Power-pop rocker Brendan Benson is a very busy man. When he’s not touring the world, or in the studio recording another infectious solo album or working with the Grammy-nominated blues-rock quartet, the Raconteurs, that he co-founded, Brendan is graciously lending his prolific songwriting talents to artists far and wide. Following the release of his fourth solo LP, My Old Familiar Friend, in August of 2009, he embarked on a six-month tour of Europe and the United States. Between the US tour dates, he co-wrote and recorded songs with country singer Ashley Monroe, got married, welcomed the birth of his son in April, performed at a tribute concert in Memphis honoring the late Alex Chilton, followed by a performance in Central Park, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Summerstage, where Benson was among several artists invited to perform selections from Simon and Garfunkel’s songbook. He recently co-wrote, produced and appeared on the hilarious Baby, I’m with the Band, a track from Margaret Cho’s latest rock comedy album, Cho Dependent.
He went back on the road this past September, for a month-long tour of Ireland with his new family and new touring band. While in Ireland, Brendan came into contact with two very dedicated yet mentally disturbed fans (who, coincidentally, are also a singing duo) named Midas Well and Upton O. Goode. According to sources that wish to remain unnamed, the duo first met at a cold yoga retreat in Antarctica. Goode, who hails from Ireland, departed his homeland after receiving the devastating news of a nationwide Guinness drought. Distraught and disoriented from the imminent reality of a life without his beloved brew, Upton navigated seas and trekked through continents for a years long journey that led him to the South Pole. His arrival, or rather, face forward collapse, was welcomed by a group of cold yoga enthusiasts who carried his severely frostbitten and unconscious body to the retreat where they were practicing this very challenging and very deadly form of Yoga. Midas Well, a native of Manitoba, Canada and soon-to-be immigrant of Ireland, was also at the retreat. He managed to revive Upton, whose advancing hypothermia had rendered him delirious, screaming for “a pint of plain”, followed by prayers to St. Patrick to end the Irish Guinness drought. Realizing Upton’s confusion, Midas explained the difference between “drought” and “draught” and assured him that his country was in no way experiencing a shortage of the ale. Instantly revitalized and determined to return home, Upton requested the company of Midas for his journey back to Ireland and casually mentioned something about the two of them becoming world famous pub singers. Both men fled the retreat, realizing that, in their mind, there was no higher state of consciousness than the inebriating effects of a Guinness stout. The two have been inseparable ever since.
Their desperate attempts at contacting Brendan Benson (twenty-six emails, eleven text messages, three life-threatening voicemails and two suicide notes, over a 24-hour period) to produce, or better yet, ghost-write a two-song EP, would have at the very least resulted in a restraining order, if not land them in jail. Instead, they lucked out because Brendan didn’t press any charges. He miraculously agreed to not only work with them but sign them onto his new record label, Readymade, provided there was a substantial geographical distance between Mr. Benson and Well and Goode. Multi-instrumentalist and touring bandmate, Mark Watrous (The Raconteurs, Loudermilk, Gosling) was also invited by Brendan to co-produce the EP. Watrous reluctantly agreed to share production duties on the condition that he could carry a concealed weapon at all times, in the event that Well and Goode don’t hold up their end of the bargain and suddenly show up in the studio unannounced.
If the story of Well and Goode sounds preposterous, it is. Midas Well and Upton O. Goode are none other than Brendan Benson and Mark Watrous. Despite the tall tale, Well and Goode’s debut EP makes for great listening. The featured songs, Spray Tan and Two Birds showcase brash, gyration-inducing rhythms and clever lyrics. The opening track, Spray Tan, is a decadent, groove-filled concoction with somber lyrics pertaining to the fleeting happiness of material wealth and the privileges it once provided the song’s protagonist. Two Birds is an earthy, guitar-driven ballad, which humorously delivers the universal message of ‘do unto others as you would have done to you.’ These are well crafted pop gems; no frills or grand overtures to wait for – Well and Goode cut to the chase and sustain the listener from beginning to end with highly entertaining pop.
Available now on iTunes and at brendanbenson.com
