Wednesday 09/04/03 Mankato, Brendan Benson @ Academy 2, Liverpool

Skilled songwriters undoubtedly, with insider knowledge on what make's a well crafted pop song, Mankato will ultimately be undone by their puzzling flitting from style to style. This isn't to say that genre hopping doesn't work, (take the Punk Funk explosion emanating from New York), but at least that has a common thread throughout, whether it's an attitude or style, that confidently gel's together all it's constituent parts. Wandering somewhat aimlessly from an American Alt-Rock/New Country opener, taking a wrong turn down a Ploploader cul de-sac mid set before finally ending up in a quandary as to whether they want to be Savage Garden or Robbie Williams, with Mankato the only common thread appears to be a desire to confound. Polished and confident throughout (Paul Weller would be particularly proud of the stomping 'Medicine Man'), their ultimate fate, however, would appear to be as tunesmiths for hire.

The odd blues or country legend aside, there's not many that have received the musical accolade of having one of their songs covered by The White Stripes ("I envy his melodies" - Jack White). But with 'Good To Me' nestling on the flipside of 'Seven Nation Army', Brendan Benson is one of that select few and so comes with a certain weight of expectation resting on his slight shoulders. And for the most part Benson, well accompanied by his backing band the Well Fed Boys, delivers with sprightly, harmony coated power-pop interspersed with downbeat acoustic moments. Occasionally, perhaps expecting something a bit rawer, bluesier and abrasive due to the Stripe's association, the general adherence to a certain college rock formula can become a little predictable. But it is in Benson's more melancholy lo-fi moments, like Elliot Smith circa 'Either/Or' and 'XO', that the real character in this native Detroiter's songwriting comes out and a genuine departure occurs, namely on an acoustic version of new single Metarie. Closing with a cover of The Move's 'Lightning Never Strikes Twice In The Same Place', Benson makes a good case tonight for his lasting status as a cult songwriter that will always attract a loyal following. But whether he will truly break through certain constraints that exist with his music to become more "ambitious and jazzed" (Benson's own words!) remains to be seen.

Photo by John Daglish :: john.daglish@gigwise.com