Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #66 - April 12, 1996
Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #66
Topics for Today:
Re:BF5 in Athens
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
Alex Chilton
Ben Folds Five
Sexuality
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
Another rendition of "Video. . ."
Ben Folds Five/Alice Childress/Majosha
Rahoolio's "Cats & Dogs" review
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
Re:Compilation cd
Re: Ben Fold Five in Athens, GA
Re: Eddie from Bus Stop
Uncle Walter single
Ben Folds Five making it big
BFF in Athens, 4/19
Misc. BF5 stuff
Concerts in the East???
yaddayaddayadda
Ben Folds Five folder!
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
mailing list
if they ever get back to LA .....
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 08:59:10 -0400
From: Ed Crabtree <ecrab@ga.unc.edu>
Subject: Re:BF5 in Athens
> Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 09:39:46 +0500
> From: Jon Glass <jglass@n1.globalvision.net>
> Subject: BF5 in Athens
>
> Can't confirm this but have seen Dag's tour schedule, which mentions an
> April 19 show in Athens, Ga., with Ben Folds Five at the Georgia Theatre.
> Maybe someone from that area can pass along the details.
That would be really cool. Course, it would be cooler if it was somewhere
I could make it to. Both BF5 and DAG are local bands for me. Why can't a
bill like that happen in Chapel Hill, or Raleigh?
--Ed Rock
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 07:56:13 -0500
From: Geoffrey McNulty <gmcnulty@students.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
hey everybody, while my lack of funds keeps me from purchasing cats and
dogs, it didn't stop me from getting a music store to open up a copy and
spin ben for me. i liked it. it's fast and grainy, pretty radio friendly,
and the rest of the soundtrack sounded pretty good. if my tax return will
only come...
say, what is the name of archers of loaf's lead singer? i've been looking
for that solo album that ben plays on, but i can never remember what his
name is.
has anybody found the uncle walter ep yet? i can't find it anywhere. was a
single ever actually released for underground?
i just had an interesting thought. what if ben covered that god of f**k
song by marilyn manson. spooky.
geoff
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geoffrey McNulty |
Asst. Promotions Director |
| "...there is no hell
UW Madison Student Radio | like an old hell..."
gmcnulty@students.wisc.edu | --David Bowie
|
(608) 264-2261 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Madison Student Radio -- "It's coming...are you?"
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 11:04:32 -0700
From: Tim Reynolds <timrwjar@ids.net>
Subject: Alex Chilton
> In a recent article on BF5 I read that "Alice Childress" might be a song
about "Alex Chilton?" Do I know this man (or women)? Political figure,
rock
star, actress, circus elephant. If you know the scoop. . .pray tell.
>>>>>>>>>>>
Someone else can help me out here, but Alex Chilton was the leader of a
70's band Big Star, which had a big cult following, but not a lot of
financial success. Many early alternative bands cite Big Star as an
influence.
Anybody else able to help?
TIM
--
Tim Reynolds - Research Manager
WJAR Providence, RI USA
Because e-mail can be altered electronically,
the integrity of this communication cannot be guaranteed
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 08:30:23 +0100
From: Jonathan Bacon <bacon@private.nethead.co.uk>
Subject: Ben Folds Five
Frank, I haven't heard from you but I thought you might like to know that
Underground by Ben Folds Five is the 'Breakfast Biggie' on Radio One this
week. Seven million listeners!!!! The single is out on monday, the album
on the 22nd of April and a live show in London on May 1st. Obviously they
are exploring the British audience/market. All the best Jonathan
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 11:53:09 -0400
From: Hotdoglove@aol.com
Subject: Sexuality
I am not trying to say anything bad about anyone or anything, but this
question has been bugging me for a while... are any of the guys in BFF gay?
If anyone knows, could you please tell me!
Sara
P.S. Is there a FAQ sheet for this mailing list?
[Sara: There's no FAQ yet. You wanna write one? -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 15:56:43 +0200
From: Mindi Levine <levinem@omri.cz>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
Dear Bet,
Alex Chilton is a cult-figurish rock guitar guy from the band BIG STAR.
