#24 - Benn Bennett

02/14/17 • 53 min

Late in 2016, singer-songwriter, fruit-pusher and maybe witch Benn Bennett returned to the stage after a far-too-long hiatus with the enchanting 'Occasional Suburban Witch'; a cabaret collaboration Bec Matthews and Sarah Ward celebrating the women of the Western suburbs of Melbourne who Benn loved and laughed with. In fact, Benn is one of the great collaborators, having created unique, hilarious, touching and award-nominated work with previous guest (and drunk pash of the podcast) Wes Snelling (episodes #3 and #5).

We sat in his sunny Western 'burbs kitchen listening to Kate Bush (it was with Benn that I took part in The Most Wuthering Day Ever last year, both dressed to the nines in 'Wuthering Heights' frocks and wigs) and talked in our everyday circular fashion about footy franks, songwriting, suburbia, working with other artists, being terrified of debuting your own songs, Prince, matryoshka dolls, 'Return to Oz', and musicians' musicians. Also my Toni Childs impression rears its head...but only when I was attempting to do an impression of Elton John...hey, swings and roundabouts! Benn also plugs about a dozen local businesses in Yarraville, Melbourne, so I'm hoping the podcast gets a sponsor out of this episode...failing that, please share/subscribe and say nice things on iTunes if you wish/can. Everything helps.

See you in Oakleigh for brunch! S.L.A.P.

Photograph of Benn, Bec and Sarah by Pier Carthew

See you in Oakleigh for brunch! S.L.A.P.

Photograph of Benn, Bec and Sarah by Pier Carthew

Previous Episode

#23 - Scott Brennan

It's 2017! Where better to start than with an old friend, much theatre/Dr Who nerdiness, and absolutely filthy sexual content. Seriously - **STRONG ADULT/SCIFI CONTENT**

Scott Brennan and I met twenty years ago when we were both cast in an amateur production of Marat/Sade and we've been complimentary dickheads ever since. A writer, stand up comedian, actor, skilled improvisor, musician, voice-over artist, mentor, producer, star of the Talking Poofy podcast and all round spunk, Scott has been a familiar face on Australian TV and a familiar voice on Australian radio for more years than either of our ageing, forgetful brains care - or are able - to remember. We share a love of the timelord and an adoration of David Bowie (Scott was my date for the David Bowie Is... exhibition in 2015), and he's one of my favourite guest singers in my many idiotic band ventures. Not to overstate it, but he's the David to my Freddie in Under Pressure.

From the changing face of gay identity, to which people over 50 years old we'd root, to difficult parent/child relationships, to the inherent impracticalities of the spit roast, join Uncle Scotty B and Aunty Quim as they dispense relationship advice and struggle to remember actors' names like two drunk, dirty, addled old ravaged hags (i.e. basically, us).

P.S. In case you were wondering, the thumbnail image is precisely what Scott delivered when I asked for a high res picture...

P.P.S. Ian MARTER. It was Ian Marter...GAH!!

P.P.P.S. Sound is a little different in the studio narration - sorry about that - emergency recording set up!

Tickets for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre on 9 April 2017 - a tribute to Split Enz with many special guests - can be purchased here!