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!
Three women are about to be executed. One’s a brunette, one’s a redhead, and one’s a blonde.
Two guards brings the brunette forward, and the executioner asks if she has any last requests. She says no, and the executioner shouts, “Ready . . . Aim . . .”
Suddenly the brunette yells, “Earthquake!!” Everyone is startled and looks around. She manages to escape.
The guards then bring the redhead forward, and the executioner asks if she has any last requests. She says no, and the executioner shouts, “Ready . . . Aim . . .”
The redhead then screams, “Tornado!!” Yet again, everyone is startled and looks around. She, too, escapes execution.
By this point, the blonde had figured out what the others did. The guards bring her forward, and the executioner asks if she has any last requests. She also says no, and the executioner shouts, “Ready . . . Aim . . .”
The blonde shouts, "Fire!!
Sometimes when I drive my pants get whet.
Hi I I know what happens when we die if I’m the winner I’ll fill you in
I saw Brendan in Memphis at the Shell in Overton Park when he took part in the Alex Chilton tribute/memorial show. It was supposed to be a Big Star show, but Alex passed away earlier that year. They turned it into a memorial and several folks came along to show love including Mike Mills, John Davis and many more. When Brendan hit the stage, the band tore into a ripping version of “O My Soul.” Then the classic “September Gurls.” The spirit of that evening was so loving and the vibes were awesome. I shook Brendan’s hand afterward and thanked him. Big Star fans were mourning the loss of Chilton and Brendan paid a glorious tribute. What a memorable evening and I feel so lucky to have been a part of it all. Brendan is awesome…
Never seen Brendan Benson live but my wife and I love his music and would love to have this in our collection to appreciate and enjoy! Also next time we’re down in Nashville we’ll bring you webers root beer!
I never got to see the Raconteurs, I did catch the Racontwoers though. I was one number off from winning that damn go-kart too. Oh, well. Anyway, this is really awesome. The first tri color I’ve been terribly excited about in some time!
Honestly Ben…. you had me at Blueberries and Milk when it comes to Brendan Benson…. but then i realized that this entire narrative of yours really goes back to knit the great yarn that is the music history of Detroit … Words like ’ does good work’ and ‘’tuneful’ and ‘wrecked a car’ seem like Detroit Badges of honor amongst the stock and trade Michigan folk who are proud of the true values that build America with itheir own hands…. of course the curbfeelers on this el dorado of a ROTW would have to be ‘on the way to practice with JW & the Bricks’ and ‘member of Raconteurs’ with his own tri-color put this particular piece of your ongoing weave of Blackwell’s Detroit Music History as is witnessed by the struggle and the hard won successes of Brendan Benson as creator and community leader
I believe that Ben Blackwell is a genius curator in the world of vinyl records. And to receive a tricolor record from him would be historic!
I will buy you lunch and a beer for the 45.
My first experience with Brendan was the One Mississippi album. Picked it up because I liked the cover and loved it from track one.