THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #1062 - June 13, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Saturday, June 13 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1062
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1061
No one should care about this post.
Here is my story...well, true anyway
Excuse me D-Boogie
"Philosophy", Statue of Liberty references!
Re: If you're feeling sure you know what Philosophy's about...
Re: That little diddy...what the hell is that thing?
Rockford Files
I need a philosophy...
????
Elliott Smith
Jones Beach with Beck
just a note
Conan O'Brien - Date Correction
News Item: Thick as a Brick
I guess you guys are ignoring me
BFF in Baltimore???
Philosophy
Jones Beach w/ Beck
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1061
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 20:50:07 EDT
From: CLOSERGIRL@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1061
Hey guys,
Damn its been awhile since I posted. Did anyone catch the Bff set at Giant
Stadium the other night I only caught the last song. It was so weird. i met
Ben & the guys in this dinky place in hoboken that fit maybe 200 people if
that. & I just saw them in a huge stadium. I was freaked. Plus my seats
sucked tremendously. What a shitty night I had. Anyway Just wanted to say hi
& put my spare change in.
Bye
Carrolyn aka Closergirl
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 21:25:19 -0500
From: The Tillotson Boys <bwtill@inwave.com>
Subject: No one should care about this post.
There is no point in telling people to stop bitching by bitching
yourself. You just have to stop.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 21:25:32 -0500
From: The Tillotson Boys <bwtill@inwave.com>
Subject: Here is my story...well, true anyway
I first heard of them just inder two years ago when my friend Shane said
there was a really neat song called "Battle of who could care less" by
Ben Folds Five. I then saw the video for that song. I thought that Ben
looked like my friend. It was weird. I then heard "Brick" on the radio
and thought "Damn, what a sad song." Then, when my other friend, Anya
told me about the song about getting money back I finally bought the
album. I loaned it to her and she never returned it. I had to steal
it. I fell in love with it. Then she bought Naked Baby Photos. I have
yet to borrow that, and a few weeks later I bought the first album.
I have yet to meet the band (Although that is a goal I have for the next
tour) I did see one show, but it was at a festival and they were the
second band to play at the main stage. Damnit.
I would like to accumulate some bootlegs and am in the middle of doing
that (I finally bought tapes, but I can't afford postage right now).
Thanks for reading,
dave
I am not Dave Lapides-so don't watch out for me...unless you want to.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 21:25:35 -0500
From: The Tillotson Boys <bwtill@inwave.com>
Subject: Excuse me D-Boogie
I was also there and I was in the lawn with FOUR girls and three of us
were singing along with the band. It was also my first show and I was
blown away. Where were you sitting?
dave
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 22:22:40 EDT
From: LastPolka1@aol.com
Subject: "Philosophy", Statue of Liberty references!
Hey guys!!
<<i 'm aware of Ben's statement about the lyrics in the NBP liner notes -
it's about whatever you want it to be about. But I think he had
something specific in mind when he wrote it.>>
Here's what I think, not what I know, but what I think....
Philosophy has references constantly to the Statue of Liberty and I am
convinced that Ben had this in his mind when he wrote "philosophy"....
Ex.
"They always used to be there, even when this all was grass, and I sang and
danced about a highrise" -- NYC, highrises...
"mortar, block and glass"-- building of the statue
"Laughing at my helmet head, laughing at my torch"-- statue of liberty
"and i dragged you to the stairs and i told you to fly you were flapping your
wings you started to cry you were too high too high" -- statue of liberty
Well, there are tons more, just listen to the song with this in mind. I'm
sure many of you have already realized this but i just thought everyone else
would like to know.
Suzanne
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 22:38:25 EDT
From: Ssull9397@aol.com
Subject: Re: If you're feeling sure you know what Philosophy's about...
<<One thing I've never seen on the Armchair is a convincing theory
as to the meaning of the "Philosophy" lyrics. Who's sure they know?>>
I'm sure I know, cause Ben told us during a show at Ziggy's a few years
back. He introduced Philosophy by saying (and I'm not sure this is
a direct quote except for the last three words) "This next song's
about an incident I had in a diner once. I was having some trouble
with the waitress, so I asked 'May I have my falafel, please?' "
Just another one of Ben's ad libs!
Susan
***I have no web site to plug***
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 22:59:18 EDT
From: JKFett@aol.com
Subject: Re: That little diddy...what the hell is that thing?
Well I have only been to BFF shows in my life, I know I am pond scum, but one
thing has been identical at both venues besides Ben kicking the shit out of
his piano with his stool and him walking across the top of it. They opened
both their sold out show at Clutch Cargo's in Pontiac, MI and the
Beck/BFF/Sean Lennon concert with the same little diddy... I have no clue what
it is. After the first concert I mistook it for an elongated version of Dick
Holster as heard on NBP, but it isn't. It has them going, "Bah, bah, bah, bah,
bah..." a lot. Anyone else heard them open with this? Anyone have a bootleg or
a computer sound file of it, cuz I'd love to get my hands on it.
