Benjy Ferree is a seasoned local musician of whom you may not yet know. While he regularly plays local gigs, you will surely never be met head on with advertisements promoting his next show unlike other bands in D.C. -- his music already speaks loudly enough for him. Fans of Ferree’s music will attest to his robust voice and his ability to paint a warm emotional picture with his folk rock music and vivid lyrics portraying life through bluegrass eyes. In short, the man is quite talented. Talented enough, in fact, to have recently signed a distribution contract with Domino Records, the same label that claims, among others, British rockers Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys.

A couple weeks ago, we were able to see Ferree up close and personal at the last installment of Rock’n’Romp -- a local concert series for busy parents who are unable to make regular trips out to bars and clubs to take in live music. Ferree played alongside Laura Burhenn and Greenland. The audience at Rock’n’Romp is comprised mostly of young children, but Ferree still infused his songs with the forehead-tightening intensity that you would expect at a headlining gig in the city. Ferree quickly played through six songs, and was joined by an army of children, dancing, jumping, and even climbing on him while he played. Though his acoustic set naturally lacked the depth a full band can provide, Ferree still created plenty of sound. His voice sounds like a mix between Jack White and Jerry Garcia, at times soulful and other times desperately intense. Most impressive was how his fingers never strayed far up the fretboard as he needed only standard open and barre chords, and a harmonica, to create his catchy folk sound -- Ferree is truly more substance than style.

His album, Leaving the Nest, was originally joint-released on October 31st, 2005 through Planaria Recordings and Box Theory Records, but is soon to be re-released with five new tracks through Domino Records. The album can be heard online at apolloaudio.com as well as on his new MySpace page. Take a listen to his music and you may soon enough be a foot soldier spreading word of the masterful folk sound of Benjy Ferree.

Set List:
1. Hollywood Sign
2. Kimbrough
3. The Desert
4. Little At A Time
5. They Were Here
6. In The Countryside

Visit Benjy Ferree online at: www.benjyferree.com

See him live next: This Friday, September 1, 2006 at The Black Cat

Questions for Benjy Ferree

What are some local bands that you like or are currently listening to?

Eyes of the Killer Robot, (the sounds of) kaleidoscope, Owls and
Crows, Shortstack, and The Aquarium!

What do you like the most about the D.C. music scene?

It's fun.

What do you like the least about the D.C. music scene?

It's hard to pay rent.

Who are your musical influences?

Wu Tang Clan, Tom Waits, Howlin Wolf, Brainiac, The Jesus Lizard, and The Cows.

You recently signed to Domino Records. Can you comment on this? Is this going to let you focus on music full time?

I was lucky enough to know someone, who knew someone, and they knew Domino and this man from domino saw me play at the knitting factory in N.Y.C. Then he signed me like that and it literally only took about 2 seconds, in the club. After that I was "on" Domino. They put out my records now and it's real laid back, almost like sitting on a reclining chair.

How would you describe your lyrics? From what inspiration(s) do your lyrics come?

My lyrics are little stories. About this and that and everything else. I think writing lyrics is a jolly old time. That's about all I can say about the process.

Who are your vocal influences?

The Carter Sisters, Jimmie Rodgers, Howlin Wolf (my favorite male singer of the 20th century), Mahalia Jackson, Charlie Patton, Timmie Taylor, David Yow, Tom Waits, and as a kid H.R. from the Bad Brains.

What are your thoughts on the fact that two new venues have been added to the circuit in the D.C. music scene -- The Red and The Black, and The Rock and Roll Hotel? Do you feel this is a good thing for the D.C. music scene?

Everyday something new opens up in D.C. We've all seen it blow up all around us and I think the Mayor has killed the city’s charm for the moment, tax cuts and all. I heard they just turned the Mission of 14th St. into, get this: new condos. Now the Red And The Black has Matt Brown as the G.M., so that's perfect and cool. I like the crew that runs that place too although I've never been there. I used to work with some of those guys at the Black Cat. Rock And Roll Hotel sounds hot because it sounds like it's self contained. Everyone involved that I have met is very excited and passionate about it. They sound like they want to take care of hard working bands and the kids that were living in the city before they opened up. Sounds like a dream.

For years, D.C. was mostly known for its punk scene, most notably through the Dischord label. Have you met any apprehension or found any difficulties coming up in D.C. playing folk music?

Dischord Direct has distributed my E.P. for me and Brendan Canty has helped me out with mixing and recording, so the notorious punk daddies and mommies have been graciously holding my hand. Fugazi would be my "home team" if you will. I grew up on D.C. roots punk just like D.C. roots Link Wray or Elizabeth Cotton D.C. roots. The people that interpret punk ethics and hot style into handbooks and rules really make it boring. D.C. has hot musical foundations like Chuck Brown, Eva Cassidy, Bad Brains, Emmy Lou Harris, etc. It was easy playing in this city because the people that have helped me didn't label me or give me some boring rules to follow.

You’ve traditionally shunned media and exposure-promoting tools like MySpace. Do you consciously seek to keep a low media profile? Do you purposely impede any new exposure of your music?

Being on Domino Records is definitely not hiding out or shunning exposure. It was a big deal for me to leave the comfort and loyalty of Box Theory Records but they gave me the blessing. Domino is loyal, too, and they let me answer questions however I want. I do have a MySpace page now.

You play shows often in New York (or so I’ve heard). How would you compare the two cities? Do you find equal appreciation of your music in both cities, or a bias in one of them?

N.Y.C. is the big city, D.C. is the small town city. D.C. is transient, N.Y.C. is just huge. I guess in both cities it depends on who got out of bed to come see a show, it depends on who's out that night. I've never lived in N.Y.C. so I don't know.

What is it like playing shows in DC compared to other cities in the country?

People are afraid to dance in D.C. because someone might be looking. And that someone dresses like a Mormon. but it's like that in L.A. too, so I don't know.

Your album is being re-released on Domino despite the fact that it originally came out a year ago. Are you planning a new album in the near future?

I'm going to put this one out with more songs on it, and when the time's
right I'll put out another one.

Your music is mostly/all guitar based. Have you ever thought about recording music with piano or any other instruments/instrumentation?

Sure.

Who is your musical guilty pleasure?

I saw Justin Timberlake once at the 9:30 Club with my woman. We went for kicks because the tickets were free and we were hot for each other. We both wanted to see him perform the cry me a river song. He did and it was smokin’ hot. Fish from Fishbone was on drums and some other hot players. I think I was screaming with the audience too. But then I saw him play the guitar for one song and my friend in the balcony said he wasn't really playing, there was a guitarist behind the curtain. If that's true than that's McDonald’s quality, but that cry me a river song live was smokin’ hot. It's a hot Timbaland track I got to see live. You always wonder though, is what you're hearing real? Are these tracks? Of course they are! But Fish on the drums was real, I know that. There were all these tough guys in the audience trying to act like they didn't just wait three hours in line.

Do you care about your image or how people receive you in the local music scene?

I've got the greatest friends I could ever dream of in this city. We don't think about that stuff. If we do, we get called out or get teased when we're too drunk.

What is your songwriting process?

It's different every time.

What advice do you have for upstart musicians?

Nobody wants to hear you cry unless it sounds good.

What is the most difficult/adverse situation you’ve encountered as a musician?

It's all fun.