Music
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Bennett: Music beyond the beat
Talented trio shares their sound
Published : Thursday, 04 Apr 2013, 1:33 PM EDT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - They are young, talented, and on the road to really big things. We're happy to have Bennett back in studio with us to share their sound. Nick Rolls, Josiah Gentry, and Nicholas Warren are the talented trio that make up Bennett.
Nick Rolls plays mandolin and violin, Josiah Gentry is on guitar, and Nicholas Warren plays accordion and piano while all three contribute vocals. You can see them perform live around West Michigan and soon in Nashville, Tennessee. Two local gigs in April for Bennett are Rock Against Rape at the GVSU fieldhouse in Allendale on April 6 at 7pm and they'll perform at The Pyramid Scheme in |Grand Rapids on April 16 at 7pm. Keep track of Bennett and check out their music at www.bennettband.com . - WoodTV
Bennett: Music beyond the beat
Talented trio shares their sound
Published : Thursday, 04 Apr 2013, 1:33 PM EDT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - They are young, talented, and on the road to really big things. We're happy to have Bennett back in studio with us to share their sound. Nick Rolls, Josiah Gentry, and Nicholas Warren are the talented trio that make up Bennett.
Nick Rolls plays mandolin and violin, Josiah Gentry is on guitar, and Nicholas Warren plays accordion and piano while all three contribute vocals. You can see them perform live around West Michigan and soon in Nashville, Tennessee. Two local gigs in April for Bennett are Rock Against Rape at the GVSU fieldhouse in Allendale on April 6 at 7pm and they'll perform at The Pyramid Scheme in |Grand Rapids on April 16 at 7pm. Keep track of Bennett and check out their music at www.bennettband.com . - WoodTV
The members of Paint in Action resemble regular artists except for two things. One: their canvases spin on their isles. Two: they paint music.
That’s right: music.
Friday night at the Looking Box the band Bennett played while artists Tali Farchi and Royce Deans painted for an ArtPrize exhibit.
They are members of an art group called Paint in Action, a company whose mission is to focus on “art without boundaries.” They take a multimedia approach to artwork by combining the genres of paint, music and sometimes even dance.
“I’m painting music,” said Farchi. “I’m not painting the musicians or the instruments; I’m painting sound.”
“We paint music which, is different than painting to music or painting with music,” added Deans. “We internalize the music and respond to it.”
Both Farchi and Deans sit in front of rotating canvases when they paint, their backs to the musicians. Focused intently on their work, they apply brush strokes in time with the beat, increasing and decreasing their rate of work in conjunction with the melody.
For the two painters, live music is an essential part of the experience. The duo painted to recorded music last year at Art Prize. This year’s presentation, according to them, was entirely different.
“The painting is more direct and has more life than recorded music,” said Farchi “What we did here, with only live musicians, has much more life.”
For Deans, having the musicians in the room makes for better art.
“There’s so much more energy,” said Deans. “The experience is so much better when we’re in a room with the musicians that are actually generating the vibrations that are making the sound.”
“The personalities of the musicians bring life to our painting,” added Farchi.
Energy and personality are two things Bennett has in abundance. The young band is active on stage, stomping feet and moving with their music. Between sets they engage the audience in banter, alternately promoting future shows and making jokes at each other’s expense.
Their “vibrancy,” as Farchi phrased it, contributes to the atmosphere of the room. The audience has a chance to actively engage a collaboration of music and art, each enhancing the other.
“It’s really cool to see the arts interacting together,” said Bennett violinist, mandolin player and vocalist Nick Rolls. “A lot of the time people leave the visual out of the music, but it’s an incredible representation of what music and art can be.”
For Bennett guitarist and vocalist Josiah Gentry, Friday night offered a snapshot of Grand Rapids.
“It felt like a perfect picture of Grand Rapids,” said Gentry. “There’s always these little hubs, things that not everyone knows is going on but they’re the coolest things. Tonight was a reminder of that, it was a privilege, and an excellent experience.”
The Grand Rapids-based Bennett is composed of three members: Nick Rolls, Josiah Gentry and Nicholas Warren. They combine the sounds of keyboard, accordion, violin, mandolin, guitar and vocals to create a unique blend of sound.
And it seems to be working for them. Bennett spent the summer touring around the Midwest and, in August, they won the competition GR’s Got Talent. Their success this summer helped them begin work on an EP, which is scheduled for release some time next month.
This isn’t the first time Bennett and Paint in Action have worked together, and it may not be the last.
Bennett vocalist, keyboardist, and accordionist Nicholas Warren said the band enjoys the atmosphere of the shows with Paint in Action.
The affection is mutual.
“Those guys are fabulous.” Farchi said about Bennett, “Their sound drives me to paint.”
