There is a lot of information on this page! First off, a standard biography. Next is information about my most recent studio CD release, Where Joy Kills Sorrow. Next is a short blurb about my live show, followed by answers to these questions: Who has Garrin opened for and collaborated with? Also included here is a list of the folks for whom I have been hired as a session musician, and an "in brief" year by year breakdown of my activities.
BIOGRAPHY:
Garrin Benfield's sound has been described as Freestyle Acoustic Rock. His music is a blend of moody, guitar driven rock and polyrhythmic groove all run through the filter of a very serious Singer/Songwriter. Garrin is first and foremost a guitar player though. His talent shines through as a solo artist when he flat-picks his way through complicated and lightning-fast arrangements and also while he uses a Loop Station to create mesmerizing soundscapes upon which he lays blistering rock, blues and jazz licks, darkened by his extensive use of effect pedals. As a bandleader, Garrin can command the attention of seasoned players and improvise with the dexterity and ingenuity of players many years his senior. Improvisation is at the center of a Garrin Benfield concert experience. Whether at a solo show or at a full band event, Garrin twists and turns the tunes each night in an ever-evolving attempt to keep searching for new musical challenges.
Garrin has been touring nationally for seven years and has played several of North America's best music venues including the Fillmore and Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, Eddie's Attic in Atlanta, The Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Austin's Cactus Café and Joe's Pub and Arlene's Grocery in New York, among others. In addition, Garrin has been performing regularly at festivals around the country, including The High Sierra Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Blue Ridge Harvest Fest in Georgia, The Promise For Peace Festival in Marin County, CA and Atlanta's huge Dogwood Festival. Garrin was also named “One of the Bands You Must See Live in 2005” by Jambase.com, the internet's premier source of information for live and improvisational music.
Garrin's CD Where Joy Kills Sorrow was awarded the "Best Release of 2004 in the Male Singer/Songwriter Category" by the Indie Acoustic Project.
In addition to hundreds of solo and full band shows around the country, Garrin has shared the stage with numerous headlining acts, and was asked to open for Dan Bern, Boz Scaggs, Kaki King, Rickie Lee Jones, and Page McConnell of Phish among many others. Bonnie Raitt's backing band (who added their sounds to Garrin's second album, "Nowhere is Brighter") round out the list of great artists that Garrin has had the pleasure of collaborating with during his career.
Benfield's accomplishments include having his CD “Nowhere is Brighter” being named a 'Top 10 CD of 2002' by Acoustic Guitar and Performing Songwriter Magazines. As well, music from that disc was selected for inclusion on numerous compilation recordings including one for Not In Our Name that included Ani DiFranco, Michael Franti and others. His most recent CD “Where Joy Kills Sorrow” has already surpassed the last ones in terms of Press attention and radio play.
Current Release:
Zacksongs Music announces the release of Garrin Benfield's third full-length studio CD, Where Joy Kills Sorrow. The album, being released on Zacksongs, contains 11 tracks of diverse original material with Garrin's words, voice, and guitar as its centerpiece. From the concise, electric Beatle-esque pop of "What You Wanted to Hear" and "Answers" to the aggressive, punky throttle of "Don't Panic", this CD balances song craft, melodic innovation, and a radio friendly aesthetic that has become Benfield's focus. Where Joy Kills Sorrow is a journey that also includes lush acoustic balladry, ambitious guitar excursions, and direct, thought provoking lyrics.
Where Joy Kills Sorrow is Benfield's most radio friendly and concise collection of songs. At the same time, this record is more acute in it's musical accomplishments. The result is a blend of complex arrangements and serious pop. Benfield performs all vocals, guitar, baritone guitar, mandolin and much of the bass guitar parts on the album. All 11 tracks are full-band recordings using Benfield's regular performing band.
Benfield's desire to take greater control over his music also spilled over into his career. This release is the first studio effort being self-released under Benfield's own music moniker, Zacksongs Music. As for Zack, he was a dear old dog.
About Benfield's Live Show:
Benfield's shows center on his quirky pop melodies but are stretched by Garrin into improvisational explorations into new territory each night. Familiar songs are often twisted and contorted into gorgeous new creations that leave audiences breathless. At once organic and eclectic, Garrin's shows are an experience as much as they are a musical concert! Utilizing electronic effects and a loop station, audiences find themselves grooving to atmospheric rhythms and settling back into Benfield's soothing vocal style. When the whole band is cooking, Benfield seamlessly blends his compositional skills with his improvisational ones, making old songs seem new. His thought-provoking lyrics and orchestral arrangements are constantly refurbished but are never over-shadowed by the endless noodling characterized by many in the neighboring jam-Band genre.
