Who are you and what is your role in the band?
I am Nickolas Benson. I am the Lead Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist/Producer.
I am Jim Watts, and I do bass/production, recording, and mixing.
How did the band get started?
NB: Many recording sessions with our sound coach/engineer Jim Watts, next door. I met Joey Sykes on Keith Richards’ birthday in 2013, and he brought “Rodeo And The Radio” to us from his many Nashville writing sessions. Great song! Thanks Joey! Hear him on Lead Guitar and backing vocals.
JW: Nick moved in to the other half of the duplex where Pam (Backing Vocals) and I live. Once we started talking and he realized that I work as a recording producer, engineer, and mixer, we slowly started collaborating. First thing he asked was if I could add bass to some rough demos he had. Out of those demos we then picked a couple songs (“Hot For You” and “You’ve Got A Problem”) and produced new recordings. Since then, we’d worked on and off on different things, and I’ve always played bass on any of the tracks we’ve done. While we were working on “Song For You” and “Rodeo and the Radio”, a couple shows came up for Nick, and he invited Pam and I to join him. It was really a blast. I’ve always been a guitar player, so it was fun to put on the different hat and be the bass player.
Who are your influences and how do they play a role in your sound?
NB: The Stones, Gram Parsons, Tom Waits, George Strait, rock and roll and the list goes on forever! Keith’s open G tuning and the Cosmic Country sound of Gram is central.
JW: In the studio, Daniel Lanois has been one of my biggest influences. As a result, I always try to add a little extra texture to the tracks I work on. As far as the bass goes, I’m pretty new to being a bass player. I grew up loving rock players like John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, and Chris Squire. With this band I listen to a lot of Bill Wyman. This probably makes me lean towards more melodic bass lines, but I also try to keep it simple (which is mostly all I’ve got anyway) and always support the song.
What has been your most meaningful experience being in this band so far?
NB: The reaction we get from audiences at our live shows has been incredible! Recording with drummer, Michael Jerome, and other soon to be named super talents has been special.
JW: I’m really loving how “Rodeo and the Radio” came out! As a live band, it’s a very new experience, but I’ve enjoyed all of our shows.
Favorite memory from a show you’ve played or a place you’ve travelled?
NB: Entertaining thousands of troops in Kuwait and Iraq was big for me personally as a veteran years ago, but nothing has compared to the crowds and reactions we’ve received here in LA. We’re about to create many more!
JW: Since I haven’t done much live performing in years, I’d go with place I’ve travelled. I’ve travelled around the country to do several different recordings over the years. A couple favorite experiences would be traveling to Virginia to record Dave Matthews’ vocals for “My Antonia” from Emmylou Harris’ album Red Dirt Girl, and spending 3 1/2 month living in Boulder, CO, to record the String Cheese Incident album, One Step Closer. For “Rodeo and The Radio”, we had one of my all time favorite drummers, Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, Better Than Ezra) in to record the drums. Any time I see him play is a new favorite memory!
What do you hope to accomplish with your music?
NB: To produce great songs and reach as many people as possible through Rock, Pop, Country, and Blues.
JW: I’m always happy when some music I’ve helped create touches a person’s life in some special way. I’ve had people come up to me to say how much an album has meant to them during a difficult time. Stories like that are always deeply gratifying. Of course, I also hope to continue making a living with my music.
Something about you that no one knows?
NB: I was born on February 8, the same day as James Dean, exactly 50 years apart.
JW: I sometimes neaten up the airplane bathroom if it’s a bit messy.
What is next for the band?
NB: LMV EP of course! We have several songs that we will share yet this summer. Stay tuned!
JW: We’ve got 3 new songs in the works and a local show at the end of July. I’m very excited about the new songs. They just keep getting better and better.
Anything else you want to add?
NB: We love football! Roll Tide!!!!
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By Kinsey Blake Haynes, RockRevolt Journalist