Highly influencal and kind of a musicians musician. I can't tell you much
more than that (because I don't know) but I'm sure some BFF fans out there
can fill in the holes.
By the way, what's the deal with all the recent snottiness on this list?
Oh well, I guess it makes for interesting reading anyway.
Just wondering.....anybody out there been to/living in/wondering about/
originally from Prague? I'm holed up here at the moment and it'd be
fun to connect.
Caio for now,
Mindi
"Anyone who ever had a heart/Wouldn't turn around and break it"
--Lou Reed
[Mindi: Is it true that you can trade your jeans for a car? -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 12:12:47 -0400
From: SaintBet@aol.com
Subject: Another rendition of "Video. . ."
Hello fellow BF5 Followers! While wasting my tuesday night channel surfing,
I turned to MTV to see Presidents of the United States of America doing their
version of "Video Killed the Radio Star." It wasn't too bad and I do give
them credit, but I highly doubt anyone in the near future will top Ben Folds
Five version. 'Nuff said.
Go Tribe!
Bet
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 11:46:37 -0700
From: Colin McConnell <cmcconnell@prudential.com>
Subject: Ben Folds Five/Alice Childress/Majosha
Two items: Someone inquired about Alex Chilton -- who the hell is he, and
could he be the subject of Alice Childress. Alex Chilton was the leader of
two bands in the 60s & 70s, The Box and Big Star. His most notable hit was
with the Box Tops -- "The Letter," which was later improved upon by Joe
Cocker.
I think there may be a novelist named Alex Chilton, as well. Anyway, Alex
Chilton is not the subject of the song.
Alice Childress happens to be a somewhat famous writer. I think she does
mostly books for young adults. Alas, she is not the subject of the song
either.
As Ben and company explained on their live appearance on WNEW in New York,
the character in Alice Childress is actually based on someone Ben knew in
real life. I may be taking liberty with Ben's account here, but I believe
she was the mother of a friend of a friend, or that sort of thing, and she
had rocks in her head -- bats in her belfry -- was crazy. I think Ben said
she's dead now. She ended up in an insane asylum, and somehow hit her head
on a sink and drowned in a sinkful of water. Go figure.
Of course, there's no way of knowing if Ben was pulling our legs with this
one, but I think it's safe to say that the name Alice Childress is
fictitious.
Item Two: I'm wondering if there are any other BF5 fans out there who, like
me, have been following Ben since he played in a small-time NC band called
Majosha. This would date back to about '89 and '90. Ben actually played
bass mostly, and some piano. It won't surprise anyone to hear that he was
pretty much a monster bass player.
Majosha would be hard to describe, except to say that there are many Ben
Folds influences, and they were way ahead of their time. They were doing the
funky pop-rock thing (with some very cool jazzy influences, I might add)
before groups like the Chile Peppers and the Spin Doctors took it to the
bank.
As far as I know, there are only two accomplished recordings of Majosha in
existence. But there may be more I don't know about. They did a 5-song demo
called "Five Songs About Jesus" and then a full 45-minute demo with about 10
songs. Song titles include "We Know What's Right for You," "Guilty,"
"Where's Bohemia (my favorite)," and "Video." Yes, it's the same "Video"
from the BF5 album, but it's played on guitars and mandolins. In some ways,
I like this version better. It has a sort of Scottish highlands sound to it.
I'd love to know if there are any other closet Majosha fans out there, and if
they have, or know of, any other recordings of the band. Mine are really
beat up by now. If you have a lead on any of this or want to know more
about it, drop me a line at CMcConnell@Prudential.com. Thanks.
