Pop-up record sale at Rappcats, Noon-6PM, Feb. 18 & 19, 5638 York Blvd, Los Angeles.

Joe Benson is a teacher, a farmer, and a record collector based in Omaha, Nebraska. Before you ask yourself – what kind of a great collection could possibly come out of Omaha, recall that the L.A. Carnival are not from Los Angeles, but from Omaha, and the custom label that issued their solitary and incredible 45 – and led to Now-Again’s issue of the band’s full Nebraskan recordings in 2003 – was one of many in the state. And Kanesville Kollectibles, across the river in Iowa, was and is one of the best vintage vinyl stores in the country, and right down the way from Des Moines, where the Split Decision Band – also reissued on Now-Again – put out one of the great disco 45s, the incredible “Watching Out.”

We met Joe when he came to assist Lorenzo and Andrea for their Sonor Music Editions pop up last year. He asked Egon if he could do a pop up. “Well, what kind of records are you going to offer,” was the proper reply, and Mr. Benson showed to be quite the hoarder of great things, showing pictures of the first 13th Floor Elevators album, the impossible to find Midwest psych of Haymarket Square and the solitary album by Shadrach Chameleon, another Midwest gem that offered “Don’t Let It Get You Down,” a highlight on Now-Again’s ‘Forge Your Own Chains’ anthology.

Many of the rarities here have never been offered at Rappcats pop ups in the past and Mr. Benson is bringing plenty of more affordable vinyl too. If you’re lucky he might even bring you some Nebraskan Corn.