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Inquiring Minds

30 Seconds with Benjamin Wesley

Benjamin Wesley is one of Houston's greatest talents, and his new album Think/Thoughts completely redefined what I thought musicians were capable of in the realm of songwriting. I fired off an e-mail to my new audio-crush to see what I could learn and discern about his bearded majesty in 30 seconds.

Rocks Off: What is the worst song in the world?

Benjamin Wesley: "Hotel California." It might not be the worst song in the world, but I could go my whole life never hearing it again and feel like I had removed one small stress from my existence.

RO: What is the best lyric in the world?

BW: "Alabama Song," The Doors version. "Show me the way to the next whisky bar."

RO: Someone throws a beer bottle at you onstage. What do you do?

BW: Kill 'em with said bottle.

RO: Without worrying about space, time or the laws of physics, what would be the ultimate gig to play?

BW: During a ceremonial Mayan beheading on top of a religious temple during the sacrifice of a young warrior for the trade of rain. Why? There would probably be a lot of people at the gig.

RO: What would you buy with a million dollars?

BW: 500,000 $2 tacos.

RO: What would you buy with your last dollar?

BW: Half of a $2 taco.

RO: If you could canonize another musician, who would it be and of what would they be the patron saint?

BW: Wouldn't it be cooler if "canonized" meant to blow someone up with a cannon?

RO: What will be written on the plaque beneath the giant statue future generations erect in your honor?

BW: "He always wanted to die, he always got what he wanted."

Benjamin Wesley plays an in-store at Heights Vinyl Saturday, May 5. See our Chatter with Wesley from when he played with Jandek at Big Star Bar last month.


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Jef Rouner (not cis, he/him) is a contributing writer who covers politics, pop culture, social justice, video games, and online behavior. He is often a professional annoyance to the ignorant and hurtful.
Contact: Jef Rouner