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 96 14:28:30
From: bminnick@locrscs.CMIC.STATE.PA.US
Subject: Rahoolio's "Cats & Dogs" review
I agreed wholeheartedly with Rahoolio's review of the "Truth About Cats &
Dogs" soundtrack in the last digest. For me, it's like a flashback to
sixties-era AM radio. A lot of different genres coexisting quite nicely
and all very accessible. Ironically, if you could "return" BF5 to that era,
their record companyprobably would have released several BF5 singles by
now, with each one being a chart success. I'm not going to get too
nostalgic here; suffice to say that I'm really appreciative of WXPN, the
college radio station that turned me onto BF5. I consider the $50 I sent
them during their last fund drive to be one of my better investments.
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 13:42:04 -1000
From: displacery <galileo@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
>>Gutiars are superfluos. They are overrated.
Apparently, so is spelling. As guitar player, I find this to be a silly
statement. That's like saying tubas are unnecessary. Would you get rid of
guitars in music, then? Guitars, which have more or less been the defining
characteristic of the genre, to satiate your driveling, and replace them
all with pianos? Whatever happened to open minds? After all, it takes an
open mind to listen to Ben Folds Five, since they make use of no guitars,
other than the bass. Yet I would call them a rock band, despite the lack
of guitar. The instrument is not overrated; it sounds like you are just
traumatized by an inability to play the guitar. Of course, that's just my
opinion; I could be wrong.
Pat and Caroline Mrizek (né pucktyr@aol.com and the quiet one)
Quotable Quote: "The world is not made for lefties or Mac Users."
Unquotable Quote: "What does not kill us makes good pudding."
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 14:37:49 -0400 (EDT)
From: "trichter's tricks inc." <nirvana1@email.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
i'm not sure if alice childress has anything to do with alex chilton, but
alex chilton is a rock musician (never heard any of his stuff).
the replacements did a song way back when called alex chilton, if that
means anything.
-steve
my whole existence is for your amusement
and that is why i'm here with you
x x
~. .~
~U~~
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 16:18:13 -0500
From: "J.J. Engel" <JJEngel@mail.utexas.edu>
Subject: Re:Compilation cd
>
> Date: Sun, 31 Mar 1996 11:31:42 -0500 (EST)
> From: Somebody to Love <erica67@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu>
> Subject: Video Killed the Radio Star (BFF)
>
> Excuses, Excuses Frank!
>
> Video Killed the Radio Star is by another band (Buggles, I think).
> So that probably wont be on the next cd. Sorry!
> erica
>
The band is actually releasing "Video Killed the Radio Star" on a 80's
compilation cd... but I'm not sure when it's coming out. Do you know frank??
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 19:09:02 -0400
From: Sesax0@aol.com
Subject: Re: Ben Fold Five in Athens, GA
Yep, sure enough Ben Folds Five are hitting the stage in Athens on April
19th. They are playing the Georgia Theatre and tickets are $5. For anyone
out there who is planning on going...tickets go on sale at Big Shot and
Wuxtry this Saturday. Yipee!!! I can't wait.
Stacy
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 19:31:00 -0400
From: Alessandra Elizabeth Geboff <aegeboff@eos.ncsu.edu>
Subject: Re: Eddie from Bus Stop
> That's right, also Eddie Walker (I know some a lot of you are familiar
> with the BF5 song "Eddie Walker") does vocals and plays guitar for Bus
> Stop. I went to see AnnA to the Infinite Power
> (http://www.unc.edu/~pinworm) open for Bus Stop in january, and both
> bands ROCKED. Chuck Folds sounds just like Ben when he talks, it's
> a little eerie. They played an old Majasha tune that was absolutely
> remarkable.
>
> kevin
i don't know if anyone else has picked up on this, because i'm really
behind reading this list, but eddie walker is the DRUMMER for bus stop.
anyway, if anyone in the triangle area is interested, Bus Stop will
be at the CAVE in Chapel Hill this thursday night (April 11). they ARE
worth checking out, cause they rock--in a funky way, and they're a lot
of fun live--and not only does chuck sound like ben, he kinda looks like
him too, but with a beard :)
--alessa
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 23:29:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: ST942523@PIP.CC.BRANDEIS.EDU
Subject: Uncle Walter single
hi guys!
does anyone know anything about the "Uncle Walter" single? I had heard
that it was supposed to come out today, but I checked with a bunch of
music stores, and none had it...one told me that it wasn't even in the
computer at all! If anyone knows anything about this, please let me
know! I am dying to see if there is a good "B" side!
