Old Time American Music - Ben Traverse (Album Review)
Thanks to household names in Americana entertainment, audiences around the country have been made aware of the sounds, instrumentations, and stories associated with the genre. Del McCoury can continue to put on a stellar live show built on tradition while Billy Strings can develop the art form for the next generation, showing a more dynamic scene than one might be led to believe if their only exposure to the style was one folk protest music video a history teacher might have referenced in grade school. This is where Ben Traverse comes in as one of Michigan’s dedicated songwriters, a traveling bard and historian, regaling audiences around the state with tales from deep in the Americana tradition while also exploring other genres popular for their stories, like his recent sea shanty album with Michael Dause (The Accidentals). Ben has the talent and kindhearted demeanor to easily draw in listeners and delight in educating folks through his passionate performances about these classic slices of American music history. He has also been actively involved in the DIY scene in a variety of roles, leading to folks like Seth Bernard saying that he “...is rooted in the past, forward thinking, and fully present. His foundation is solid and he cares deeply about music and people.” With summer here, music lovers can catch him touring to support the release of his new album, Old Time American Music, a collection of American folk tunes “captured in the spirit of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.”
The environment these songs are sonically inhabiting is teeming with intimate spaces, a faithful recreation of classic 1950’s folk-revival aesthetic, and an exposed recording process that eschews modern production conveniences in favor of authentic representation. “Train On The Island” kicks off the record with a tale of love that comes with the passing of a train, but eventually the train serves as a reminder of the love lost, as “She don’t ride no more.” “Black Jack Davey” is a bouncy banjo number that tells the tale of someone falling in love with Black Jack Davey and running away with him, complete with that classic tagging of the ends of each verse. “The Moonshiner” is a somber ballad that details the life of a moonshiner who realizes the happiness he’s experienced is only about as deep as the bottle he’s drinking from, be it at the still or at the bar. It showcases Ben’s vocal range and passionate storytelling. The last verse has the sad realization that “The whole world’s a bottle/ And life is but a dram/ And when the bottle gets empty/ It sure ain’t worth a damn.” The auto-harp makes an appearance on “East Virginia,” a tale of a love so deep that it is obsessive, to the point of even scorning her beauty on his deathbed. As if to answer the subject of the previous song, “Silver Dagger” speaks from a woman’s perspective who notices how men around her, including her father, have courted and abandoned scores of women, with her mother even defending her from suitors with a dagger and leading to the resolve to “sleep alone all my life.”
“Over The Garden Wall” paints a cute love story of two neighboring lovers sneaking kisses and saying sweet nothings over a wall bordering their property, with the happy tale ending of her finally climbing over to be together. “Lazy John” is a comical song about life folks insisting that Lazy John gets his work done so he can join them for some fun, but he just can’t be bothered relaxing in the shade. The comedy continues with “Strawberry Roan,” a tale of a stubborn bronco that can’t be bucked, no matter how many attempts the rider tries. “Mole in the Ground” picks things back up with the banjo and details the desire to be a mole in the ground or a lizard in the spring, thinking of happier times in stark contrast to a stressful, overworked life. “Say Darlin’, Say” builds on the classic “Hush Little Baby” melody, although at a faster pace, and the last tune, “Shady Grove,” harkens back to the traditional English ballad, both in subject matter and the fact that many of these tunes, as Ben describes, were sung in Dorian mode. It’s a wonderful conclusion to the record and emphasizes Ben’s instrumental and vocal talents heard throughout.
This album review was an interesting one to do, because typically the reviews that come through are either full bands or more conceptual original music. However, Ben Traverse shows the depth in his performances by having a wealth of knowledge about each tune. In this review, each track has hyperlinked text, and each link goes to his website where you can follow along with the lyrics, see additional verses related to the tune, hear reference tracks and other arrangements from other artists throughout the years, and read a brief description of the tune’s origins and how it was introduced into the popular Americana music canon. Each tune highlights a different mood and the nuances that can be found in stories set to music in much more humble roots than more involved recordings of the same decade in other genres. It is a reminder of the rich catalog of American-born music as much as it is a foundation for future fans to enjoy virtuosic representatives of the style like Chris Thile or seasoned songwriters like the late John Prine. With every note played and sung, you hear Ben’s personality, his hours of work researching these songs for recording and performing, and the little imperfections that cultivate a distinctly human listening experience. Academic language aside, Old Time American Music lives up to its goals and continues to carve out a path for this Michigan songwriter and storyteller to connect with listeners and introduce a segment of music history to a new generation.
Catch Ben on tour this week!
May 18th w/ Political Lizard at Listening Room
May 19th at The Circuit in Traverse City
May 20th at The Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee
Support Ben Traverse!
Website: https://bentraversemusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bentraversemusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bentraversemusic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bentraversemusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Fx7I4IB4bAYkseIUmcqvP?si=FQI7eY-ETv2lkBfSyjydrQ
Bandcamp: https://bentraverse.bandcamp.com/
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ben-traverse/1574757229
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM5ppG0F87MhVQnVCPMpebQ
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/bentraversemusic
All links (including upcoming tour dates): https://linktr.ee/bentraverse
Album Credits:
Performed, arranged, and recorded by Ben Traverse
Mixed by Greg Baxter at Second Story Sound with some early mixing by Ben Traverse
Mastered by Michael Dause at Treetone Studios
Graphic design by Tyler Newkirk
Artwork by Emilee Petersmark (@ermsauce on Instagram)
Click the image to purchase the album and tee shirt!