1

Tour Board / Newport News (4-23-17)

« on: April 24, 2017, 11:47:23 AM »

Great show! It has been one (if not the longest) gaps in between BF/BFF shows for me. I don't think I've caught a show since the reunion tour. I wanted to catch the yMusic tour but it didn't make it nearby. In any event here's the setlist that I can recall and not in order (although some of it is):

Phone in a Pool
Annie Waits
Uncle Walter (great story about the origin of the song and a construction worker back in NC--where I'm from )
Selfless, Cold and Composed
Bastard (audience participation on the background)
Landed
You Don't Know Me
I'm not a Fan (good storytelling about the origins of the song)
Capable of Anything (really enjoyed hearing with the orchestra parts)

Paper Airplane Setlist

All U Can Eat
Doc Pomus (Ben had to pull out his songbook for reference)
Rent A Cop (He told the crowd he played bass and drums on that song-not piano; he did the best he could and improvised a lot of it--how the crowd beat him "Ben-0, Newport News 1"). Song didn't count as 1 of the 10 songs for the setlist.
RTS
The Luckiest
Always Someone Cooler Than You
Tiny Dancer (Ben said he didn't learn many songs growing up because he made up his own; learned this song for an Elton gig and it got cancelled. Also a funny story about playing a church/birthday gig and being asked to play stuff people knows--which he didn't--he went home crying).
Smoke
One Down
Battle of Who Could Care Less (audience participation)
Army

Good crowd. Not sold out but hopefully a good payday for Ben. There you have it!

Mike

2

Album Board / Thoughts on BF/BFF vinyl

« on: October 19, 2016, 11:59:26 AM »

After years of being on the fence I'm finally getting "back" into vinyl. Any thoughts on which albums sound better on vinyl? I see Messner is going to be rereleased on vinyl in December. If anyone's got an extra yellow Suburbs vinyl they're willing to sell please let me know! Best, Mike

3

Tour Board / Virginia Beach (April 30, 2014)

« on: May 01, 2014, 05:53:29 AM »

Great show by Ben last night and a good crowd to match. Second time seeing Ben with a Symphony-first time was with Boston Pops back in 2008. Pretty much the same setlist as then but there were a few changes (no Belinda which wasn't released at the time of the show but I still remember the disgusted looks on one of the Pops players when he sang about big breasts:). Rock This Bitch had a very elaborate setup in which Ben spent probably about 10 minutes getting different parts of the Orchestra to play different parts--that was pretty cool and unique. You could tell from the faces of some of the players they enjoyed the spontaneity. The 3rd movement of the concerto was played and I have to say it sounded pretty good. It had a bit of Rhapsody in Blue in there to my ears. Ben did say it would be on an album coming out next year. The setlist was something like this (I know it is not 100% percent accurate): Effingham, Smoke, Jesusland, Picture Window, 3rd movement of the concerto, Fred Jones Part 2, Steve's Last Night in Town, Landed intermission, Zack and Sara, Cologne, Annie Waits, Rock This Bitch, The Luckiest, Brick, OAD (orchestra leaves) Army and Rockin' The Suburbs. We got the stories about Cologne, Steven and history of RTB. Ben talked about the parts of a concerto and about "shooting you whole load" on parts of it--pretty funny stuff. He also talked about the difficultly of playing concertos with "rock" band aids on his fingers and how wearing a tie is tough to try to play muted notes. I'll probably think of something else later but I've got to run for now!!! Cheers!

4

News / Ben Folds Five Could Make Another Album, But Not Until 2015 (from billboard.com)

« on: September 12, 2012, 03:57:15 PM »

http://www.billboard.com/news/ben-folds-five-could-make-another-album-1007946752.story?utm_source=most_recent#/news/ben-folds-five-could-make-another-album-1007946752.story?utm_source=most_recent

Good read. Ben expects to tour with the Five well into 2013 and plans to do symphony shows in 2014. Other plans discussed. Mike

5

News / "Ben Folds gets back to where he once belonged"- (news article)

« on: March 23, 2012, 05:02:00 AM »

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/beat/ben-folds-gets-back-to-where-he-once-belonged

A review of last night's show in Raleigh. Ben says he's in the middle of recording a new Five album. Glaring error in the beginning about "Not the Same" being a Five song. Mike

6

News / Ben's website down??

