Oh, Ben . . .

I was clicking around on Facebook the other day and I noticed that my friend Nanette’s status had something to do with Brewster McCracken, who is running for mayor of Austin.  I’m not even sure what she said but I did notice that some guy named Ben commented that seeing Brewster McCracken’s name always made him want to yell it out really loudly in a Scottish accent.  Now, see, that made me laugh really hard.  I think it was the whole Mike Myers vibe to the whole thing but also that it was really random and, well . . . random.  So even though I don’t know Ben, I added a comment letting him know that his comment made me laugh out loud (always let people know when they make you laugh, it can only do good).  So Nanette quickly replied (as she is wont to do, which is why she is such a FUN friend to have on Facebook) that Ben always makes her laugh, except when he is singing, at which time he gives her goosebumps.  I was like “Say what . . .?” because I don’t know Ben so I certainly don’t know that he sings, and MOST certainly don’t know that he sings well enough to give someone goosebumps.  I thought I should investigate.

So I google Ben.  Ben Mallott, that’s his name.  And I click into his website and go to the music page and click on the first song listed.  It’s called I Want It All.  I was so unsuspecting, just googling a name, clicking on a song.  We’ve all done it a thousand times, right?

Well, let me just say: HOT DAMN that’s a good song.  In fact, let me say it just one more time:  HOT DAMN that’s a good song.  I don’t know if you read me often but if you do, you know that I absolutely do NOT use bold type.  Ever.  And I’m using it now.  That’s how good that song is.  Damn.  Good.  Song.

I went on to read more about him and he’s definitely been very regaled lately, especially during SXSW, and everyone is all “Ben this” and “Ben that” so I’m just late to the party (as usual).  But I’m there now, at the Ben Mallott party.  I mean that figuratively since I haven’t yet gotten a babysitter and actually gone to hear him sing in this freakin-amazing-town-of-mine-where-people-like-Ben-Mallott-are-singing-at-the-place-around-the-corner-so-how-lucky-are-we-to-live-here town, but I will one of these days soon.

The song after that is good too, Heartbreaks.  And guess what?  So’s the next one.  You get the idea.  And as for that first song I mentioned, I Want It All, well, let me just say this.  After you’ve listened to it a few times through, then just go ahead and visit the lyrics page for that song and read along the next time you listen, just in case you didn’t get every single morsel out of it the first few times.

Hot Damn.

Tags: Austin, Ben Mallott, facebook, Heartbreaks, I Want It All, SXSW