Sarah Benck
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Sarah Benck

Omaha, Nebraska, United States | SELF

Omaha, Nebraska, United States | SELF
Band Rock Singer/Songwriter

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"The Anti-Diva"

In an era when hotties of questionable talent -- Christina, Britney, Mandy -- are deified as modern-day divas with the millions and the bling to prove it, Sarah Benck is the real deal.

She's young, attractive, with a voice that's pure American Idol finalist. Add to that the fact that she can actually write music and play an instrument and you'd think every suit on Sunset Blvd. would be tripping over his coke spoon for a chance to turn her into the next Christina Aguilera. All it would take is for Benck to give herself up to them, body and soul, something that she's not willing to do.

"It's against my nature to bend over and take it from anyone," she said, surrounded by her band The Robbers, sipping java at Caffeine Dreams. "I understand compromises have to be made to a certain extent, and I'm willing to do that, but I don't want dub beats added to my music."

Laughs all around. Though this incarnation of The Robbers has only been together for about a year, there's already a family vibe to the group, with Benck playing the role of the sweet, red-headed little sister. Bassist James Carrig and guitarist Jason Ferguson go back five years with Benck to their days in The Rex Granite Band. Drummer Scott "Zip" Zimmerman is the new guy, but has played alongside them in other projects for just as long.

So it's no surprise that her guys support Benck's wish to avoid the Hollywood star-making machine, content merely to play live and release new material like their upcoming self-released full-length, Neighbor's Garden, the follow-up to 2005's Suicide Doublewide.

On the new album, Benck continues to lean on a voice that's equal parts Bonnie, Ricki, Joni and Joss (to put a modern spin on it), sung over tunes that are equal parts Van Morrison, Black Crowes and Spin Doctors. At the age 23, Benck's voice is still growing, though it's already bigger than her 5-foot nothing frame. The fact that the music lies somewhere between Americana, R&B, chick pop and good-time rock is surprising and respectable, especially since she's well aware that she's doing it from the heart of indie. Benck never caters to the mode o' day of the Creek/indie/slacker nation -- where Omaha just happens to be the capitol -- and that's just the way she wants it -- preferring pop to pap.

And pop is exactly what you get, with a title track that kicks off like every Jackson 5 tune you remember from the '70s, that is until Benck cuts in with her brassy Raitt-ish croon, singing lyrics not about a secret love child, but a Boston Terrier named Coco. The rabbit reference was a dead give-away.

That jazzy R&B bounce her fans have come to expect permeates most of the album. "Dump the Truck" and "Dig Your Grave" ride a cushion of bar-room beats, while "What You Got" slides in some gospel organ that compliment's Benck's best Aretha.

More revealing, however, are the slower numbers whose bare arrangements leave her voice stripped to the bone. "Good Man," rolls like down-beat early Ricki Lee Jones, while "Once A Week" channels Ladies of the Canyon-era Joni -- Benck with an acoustic guitar trips up and down her vocal ladder in awkward increments unafraid to reveal the limits of her reach. At just over two and a half minutes, the track is the disc's finest, most honest moment. Disc closer "I Can Still," with its saucy line "I can still smell you on my skin" is pure obsession. Benck won't say who the Casanova is that she'd "walk for miles in my bare feet" just to see.

"I don't want that person to think that I was that infatuated with him at the time, because he kind of blew me off," Benck said. "I wouldn't want him to know the song was about him." She insists all the men in her songs remain nameless to protect their innocence (whether they're innocent or not).

Neighbor's Garden is a pop-soul gem that has "commercial accessibility" written all over it. Too bad it likely won't get heard outside of our little borough. Despite conquering the Omaha scene -- Suicide sold nearly 3,000 copies from the stage or through Homer's -- Benck and Co. have no plans to stray from the same formula that has netted them only obscurity beyond I-80.

"We don't have a business model," said guitarist Ferguson. "We're the anti-trying-to-make-it band. Everyone has this perception that Sarah's going to be the next big thing, but we're not on the phone calling labels begging to get signed."

Instead, Ferguson said the band will continue to do what it's done the past two years -- play anywhere and everywhere it can… in the tri-state area. "She's established herself in her own town with two strong CDs," he said. "The sky's the limit. Getting the CD in the right hands, that's the next stage, I suppose."

"We're the anti-trying-to-make-it band. Everyone has this perception that Sarah's going to be the next big thing, but we're not on the phone calling labels begging to get signed."

"Sometimes it's frustrating to see people succeed who I think have such little talent, and who are only popular because of their image or their willingness to compromise and completely surrender."

Unlike indie bands that rabidly send demos to perspective labels in a doomed fishing expedition, the thought of blindly mailing CDs to record companies never crossed Benck's mind, until now. "I never felt you could send something out to a label unsolicited. It's a waste of time, especially with the amount of competition these days," she said.

