Word: lapalco
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Benson brought his sound and songs from Lapalco to TT the Bear’s in Davis Square on Jan. 18 as a part of a mini-northeastern tour. TT’s eclectic interior and core audience reflects everything that is “bitsa” (bitsa this, bitsa that) in Benson’s appearance and performance. Part bar, part stage, TT’s has a reputation with hip Cantabridgians for bringing bands a level up from obscure. Physically, Benson is a little slight, a little wiry, a little scruffy and a little handsome. Evoking...
...under-under-card for the Damn Personals, Benson strapped on a white guitar, took on TT’s minimalist stage and cramped confines and wordlessly launched into his 45-minute set with “Folk Singer” off Lapalco, from which he drew most of his performance. As a performer, Benson remained largely static and stone-faced (he left epileptic gyrations to his tambourine and maracas man), even failing to identify the members of his backup band. His workman-like approach brought focus more to the music than to performance, but also somewhat alienated an audience obviously...
...Lapalco, Benson sounds very much as he does in performance. The music runs far and wide from meditative to exuberant, driving to wispy, and at his heart, Benson exemplifies a kind of perpetual garage-band spirit but he manages to leave behind the negative baggage associated with that label. Neither Benson nor his rhythm guitarists ever take solos and stray away from founding chords in performance or on the album, but this is one damn good garage band. Benson Benson is a much better than average vocalist, his licks are compelling, and his experimentation within the garage idiom so refreshing...
...week, I could not help but warm to the album—it has now become a staple in my CD changer—even if I remain cold to Benson’s performance personality. Benson hardly ever seems to come to Boston and the suburbs, but Lapalco and its resilient, enduring songs will worm their way into your mind even when not spinning the disc...
...Lapalco...