Brendan Benson: steady as he goes

(Credit: Autumn de Wilde)

Brendan Benson has been making clever, emotive power pop since the mid-‘90s. But it took a role with Jack White as co-leader of the Raconteurs to introduce Benson to the masses. Having risen to the level of rock star (a term Benson would likely never apply to himself), he returned this August with “My Old Familiar Friend,” his first solo album in four years. Once again, Benson has issued a collection of songs that are equally catchy and poignant.

In a lengthy conversation with Metromix (occasionally interrupted by Benson’s attempts to find his way backstage at a venue in Berlin), the singer-songwriter talked about his latest release, his work with the Raconteurs, recording with the Stooges and an upcoming album with country singer Ashley Monroe.

When did you first start working on “My Old Familiar Friend”?
It was during the Raconteurs. Actually, some songs I wrote during my last solo tour, which is five or six years ago. This record is kind of a collection of songs from a five-year period. I had like 40 songs ready to go and I got with Gil Norton, who produced it, and we picked the ones we liked—or mostly the ones he liked—and did those.

Were any of the songs from “My Old Familiar Friend” considered for Raconteur albums?
Yeah, “You Made a Fool Out of Me” is a song that I gave to the Raconteurs. Well, I didn’t give it to the Raconteurs, but we played it for like a minute; worked on it for a day or two. It just didn’t really pan out. We all agreed it would be better for my solo stuff. They wanted to do “Feel Like Taking You Home,” but I wanted to keep that for my solo record.

What made you want that particular song for yourself?
With “Feel Like Taking You Home,” I had more of a vision for it. They just didn’t get it—or didn’t get the way I heard it. Conversely, there are other songs, like “Old Enough” [from the Raconteurs’ 2008 album “Consolers of the Lonely”] was one that the Raconteurs just nailed it straight away. I wasn’t really sure how it should go. It’s different every time.

I covered the Raconteurs performance at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Not only did it rank as the best rock show I had seen in recent memory, you guys looked like you were truly having a blast. What makes playing in the Raconteurs so special?
First of all, we are all friends and fans of each other’s music. That’s a rare thing, I think, to form a band with people like that—people who you respect and admire so much. I was not afraid someone was not going to perform well or somebody might screw up. It was the opposite, like almost trying to outdo each other. No outdo each other, but someone would raise the bar every night. Like maybe [drummer Patrick Keeler] would be on fire and it would be inspiring for the rest of us. It worked like that a lot. Jack [White] would do something unexpected and great and I think that’s how it should be—hanging on for dear life.

I read that you and White wrote “Steady as She Goes” in an attic and that led to the formation of the Raconteurs. Is that true or did White just come up with a cool anecdote for us gullible writers?
No, that’s pretty true. I had that song kicking around and he came by my house one day while I was working on it. I had it partially recorded, I had a demo…he immediately grabbed a piece of paper and started writing lyrics and it came together real quickly. We did a demo together then as the two of us and decided, “Let’s do more, and get Patrick and [Jack Lawrence from the Greenhornes] in it.” It was really that spontaneous.

That’s one of those stories that sounds almost too good to be true.
The Raconteurs, for me, are almost too good to be true. I was thinking that the whole time.

Speaking of working with people, you sang on the Stooges’ 2007 album “The Weirdness.” One doesn’t associate your music with their style of punk. How did you react to Iggy Pop’s invitation?
Surprised and elated. He liked the Raconteurs a lot. We played some festivals together and he’d come out and watch. And then he said, “I really love your singing and I’d like you to come sing on my record.” I was like, “Are you kidding me? You’re a god. Of course!” In fact, they were making the record in Chicago and I was in Europe and I flew back just to do it.

Nashville has long been known as country music headquarters, but lately people like White and yourself have relocated there. What’s the attraction?
Well, the music industry is there, but it’s also not like Los Angeles. It’s still kind of has a small town feel. There’s lots of normal people. [Laughs] And also there’s no income tax. But mainly the people here are really cool.

What do you foresee happening next: a new solo or Raconteurs album?
Actually, I think I’m going to do a record with Ashley Monroe. She’s a singer-songwriter from Nashville. We’re working together on a record I’m really proud of.

What do you think of Jack White’s latest venture, the Dead Weather?
I like it like a lot. In fact, I just saw them a couple nights ago in Amsterdam. Oh, man, it was amazing. There’s four like super-talented, really interesting characters on stage. It was really cool. I’m a fan, yeah.