SFist liked Lost in Translation because it accurately captured how disorienting traveling can be. Singer Brendan Benson evoked a similar feeling when he spoke with us on Friday as he was preparing for his show at Great America. When we mentioned that we generally ask people questions about the area, Brendan instantly began to dish on his time in the East Bay, places to eat, and the fact that city dwellers tend to look down on the suburbs.

If you haven’t checked out Brendan’s latest release, The Alternative to Love on V2 records, do so now. Also keep your eyes out for an upcoming collaboration with fellow rock city dweller Jack White. Just don’t expect anything good to eat in Detroit.

What’s Your Favorite City?
I love Detroit, but based on fact that my family and friends are there, and I grew up there, so I have a certain affinity for it. I like New Orleans a lot. I grew up in Harvey, on the west bank. I hate to think of what happened there because of Katrina. I’m sure it hasn’t changed permanently, but I felt genuinely sad about it possibly never being the same.

What parts of it are you most worried about?
Nothing specific, it was as if, it’s part of my child hood, the way I was hearing about it [Katrina] was that the city was completely wiped out, that it was gone. The way I understood it, I was mortified, like a piece of me was gone.