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!
So here’s a Brendan-ish story for you.
About 3 years ago one summer, I get asked to host a morning shift on legendary college radio station WWSP. I thought I better make the most out of it since I feared they’d find out I wasn’t in school on top of being about 10 years older than most of them.
So I come to find out there’s this old, blind, Christian lady named Theresa that listens to the station practically 24/7. Everybody at the station calls here Mama T (as she has also taken to calling herself that). Also she has become notorious for call to chat about everything under the sun, or badger you with 20 questions when you’re trying to spin your tracks. Not to mention ending the 20min conversation by requesting three of the same songs every time (usually “play something from the Fleet Foxes”, Andrew Bird “Helicopter Song” or Gogol Bordello “Wear the Color Purple”). So I guessed right that her favorite color is purple, which doesn’t, make much sense……since she’s blind!
I should also mention that she’s notorious for calling back repeatedly if you spot her on the caller ID and don’t answer.
By week three, she’s calling me at least 3-4 times a day, and I get used to talking to here at 20 minutes a pop while not screwing up on air. At least I can get the conversations to revolve around music now instead of the usual nonsense.
What does this have to do with Brendan?……
In a dual attempt to discover new music for myself and bring stuff to the airwaves that isn’t getting any airplay, i take to digging through the massive stacks for buried treasures. I wonder to myself if the station has any Brendan Benson…Hello! What’s this? His debut album ‘One Mississippi’?? I haven’t heard this before..YES PLEASE! So i blindly pick “Sittin’ Pretty” Not but 30 seconds into the track, the phone rings…CRAP!! It’s Mama T. “I like the this tune. Who is it, is this Beck?”
Um……No Mama T.. It is not.
once in the valley of the Tris
lived a blonde musician
sitting with a guitar on his knee
one day he made a 7’’
singing about being free
he begged one of his friends
to help him this poem leave
he said it was the worst thing ever
and that you should give the tri to me
I can’t get over how generous you are. I’m still in awe of what you did for the Temple in Detroit. As a member of a fourth gen Masonic family, generosity is a common value, but when one gives back to the community like you did…it’s breathtaking. Thank you for supporting my extended Masonic family in this way. I’m a transplant over here in Kzoo, but my family originated in Detroit so it is very meaningful to me. Thank you.
FYI check out the temple in Battle Creek…it’s got a replica of Solomon’s temple.
I don’t know if the endearing charm of a Brendan Benson song will ever grow old for me, but as far as this single is concerned it has not. The man writes songs like a warm cup of tea and a hug. It’s just indescribable.
I vote for AMM!!! Not sure why, but it really cracked me up! Still chuckling…
Patiently Waited for 4 weeks for my dec 26 ( Bens closet novelties purchase ) and got the standard black u2 release ( already have ), well at least it wasn’t a T shirt ,haha.
Last year I got obsessed with Brendan and bought all six of his solo albums off his website as an early birthday gift to myself. One Mississippi was autographed by the man himself, and the whole order cost me a whopping $48. Best money I’ve ever spent on music. My wife razzes me all the time that he is my man crush, which I do not deny.
You have a chance, if I win, to send you at TMR best feta cheese EVER DREAMED and a bottle of finest cratan raki!
Choice is yours!
kalimera from Athens.
If Brendan Benson got stung by Jellyfish Jason Falkner, did someone pee on him before he could release One Mississippi?