Benefit of a Doubt

“The overall feel in the room shifted as they began to play. People became mesmerized by their stage presence…This band shows no signs of slowing down and I predict they will only get better and bigger.” - Kimberlee McCormack, Managing Director, iHeartthemusic.com

No one can claim that Benefit of a Doubt don’t thrive on being one of the hardest working bands in the industry today. Their current line up formed in 2006 and is culled from the same attitude and work ethic that make Kings of Leon and One Republic the massive successes that they are today. Benefit of a Doubt has proof of just how much blood, sweat and tears they have shed in three national tours, in winning two high stakes music competitions, in writing and recording two EPs and one LP, in shooting a MuchMusic aired video, in working with the some of the industry’s best, AND in earning showcase spots in several major North American music festivals in the span of only 4 short years.

The fact of the matter is, Benefit of a Doubt is ready. This Ottawa, Ontario based quartet are poised to take over with their pop/alt rock infused freshman release The Storm. Recorded during the summer of 2010 at Beach Road Studios in Goderich, Ontario, Benefit of a Doubt enlisted producer/engineer Siegfried Meier to capture months of diligent writing and jamming. The result? A varied collection of intimate and extraordinarily refined new songs. From the opening track, “I’m Ready,” a melodic reflection of all of the trials and tribulations that they have been through making them the strong musical force that they have come to be, to the rhythmic swagger of title track, “The Storm”, which speaks to so many of us who have overcome adversity and the people around us who help pull us through it, and “New Atlantic”, a personal reflection of a good friend that passed just prior to hitting the road with the band. As Bright Side Records (www.brightsiderecords.com) newest signees, Benefit of a Doubt is eager to get back out there to bear their musical souls and showcase their latest offering on the road.

Band members Chase Van Dusen (vocals, guitar), Eric Charron (guitar), Patrick Gilmour (drums), and Connor Muldoon (bass) are empowered by and draw influence from contemporaries such as Say Anything and Coldplay as well as 90’s rock veterans like the Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20. They love being on the road and connecting with the people who love their music and, in September of 2008, made their musical mark by winning $40,000 in the Live 88.5 Big Money Shot (Ottawa/NewCap Radio). The win thrust the band into the spotlight and shortly thereafter their debut single “She Could Be” began getting considerable airplay on Canadian radio including regular rotation on Ottawa’s Hot 89.9, 99.1 Hits FM in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Iceberg 85 on Sirius Satellite, Calgary’s Fuel 90.3, and Halifax’s Q104. The buzz surrounding Benefit of a Doubt led to a meeting with Grammy Award-winning producer, Stephen Short (Ping Pong Music) and in early 2009 they recorded a 5-song CD together at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas. Late that same year the band was invited to showcase in Toronto at Canadian Music Week (CMW) and North by Northeast (NXNE). All of these experiences culminated in song writing sessions with Simon Wilcox of EMI Canada, shooting a music video, directed/produced/edited by Chris Blanchette (Surreal Freelance) and Andy Wood (Andy Media - andy-media.com) for the single “We Are The Broken”, which received airplay on MuchMusic in January 2010, playing South by Southwest (SXSW) 2010 in Austin, Texas AND a second cross-Canada tour making for 3 very hectic and lucrative years for Benefit of a Doubt.
“Benefit of a Doubt is an incredibly hard-working band. They write great songs and I love Chase’s voice – I’m a huge fan.”- Simon Wilcox, Songwriter, EMI Music Canada

Amassing accolades and fans faster than one can keep count, Benefit of a Doubt bring amazing instincts and a sophistication to their craft. They show no signs of slowing down, and the release of their new album The Storm will surely make this band one to watch.