Thanks!
melanie
st942523@pip.cc.brandeis.edu
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 23:35:01 EDT
From: MR MARC FACTOR <RFAA93A@prodigy.com>
Subject: Ben Folds Five making it big
hello,
its great to see a band like bff get some exposure but to say you
dont want a band to make it big because you dont want others to share
is so stupid. i mean today in 90s rock its kewl to like things that
others dont, back in the 70s everything was commercial and no one
really cared how they looked when they liked a band. i think its
stupid to say that bff shouldnt make money when thats one of the
reasons why they are in the music biz. you cant take that away from
them, they are indi, thats cool but if they get exposure let it be
and f*** the corporate a*******,
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 21:05:37 -0700
From: Reid Davis <reid2@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: BFF in Athens, 4/19
To Jon Glass who inquired about BFF in Athens, April 19th--
Yep. Definite confirm on that. They play the GA Theatre in Athens (a
regular show, not a radio station promo) on the 19th, then they swing
thru Atlanta to play the Roxy on the 21st. Probably in the middle
there somewhere will be a "Live X" - short "unplugged" set - recorded
for 99x for later airplay, but I have yet to get a definite on that
from station management. There is a little extra time in there, so
Atlanta fans wandering around town on April 20th, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!
;->
Love and a stUCK CAPS LOCK KEY,
REID
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 00:57:31 -0400
From: Aryadne@aol.com
Subject: Misc. BF5 stuff
Once again, these are pretty random:
Michael Bluejay wrote:
<<<Music Theory 101 covers traditional playing. But much of Ben's playing is
not traditional. As just one example, I suspect that on some of the rolls
and solos that he's going for an overall effect vs. trying to hit every note
precisely the same way every time -- I think he may be just trying to get
"close". >>>>>
You know, I swear that when he was playing, whole bits seemed to be
_just_ in the wrong key. At the time I figured I wasn't quite familiar
enough with the songs (having just heard them, not actually having played
them), or the tuning was off on the piano, or my pitch wasn't as perfect as
it used to be, but now I wonder if he just started one note off on these long
strings of octaves (bless his big hands) cause he was playing so fast. . .
Ron Fein wrote:
<<Here's an idea. Since 90% of us on the list have spoken to one of the
guys before or after a show, and 90% (not all, but 90%) of us hated The
Customers, maybe someone on one of the remaining tour dates should ask
one of the guys (ideally Ben, but Darren or Robert will suffice) why
exactly they are touring with The Customers. Maybe they have some good
reason. Maybe they hate them too.>>
I don't know; sounds kinda rude to ask them that, like "why the hell are you
touring with THOSE losers. . ." I don't know if there's a polite way to say
that, is there?
And Sara wrote:
<< On March 30, Ben
Folds called me!!!!!!!! Can you believe that? I wrote them a letter, and
he
called me to hear my answering machine, but I actually got to talk to him!
He put me on the guest list for the concert!!!!!!!! I honestly can't
wait!>>
Rrrrrr. I'm so jealous. I'll have to write them that letter after all.
And I for one, would also like to know how the rest of those soundtrack
albums are. I certainly don't have a lot of excess $$$ just kicking around,
and can't see buying CD's just for one song on each (though I really, really,
really love "Song For the Dumped." I had that in my head the whole time I
was doing my taxes. . . "Give me my money back, give me my money back. . .
.")
Mary
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 96 11:35:26 EDT
From: reissige@alpha.montclair.edu
Subject: Concerts in the East???
Does anyone know if Ben Folds Five is planning a concert anywhere near
New York City???
Thanks!
Beth Reissig
"reissige@alpha.montclair.edu"
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 15:34:18 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jenn Halter <jlh4935@email.unc.edu>
Subject: yaddayaddayadda
hi from chapel hill!
