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!
Just send me the record…..
i can usually come up with something witty or heartfelt, but i’m sick as hell, so i’m laying on the couch, self medicating, and going back and forth between mst3000 and the live coverage from all the women’s marches. happy saturday!
Ben we were really hoping we could get the chance to buy the tri from the BB release on novelties :( It is such an important release for all TMR fans
https://youtu.be/7EJ9WK6jw9k
Deaf Chonky
I totalled my Mom’s boyfriend’s wife’s car, a 1985 Trans AM W/t-tops in 1989 I was 18! My Dad didn’t know I had the car, neither did the other wife. This broke open the affair and my parents were divorced shortly after. Speeding recklessly causes divorce!
My first time participating in a contest. I never feel all that creative like many people here clearly are. I just put my BB story out there. My friend got me listening to Brendan several years ago. We decided to meet in Chicago to see Brendan in concert (I’m from the Detroit area and he from the Chicago area). We went a little early and were blown away to actually meet Brendan on the street across from the venue. He was really nice and seemed nervous or uncomfortable with the attention, but gracious, nonetheless. We made our way into the venue and positioned ourselves front row center. The show began and we had a great time. I was singing along to every song thinking I was killing it. At one point Brendan looked down at me with a laugh as I sang to my wife, “no I don’t want to argue, I don’t want to fight, ‘cause you’re always wrong and I’m always right.” It is in hindsight that I wonder if the laughter was my singing this to my wife or how badly I was actually singing. It will be the unanswered question that will plague for the remainder of my life. I sincerely hope that Brendan will tour on this new album and I can relive it all over again.
When my younger brother and only sibling passed away a few years ago, I was assigned the task of planning his memorial service. One of our biggest fights was over my trip to New Orleans Voodoo Festival (specifically to see the Raconteurs) without him, so to make up for it, I was taking him to Austin to see Jack White perform in early 2015. We never made it. He died before the show, and I was too devastated to make it on my own. Since so many of my memories with him centered around music, it only made sense that I would integrate this into his memorial service. I hand-made “limited edition” pamphlets, complete with dedications, about the artist, band members (living family), former band members (predecessors)…you get the idea. A labor of love for my broken boy soldier. He still makes me laugh, smile, and cry to this day. The last Christmas we spent together, he tried some ice cream flavor called Christmas Cookie. When asked how he liked it, he said, “it tastes like Santa Claus just finished in my mouth” and sat back, satisfied that he had made me fall to the floor laughing but completely disgusted the rest of my family.
My six year old son told me the other day that I’m not as cool as Wil Wheaton. Not sure where I’m supposed to go after that.
This is a good time to let you know that TMR gave me the experience of a friend opening my eyes to some cool music when I bought the yellow vinyl version of Bob Seger 2+2=? last year. When I got it in the mail and played it the guitar is just so raw and I think it’s so cool how you guys bring out this old obscure stuff and it’s just great. I bought Leon Rebone on light blue vinyl and love it! Now for the one band I love and if I could ask you one question it’d be – how does the Dinosaur Jr recording sound that they did in Nashville with you guys last month? They are my passion!!! Please give at least one month advance notice so I can plan to pick up that tri-color in Nashville of Detroit. Yep, I love them that much! For the past six years I’ve been collecting the entirety of their vinyl releases, so I have quite the collection. I thought I completed it last month and then found it’s a rabbit hole, haha! Anyways, I hope you like my post and thanks for Bob Seger!
~ Rodnie in Baltimore
Hairy bikers