STEADY AS HE GOES: BENSON ON TOUR - Limerick Independent News

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STEADY AS HE GOES: BENSON ON TOUR

Written by Alan Jacques

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

BRENDAN Benson will be better known to most for his sidekick role to Jack White in s**t-kicking rock band The Raconteurs, but as a solo artist he has produced a stunning body of work that has rightly seen him hailed as something of an American treasure. Rock legend Iggy Pop who invited the 39-year-old songsmith to sing on a track on The Stooges’ 2007 album ‘Weirdness’ said, “Benson’s voice has a gleam to it, a West Coast shimmer, the shine of a sleek new fender. When I hear Brendan Benson sing I think of the furl on a Coca Cola bottle, of broad Midwestern skies and bright yellow mustard.” Born in Royal Oak, Michigan, raised in New Orleans, Benson who these days hangs his hat in Nashville, Tennessee, might be as American as the stars and stripes or McDonald’s, but a large part of his heart is deeply rooted in Ireland. His mother is from Youghal in County Cork. With his special connection to the ‘Emerald Isle’, Brendan has now decided to visit these shores for a busman’s holiday (an expression which had him totally bemused when I caught up with him this week) this September to take in the sights and perform in 15 of the country’s most intimate venues, including our very own Dolan’s Warehouse. “I do have a special affinity with Ireland and this seemed like the perfect excuse to see all of it. It started out small, just me and keyboardist Mark Watrous and my wife and son, but then Mark’s wife decided to come along and gradually the number got bigger so we’ve had to hire a tour manager. The whole idea behind the tour is to keep it old school and just travel around playing for gas money like in the old rock days,” Benson revealed to Alan Jacques this week. “My mum is from Youghal, that’s where her family the Corcorans come from. I think I still have a great aunt living there but I’m not sure. But yeah, you never know, I’m sure we’ll stop in and say hi when we’re down that way,” he says. Of course with a name like Benson and Limerick home to another musical hero of the same surname — Sammy — I just had to ask if there were any Irish roots on his father’s side? “Well there’s no connection with the Benson side of the family to Ireland, so no I don’t think I have any relatives in Limerick,” says the Raconteurs co-founder matter-of-factly. Fair enough! Touring Ireland is something Brendan has always wanted to do and he is excited about taking the scenic routes during his three-week stint. But when I suggest that touring Ireland in a small van is very different from how he must be used to touring with The Raconteurs he becomes evasive, and shrugs it off, not for the first time during our interview I might add, by simply saying, “yeah sure”. Moving on then Brendan, how well do you know Ireland? “I was in Ireland a couple of times when I was young, but I don’t know it that well. Usually I’ve only been to Ireland for a show so I’m looking forward to spending some time there and getting to see the country. I remember going to see the Cliffs of Moher so I want to do that again and hang off the edge. And what’s that other place, that hill, where you can roll up it? Do you know the one I’m talking about? It’s like an optical illusion, I think!” Despite his interest in magic hills and daredevil urges to dangle off the side of our most famous cliff face, Benson also has some work to do when he visits Ireland in a few weeks time. Performing all the hits from his critically-acclaimed back catalogue, which includes 1996’s ‘One Mississippi’, 2002’s ‘Lapalco’, 2005’s ‘The Alternative To Love’ and this year’s ‘My Old, Familiar Friend’, the charismatic singer will take to the stage in Ireland’s most intimate venues for 15 special acoustic shows. And as anyone who attended his Vicar Street show back in March will tell you, fans going to the gig in Limerick on September 24 are in for a real special treat. “The Irish fans are great and can be really fanatical, although that was not always the case; there have been a few exceptions. But no, I haven’t really thought too much about the live show yet, but yeah it will be hard making that switch from holiday to performing. On impulse I asked fans recently to suggest some covers they’d like me to do on these shows, but I’m not sure if I want to do any at all now,” he laughs. During a visit to Dublin a few years ago Benson picked up a copy of Choice Music Prize-winning artist Jape’s second album ‘The Monkey’s in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me’ and its opening track ‘Floating’ was one The Raconteurs were then quick to work into their own live set. Perhaps Brendan, I could suggest a cover of ‘I Was A Man’ from his 2008 album ‘Ritual’ if the impulse again takes you! “Yeah sure. Jape is great. I haven’t really been keeping a close eye on what he’s doing these days, but yeah I check in occasionally. He’s doing really well, or at least it seems so. Other than him I don’t know much Irish music but I’m really anxious to check it out when I’m over there, just for the simple reason that I don’t know any. I’m just really looking forward to getting over to Ireland,” he concludes. Steady as she goes then Brendan and we’ll see you in Dolan’s Warehouse on Friday September 24. For further information or bookings call 061-314483.

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