NIKKI- thank you thank you!! one of the two unknown songs is "retarded"
the other, i'm not sure!
are any other songs going to be released from the album?
anyone who wants to hear another chapel hill band-- check out JUNE!!!
they just released a disc and are starting their tour in a few days. the
disc is called "I am Beautiful"-- they are great!!
jenn
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 16:53:53 -0400
From: MARK400@aol.com
Subject: Ben Folds Five folder!
This is for all the AOL people. There is a folder devoted to Ben Folds
Five in the Music Message Center at keyword: MMC. Then double click
Alternative and then double click General. Then scroll down the list of
folders until you get to the Ben Folds Five folder which sits around 8 from
the bottom. Any other questions about this folder email me at
MARK400@aol.com
MARK400
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 19:05:33 EDT
From: MS SHANNA E HUDSON-STOWE <VGME15A@prodigy.com>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
Just for those of you who do not know who Alex Chilton is. He was the
lead singer for the band of the 60's called the Box Tops. After that
burned out he fronted an amazing band in the 70's called Big Star. Big
Star never lived up to commercial success, but always maintained a deep
cult following. Later after Big Star broke up, Alex moved on into the
south did some recordings, but he is most noted for producing pioneer
alternative bands like The Cramps (Goo Goo Muck).
Several other pioneering bands went on to make music inspired by
Chilton. e.g. Dream Syndicate, Magazine, Television, REM(who was inspired
by the last two mentioned as well), and of course the most obvious
Replacements. Paul Westerberg even wrote a song called "Alex Chilton".
Last year was a big year for Chilton. Big Star did a small reunion tour
with many sold out dates. Chilton does perform, but to mostly small
audiences. His latest styling tend to be of the Louge Lizard mode.
Chilton can be respectively called the father of alternative pop music.
So go find a Big Star record at the used vinyl shop. You will be surprised
by what you hear.
Shs
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 20:13:04 -0400
From: Paxotium@aol.com
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
I cant call myself a fan like most you freaks but I do have a story. My
friend won dinner with Ben Folds Five and she wanted me to come with her so I
did and we went to this place down in Providence (RI), Atomic Grill and hung
out with them for about an hour. We were late so we didnt eat, (I had some
salad that was soggy). Rob's a pretty cool guy, I talked to him some since he
was the only one sitting next to me but there really wasnt much to talk
about. It wasnt a planned thing, I had 3 minutes to get there and I wasnt a
fan so what was there to say?? Anyway moving on they were all really cool,
well Rob and Darren were, the other 2 guys, I just have no comment on. Ben
wasnt there, I think he had a sore throat. After it all we went to their show
at Babyhead and I couldnt believe how f***ing rad they were. I had to go buy
their cd because it was so good. Theres probably no way to talk to any of
them right?? Id like to say some s*** I didnt get a chance to say before. If
there is tell me. thanks. I heard them talking about their new cd or
something like that too so any info? thanks again. And when are they
touring??
Christina
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 00:07:43 -0500
From: godboy@galaxy.galstar.com
Subject: mailing list
i think that ben folds is probably my fave band at the moment whihc is
cool because ben folds just isnt heard here in tulsa oklahoma but slowly
it becomes popular among my little crowd (a nice little contradiction
there) of friends. write back eh?
godboy
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 22:37:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: carlile <dworsham@csulb.edu>
Subject: if they ever get back to LA .....
Alas, we discovered ben folds five just after their tour took them here
some months ago. my friend dan happened upon the cd in one of those
stores that lets you listen before you buy and just loved it so much he
had to buy it right there - no questions at all. Ever since, our whole
darn circle has been converted. so if they ever get back to LA, we'll all
go .... you betcha.
bye,
doug.
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 02:13:12 -0400
From: Dolemite80@aol.com
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #65
Ben Folds Five is one the most refreshing bands I've listened to in years.
It's a nice break from the distortion filled world of guitars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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