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Brendan Benson kicks off tour in NYC, new album streaming

Benson’s new record…
Brendan Benson

“[Producer Gil Norton (Pixies, Foo Fighters) is] very strict — he dictates everything, down to how the kick-drum pattern should go,” says [Brendan] Benson, who wasn’t used to working with such a heavy-handed producer. “But I was glad. After making records by myself for so long, I wanted somebody to fucking take control.”

As for the Raconteurs, he says the band is on hiatus. “Doing two back-to-back records wasn’t our plan,” he adds. “When we made Consolers of the Lonely [released in 2008, two years after the band’s debut], we thought, ‘We’ll do this record, do our respective things, and maybe come back together at some point.” [Rolling Stone]

Benson’s new record, My Old, Familiar Friend, which comes out Tuesday (August 18th) on ATO Records, is currently streaming on NPR.

His tour kicks off with a show on August 17th (tonight) at the Bowery Ballroom. Sean Bones opens. Tickets are still on sale. All dates below…

Brendan Benson – 2009 Tour Dates
8/17/09 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
8/20/09 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
8/21/09 Late Show With David Letterman
8/22/09 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
8/24/09 Toronto, Ontario @ Mod Club
9/10/09 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
9/11/09 San Diego, CA @ Belly Up
9/12/09 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour