Jamie Lidell - The Ring

Last week my local hangouts reached an almost ghost town-like status when a lot of friends, musicians, bartenders, regulars headed down to Austin for a few days of amazing music, food, and parties. There was nothing much to report while they were away. Issue #10 of FOUND hit the stands with only a few minor hitches (with nearly the entire staff gone), I caught the Leslie and the Lys show at The Waiting Room with Clark (which must not have made that big of an impact on me since I didn't care enough to write about it here) and not much else happened.

Now, with SXSW behind us, it seems like things have begun to pick up again. I got the chance to see It's True on Tuesday with Steel Train. I could tell the boys were a bit off - having just gotten back from their trip to Austin - but they still delivered a stellar performance. Steel Train was much better than I anticipated, and they did a pretty great cover of Dancin' in the Dark, but I didn't really absorb most of the music that night (blame a three week-long sickness and lack of sleep for that one). Anyway, it seems like things are getting back to normal again. Here's a few highlights for the week: It's True! made the cover of this week's Reader. Both the Reader and The City Weekly feature some pretty solid SXSW reviews/recaps, so be sure to check those out. The newest issue of FOUND hit the stands last night, and there's a new mixtape from Brad Hoshaw featuring his picks from SXSW.

The most important bit of news is that the FOUND in Benson FOUNDraiser/Flea Market/Potluck/Show is this Saturday at the Foundry in Benson. The Flea Market starts at noon. It's ten dollars if you want to rent a table to sell, or you can stop by if you just want to browse. The word on the street is that Brad Hoshaw should have some vinyl for sale (which means I will probably end up spending way too much money, as per usual). The potluck starts at about 5. You can bring something to share if you'd like or just stop by and chow down on whatever people bring. Then, at around 8 (I think) the music starts. There will be a $5 cover if you plan on staying for the music. The FOUND staff is accepting donations for the magazine but the cover goes to the bands playing that night. Make sure you stop by to support a great local publication, enjoy some food, music, and have a good time.

In other news, this is my new thing to be excited about:



I love this video. I love this song. It's so funky. So danceable. So fun. The video perfectly captures Jamie Lidell's totally out there style. I literally cannot WAIT for this album to come out. Hits stores May 18th. You can definitely tell Beck had his hand in the production on this one. And that's a good thing.

FOUND in Benson

The newest issue of FOUND in Benson came out last night and, if you have the means, you should definitely check it out. Content for the zine and the number of copies printed each week solely depends on how many submissions we get and how much people donate. This week was a pretty limited run of 100, but there should be copies in a few places around the Dundee area (Amsterdam, Blue Line Coffee, etc) as well as all of the usual businesses in Benson.

This is the cover of this week's issue.


















This zine is something I am really proud of and am happy to be a part of. Also in this issue: an interview with Beck from AYGAMG (who is playing a show tonight at the Pizza Shoppe with Addison Wright and Whipkey Zimmerman), a great fiction piece from Aaron Shipp, poetry from Scott 'Zip' Zimmerman, and a great new mix-tape (which you can stream online at the FOUND in Benson Facebook page). Check it out if you have time.

Found in Benson

Last night, I spent my evening sitting in Benson, at the Barley Street Tavern, surrounded by friends and regulars, finishing assembly on the newest issue of Found in Benson. I realized that I'd neglected to mention it here at the Parlor.

Found in Benson is a weekly zine that is released exclusively in Benson (in the bars, music venues, and some other businesses in the area). Each issue is different. The zine is cut and paste style. The cover is up for grabs to whoever submits an idea. The non-profit zine is published every Thursday. Content and number of copies printed relies solely upon donations and volume of submissions. To donate or submit content to be included in future issues, contact any of the staff or look for coffee cans around Benson. The staff includes Jeff Spiehs, Brad Hoshaw, Kyle Harvey, and MarQ Manner.

Here's the editor's note from the first issue:

I find myself sitting alone, after completing the first issue of the new and improved Found in Benson. Despite all of the hard work that was required, I consider myself privileged to have spent the day with good friends, sipping on coffee and discussing the many strengths of our community. The Foundry's motto of local, honest, collaborative, rings true with everyone on staff and has inspired many to support us before ever seeing the first issue.

For example, the map was acquired by actual 'foot on pavement' effort, traveling down every stretch of cement (even the scary ones) in order to piece together a comprehensive map of the downtown Benson Business district. The calendar was a result of scouring countless websites and publications to ensure that we wouldn't leave out any possibilities of being entertained. And then you have the creative elements, which often times demand the most grueling work. Poetry, cartoons, essays, music reviews, photography and more...are all contributions from friends and neighbors of the Benson community. Anyone that has spent much time in the neighborhood knows that Benson consists of some truly original thinkers and we believe that they all deserve to be celebrated and explored.

Every aspect of this publication is tailored to give the ownership to YOU. As you may have noticed we have left this week's cover blank so that YOUR hand can provide the face of Found in Benson for weeks to come. If you turn in your designs to the staff or drop them off at The Foundry, it may be featured as the cover of next week's issue.

I look forward to the next time I walk into the bar and see the regulars with a tall boy in one hand and a FIB in the other. Their eyes dancing across the pages in search of their contribution then moving on to discover the hidden talents of their friends and possibly a revolutionary idea that will change the course of their day.

We would love to hear your suggestions on how this humble 'cut and paste' underground zine can better serve the Benson community. In the coming issues we hope you will be inspired to contribute your very own voice to these pages, and submit regularly.

Best wishes,
Brad Hoshaw

So that's it. I have to say, I am really excited about the new issue. The Valentine's Day issue is new and improved - with all of the kinks from the first issue worked out - AND it's printed on pink paper! There's a new mix tape (with streaming audio on the Facebook page), drawings, poems, short stories, an advice column. It's got something for everyone (including a flash fiction piece by me). I feel like I've been waiting for something like Found in Benson to find ME for some time now. I feel privileged to be a part (albeit a small one) of this publication. So many good things are starting to happen in Benson and I look forward to so many more great things to come. Please, look for the newest FIB the next time you're in Benson and donate if you'd like to support (what I believe) is a great publication.