Instead, Benck hopes to work her local connections, like Homer's president Mike Fratt, who she believes has a natural link to labels. "He's been mentioning us for years," she said. "I think that's what it takes -- people in the community with connections who really believe in you."

Which brings us back to, of all places, American Idol. If there's one local talent that could do well in that competition it's Benck, who would have no problem making scowling Simon Cowell a believer.

"It's the principal of the thing," Benck said, slightly agitated by the idea. "They're singing cover songs. Even if you were a songwriter and played an instrument, it wouldn't matter. They're selling an image, a puppet.

"They've trained the general population into believing what pop music is supposed to be -- people who don't play instruments, don't write their own music, and have no knowledge or skill to do either.

"Sometimes it's frustrating to see people succeed who I think have such little talent, and who are only popular because of their image or their willingness to compromise and completely surrender," Benck added. "Everyone knows we're a real band. We've all played music most of our lives."

In the end, neither Benck nor The Robbers seem in a hurry to take the next step. All four have day-jobs at Dietz Music, and all four can tour if Benck (or someone) ever books a tour -- a task that she said goes against her introverted personality.

"Every band I've been in has dreamed of getting on a label and touring," said drummer Zimmerman. "We'll do it when we can, and go on the road when we can. It's not the focus. The focus is on just playing music."

Published in The Omaha Reader June 20, 2007. Copyright © 2007 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.










- www.timmcmahon.com/sarahbenck.htm


"You Can Still Benck On Omaha's Next Big Thing"

By Marq Manner

Omaha has seen its share of success stories over the past few years. Bands from both the indie scene including Bright Eyes and the Faint along with Paria and Cellador from our metal scene have gone on to tour nationally, garner international attention, and put Omaha on the map.

Before all of that happened, a lot of people running venues, involved in this and that music society or club, and those that searched out the nooks and crannies of our musical landscape had their eye on a young girl named Sarah Benck. People saw a “small teenaged girl with a big guitar and a bigger voice” – which has become the cliché in which she is and probably always will be described as – and pegged her as the one that was going to make it. She is not touring the world yet, hasn’t sold hundreds of thousands of records, and Rolling Stone hasn’t yet called her the next Bonnie Raitt. She has turned of drinking age, finished her second record with her band the Robbers, become one of the most in-demand artists in the region, and managed to keep focused on her craft despite the pressure of being called “the next big thing out of Omaha” by us Monday morning quarterbacks.

When I couched it with her and the Robbers on a Sunday night at Murphy’s Lounge I tried to get her to react to that pressure, and she and the band were having none of it. They really did not care. Sarah stated that, “I am going to be doing this for the rest of my life,” and seemed more content with that conviction than being this year’s buzz band at hipster conventions such as South By Southwest or the CMJ Festival.

The band’s first record, “Double Wide Suicide,” has been one of the best-selling records locally over the past couple of years; the band was chosen to open up for Bon Jovi at the Qwest Center in 2005 in front of more than 15,000 music fans; and no one can put on a blues or roots show in town and not consider or ask this band to open or headline it. The Robbers have been pegged as a blues band, and while they admit that their roots are partially based in that genre, they consider themselves a rock band more akin to the also blues-based Rolling Stones.

Guitarist Jason Ferguson summed it up by saying, “Most people that see us call us a rock band. We are pigeonholed as a blues band by the media. You are going to hear blues-influenced stuff on the disc, and I don’t think that is a bad thing, but lot of that is Sarah’s voice.”

Benck added, ”I don’t think it’s unfair to call us a blues band, but most people hear blues and think we are a 12-bar blues band. The blues purists are going to say ‘screw that’ and they may not dig our pop songs.”

If you attend a blues-based show where the Robbers are playing, you will see that they have succeeded in playing what they want to play, and do not seem to have turned off any of the hard core blues fans in town. The band can also play rock shows, all ages events, and a mix-and-match of all of the above and win over the crowd. The key to that is the basis of their new record, “Neighbors Garden,” where the band has taken the experience of maturing musically with each other and focused on the groove of their songs.

Recently, the band has been rounded out by longtime local drummer Scott “Zip” Zimmerman, who provides the backbone of the band with original bassist James Carrig. These two allow the band to focus on that key word – the “groove.” The Robbers take the foundation of rock, blues, roots, funk and even jazz and they expound on those genres with this record. It is almost more accurate to describe them as a soul band, especially on slower balladeer tracks such as “Good Man” and the album closer, “I Can Still.”

It is the more upbeat and groove-laden tracks such as “Neighbors Garden” and “Dig Your Grave” that keep the crowds coming back to their live shows, giving the audience the one thing that anyone of any age, race or musical preference really want: that opportunity to subtly bob one’s head, full on dance to the music, or just feel what the band is sending their way. The Robbers succeed at delivering that, both live and on their new album, and that is what will keep them from being put in a certain genre, allow them to continue to enthrall and grow their audience. And maybe one day allow both Benck and the Robbers to “make it” on terms set out by others not in the band.

