Ben Smith
Denton, Texas, United States | SELF
Music
Press
http://www.countrychart.com/2009/07/review-ben-smith-pendulum.html
Ben Smith's new album "Pendulum" is a feel-good, laid-back, toe-tapping, Texas country triumph that deserves the ear of any country music fan looking for a musician that is destined to become the next big thing. This country boy offers a refreshing break from new country artists who take themselves too seriously, because it's clear Ben Smith loves to have a good time. And, by the way, with songs like "Shuck N' Jive" and "Country Summer Days," it's clear he wants you to have fun, too.
Ben Smith is a man who might have been six feet under right now instead of sharing stages with Walt Wilkins and Stoney LaRue. You see, this Dallas, Texas singer-songwriter was almost killed in a farming accident at age 16 when he was pinned underneath a three-ton tractor that flipped. But this talented Texan took the near-miss as a sign that life is short, and he set his sights on a career based on his own brand of alt-country and acoustic pop music.
Smith's sound is unusual on the Texas music scene. With the track "The Other Side," Ben Smith is part Jack Johnson and part Jack Ingram. This song showcases the major appeal of Smith, a man who is an upbeat musical troubadour who has the heart of an everyman. Indeed, he really is good ole boy.
The album's first song "Doin' Alright" provides a great start to the album and offers a memorable chorus. Another standout track from the album is the Texas road song titled "Miles Of Texas," which should be at the top of the Texas Music Charts. However, the best song on "Pendulum" is the sparse and beautiful tune "Lullaby" which showcases an engaging, softer side of the singer-songwriter and is followed by the almost equally powerful "Through The Dark."
The tracks presented on "Pendulum" show that Ben Smith has a broad repertoire that might win fans on the college music and pop scene as well as country. Whatever happens for Smith in the future, we already know from his personal life that he's a survivor. And in the music business, that take-no-prisoners, no-holds-barred attitude is one of the key ingredients to success. Combine that with his considerable musical skills and a compelling personality, the new album "Pendulum" proves that Ben Smith is geared up for music success over the next couple of decades or so. CountryChart.com
- CounrtyChart.com
The way he got his beginning sounds a lot like a country song all by itself -- no radio on his truck, so he started singing, picked up a guitar and fast forward you've got the Ben Smith of the Ben Smith Band.
"I was 18 when I bought this truck, a senior in high school, and it didn't have a radio. So I would drive around and have no tunes at all," said Smith. "So one day I just remembered, we were watching Garth Brooks on Austin City Limits, I just happen to remember some of the words to his songs and started singing them in my truck. And I was like, 'Man I'm not that bad of a singer, I should get a guitar.'"
Smith asked for a guitar for his birthday and that's where it all started for him. Since then the singer, songwriter has been making a name for himself around North Texas. In fact we found out about the band when a viewer sent us an email to check him out, so we did and this is what we found.
Smith is graduate of Texas A&M University, who majored in Forestry. Now his day job of running a tree trimming business doesn't exactly jive with the night one but Smith makes it all work.
Smith originally started playing music as a hobby of sorts but he has developed a steady fan base and its become his passion and priority.
"It's definitely got a lot of just me in it. I'm from a small town, a country guy from Texas," said Smith. "I would still call it country music but it's got this real, pop rock thing infused into it.."
"All the songs have different rhythms slow songs fast songs, you can jitterbug you can slow dance, all two stepping," said Regina, Ben Smith Band fan.
Smith he is doing it his way and on his terms. "I've thought about moving up to Nashville and doing that whole thing.... but down here we are able to really build our fan base and sing our own songs and be independent," said Smith.
But this isn't just about the music, it's also about the food. We caught up with Smith at Adairs in Deep Ellum. "The burgers are pretty awesome. They've got a little jalapeno tooth-picked to the top of them. Good stuff."
"Adairs, the best burgers around. We come all the way from McKinney for the burgers here" said Wendolin Mercado, eating lunch.
- NBC DFW Channel 5
Discography
"Gasoline" 2004 Album
"Sundown" 2006 EP
"Pendulum" 2009 Album
Photos
Bio
Ben Smith grew up in a small Texas town, worked on a farm, rode horses, chased cows around, and once even had a very close brush with death when he was pinned underneath a tractor that rolled over in a farming accident. But born with a wonderlust for travel, settling into the country life at home just wasn't on the agenda for Ben, who so far, has lived in California, Colorado, and Tennesee. Steeped in rural life and the American West, no matter how deep you put Ben into the city, there will always be images of green pastures, wide blue skies, and cool rivers ingraved into his personality. And so it goes with his music, which is characterized by a certain down home simplicity, yet also a certain sophistication that grasps the attention of the most urbane music fans. Blend the heart of Country Music with the soul of Acoustic Singer/Songwriter Pop... and maybe throw in a little Rock here and there, and you get Ben Smith.
A late-comer to music, the 6'5" Ben was a student and track athlete at Texas A&M University before he began writing songs and playing guitar, and had graduated with a Forestry degree before his musical style truly solidified.
After school, Ben went to work as a forester in Northern California. Later he began working as an arborist, a profession where he regularly ascended large trees with a chainsaw, and was playing music at the bars as a hobby. But with an ever-growing number of people dumbfounded that such a talented songwriter was not doing more with it, Ben decided to put his music in the front seat, and is proud to be on this difficult but adventurous path.
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