The Magical Armchair Rotating Header Image

News on the reunited Ben Folds Five project

Jan 25th, 2012
by Frank.
No comments yet

Ben Folds Five back in the studio

As you know, Ben Folds has reunited with his old bandmates Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge for a recording session, with the intention of releasing an album if things go well. Apparently, as you can see from the photo, things are going well – enough so, in fact, that not only is an album in the offing, but a tour as well. Dates and locations are being booked and firmed up, but expect to see an announcement shortly. They plan to continue recording into March, and then we’ll see what happens!

Update: The official schedule isn’t out yet but already one festival is announcing booking the reunited trio. Mountain Jam 2012, held in Hunter, N.Y. May 31-June 3, is promoting Ben Folds Five as one of its many acts. Tickets are already on sale.

Posted in: Announcements.
Tagged:

‘Bubs started it all, says Folds

Dec 8th, 2011
by Frank.
No comments yet

BeelzebubsThe current a cappella craze has its roots in college groups and glee clubs, and The Sing-Off’s first season runner-up started it all, says Ben Folds.

Folds, one of the three judges on NBC’s vocal music competition show, credits the Tufts Beelzebubs, the devilish sixteen-man a cappella group from Tufts University in Medford, Mass., with starting the migration of vocal groups to the forefront of public consciousness.

A story in Boston’s BostInno  quotes Folds, who gave the group high praises for their having brought the long-brewing vocal music genre to the people. The ‘Bubs have been in existence since the 1960s with a constantly changing cast as students enter and graduate the university. They’ve released several albums of their tight harmonies and crisp vocal percussion, and provided the voices of one of the fictional glee clubs on the television series Glee.

Posted in: A cappella, Ben's Friends and Relations.
Tagged: ·

Folds headlining Concert for Civility

Nov 18th, 2011
by Frank.
No comments yet

Ben will be headlining the second annual Concert for Civility in Tucson, Arizona on January 15. The show is a major fundraiser for the Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding, which was founded by the family of Ron Barber. Barber is the district director for US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and was among those shot during the incident on January 8 in which the representative was severely injured and six others were killed. The fund supports nonprofit groups, schools and faith communities in efforts to combat bullying, improve respective discourse on public policy and awareness of mental health issues. Donations may be made online.

The concert, at Tucson’s Fox Theatre, features several local acts including Calexico. Tickets go on sale today (November 18) and prices range from $30 to $75. The top tickets include a reception with Folds and Calexico.

Further info in this story in the Arizona Daily Star by Cathalena E. Burch.

Related show

  • Artist: Ben Folds
  • Date: Sunday, 15th January 2012
  • Time: 6:30pm
  • City: Ben Folds in Tucson, Ariz.
  • Venue: Fox Tucson Theatre
  • Address: 17 W. Congress St.
  • Country: United States
  • Notes: Concert for Civility – with Calexico, plus Mariachi Luz de Luna, Salvador Duran, The Silver Thread Trio and Mitzi Cowell and friends, featuring Sabra Faulk.
  • Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

Posted in: Announcements.
Tagged:

Hall of Famer Ben

Oct 14th, 2011
by Frank.
No comments yet

Ben Folds has been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.

In a ceremony held at the Hall of Fame in Kannapolis, N.C., on October 13, 2011, Ben joined other Tar Heel native musicians including country singer-songwriter Billy “Crash” Craddock, jazz/funk bassist Maceo Parker and songwriter John D. Loudermilk.

A story on the ceremony appeared in the Salisbury, N.C. Post.

Posted in: Announcements.
Tagged:

Release day for “Best Imitation”

Oct 10th, 2011
by Frank.
1 comment

So, what do you think of it?

Today (October 10) is the day that Ben’s retrospective compilation Best Imitation of Myself goes on sale in the United Kingdom, and tomorrow (October 11) in the US. If you’ve picked up your copy (that is, if there are any record stores left where you are), have had it delivered, or have downloaded it, let us know what you think! Leave your review in the comments section of this post and we’ll publish the best ones and bounce them over to the Magical Armchair e-mail discussion list (you can subscribe as well, using the box to the right). Is your favorite concert-only song on it? A song from a show you attended? Something you’ve only heard on a fifth-generation mixtape or bootleg, finally in the clear? Let everyone know your first impressions, and enjoy!

