filterD Event Of The Week: Brendan Benson

Brendan Benson don’t need no stinkin’ Raconteurs.

Yeah, it must have been cool to do stage time with Jack White and score a Billboard Top Ten release, but the truth is, this Royal Oak popster has been churning out infectiously listenable tunes for nigh a decade.

In fact, it’s almost criminal that Benson doesn’t have a wider audience for his solo pop-rock gems, since they’re so damn radio-friendly and can’t-get-it-out-of-you-head hummable. Listen to the dreamy harmonics of “Cold Hands, Warm Heart” or the Elvis Costello-drive of “Spit It Out Now” and then count the hours they bounces around your brain pan. If you’re looking for a list of contemporaries think Matthew Sweet or maybe Alex Chilton.

Taking a break from the Nashville-based Grammy-winning Raconteurs, Benson is releasing his first solo disc in four years. My Old, Familiar Friend is produced by Foo Fighters’ producer Gil Norton (The Pixies and Counting Crows as well), who brings a lush depth to Benson’s Beatle-cum-Motown power candy. This probably sounds like a totally backhanded compliment (and it’s not meant to be), but Benson’s music reminds me a tad of vintage Rick Springfield …if Springfield were way way more talented and didn’t try so hard.

Brendan will be playing a free show at Ann Arbor’s downtown Borders (612 East Liberty Street) on Friday at Noon-thirty then returning to The Deuce Saturday night for his show at The Pig. Tickets are an incredibly affordable $15  and Chicago’s Annie Rossi opens. 

The Blind Pig is located at 208 S First in downtown Ann Arbor.