For more information about Bennett visit bennettband.com, and for Paint in Action visit paintinaction.com - Calvin Chimes - Matthew Medendorp
The members of Paint in Action resemble regular artists except for two things. One: their canvases spin on their isles. Two: they paint music.
That’s right: music.
Friday night at the Looking Box the band Bennett played while artists Tali Farchi and Royce Deans painted for an ArtPrize exhibit.
They are members of an art group called Paint in Action, a company whose mission is to focus on “art without boundaries.” They take a multimedia approach to artwork by combining the genres of paint, music and sometimes even dance.
“I’m painting music,” said Farchi. “I’m not painting the musicians or the instruments; I’m painting sound.”
“We paint music which, is different than painting to music or painting with music,” added Deans. “We internalize the music and respond to it.”
Both Farchi and Deans sit in front of rotating canvases when they paint, their backs to the musicians. Focused intently on their work, they apply brush strokes in time with the beat, increasing and decreasing their rate of work in conjunction with the melody.
For the two painters, live music is an essential part of the experience. The duo painted to recorded music last year at Art Prize. This year’s presentation, according to them, was entirely different.
“The painting is more direct and has more life than recorded music,” said Farchi “What we did here, with only live musicians, has much more life.”
For Deans, having the musicians in the room makes for better art.
“There’s so much more energy,” said Deans. “The experience is so much better when we’re in a room with the musicians that are actually generating the vibrations that are making the sound.”
“The personalities of the musicians bring life to our painting,” added Farchi.
Energy and personality are two things Bennett has in abundance. The young band is active on stage, stomping feet and moving with their music. Between sets they engage the audience in banter, alternately promoting future shows and making jokes at each other’s expense.
Their “vibrancy,” as Farchi phrased it, contributes to the atmosphere of the room. The audience has a chance to actively engage a collaboration of music and art, each enhancing the other.
“It’s really cool to see the arts interacting together,” said Bennett violinist, mandolin player and vocalist Nick Rolls. “A lot of the time people leave the visual out of the music, but it’s an incredible representation of what music and art can be.”
For Bennett guitarist and vocalist Josiah Gentry, Friday night offered a snapshot of Grand Rapids.
“It felt like a perfect picture of Grand Rapids,” said Gentry. “There’s always these little hubs, things that not everyone knows is going on but they’re the coolest things. Tonight was a reminder of that, it was a privilege, and an excellent experience.”
The Grand Rapids-based Bennett is composed of three members: Nick Rolls, Josiah Gentry and Nicholas Warren. They combine the sounds of keyboard, accordion, violin, mandolin, guitar and vocals to create a unique blend of sound.
And it seems to be working for them. Bennett spent the summer touring around the Midwest and, in August, they won the competition GR’s Got Talent. Their success this summer helped them begin work on an EP, which is scheduled for release some time next month.
This isn’t the first time Bennett and Paint in Action have worked together, and it may not be the last.
Bennett vocalist, keyboardist, and accordionist Nicholas Warren said the band enjoys the atmosphere of the shows with Paint in Action.
The affection is mutual.
“Those guys are fabulous.” Farchi said about Bennett, “Their sound drives me to paint.”
For more information about Bennett visit bennettband.com, and for Paint in Action visit paintinaction.com - Calvin Chimes - Matthew Medendorp
Adult Division:
1st Place - Bennett - GR's Got Talent Battle of the Bands winner
Bio:
Bennett is a Grand Rapids based Folk group that formed in February of 2012. Each member of the group was actively involved in the local music scene for a few years before joining forces to form Bennett. Using their past experiences from other projects, the band has been able to quickly get to their feet and establish themselves locally. Together they have performed all over the state and the surrounding midwest, played on local news show eightWest, and aired on local radio all while attending school.
Bennett is most heavily influenced by: The Avett Brothers, The Head and The Heart, Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes, and Elsa. The band hopes to continue performing as often as possible, and that someday their talent can become a career. - WZZM 13
Adult Division:
1st Place - Bennett - GR's Got Talent Battle of the Bands winner
Bio:
Bennett is a Grand Rapids based Folk group that formed in February of 2012. Each member of the group was actively involved in the local music scene for a few years before joining forces to form Bennett. Using their past experiences from other projects, the band has been able to quickly get to their feet and establish themselves locally. Together they have performed all over the state and the surrounding midwest, played on local news show eightWest, and aired on local radio all while attending school.
Bennett is most heavily influenced by: The Avett Brothers, The Head and The Heart, Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes, and Elsa. The band hopes to continue performing as often as possible, and that someday their talent can become a career. - WZZM 13
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — GR's Got Talent, the Arena District’s $1,000 competition, has its winners.