« on: January 17, 2012, 08:25:02 AM »

anybody else had this problem or just my server? I haven't been able to get on for several days now. Mike

7

Album Board / "It's Alright With God"

« on: December 01, 2011, 02:46:35 PM »

I keep singing/humming this song. Very catchy. I don't think the liner notes say much about it in the retrospective (Easter Sessions). Has Ben talked about this song in interviews? Any background info? I made a playlist of the new BFF songs on the retrospective and really enjoy all of them. I didn't know Amelia, Prince Charming or Food Court. I think Rock Star was listed as 2000-can't remember if BFF or solo but another good song.  Mike

8

News / Good interview with Ben on rollingstone.com

« on: October 20, 2011, 10:07:03 AM »

http://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/ben-folds-on-reuniting-with-the-ben-folds-five-20111019

Interesting about the Royal Albert Hall video. I'd love to get a copy. If anyone has got a "Freaking Out" dvd they could burn for me (or tell me where I could buy a burned copy) I would be very appreciative!! Mike

9

News / new interview with ben on billboard.com

« on: September 27, 2011, 12:13:32 PM »

http://www.billboard.com/#/news/ben-folds-five-returning-to-studio-plan-1005373062.story

Some interesting tidbits. Makes you wonder what's going to happen with the reunion.

10

News / anyone catch that sale from yesterday ben mentioned?

« on: September 13, 2011, 09:14:17 AM »

The Way to Normal (what I'll call) deluxe set with the album, etc was on sale yesterday for $50 but the company has sold them all. I really only wanted the extra cd with Weather Channel music, etc. Is this stuff any good, funny, etc? I'd like to get a copy of it. Thanks Mike

11

News / Amy Winehouse liner notes "thank" Ben Folds Five in her first album

« on: July 28, 2011, 07:21:38 AM »

I bought Amy's first album "Frank" in 2007 when it was released in the States. In the "thank you" section there is "Thank you Roy Ayers, Count Basie, Beastie Boys, Ben Folds Five.....and goes on to name about another 20 great artists. I read it at the time but forgot about it until I read the liner notes again this morning. For those of you that don't own Frank I think its a great album. Certainly not the classic "Back to Black" but nevertheless a great album. A bit more on the jazzy side. RIP Amy

12

Tour Board / Norfolk 4/13/11

« on: April 14, 2011, 12:01:14 PM »

Enjoyed the Norfolk show last night. Pretty sure this is the third April in a row Ben has played the Norva. This was a solo piano show. Some of the songs I remember are (and certainly not in order):

missed the first song or two
Annie Waits
Sentimental Guy
Landed
Bitch Went Nutz (bootleg version)-great
Brainwashed (may have been the bootleg version-been awhile since I listed to it)
Effington
Hiroshima
Brick
Kate (yes!)
Steven's Last Night (with cool drum solo--a hightlight)
Someone Cooler Than You (I think this was played)
Bitches (with Paul and two girls singing--another highlight hopefully on youtube)
Army (Paul singing again-great job)
Boxing
Philosophy
The Luckiest
Zac and Sara
Not the Same

I'm sure there was more but I can't remember. Good times! Mike

13

General Board / Speedy you out there?...Jackson/Emaline 45

« on: January 29, 2010, 04:07:33 PM »

Speedy,

After years of looking I finally got the 45. You might remember you and I were bidding on the one on ebay a few months back. Just arrived today. Does your cover "open up" on the left and right-in other words the cover just connects at the bottom. I know the guys did it on the cheap so I'm guessing this is legit--it certainly looks that way. Mike

14

General Board / speedy? you out there?

« on: September 09, 2009, 05:45:42 AM »

Congrat on the 7 inch Jackson. I was the other guy bidding on it. My limit was $150-- just curious if you're willing to disclose what was your limit? If you ever want to sell please keep me in mind. Thanks Mike

15

Tickets For Sale/Wanted / boston 10/02/09-need two tickets

« on: August 11, 2009, 09:17:38 AM »

Just found out I'll be in the area on the day of the show. If anyone has two extras please let me know. Thanks Mike