CONTEST TIME - TRI-COLOR GIVEAWAY!
Brendan Benson
“Half a Boy (And Half a Man)” b/w “Big Kid Face”
179 tri-color copies, unlimited quantity on black vinyl
I just want the whole world to know, I am so incredibly excited to have a Brendan Benson record on Third Man.
Yeah yeah, I know we put out Raconteurs and JW and the Bricks stuff that he slays on, but this is different.
Brendan was the first musician I ever really met who I considered having “made it.”
He was signed to Virgin! He bought a house with record label money! He opened for the Wallflowers! He got fan mail from Japan! He jammed with Dave Grohl!
For me, at 16 years old, that was eye-opening.
And as his career has progressed, both solo and in bands, he’s never failed to make a record that was interesting or tuneful or compelling.
Dude just does good work. And this a-side is quintessential BB like he has not lost a step. You need this in your life. Much respect to the first lyric in the song referencing his obscure b-side “Son of a Welder.” Also, so stoked that we’re pressing tri-colors in Detroit and how sick they look!
Side notes: in the height of my Sub Pop collecting phase I bought a copy of the Flaming Lips 7” off of him. He gave me a bowl of blueberries and cream (or was it milk?) It was, at the time, the most exotic thing I had ever eaten. He was amazed I had never eaten a salad. I would not eat my first salad until the age of 21.
On the way to a JW & the Bricks rehearsal back in ’99 I wrecked my car. I was 17 years old. I asked all the other band members how old they were the first time they’d wrecked a car. Jack and Kevin both responded “16.” Brendan responded “15” and I thought that was BADASS. Like he stole the car or something.
I hopped in the Whirlwind Heat tour van for a day back in 2003 when they were opening for the Dirtbombs. They put in the “Lapalco” CD and all three of them together just got SOOOO EXCITED to be listening to it, like it was some long waited-for treat. So I asked them how often they listen to “Lapalco” and they said “Once a day, every day.” They just loved the album so much they couldn’t contain themselves.
I sing “Jet Lag” to my daughter Violet usually 4th or 5th in my setlist of “Shit I Know All the Words To While I’m Trying to Get This Booger To Bed.”
I’m giving away one copy of the limited edition tri-color of this record. In the comments below, do whatever…tell a story about Brendan, make me laugh, make me cry…it’s free reign to impress me. Whichever comment I like most gets the prize. SIMPLE!
well…. again i must say how pleased i am with the song, the singer’s return to the TMR label and the entire presentation…… in thanks i have decied to share this extraordinary find with you all and especially brendan… ive always thought he was a gifted singer with a trained ear…. when i heard this track it made me realize who i have always thought had a similar voice to brendan…. its a rare Mariachi version of Golden Brown with Hugh Cornwell singing this variant of the Stranglers … if you are not familiar with the Stranglers you might be very shocked to explore the larger body of work and sound…. edgy might be a good word
Congratulations, Brendan B!
We are a lucky bunch to have such fantastic artists & music from TMR.
Let’s get some live shows here in Tulsa! We’re ready!
Love to all! X
Danelle
Don’t remember getting anything for free, so this one’s not for me. And I’m alright with that. Happy New Year Everybody!
Ben, many thanks for the chance to win!! Thought you may appreciate that I’ve been bringing my family to Thirdman (from Chicago) twice a year for almost 10 years now, so much so that my 6 year old son says “They should change the name Nashville to, Ben and Jacks Thirdman City!”.. You guys are awesome, keep it up! Good Luck to everyone!!!
JF
I have nothing witty to say – other than how gracious and caring he was while he was producing an album from Nashville’s Modoc, and how jealous I was knowing they got to craft music with him. Incredible. Congrats on the release!
Why is 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 ate 9..hahaha
Why did the tissue dance across the road?
It had a little boogie in it
when i hear brendan benson i think robby benson the beauty and the beast guy. easy mistake to make, eh?
Did you hear about the drummer who gave all his daughters the same name?
Anna 1
Anna 2
Anna 3
Anna 4
I met Brendan backstage at Bonnaroo in 2007 — the year The White Stripes were one of the headliners (an incredible show, insanely enormous crowd — but that’s a whole other story). I knew his solo music, but – at this point, The Raconteurs were still a new band and noone seemed to really know who he was. I was there photographing the show for the webzine INK 19 and I stopped him to say “hello, you’re great!” and ask for a quick portrait. He was super sweet, chatted me up for a few and then when I went to take the portrait of him he pulled the girl he was with (girlfriend? sister? friend? no clue) into the pic. He didn’t want her to feel left out. What a sweet heart. (I would include the photo here if I could.)
The following year I was back at Bonnaroo, photographing again, and this time The Raconteurs were headlining. People seemed to know who he was THAT year! :)