Local celebrities Michele DeSelms (FOX17-TV), Gravy (105.3 Hot FM), John Gonzalez (MLive), Crystal Hilliard (WOOD TV8), and Shelly Irwin (WGVU-FM) judged the first competition to find talented singers, dancers, comedians and more in Grand Rapids.
More than 25 finalists in two divisions, ages 10-17, hosted by MLive’s Todd Chance, and age 18 and older, hosted by Hot FM’s Beau Derek, performed their acts on Saturday for a live audience in the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre for judges that also included Civic Theatre’s Bruce Tinker and local entertainer Luis Armando.
...1st Place - Bennett - GR's Got Talent “Battle of the Bands” winner
Members: Josiah Gentry - Guitar and Vocals; Nick Rolls - Violin, Mandolin, Vocals; and Nick Warren - Keys, Accordion, Vocals
Talent: Band
"Home for Now" by Bennett
"Days are Running" by Bennett
Bennett is a Grand Rapids-based folk group that formed only in February. Each member was actively involved in the local music scene for a few years before joining forces to form Bennett. Together they have performed all over the state and the Midwest, played on local news show “eight West,” and aired on local radio all while attending school...
**More included in article** - mlive - Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — GR's Got Talent, the Arena District’s $1,000 competition, has its winners.
Local celebrities Michele DeSelms (FOX17-TV), Gravy (105.3 Hot FM), John Gonzalez (MLive), Crystal Hilliard (WOOD TV8), and Shelly Irwin (WGVU-FM) judged the first competition to find talented singers, dancers, comedians and more in Grand Rapids.
More than 25 finalists in two divisions, ages 10-17, hosted by MLive’s Todd Chance, and age 18 and older, hosted by Hot FM’s Beau Derek, performed their acts on Saturday for a live audience in the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre for judges that also included Civic Theatre’s Bruce Tinker and local entertainer Luis Armando.
...1st Place - Bennett - GR's Got Talent “Battle of the Bands” winner
Members: Josiah Gentry - Guitar and Vocals; Nick Rolls - Violin, Mandolin, Vocals; and Nick Warren - Keys, Accordion, Vocals
Talent: Band
"Home for Now" by Bennett
"Days are Running" by Bennett
Bennett is a Grand Rapids-based folk group that formed only in February. Each member was actively involved in the local music scene for a few years before joining forces to form Bennett. Together they have performed all over the state and the Midwest, played on local news show “eight West,” and aired on local radio all while attending school...
**More included in article** - mlive - Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
Discography
"Wait For Me Brother" Single released June of 2012
"A Brand New Start" EP released November of 2012
"A Brand New Start" is regularly played on local radio in Grand Rapids MI, as well as colleges throughout the country and a radio station in LA
Photos
Bio
“3 separate established musicians coming from 3 different backgrounds didn’t mesh together right away…but you could hear potential.” So says Nick Rolls, the 19-year-old violin/mandolin/vocalist for Bennett recalling their somewhat disastrous first band practice. However, his word choice is fitting. “Potential” is an accurate word for the band. The definition of potential lists one meaning as “unrealized ability and capacity.” However, Bennett differs from this definition in the fact that their ability is quickly and strongly becoming realized, by many, many people.
Formed from the remnants of three local Grand Rapids bands, Bennett is a perfect example of people doing what they were designed to do. Featuring Nick Rolls, as well as Josiah Gentry, 19, (guitar/vocals) and Nicholas Warren, 17 (piano/accordion/vocals), Bennett has quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the folk scene.
Describing the origins of the band, Rolls states that he and Gentry “…were both tired of school, tired of our normal routines, and missing the stage. So we decided to do something about it.” After approaching Warren (and having their rough first practice), the band pushed forward.
No one in the band expected to be met with success as quickly as Bennett has. Inspired by bands such as The Head and the Heart, The Avett Brothers, Bon Iver, Dave Matthews Band, and Mumford & Sons (as well as many others), Bennett crafts striking and memorable songs. Their single “Wait For Me Brother” features haunting melodies, moving lyrics, and expert instrumentation. This song propelled this band of young artists forward. Bennett has played shows throughout the Midwest, been featured on the Grand Rapids news show “eightWest,” and aired on local radio.
Bennett’s potential continues to be realized. Just as the band saw its own potential in their first practice, listeners across the Midwest are realizing the talent that this band possess. They are motivated and driven to keep crafting and playing music worth listening to. As great musicians, inspired artists, hard workers, and through having shared goals, Bennett is moving forward. Expect big things.
Some of our influences include but are not limited to: Mumford & Sons, The Head and The Heart, The Avett Brothers, Dave Matthews Band, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Andrew Bird... Many more
We're young. We're passionate. We're marketable. And we work hard
We started this project in February of 2012
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