New Artist Spotlight: Gary Bennett
By Peter Cronin
© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.
Feel free to describe Gary Bennett's brand of Country Music however you like, just don't use the term "retro." Sure, the Las Vegas-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter/guitarist may be best known as the former co-leader of the decidedly retro outfit BR549, but the music on Human Condition, Bennett's solo debut, takes a wider, more contemporary view. That might be partially explained as a reaction to his years with his former band; whose nightly appearances at Nashville nightspot Robert's Western World sparked the revival and transformation of lower Broadway from a row of boarded up buildings into a brightly lit strip of thriving honky tonks.
Bennett recorded five albums with BR549, gaining three GRAMMY nominations and a heap of critical praise for his efforts. But after several years of hard touring, he left the band for an extended break in 2002. According to Bennett, the time spent "with real people in the real world" provided the "inspiration to start writing again." Human Condition presents a musical patchwork of real-life stories delivered with Bennett's endearing twang and producer R.S. Field's (Webb Wilder, Sonny Landreth) swampy sonic signature.
Growing up with Country Music-loving parents, Bennett fell in love with artists including Johnny Horton and Charley Pride even as he was falling under the spell of roots rockers such as John Fogerty. He picked up a guitar at age 8 and was writing songs a year later. Human Condition showcases all those influences, and while Bennett's new songs do take a lot of "classic Country" turns, he keeps things fresh by writing from his heart. He co-wrote nine of the album's 12 songs, and from the bar-stool philosophy of the album's title track and debut single to "Things That Mean a Lot to Me," Bennett's homage to home-and-family, Human Condition delivers.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
Who is your musical hero?
"Probably Roger Miller or Don Gibson"
What CD is on your stereo right now?
"Nirvana's Unplugged."
What is your pet peeve?
"People talking on cell phones while driving like idiots."
What actor would portray you in a biopic about your life?
"John Wayne, of course, but since he's gone, maybe Jack Nicholson."
What song do you wish you had written?
"'(Old Dogs, Children And) Watermelon Wine."
Which mode of transportation do you prefer - planes, trains or automobiles?
"I drive a pickup truck, but trains are great. I would prefer them if they weren't so hard to park, etc. But I thought we would all have our own personal jet-packs by now, and that has been a real disappointment."
Who is your dream duet partner?
"To have been Porter Wagoner getting to sing all those great harmonies with Dolly Parton, I mean you know, if we're dreaming."
When they look back on your life in 50 years, what do you hope people say about you?
"He was a great guy, honest, true, and charming, we are so lucky that he saved the world."
On the Web: www.garybennettmusic.com
August 22, 2006
© Bob Delevante