Collaborators:
Garrin has opened for: Boz Scaggs, Dan Bern, Page McConnell, Kaki King, Rickie Lee Jones, Mary Gauthier, CCR, The Mother Hips, The Waybacks, Al Stewart, Buckwheat Zydeco, Vince Welnick, Iris DeMent, David Jacobs-Strain, Corinne West, Catie Curtis, Richard Shindell, Stacey Earle, Eric McFadden, Norton Buffalo, Steve Seskin, Mark Growden, Johnny A, Box Set, Holcombe Waller, Noelle Hampton, Libby Kirkpatrick, Garnet Rogers, Ten Mile Tide, Assembly of Dust, Samantha Stollenwerk.
At the Fillmore in SF, Garrin provided second stage entertainment for the following artists: David Gray, Dark Star Orchestra, Blues Traveler, Steve Winwood, Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams, Railroad Earth, Stereolab, Black Crowes and others.
As a session musician, Garrin has provided guitar, bass and vocals to recording projects from the following artists: Dan Bern, Joy Askew, Michelle Schmitt, Lael Neal, Mostly Dylan, Izabella, Kermit Lynch, Kenni, Samantha Lien, Vanessa Morrison, Noah Thorpe, Jallen Rix, Greg Lamboy.
As a live musician, Garrin has worked with the following bands: Boz Scaggs, Dan Bern Band, Dave Brogan Band, Lebo, Everyone Orchestra, David Gans, Joy Askew, Ke, Heather Combs Band, Great North Special, Michelle Schmitt, Kate Gaffney, Terese Taylor, Gazelles, Izabella, Sean Lehe and Great Owl, Bernadette, The Ritual, JP Cutler, Asher Fulero.
Garrin's songs have been used in the following projects:
"Not in Our Name" (2002) -- a compilation CD to benefit anti-war charities.
"Love Rocks" (2004) -- a compilation CD produced by the Human Rights Campaign to benefit marriage equality.
"Phoenix" (2007) -- a film by Michael Aker with wide international distribution
History:
*2008/9: Garrin continues his relentless touring schedule, playing diverse gigs around the country that include solo and full band shows. Garrin returns to the High Sierra Music Festival, Solstice Fest and Bobolink Festival, all premier Summer festivals in California. Garrin's song "Home" is featured on Amy Goodman's program "Democracy Now".
*2006/7: Garrin plays over 100 gigs all over the United States, working material from his first four CDs as well as constantly debuting new songs and works-in-progress. Garrin also co-writes a collection of new tunes for the first time with noted Nashville songwriters.
*2005: Jambase.com founder and CEO Andy Gadiel named Garrin's 7/14/05 show with Dan Bern at 12 Galaxies as his favorite show of the year!
*The Advocate Magazine selects Garrin as the "Number One Indie Artist of 2005!" saying, "Benfield's all-around talent includes a gift for beautiful songwriting on top of his prowess as a singer and musician."
*Fall 2004: Garrin Benfield releases new CD, "Where Joy Kills Sorrow" and continues to tour nationally. A two month tour takes him up and down both coasts hitting full-band dates, solo shows and several nights with Dan Bern, Bitch of Bitch and Animal and Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead, Tubes).
*Summer 2004: Garrin Benfield performs at several major national music festivals; including High Sierra Music Festival, Blue Ridge Harvest Fest and The Dogwood Festival.
* In early 2004 Zacksongs releases a collection of live material consisting of Benfield's concert staples titled "August Live". The disc was recorded while Benfield was on tour opening for Boz Scaggs in the summer of 03.
* 2003: Benfield contributes songs to compilation CDs for the Not in Our Name Project (along with Ani DiFranco, Michael Franti and Charlie Hunter) and Performing Songwriter Magazine.
* 2002: Benfield's critically acclaimed CD "Nowhere is Brighter" is released. Alongside Benfield is Bonnie Raitt's band and special guest Boz Scaggs. The disc is named a "Top 10 CD of 2002" by Performing Songwriter and Acoustic Guitar Magazines. Benfield tours US as a solo performer and with his regular, touring band, appearing at some of the most highly regarded venues in the country. He is regularly asked to perform with major label and other known artists.
*2001: Benfield continued regular national touring, hosted a monthly songwriter series in San Francisco, and was a finalist in the Telluride Troubadour Competition.
*2000: Benfield releases his debut album "Living A Dream" to high praise. Among the 13 tracks on the album was the startling tribute to murder victim Matthew Shepard that is nominated for an award oppo site Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls.
* Benfield grew up the youngest of nine children in Westchester County, New York and moved to Northampton MA to attend Hampshire College. It was at Hampshire that Garrin started and played bass in his band Maya that later moved with him to San Francisco.