Sir Benji Hughes Goes Ren-Faire!

If you're looking for something genre-crossing and with lots and lots of hair, say hello to Benji Hughes, the irreverent croon-master who conjures visions of ZZ Top and Rapunzle while singing deceptively simple songs dressed in old school flair.

Citing influences as diverse as "beer, girls, the river, storms, space," Benji Hughes is part-heathen, part-comedian, part-transcendental poet, and all heart. He romances the stone as effortlessly as he kicks out the party jams. The end result is music that's oddly moving, funny and timeless.

Check out his latest video, a mere two days old in its Youtube life, feat. Benji rescuing our very own Kim Talon (of Eagle and Talon) from the clutches of evil. For anyone who misses the halcyon days of Mr. Hughes' packed Fold residency shows during his time in Silverlake (he now lives in his hometown of Charlotte, NC), I hope "Girl in the Tower" will give you the fix you so desperately need. Send $5 in well-concealed cash if you find yourself debating whether to laugh or not...



Directed by Manny Marquez (Ferraby Lionheart and Eleni Mandell).

Listen to more tracks here:
Benji Hughes - MySpace
Hear what Benji has to say about Mel Gibson here:
Benji & Mel - YouTube

Orphan Weekend Concert Pick

WILLOUGHBY tonight at El Cid.

Chet Baker is to Gus Seyffert as Elliot Smith is to well, Gus Seyffert. Which is to say that the guy definitely has some discernable heroes.

Still, his band Willoughby writes some very fine music and the tracks are some of the most gorgeous I've heard all year. Word on the street is that everything was recorded to 1/2 inch tape with John Lennon's ghost hovering in the rafters and then painstakingly mixed to such golden proportions your ears will blush. There's something classic about it all, and they're playing tonight at El Cid in Silverlake. With B.R.A.M and Electrocute.