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Brendan Benson on tour w/ Cory Chisel (dates & videos)

Bendan Benson

Brendan Benson‘s latest solo record, My Old, Familiar Friend, came out over the summer on August 18th. A day earlier his tour kicked off with a show at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on August 17th.

Now he’s on tour again, with two NYC-area dates this weekend. Brendan Benson plays Friday, December 4th at (Le) Poisson Rouge (tickets) and Saturday December 5th at Maxwell’s (tickets ). Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons open both shows.

Playing behind Brendan will be a collection of familiar session players, including Ryan Adams & the Cardinals drummer Brad Pemberton, Raconteurs sideman Mark Watrous and Ben Folds bassist Jared Reynolds. The tour started in November, and its second stop was in Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 14th…

Curiously, none of the songs he played as a co-frontman of the Raconteurs were in the set, but considering that his new solo record, My Old, Familiar Friend, was recorded two years ago and finally released this August, who can blame him? Since 2005, he’s toured and recorded two albums with Jack White and company and has probably been itching to play his solo stuff for a while now.

His backup band, which consisted of a drummer, bassist, and second guitarist/keyboardist, is as tight an outfit as one could ask for and brought out the subtle dynamics and intricacies to Benson’s songwriting without losing any of its vigor.

Benson, dressed in black from head to toe, was slinging a lime green Fender telecaster covered in paisley. For the most part, he favored the “less talk, more rock” approach, letting the music speak for itself. [Back to Rockville]

I don’t think it’s weird that he doesn’t play Raconteurs song – he was a solo artist way before that band, but I don’t think it would be wrong if he played some of those tracks either. All tour dates and a few videos from earlier in the tour (including Benson & Cory Chisel performing “American Girl”) are below…

Brendan Benson – A Whole Lot Better

Brendan Benson & Cory Chisel – American Girl (Tom Petty cover) Nouveau Casino Paris 26/10/09

Brendan Benson – What I’m Looking For live First Avenue Mpls MN 11/17/09

Brendan Benson- Don’t Wanna Talk

Brendan Benson @ Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kansas, November 14th setlist:
A Whole Lot Better
Don’t Wanna Talk
Folk Singer
Good to Me
Eyes on the Horizon
Spit It Out, Sittin’ Pretty
I’m Blessed
Poised and Ready
Cold Hands (Warm Heart)
Metarie
Crosseyed
You’re Quiet
Tiny Spark

American Girl (w/ Corey Chisel)
What I’m Looking For

Bendan Benson – 2009 Tour Dates
Dec 04 Le Poisson Rouge New York, New York
Dec 05 Maxwell’s Hoboken, New Jersey
Dec 07 World Café Live Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dec 09 9:30 Club Washington, Washington DC
Dec 10 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, North Carolina
Dec 11 Criminal Records INSTORE PERFORMANCE Atlanta, Georgia
Dec 11 The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
Dec 12 Grimey’s INSTORE PERFORMANCE Nashville, Tennessee
Dec 12 Exit/In Nashville, Tennessee