THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #568 - October 28, 1997



Magical Armchair Digest   Tuesday, October 28 1997   Volume 01 : Number 568



                          THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    Welp
    POSTERS
    UNITED KINGDOM-ENGLAND
    Black and White poster....
    Fanny Packs and #$^*! pony tails
    2 quick items
    Re: Mitchell Lane 
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #557
    Knoxville review & opening w/ Missing the War
    ummmmm
    Everything is meaningless...
    Everything is meaningless...
    This is not a dumb post 
    Bitching and Moaning

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 02:43:29 -0600
From: Pluvius Dope 
Subject: Welp

Im sure most of you had hoped you would never hear from me, but no such
luck, this time, Jonathan has made me mad


Jonathan emoted-

     Now, for my two cents on the Brick aspect.  I think through the
whole

song Ben is basically saying that the guy in the situation is not
handling

the situation to well, killing a baby and all (Im drowning slowly).  But
the

girl seems to be taking it rather well, like she doesnt care, its just
an

abortion. Hence, shes a "brick".


What offended me-


His use of "Killing a baby" as the definition of baby. Well Jonathan, you
obviously don't have a good knowledge of the english language, or of
biology. A)To kill something, it has to be living, which the embryo would
not be, if it was at a more advanced state, it would still not be a baby,
it would be a fetus. If you removed it from the woom at the moment of the
abortion could it live? No. Does it feel pain? No. Does it have a
knowledge of what is going on? Who knows, but most likely
NOT because even a 7-8 month old baby lacks object
concreteness. So the idea of it having a memory or thought is almost
preposterous.


Just the two bits of a Psych major. Surely not all of you can jump down
my throat in this issue, this is a pretty liberal mailing list, it's not
the Amy Grant Listerv.



Love and Peace,


Pluvius Dope

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 13:14:02 +0000
From: "B.D.WATTS" 
Subject: POSTERS

I have a full size like massive size of ten men poster, like the ones 
on the underground of WE&EA which I bought after the show from these 
dodgy geezers who were clearly supposed to have put it up. It cost me 
stlg2 and beats wallpaper on one wall in my room. I want a new single it 
5 months now and Im getting impatient.

Can I See your daughter, may I see your daughter, Mr Boyd ask if 
she'd like to play?
MY LIFE STORY



- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTE FASCIST ALLIANCE IN 2002
BRITAIN IS BOOMING 
JUST WATCH LABOUR GO AND BLOW IT

TL6304@QMW.AC.UK

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 13:16:48 +0000
From: "B.D.WATTS" 
Subject: UNITED KINGDOM-ENGLAND

Lounge a palooza is in Tower Records in Picadilly Circus, I know I 
bought it their although its fairly shite apart from the BFF and 
Edwyn Collins. I have my tickets primed and ready to go off. That is 
all.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTE FASCIST ALLIANCE IN 2002
BRITAIN IS BOOMING 
JUST WATCH LABOUR GO AND BLOW IT

TL6304@QMW.AC.UK

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 07:25:55 -0600 (CST)
From: c698773@showme.missouri.edu
Subject: Black and White poster....

Carrie-
I actually got two of those posters free at a small cd store in Waldo
(91st and Wornall, down by Ward Parkway).  THey were promotional posters
and he had a bazillion of them.  I asked if I could have them and he was
like "sure, we're taking them down soon,anyway."  I got an older poster
(red background) at Recycled for 7 bucks. It's pretty wacked out....

Latuh, gatuh....

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 12:08:11 -0500
From: Matt Moberly 
Subject: Fanny Packs and #$^*! pony tails

Concerning who says what on Fanny Packs,
I know the one singing/rapping most of the time is Darren, and the Damon
Wayans sounding little rap in the middle is Ben. Which would leave the
profusive swearing in a croaking voice to be Robert. Darren is awesome,
I fell out of my chair when I heard that track. Even if these boys knew
absolutely nothing about music and only did stuff like this and Bad
Idea, I think I'd still love them. They must have been hilarious in high
school.

Wyoming Davis

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 14:31:04 -0500
From: John Wroton 
Subject: 2 quick items

First  - I haven't seen anyone discuss this at all - has anyone noticed
that WAEA is the perfect length to just fit on one side of a 100 minute
tape?  I wonder if the boys did that on purpose (ie. left just enough
space before the hidden track so that it would work out that way)?
Anybody got any thoughts?!

Second - and ignore this if you don't like people posting about these
things - I had a bFF dream last night.  It was not exciting and I don't
remember all that much of it, but in the dream, I was looking at web
pages, and there was a page where you could click on the faces of Ben,
Robert, and Darren.  I did and suddenly I was either in the computer or
Ben was in the room with me and was talking about something (that is the
part I can't remember!).  Anyway, I NEVER dream about bands, so I don't
know if it was from reading other posts, or some other subconcious
process....

Now back to your regularly scheduled digest....

- --
John Wroton
Home Page: http://www.RTPnet.org/~jwroton

"This is our story, its a short one, but its a hard, harsh read" - The
Judybats

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 15:21:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Crissy995@aol.com
Subject: Re: Mitchell Lane 

I completely agree about Mitchell Lane being depressing... I hadn't listened
to my singles in a while, and the other day I took them out to listen to.,
b/c I had part of Mitchell Lane stuck in my head.. Mitchell Lane is really
kind of slow and sad and melancholy... but it sticks in your head and stays
there! Once it's there, especially if you're feeling kind of depressed, you
just can't shake it!! I didn't think much of it when I first heard it, but it
grows on you the more you  Just sending out my two cents... see y'all later!!

Christine

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 15:45:54 -0500 (EST)
From: marc s kaplan 
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #557

you wrote:

- ->but hey!!! that's me.
- ->....
- ->        .......i just like to enjoy the song.......isn't that what
- ->the main objective is!?!  to enjoy his music???

sure, of course--but it is also intresting to contemplate the symbolic
meaning behind the songs.  That is what complicated song writing is about,
not only saying what you mean, but also saying what you feel in "not so
many words".

- --but to each his own-- 

I like thinking about what the song means as well
as just enjoying the tunes.

About the Georgtown show:

Does anybody have any idea about any aspect of this concert???

See ya

				-/\/\arc

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 16:02:19 -0500 (EST)
From: spencerc@usit.net (Spencer Corden)
Subject: Knoxville review & opening w/ Missing the War

O.K., here's my first Armchair post, just some info on the show. Here's the
set list:

1.      Missing the War (God, what great harmonies!)
2.      Battle of Who Could Care Less
3.      Philosophy (Complete w/piano crashing w/ the piano stool)
4.      Selfless, Cold & Composed
5.      Theme from Dr. Pyser (With some "Pulp Fiction" quotes in the piano solo)
6.      The Last Polka
7.      Steven's Last Night in Town
8.      Fair
9.      Brick
10.    Kate (Great contrast between intro blues rhythms & verse rhythms)
11.     Jackson Cannery
12.     One Angry Dwarf.....
13.     Sports & Wine (Darren did an incredible solo)
14.     Smoke (What is that tube Ben plays the melodica through? Anyone?
Anyone?)
15.     Best Imitation of Myself (Mostly a cappella, Robert on upright
bass--this was too cool!)
16.     Underground ("Hand me my shotgun"-Darren)("Show me the fish fry"-Robert)
              [They were obviously in Tennessee and knew it!)
Encores
17.     Song for the Dumped  (I even threw a black t-shirt on stage after
"gimme back my black t-shirt" and got it back from Ben after the show!!!)
(Plus, Robert came out front and let people play his bass while he kept on
hand on the frets, then unplugged the cable and got incredible sounds by
putting the live plug on Darren's cymbals in a hip hop rhythm, then all the
guys started doing beat box vocals--what an intro--too cool!!)
18.     Julianne (Started out w/ a bossa nova beat, then played faster than
they had all night--just fantastic!)

Anybody wanting a dub of it can email me privately (2:1 or trade), but bad
news--I ran out of tape on the encores.  Sorry!

In regards to opening with "Missing the War", here's my 2 cents.  After
opening bands have come through and done their thing, the last thing Ben &
the boys want to do is come out blasting & have problems with monitors.
Now, if you are Ben Folds and your monitor is screwed up, *plus* you are
trying to play some song at a blistering speed, you just don't have time to
communicate those problems to your sound crew.  On top of that, I think
that Missing the War is an awesome song to open with.  If you haven't heard
them do it live--it's incredible.  When those 3 part harmonies come in &
cut through the silence in the beginning of the song, it is so damn
powerful that you can't even believe it's happening.  I've seen them twice,
they opened with it both times and each time the crowd went nuts.  It gives
you a complete appreciation for the full scope of their abilities.  They
are so damn talented you just feel like you're in a dream seeing and
hearing them on stage.