~Jedi Knight Fett
P.S. I don't care what you all say, "SFTD" is their best song! No one knows my
life better than Ben & Co.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 22:04:44 -0500
From: The Tillotson Boys <bwtill@inwave.com>
Subject: Rockford Files
Wasn't it James Garner on the Rockford Files?
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 23:37:36 EDT
From: FieryLox@aol.com
Subject: I need a philosophy...
Philosophy was rumoured to be a song about Benjamin Scott Folds' genitalia.
However, I had the guts (stupidity?) to ask him about it at a concert in
August '96, and he set me straight. (If there was a pun there, it was
CERTAINLY intended!) He told me that Philosophy was about "whatever you want
it to be about..."
My Dad just told me that he likes "Song For The Dumped"!!! (it's a bit sad.)
Toodles!
Sara
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 00:55:04 EDT
From: avk3@juno.com (Alicia M Van Kirk)
Subject: ????
auth 94cee97e subscribe armchair avk3@juno.com
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 01:10:02 -0500
From: john_oc@juno.com
Subject: Elliott Smith
Hmm...expected better reviews than this.
<<They did a better job opening than
Eliot did, I hate to say, but Eliot was the main reason there were so
so many little girls at the concert>>.
Now, I highly doubt that Elliott drew more young girls than our own BFF.
Except in Canada, he hasn't had an impacting, or even played single yet.
Miss Misery has shown all of 6 times on television and all of those were
in the week following the Oscars. I would be surprised if 5 little girls
knew who Elliott Smith was.
Oh well. Wish I could have been at the show, especially after seeing the
set. Wow.
John Boyer
Indie Rock Director
101.5 WOBN - FM
Westerville, Ohio
"Close your eyes and you'll see nothing at all, or maybe it's just
everything at once."
--Modest Mouse
_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 03:15:34 -0400
From: "Leigh Nelson" <leigh13@mindless.com>
Subject: Jones Beach with Beck
So, this is just another review and setlist. Are we all really bored with
this? It's funny, I always thought show reviews were one of the most
relevant things you could post to the Armchair. Maybe I'm wrong...but
either way I'm going to continue writing about the shows I get to, because I
always enjoy reading what others across the country get to see and hear.
Tonight it was Ben Folds Five and Elliot Smith opening for Beck at Jones
Beach in NY. JB is a neat venue: outdoors, view of the water, and not too
big. Elliot Smith blew through in about a half hour, so I figured our boys
would get a decent set, hopefully more than the cheapo 8 songs they got at
Giants Stadium. They opened with Fair, which sounded noticeably weak. I
thought the drum miking was poor, and the overall sound volume was just too
low. I think the sound was getting lost because of the openness of the
theatre. A few scattered groups of BFF fans were up and dancing, but most
of the crowd was pretty chill. I was happy to see the set varied again,
with two tracks from NBP and two from the S/T.
The highlights of the evening? Robert got things started when he screamed,
"Now we're going to rock your ASS!" before they played One Angry Dwarf.
Everyone in the crowd seemed to appreciate that. And at the end of Song For
The Dumped, following a few minutes of instrument-bashing and
piano-climbing, Ben threw not one, but TWO stools at his piano! One right
after another...it was great! Soo....all in all...it still couldn't compare
to a show where BFF is headlining. Beck was a great entertainer, but I'm
sorry, he just doesn't quite have the talent that Rob, Darren and Ben have.
But let me tell you, the brother can sing!
Still hoping to close the tour with Modern Rock Live,
Leigh (all man, baby!)
Setlist: Fair - Battle - Emaline - Philosophy - Alice Childress - Stevens -
Eddie Walker - One Angry Dwarf - Song For The Dumped
==============================================================
Leigh13@mindless.com aol:thirteen2k http://www.easysoft-usa.com/13
"Were you born and raised in New Jersey? Did you like the taste of Crystal
Pepsi?"
==============================================================
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 03:28:29 EDT
From: Corrin108@aol.com
Subject: just a note
um, this is directed to one person whom i believe might be on this list as i
overheard some talk about it during the elliot smith/bf5/beck show last night
at jones beach...so for the girl with the short brown hair and pole stuck up
her ass:
HOPE YOU NEVER SEE ME EVER AGAIN BECAUSE IF YOU DO I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE
REST OF YOUR EXISTANCE AFTER THAT MOMENT WILL BE SO EXCRUTIATINGLY PAINFUL
THAT YOU WILL GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY FOR YOUR PITIFUL EXSITANCE TO BE
OVER.
ahhhhh..i feel much better. sorry to everyone else, but i didnt quite know
any other way to find this hoe bag. incase youre wondering, this girl was
spitting on me because I looked "really stupid dancing around like a fool when
no one else was even standing up." she actually was SPITTING on me...some fan
she is. Oh, and just to let you know dumb girl, im gonna rip off your head
and spit down your throat.
corinne
**disclaimer** no, im not really gonna do anything so i dont need any people
telling me that i shouldnt threaten people or something like that. im just
angry and this is a nice way to let off some steam.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 08:29:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Subject: Conan O'Brien - Date Correction
The corrected date for Ben Folds Five's appearance on NBC's "Late Night
with Conan O'Brien" is July 16 (Thursday), not the 17th as previously
reported. As always, check local listings for time and station; the show
actually airs early in the morning of the 17th in most areas.
