Band: The Last Bison
Album: Inheritance (March 2013)
with reflections on Quill, 2011
with reflections on Quill, 2011
As a rule, when I review an album, I don't really know the people I write about. And I don’t really know this next band either… except that they are sitting in my living room with shoes kicked off, playing cards, waiting on word about the fried transmission in their tour band. (6/3/2013)
Genre: Indie “Chamber-Jamboree” hybrid, blending elements of
Mountain music and “classical” -- and some modern rock vocals -- into an original and utterly delicious sonic landscape. (though
some folks think they sound like Mumford and Sons.)
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| Teresa, Andrew, Ben, Dan, Annah, Amos, Jay (Photo through TLB) |
This weekend (June 1-3, 2013) I had occasion to hear the sounds of The Last Bison up close and personal, as their lead singer Ben, dangled “mosh pit style” into the crowd at the Wakarusa Music Festival in Hipppyville, Arkansas. Make that Mulberry Mountain, Ozark Arkansas. But before we get to the story of how I steadied Ben's back, I wanna tell you about the music of one of the TOP ten people/bands in the History of the World. (That last designation comes at some cost. I think I had to scratch Miles Davis from my list to hold it at ten.)
Quick Spin: I
make no bones about it. The Last Bison of Chesapeake Virginia, is (are?) pretty much my new favorite band experience ever. I can think of individuals, who as
writers, musicians or singers, I might hold higher… but when it comes to group dynamics, the Last Bison work together like the body parts of a dancing Fred Astaire. The hand loves the eye that loves the foot that loves the spleen... or something like that.
When you think of The Last Bison think of time travel. Or a barn dance. Mr. 1850 gives Miss 2014 a whirl! Indeed, the Last Bison harness a Civil-War era vibe, complete with costumes and sundry period instruments. But not so much the voice. I think the 19th century would've chased the lead singer out of town.
When you think of The Last Bison think of time travel. Or a barn dance. Mr. 1850 gives Miss 2014 a whirl! Indeed, the Last Bison harness a Civil-War era vibe, complete with costumes and sundry period instruments. But not so much the voice. I think the 19th century would've chased the lead singer out of town.
The Last Bison consists of seven talented instrumentalists, built around the pipes of vocal-behemoth Ben Hardesty, As a kid Ben crafted music first with family then with friends. A couple or years ago the his side-mates coalesced as one. We have:
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| Dan Hardesty - rudder/graphic design/mandolin and banjo |
Ben Hardesty. Lead vocals and guitar
Dan Hardesty. (Dad), Mandolin, banjo, guitar, harmonies
Annah Hardesty. (sister) Orchestra bells, percussion, harmonies.
Amos Housewroth - Cello (and extra special friend to Annah.)
Jay Benfante - Drums, percussion
Andrew Benfante - Pump Organ, percussion
Teresa Totheroh - Violin.
Carla Hardesty (Mom) Tour Manager.
The music of The Last Bison reminds me a little of jazz, not
because it sounds like jazz, but because it represents a marriage of disparate worlds. (Some folks see Jazz and the union of European
classical music and African tribal music, resulting in a truly American child.)
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Background:
I discovered the Music of The Last Bison (then Bison)
through the Internet download site “Noise Trade.” I had no idea who these Bison folk were, but the cover of their
offered album "Quill” – really caught my eye. Is this a 17-century styled etching of a surgically opened
torso? Further examination showed my eye played a trick. No torso. That “rolled back skin" was actually the Arc of the Covenant, while the things I thought to be stomach and liver, were really etched images of Moses and King Jehoakim(?) lifted from an old Bible. Or
something like that.
At the time of the their fist offering, The Last Bison were
simply Bison. So too were a couple
of other older bands. Hence, to avoid confusion and any legal snafus, the band became the Last….of the Bison bands.
The first tune out of the chute, “Switzerland” caught my ear right away… but it was
the second that really hooked my intrigue.
Ben is belting “these all look to you for food”…. And I sit up. I know these lines. They just happen to be from one of my
favorite poems in the world. Make
that an archaic hymn….Psalm 104, penned by King David of the Bible. A few other songs confirm what I suspect;
this band – whose lyrics vibrate with biblical imagery, share my Christian
faith. But for any of you who may
find that in itself a turn off – The Last Bison is not in anyway a church band, nor even what might be called a Christian band. Rather, they are a band comprised of Christians who simply forge good music out of their larger life experience. And if the crowd at the Wakarusa Music
fest was any indication… stoned flower children and dancing stork women like
their music too.
As is, I can’t say too much more about their sound, that you
cannot hear for yourself by simply getting on You-tube. Ben can sing forever in tender falsetto, gargle like a pirate, or turn a note on a dime. On the other hand,
no You-tube video really captures the sheer energy and effervescent joy of
their live performance. In the
studio, the Last Bison are multi-hued and talented. Live, the band is pulsing
jubilee ship, ripping apart in the storm.
Or something like that.
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As of today, The Last Bison have two major “Long Plays” under
their belt, which together, cover about 18 songs. It just so happens that Quill
and Inheritance share 2/3s of the same songs… but differently.