On top of that, after the show, they talked to us out next to bus, and they
were just the nicest down to earth people you could ever meet.  I was told
by Ben to pass on to Frank Maynard a big "THANKS" for the Armchair, so
there you go, Frank.  (My" Hello my name is" ... tag was "Great Caeser's
Ghost"--Ben put an exclamation point on it after signing *all* my cd
singles & imports!) Also, upon asking Ben & Robert what their favorite
McDonald's entreé was, I got this response.

Ben:   " Filet o' Fish Sandwich"
Robert:    "Actually, I just found out that they kill 25 million cows a
year, so I don't go there." (He could not decide where his favorite salad
bar was.)

Sorry for the long post, but it *is* my first, so I had a lot of pent up
anxiety.  Thanks for letting me ramble.

Spencer Corden
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving definitely isn't for you"

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 17:32:55 -0800
From: benfoldsfive.theyrule@juno.com (a person ON line) 
Subject: ummmmm

Okay, I would like to thank everyone for the help on "Brick". And no, i
do not have, or even heard of!, the second c.d.. I never even knew that a
2nd existed!!! By the way, what is the name of the second c.d.??? any
help would be appreciated. 		Thanks again,
		gmf
"The cruelest lies are often told without a word... the kindest truths
are often spoken but never heard- Ben Folds

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 15:07:55 PST 
From: "Jerry Maloney" 
Subject: Everything is meaningless...

>         I just don't get some of the things that are posted on this! 
> I mean about 75% of the posts are enjoyable but then there are these 
>other 25% of the posts......they are just............dumb and 
>meaningless!


Don't take this personal, but is there ANYTHING posted on the Armchair 
which, in the grand cosmic scheme, is really important?  NO!  Of course 
there isn't!

This is just a pleasant diversion for BFF fans (and others, i suppose).  
No need to insult someone because (s)he is interested in different 
trivia than you are.

Stop being a pyser.

Jerry


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 15:09:55 PST 
From: "Jerry Maloney" 
Subject: Everything is meaningless...

>         I just don't get some of the things that are posted on this! 
> I mean about 75% of the posts are enjoyable but then there are these 
>other 25% of the posts......they are just............dumb and 
>meaningless!


Don't take this personal, but is there ANYTHING posted on the Armchair 
which, in the grand cosmic scheme, is really important?  NO!  Of course 
there isn't!

This is just a pleasant diversion for BFF fans (and others, i suppose).  
No need to insult someone because (s)he is interested in different 
trivia than you are.

Stop being a pyser.

Jerry


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 19:15:39 -0500 (EST)
From: BlueJellow@aol.com
Subject: This is not a dumb post 

Okay, I figured out why I haven't seen my posts lately. They are so damn
slow, that's why.  It's about a week later when I see the things.  Ok. 
I was thinking that maybe BFF didn't want to play Uncle Walter is because he
is probably based on a real person, and he may have died or something and it
could be painful to play or think about.  The Uncle Walter didn't seem so
healthy in the song, and downright messed up.  I feel so bad when I hear the
song and I picture an old guy sitting in an armchair while an old guy babbles
and dribbles all over himself.  IT's not a pretty picture.  It's really sad.
Lucy

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 19:30:40 -0500
From: jaedonely@juno.com (A A DONELY) 
Subject: Bitching and Moaning

ARRGHHH!!!!  Now I have basically resigned myself to Not Going to the BFF
show at the Roxy Nov 4(because Im 16, two short years from being 18+!!!) 
BUt theres still a little part of me that would like to go....not having
to finagle my way in illegallly..........
and so I was listening to 101.7 and they were giving away tickets.  The
DJ asked what was the name of (Brick) and what # it was on the cd.  I was
the 1st caller through and I won!!!!! So I was pysched.  Then they
realize Im 16 and the DJ humilitates me live, on air, calling me
Elisa-nasal and refusing to give me the tickets!!!!! I begged and
beseeched, but he was adamant.  It sucked!!!!!
My point, I guess, (Frank!) baby armchairites should still be able to go
to BFF shows, screw the club age thing-BFF may blow up and their next
tour could be in really huge arenas!
And all people on the armchair basically are crazy obsessed loving fans,
right?
Cant all armchair people,regardless of age, be able to see BFF live,
headling a show and playing for a loooong time.  Ya gotta back me up
here!!
(I go to Catholic school-my life is sucky enough)
Thank you for listening. ~Elisabeth
There, I vented, and my 18+in late 1999 self can go do my homework now.

------------------------------

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #568
**************************************


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