When talking to them though, you realize that they truly are going to do it their own way no matter what the outcome, and that might be the most satisfying thing for them. You can experience the band for free this Friday at the Waiting Room where they celebrate the release of “Neighbors Garden” with special guests Scott Severin and the Milton Burlesque.

CityWeekly on MySpace
- http://omahacityweekly.com/article.php?id=3557


"- Doug Backer, music writer"

"...Get ready to see this mild mannered female Clark Kent put on her game-face and kick your butt like Super girl.”

- Omaha Blues Society Blues News


"- Andrew Norman, music writer"

"This chick rocks so hard, the "for a girl" business flies right out the window.”
- Omaha City Weekly


"- Rick Galusha - former president of Homer's Music & Gifts"

"This band has never failed to create that impression of future possibilities: the songs are there, the live performance is electric, and the band rocks ‘til it hurts."
- -


"- Kyle Kolitha"

"The combination of the soft acoustic guitar and Sarah’s beautiful, sincere vocals send shivers down my spine. This band is extremely talented and has a bluesy swagger that will knock you on your ass."
- Omaha Pulp


"- City Weekly Staff"

"...she is extremely reserved and soft-spoken; one could almost even say meek, but when she’s onstage, there’s no doubt she belongs there as she jams on that Gibson hollow-body guitar, singing as if her vocal chords were attached to her soul. To say she has a powerful voice is an understatement."
- Omaha City Weekly


Discography

Neighbor's Garden - 2007 - Independent Release
Suicide Doublewide - 2005 - Independent Release

Photos

Bio

When you see Sarah Benck for the first time, the immediate question in your mind will be, “How does such a big voice come in such a small package?” When you listen to Sarah’s lyrics, you’ll wonder, “How can someone so young write such introspective and personal songs?"

Still in her early 20’s, Sarah has become a mainstay of the Omaha music scene. She has been performing solo acoustic and with local bands since age 15, and was even asked by Omaha indie-rock band Cursive to record vocals for the song "Retreat" on their 2006 release Happy Hollow.

In January of 2007 she was named “Best Singer/Songwriter” at the First Annual Omaha Entertainment Awards. Sarah was awarded the OEA for “Best Adult Alternative” in 2008.

Sarah’s band helps her write, arrange, and evolve the music with an “anything goes” attitude, yet always serving the song.

Guitarist Jason Ferguson was obsessed with music from an early age and grew up with the sounds of blues, jazz and rock. He brings a wealth of studio and stage experience to the band.

Bassist Bob Carrig has already established himself in the Omaha music scene with his frenetic yet groove-laden playing. Having grown up listening to anything from Motown to Fugazi, Bob brings a fusion of musical diversity and classical training.

Drummer Scott "Zip" Zimmerman has a diverse musical background. Aside from playing and singing with several rock, funk, and jazz groups, he has taught music privately and in public schools. Zip provides the perfect feel with his funk-rock swagger.

Sarah Benck has become a sought-after regional favorite, gigging often and sharing the stage with luminaries Buddy Guy, Sue Foley, Dawn Tyler, Renee Austin, Eric Sardinas, Hadden Sayers, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Rich Robinson, Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Bernard Alison, Savoy Brown, Kory and the FireFlies, Lee Rocker, Orenda Fink, Neva Dinova, REO Speed Wagon, Indigenous, Gillian Welch, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Conor Oberst, Blues Traveler, BoDeans, and Bon Jovi.

With the release of their second CD, Neighbor’s Garden (2007), Sarah Benck and The Robbers demonstrate how they’ve matured together musically. While their debut Suicide Doublewide (2005) was described by many as “bluesy rock”, their sophomore effort is devoid of any straight ahead blues tunes. The Robbers take a foundation of rock, funk, roots, and blues and build upon those genres with this record. One could almost describe them as a soul band, especially on slower tracks such as “Good Man” and the album closer “I Can Still”. It is the more upbeat and groove-laden tracks such as “What You Got”, “Dig Your Grave”, “Dump The Truck”, and the title track “Neighbor’s Garden” that keep the crowds coming back to their live shows, giving the audience what they really want: that opportunity to subtly bob ones’ head, full on dance to the music, or just feel what the band is sending their way. Sarah Benck and The Robbers succeed in delivering that, both live and on their new album and that is what will allow them to continue to enthrall and grow their audience.

This music resonates with young and old alike. After a performance, the line to meet Sarah says it all. From preteens with dreams of singing and playing guitar to baby boomers who swear they’ve just witnessed the next Bonnie Raitt. There’s something there for everyone. Catch her live, and you too will become one of the faithful.