Quill: Made as something of a self-cooked work, in look of
larger funding. (Download Quill Here)
Inheritance:
The Bands' first big label break with Republic Records complete with bigger
mikes, layers, and promotional budget.
My take. I love both albums and hear in each, things which make them “One of my favorite
albums in the history of the world.”
To be honest, I have a special affinity for Quill (sans
larger budget) maybe because I heard it first: Bens' vocals are just a little
more chaotic and jagged… some of the instrumentation just a little more
jarring…the production a tad harsher and brighter…. And the fact that three of
my favorite songs…They are Filled, Iscariot, and The Woodcutters Son, are
missing from Inheritance. That
said
Inheritance does something that totally loves my ear. I am hearing all kinds of notes that I missed in Quill. I hear depth in the strings, the separation of the sounds… Like Wow. The production people on this record
did a phenomenal job of pulling apart the instrumental voices of a seven member
band, and putting them back together in a way that you can hear each player…
and the percussion sounds oh so live and fierce. The bass scoops and holds. The sonic landscape just is richer, bodied, and warm. Everything I hear here, sounds big… and
fitting for what SHOULD be the band everyone is talking about. Move over Cold Play (except that I
guess Cold Play is probably yesterday’s news. You must remember, I am an old man.--
You can find many dozens of TLB performances on You Tube. Here are a few of my recommendations.
Sandstone: The very soothing closing track from Inheritance. (there is irony here, as the song is anchored in the very violent story of Samson.)
They are Filled: pretty rough sound, but this really shows of the energy of a house show.
Switzerland: With nice story video.
An as of yet "unrecorded" cover of M83's Midnight City. (Quite a different sound... for both bands.)
And finally, a "Mini Indie film" featuring instrumental renditions of songs found on Inheritance. Watch the whole thing.
All in all, the combination of novel instrumentation, cadence,
melody, sweetness, percussion, dissonance and harmony, even a touch of vocal
ugliness… (make that, gnarliness)… just make The Last Bison one of the most
exquisite listens anywhere. In any era.
--
Lyrics.
If there is any area where the Bison folk have me sometimes scratching my head,
it is the lyrics. Then I figured
it out. This is not Folk, where
the singer tells stories full form.
Nor is this "sit down poetry” in the sense that you can just sit down and read
the lyrics, as is. (a good many
lyrics just sound hokey removed from the music.) What we have instead, are “expressions” – bits and snatches
of story line, bold brush stokes
and partial forms, that take on a life “in” the music. Some of the songs make total sense as
is, others just kind of kick about with words or phrases that forge an impression. Take
for example: "Switzerland" the bands' most recognized tune to date.
We tried to sleep up in the banks of snow
But soon discovered it was far too cold
So we then retreated into town
To find a place where there was level ground
Oh, Call home
Oh, Call home
Oh. oh
SwitzerlandYou’ve taken way my breath now once again
You’ve left me with a sense of compassion
For the ones who can't pick them selves up off the ground
Oh Switzerland
I never thought I’d have you as a friend
I’m praying it was not at all pretend
I need you now
To help pick me up from off the ground
Our drinks were hardly worth the price we paid
But we thanked God for them anyway
andWith five minutes left
we broke our backs
To spend more money than either of us had
Out of the gate, I really like the concrete detail in several of these lines, a real story line in brew-- But what we have are some missing parts. When talking to Ben he filled in the larger story. Ben was in Switzerland as part of an
extended backpacking tour out of college (or with his Bible college, can’t
remember now.) While there they
found themselves in a ski resort town, late and without a place to stay. They attempted the survivalist thing of
getting in the snow banks, then opted for sleeping behind a store, covering
themselves with cardboard and crates to weather the night. They didn't sleep very well, and now,
having done one night of the homeless thing, more readily identify with those who sleep outside as a way of life. So one
night in Switzerland is filled both with the beauty of the place, and a deep
life lesson about the needy in our midst.
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| Sister Annah Hardesty, on Orchestra bells, and vocals. |
In reading and listening to other TLB songs, I find the same
kind of mix – little bits of personal history, chopped and mixed with allegory or emotive outbursts. I see
what I think are songs related to Ben and his sometimes long distant
relationship with the girlfriend in his life(?) Then there are phrases that lift out of the Bible -- like
“Dark am I, and lovely” from the Song of Songs. All and all, these are songs that take on a life
within the music where the total song carves an emotional landscape that is
bigger than just the words or the tune.
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| Sometimes Ben really does kind of look like a Buffalo... |
Everyone for whom I have played the music of The Last Bison
is deeply impressed. “These guys
are good, I mean really good.” My
sense. This is, or should be the next
“thing to happen.” I would like to
see the whole planet loving their music. And I think the band would like to see
such too. My prayer for The
Last Bison is that they take whatever success they find (or maybe even miss)
and fold it into their larger story line of a life lived before God with great
delight… even as they enjoy his gifts (music) and relish the gift they have in
each other – and all that, held together in Him who gives us life, breath, and
everything we need.
I also pray he keep them from idols.
(Continued next post with: How I became an Honorary Bison)
I also pray he keep them from idols.
(Continued next post with: How I became an Honorary Bison)