Posted in: News.
Tagged: · ·

Own a piece of Ben’s piano

Oct 8th, 2011
by Frank.
No comments yet

The Nashville Symphony

One of the many positives to come out of last year’s tragic floods in Nashville has been increased awareness of the music scene in the Music City beyond its iconic country-western genre. Among the artifacts salvaged from the flood, albeit in an unplayable state, was Ben’s touring piano, locked away in Soundcheck Nashville, a storage facility serving the Nashville musician community, while the rising waters of the Cumberland had their way. Now that the piano has been recovered and dismantled, Ben has autographed its keys, and they will be sold to benefit the Nashville Symphony Orchestra’s annual campaign, which supports arts education in Nashville. Continue reading →

Posted in: Announcements.
Tagged: ·

The vault is open

Oct 7th, 2011
by Frank.
No comments yet

The collection of 56 historical Ben Folds tracks, the Ben Folds Fifty-Five Vault, is now live and available for download. The list includes many remastered and original songs from Ben’s collection of demo and alternate takes and material from Sony’s vaults as well. More than half the tracks are previously unreleased. The tracks can be purchased here from myplayonline.com. The complete collection costs $29.99, but individual tracks can be purchased for 99 cents each. Those who purchase Best Imitation of Myself, which goes on sale Tuesday, Oct. 11, will get a code which can be redeemed for a free five-song EP containing a sampling of the tracks available for download. The Free Folds Five EP, as it’s known, contains the tracks Dr. Yang, Narcolepsy (with Darren and Robert), and early demos of Song For the Dumped, Steven’s Last Night in Town and Underground. Continue reading →

Posted in: Announcements.
Tagged: · ·

Lustre fading a bit for “The Sing-Off”

Sep 27th, 2011
by Frank.
No comments yet

Second-episode overnight ratings numbers are in for the third season of NBC’s The Sing-Off, and it confirms the ratings drop for last week’s season premiere when compared with season two. Monday’s (Sept. 26) ratings averaged 1.7, with close to 5 million viewers at the start of the two-hour episode, but falling to just under 4 million toward the end of the program. The first week posted slightly better ratings, averaging 1.8 and around 5 million viewers. Overall, the show is in fourth place for Monday nights, behind shows on CBS, ABC and Fox. Continue reading →

Posted in: News.
Tagged:

Folds to appear at AES convention

Sep 26th, 2011
by Frank.
No comments yet

The Audio Engineering Society, an international association of audio and acoustic professionals, has announced that Ben Folds will be the guest for a special interview segment during the society’s 131st convention in New York in October. The interview will be conducted by Errol Kolosine, Assistant Arts Professor at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Kolosine is formerly general manager of the Caroline/Astralworks record label, on which Ben Folds Five released its first two albums, the self-titled debut and Whatever and Ever Amen, as well as Naked Baby Photos, a collection of b-sides and alternate takes after the group signed with Sony. Continue reading →

Posted in: News.
Tagged:

Ben co-hosting Today Show

Sep 23rd, 2011
by Frank.
No comments yet

Hoda KotbBen reports he’ll be co-hosting with Hoda Kotb (pictured left) on the late-morning segment of NBC’s The Today Show on Friday, September 30. The show, which airs on the NBC-TV network from 10-11 AM Eastern time (but check your local listings), features the lighter side of its newsier early-morning cousin, with celebrity gossip, entertainment news, and segments such as cute baby contests. Now that Ben’s a mainstream TV celebrity as judge on the peacock network’s The Sing-Off, he’ll need to keep it clean for the daytime audience. Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda’s regular co-host, has been in Seattle working on a theatrical production. Update: In case you missed it, you can watch the show online. Ben said his drink of choice was a Gin & Tonic, and Tweeted “What the hell did I just do? after the show. (30 Sept 2011)

Posted in: Check your papers and the TV, News.

← Earlier Posts