs087@nwu.edu / Evanston, IL / GO CATS!
Home Page: http://www.pccmag.com/springer/index.htm
****************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 12:43:18 -0600 (CST)
From: mikem9@ix.netcom.com (Mike Martis)
Subject: sf house music
I'm on a quest...I'm trying to find out the name of the CD that was
playing over the house music system at the Warfield in SF last week
just prior to BFF taking the stage. Anybody know or have any
suggestions how I'd find out? I've left messages at the Warfield and
tried the band's official e-mail address and haven't heard back from
either. Thanks to anyone willing to help.
BTW - If you can spare the change and find the CD, The Gladhands' (who
opened for BFF at the Warfield) "La Di Da" is great stuff. It's a lot
of fun, with healthy doses of 70s and 80s power pop. Robert plays bass
on about half the tracks.
- --Mike
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 14:33:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Subject: Toronto radio: correction
A couple people e-mailed me to say the band will be on Toronto station
"The Edge" on Tuesday, not Wednesday. There is also a MuchMusic
appearance at 4PM Wednesday, repeated at 8 PM and again 10:30AM Thursday
(all times Eastern).
-fjm
Woke up way too late feeling hungover and old
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 12:39:52 -0800
From: Vladimir Drakul <vlad_drakul@geocities.com>
Subject: Newbie alert!
Yeah, it's me. You can all sigh and leave now. Actually... I just bought my first BFF
CD (_the_ first BFF CD) and I'm loving it. A lot. Though I'm still devoted to TMBG, I
think I'm going to be coming to a few concerts, etc. I do, however, not know where the
official homepage is (if there is one) and if there are any tour dates relatively close
to Seattle or Vancouver, BC. (YEAH, yeah, I know they did a concert on the 5th, but
that was a good week before I became a real fan. Yeah, it sucks, don'it?)
- --
Vladimir Drakul -- http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/7343/
*******************************************************************
"Is everything normal now?" "And crawling on the
"Well, he hasn't got planet's face... some
religious mania, and he's called the Human Race.
not running around in a Lost in time, and lost
circle spouting Gilbert in space...
and Sullivan, so I guess ...and meaning."
he's normal."
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 14:49:51 PST
From: "Anti Gavin" <benfolds311@hotmail.com>
Subject: [v] interview
Very informative long letter (but informative)
This is from a interview on [v] last night with Ben and a very good
interviewer who knew his stuff!!
- -Ben's thinking of moving out to Australia, he loves Adelaide.
- -He says the reason for his energy on stage (and Midday) is lots of
candy.
- -Reckons BFF are a band for touring.
- -Flies were annoying him. (during the interview, well if you were a fly
wouldn't you!)
- -He burnt his lips over here.
- -They talked about Bill Clinton, Ben said he's got a problem but thinks
he's a good president just with a sex addiction. Ben thinks he did it,
but the taste was not good, he made the cutest faces. So much.
- -2 of his friends got shot and died in the last few years. Someone
knocked on one of his friends windows and shot him in the head when he
opened it cause they thought it was someone else to do with drugs.
- -Talked about the internet, waited for him to mention us, in a way he
did, he said how someone miles and miles away from a concert will know
what happened.
- -Then they talked about Brick, and how he didn't know how popular
Underground was here.
- -He said he's in a divorce/seperation (hmmmm) with Winona Ryder, but
then said he shouldn't joke about it cause it's a lie. (I think he just
meant the Winona Ryder part)
- -They played Brick, first time I've seen it on [v] but they are no. 4 in
the most requested video clips. (I thought the popularity of Brick would
pass us, but 'goddamn' it hasn't) Yeah now I have a good quality version
of it!
- -If you cut out the video clips this interview goes for about 20-30
mins. Not bad!
- -Ben was here in Oz for <sarcasm> Geoff Harvey and they said there was a
scene where they were in the woods in there underwear running holding
hands. Then they were "caressing" each other talking about life and past
loves then Geoff suggested he comes back and it didn't work out (poor
diddums)
- -Ben would like to publicly challenge Geoff to a mud wrestling fight
(now that would be something.) GO BEN!!
- -He's serious about moving here!!
This interview is so excellent, I have no complaints, apart from the
Bush video, and it should have went for the entire hour. There were no
stupid questions, the interviewer seems like a real fan, he even made a
comment about the line in Kate "She's everything I want, She's
everything I'm not"
As I said yesterday I got one extra copy. Going to the highest bidder in
Australia only, (don't you have to change the video type or something
for the US?) If not then America too. I'm not after $$$ I want anything
to do with ben folds five
In Australia I'm looking for
- -Hey, Hey It's Saturday. (they really did play on that!!)
- -Today show interview.
- -Rage (my video stuffed :( so sad, so sad)
- -Old interview from '96 on JJJ.
Plus is anyone in Australia unable to get Jay Leno when they are on?!? I
can get two copies so if anyone want I can get that too??
Maybe I could get three. But get to me quick, and I will do so!
In such a good mood, after turning into shitty spice hearing they were
number 4 most requested!
C Ya
*Anti-Gavin*
"She's everything I want, she's everything I'm not!"
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 14:59:57 -0600
From: John.Craven@infores.com (John Craven)
Subject: NYC show
ok. here's the deal, I have 2 extra Hammerstein Ballroom tix which i will sell
to a deserving fan for the original ticketmaster price of $25/ticket. And in
order to make sure you are a deserving fan and the first time you heard them was
not Brick on KROQ, I'm going to make a little contest of this. here goes:
email me the date/venue of the first time you saw the trio play, tell me a
little bit about yourself and any personal, interesting BF5 related stories. (of
course, if you offer to buy me a shot of Jagermeister or two at the show, that
wouldn't hurt either...) ok that's it, so bring on the email and i will contact
the winner to sort out the details...thanks.
- -jc
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 18:54:23 -0500
From: "M. Pratt" <mpratt@voicenet.com>
Subject: I'm going to the Y-100 Sonic Session
Not to gloat or anything, but I just got passes to Y-100's Sonic Session
with BFF.
I will be one of only about 40 people who get to sit inches from our boys
as they play in Sonic Recording Studios in Philadelphia on Saturday.
So I won't be home to tape it, so could someone please record it for me.
Maria
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 18:12:16 +0000
From: muzinic@megspo.megsinet.net
Subject: chicago preshow music
Just wondering if anyone can tell me what cd was playing before BF5
took the stage in Chicago.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 19:39:03 EST
From: Julie35892@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #825
The Chicago show rocked!!!! I went to the Ben concert in Chicago at the
Riv on Feb15. there were like 10 times the people at this one than the first
one I went to in the summer. Ben got so much crazier at this concert. He was
like rippin off his shirt and he through hi stool from the top of the speakers
on to his piano. He was a beast. The show was awesome and Ben just keeps
gettin better. If you have the chance no matter the cost, you HAVE to see
Ben!!!
Julie
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #828
**************************************
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