-fjm
The world is sleeping. I am numb
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 10:08:07
From: Thad Edwards <absoluthad@softhome.net>
Subject: News Item: Thick as a Brick
>From the News and Observer (Raleigh NC newspaper):
6/10/98
THICK AS A BRICK
"Maybe you've been put on the spot before, but probably never as badly as
Chapel Hill's Ben Folds Five was in Minneapolis recently. Rocktropolis
allstar
daily music news reports that, on stage in front of 20,000 people, a radio
disc
jockey asked the group at a concert, "Now, which one of you had the
girlfriend who had the abortion?" -- a reference to the subject of the
group's
hit "Brick." Bassist Robert Sledge shot back, "Why would you ask such a
personal question?" The band did not play the song."
my roommate told me about reading this in wednesday's paper and it took me
until today to track down the story on the website
(http://www.news-oberver.com if you're interested).
- -absoluthad
"I saw doves and thought they were rocks, but they were asleep. My
breath made them stir and the doves took flight -- the earth exploding
... and my only thought was that I wanted you to see them too."
-- Douglas Coupland, MICROSERFS
- -----BEGIN SEINFELD GEEK BLOCK-----
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 11:10:11 EDT
From: DDNGOSBT@aol.com
Subject: I guess you guys are ignoring me
Okay,
I just find it funny that someone asked what GA was and people have been
answering that person for like a week now, there have been like 20 posts about
it. Yet, I've asked what a MP3 is like 2 or 3 times, and no one has answered
me. Thanks guys, I really feel the love here. Also, I've posted probably 5
times about getting a copy of the giants stadium concert, but no one has
answered that either, someone could at least tell me to stop asking b/c no one
has it. But no, every one ignores my comments. But thats cool. I like being
ignored. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE JUST ANSWER ME!!!!!!!!!!
thanks.
~Kristin :)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 17:28:44 +0200 (MET DST)
From: christer.keulemans@mailbox.swipnet.se (Christina Keulemans)
Subject: BFF in Baltimore???
Hi!
Does anyone know where Ben Folds Five will play during 20/6 - 20/7 ?????
I'm planing a trip to Baltimore this summer (never been to the States before).
It would be so great to see my favourite band play live!
If somebody have their tour-dates, please e-mail me!!!
Christina
keulemans@usa.net
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 16:56:42 EDT
From: KRTZDN@aol.com
Subject: Philosophy
In an interview on NPR a few years ago ben said that Philosophy was bout how
everyone always laughed at him for being so driven about his music, and for
using a real piano instead of a keyboard. He said that they were all like
"there's Ben off doin' his thing." So philsophy was about how he didn't care
if people laughed at him....hence "so you can laugh all you want to." He also
said he liked using the word philosophy in a rock song 'cause it wasn't a very
rock n roll word. This also makes sense when he says "I pushed you 'cause I
loved you guys, I didn't realize you weren't having fun," 'cause he talked
about how for a long time it was hard for him to find people that were as
dedicated to music as he was, but that was in a different interview.
so there you go,
Citrus
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 18:18:53 EDT
From: HAM12HAM@aol.com
Subject: Jones Beach w/ Beck
yoho again...this was by far thelongest and best of the three recent new york
area shows...Mostly everyone there in attendance actuallyu wanted to see them
for a change..and they were accepted and cheered at very loudly..I absolutely
loved it!
FAIR
BOWCCL
EMALINE
PHILOSOPHY
ALICE CHILDRESS
SLNT
EDDIE WALKER
PIANO INTRO TO UNDERGROUD
ONE ANGRY DWARF'......
SFTD
Notice the lack of BRick..hahaha..the highlight of my night by far is when Ben
started the intro of underground and the first few words, I was never,...and
then stopped and looked back at the crowd as if to say fooled u..the reason
being, me and my friends are convinced that Ben heard me yelling underground
between each song and pretty did this pretty much to say, i know ur out
there...that was so cool..i am still psyched anout it..well no more tix for a
while..so i guess ill see ya when i see ya.
p.s. i forgot Emaline on the giants stadium setlist...oops
- -will work for sex
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 18:23:17 EDT
From: BobaFet142@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1061
Okay, here's my theory on Philosophy. It's all about Ben's dick. Listen
carefully, you'll hear it too.
~Jim
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1062
***************************************
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