#okay idk why I wrote a whole article like i'm carrie bradshaw but here we are

[greatwave]

I met @benzank a few years (just kidding, i looked at the date and it was in 2016. 8 does not equal "a few") ago at this Tumblr IRL thing in Boulder, CO. Old church turned into a performance venue/art gallery. I've never been in a space like it since then. Ben had these ridiculously gorgeous photos in a gallery - each one an interpretation of one of the tracks from Phantogram's album "Three."

The photos were projected on a big screen before Phantogram came on stage and performed this emotional and powerful set. Afterwards, we headed downstairs to see the physical photos displayed in these massive poster-sized formats. We were given these awesome photobooks and got them signed when we met Ben and Phantogram. It didn't feel like some weird fan-overload thing and was really just a nice relaxing environment that led to awesome conversation. The good ol' days I guess. I fell in love with this photo below especially - I still don't know why. Maybe it's because it was associated with "Same Old Blues" and those lyrics really hit my soul. I asked Ben if the photos were for sale because I felt compelled to get that piece in my home. Ben replied with something along the lines of, "What? No you don't have to buy it! Just wait over there for a few and I'll just give it to you when it's over." Seriously too kind. I've had this falling dude in the forest above my bed, I've moved more times than I can count since that 2016 show but this is always the first piece to go up in a new home. There's something about the way Ben gets these human figures to interact, and intersect with the environment that I just cannot ever get tired of seeing. It's always something that just make you stare and stare and stare, even 8 years later.

And you can never save my soul I think it's time to let me go I keep on having this dream Where I'm stuck in a hole and I can't get out There's always something that's pulling me down, down, down My heart is down on it's knees so I try, oh I try But it's too late now There's always something that's pulling me down, down, down

My Brain Took an Extended Vacation: Ben Zank Playfully Twists the Banal